City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I call the order of the February 17th, 2026 regular meeting of the Weer City Council at 7:01 p.m. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice my head.

Um before we begin tonight's meeting please note that the digital copies of the packet can be found online. They have also available um on our website. A QR code has been provided just outside the door at the top left corner and on the top left corner that's the right corner of the YouTube video. You can scan that with your phone and you can access our um council packet there. Madame Clerk, will you please call the role? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mrs. Borg, here. Mr. Wagner, here. Mr. Malto here. Mr. Pinkush. Oh, no.

Here. Thank you. Mr. Denmark here. Mrs. Loan here. Mayor Shen here. You have a quorum. Thank you.

Okay. Citizen comments on any agenda items except those scheduled for public hearing are welcomed this at this time. Those who have signed in will be given first priority to speak. Please note this is not a time for dialogue. It is time for citizens to speak and the council to listen. Madame clerk, has anyone signed in for citizens comment? Okay, no one has signed in.

Thank you. Is there anyone present in the audience who would like to speak on an agenda item at this time? Okay, seeing none, um let's move on to the approval of agenda and our consent agenda. Is there a motion and a second to approve tonight's agenda and consent agenda? I'll make that motion. I'll second it.

Well, thank you. Um, I have some amendments, but I'd like to check to see if anyone on the council have any comments or amendments. Mr. Pinish online. Okay. Well, I'd like um I'd like to make a few amendments to our agenda tonight. Um I would like to take items 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 and put them on consent agenda. and any

and is there Mr. Mayor like to get some more detail about resolution uh 257 regarding the long fun and item that is item nine. I'm fine with that amendment. Oh, we still need a second and we can adjust that. Second.

Yeah, I'm okay with removing number nine off consent agenda. Okay. Any other comments or discussion for um our agenda and consent agenda? M madame clerk, will you please call the role? First, we'll vote on the motion to amend the agenda by adding all of those to consent. So, that would be items number 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13 to the consent agenda. Uh, Mr. Wagner. Yes. Mr. McCalto, yes.

Mr. Pinkush. Mr. Pinkush, I'll come back to you. I see that you're unmuted, but I don't hear you. Mrs. Loan, yes. Mrs. Borg, yes. Mr. Denmark, yes. Mayor Shen. Yes.

Mr. Pinkish, are you back? Okay, we'll go with no vote for Mr. Pinkush at this time. The motion passes and the amenda is agended by adding items 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13 to the consent agenda. Returning again to the motion to approve the agenda and the consent agenda as amended. Any discussion regarding the agenda and consent agenda as it stands? Okay. M madame clerk, will you please call the role?

Voting on the motion to approve the agenda and consent agenda as amended. Mrs. Borg, uh Mr. Wagner, I'm sorry. Yes. Mrs. Borg. Yes. Mr. Makalto. Yes. Mr. Pinkush. I'm sorry, Mr. Pinkush. I still can't hear you if you are speaking. Mr. Denmark, yes. Mrs. Loan, yes. Mayor Shen, yes.

Mr. Pinkish, are you back? Okay, seeing no a vote from Mr. Pinkush, the motion is passed and tonight's agenda and consent agenda as amended are approved. On tonight's consent agenda are resolution 2026-006 setting the mill levy at 8 mills setting the date of the board of equalization hearing and establishing the date on which property taxes become delinquent for the 2026 tax role. Number 10 resolution 2026-008 extending a legal services agreement with Bir Horton Bitner and Cho and authorizing the city manager to execute the contract. Number 11, resolution 2026-00009 approving the continued appointment of Dr. Donald Hudson as medical director for the Whittier Fire Department, authorizing the city manager to execute a professional services agreement and appropriating funds. Number 12, resolution 2026-10, amending the 2026 budget and appropriating funds. Number 13, resolution 2026-011 retroactively amending the 2025 budget to record expenditures of 15,824.78 paid by the state of Alaska on behalf of the city toward the city's public employees retirement system liability for the period January through December 2025 and appropriating funds. And finally, number 14, approval of the TW January 20th, 2026 regular meeting minutes. Mr. Mayor, it appears that Mr. Pinkush

wanted to remove item number 13 from the consent agenda. He's trying to get on Okay. How would you like to uh I think back and fix this. The very proper way would be to reconsider the motion and then remove it from the agenda. However, I would say if there's no objection to just keeping item number 13 on the agenda, then we could move forward that way and then when we get to item 13, we can

I'm as if we hadn't approved it yet. I have no objection. Does anyone do you want to do a head nod? Any objections to keeping item 13 on the agenda? Uh take it off the consent agenda? Yes. We're gonna call him on this phone. Okay.

I don't have any objections. Didn't look like there's no objections to keeping item 13. I'm taking it off consent agenda.

Oh boy. Mr. Penush, you'll need to mute your computer.

Thank you. TV on

Mr. I think Jackie means you have to turn off the speakers of your computer because we can hear it repeating back to us. Okay. So, I have it down for the record that we are continuing with item number 13 on the regular agenda and we will consider it when it comes up.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Uh, conflict of interest. At this time, does anyone wish to declare a substantial financial interest in a matter appearing on the agenda? Okay. All right. Um, next item we have an executive session to discuss uh correspondence received. Um, do we have a motion and a second to enter inter executive session to discover to discuss correspondence received matters that would tend to injure the reputation of a person provided however that that person request however that person may request a public discussion.

I'll make that motion. I'll second. Any discussion?

Okay, madame clerk, will you please call the role? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Voting on the motion to enter into executive session to discuss correspondence received matters that would tend to injure the reputation of a person, provided, however, that the person may request a public discussion as per Whittier Municipal Code 2.08.04B2. Mrs. Borg. Yes. Mr. Wagner. Yes. Mr. Mccalto. Yes. Mr. Pinkush. Yes. Mrs. Loan. Yes. Mr. Denmark. Yes. Mayor Chen. Yes.

The motion passes and executive session uh the council enters executive session at 7:15 p.m. And for those in the room, apologies. This is not our usual. Um, but we will go into executive session. So, we will kick you all out of the room. You're welcome to hang out up here or downstairs. Um, and we will open the doors and let you know when you can come back in as soon as they're finished. Thank you. And at this time, I'd like to request our legal council, all members of the city council, the harbor master, the city manager, and the deputy harbor master to remain in the room, please.

Thank you.

Um, need a motion to exit executive session here? I'll make the motion. I'll second. Any discussion? Madam Cler, will you please call the role? Voting on the motion to exit executive session. Mr. Wagner. Yes, Mr. McCalto. Yes, Mr. Denmark. Yes, Mrs. Borg. Yes, Mrs. Loan. Yes, Mr. Pinkush. Yes, Mayor Shen. Yes. The motion passes and uh council exits executive session at 7:48 p.m.

Okay, thank you for being patient with us. Um there is no vote required, no action vote required on this executive session. Anything else? Will that suffice? Thank you. Okay, we're going to let's move on to presentations and reports. We have our first presenter um Prince William Sound proposed project areas. Um we have a Miss Jessu Barb and Department of Natural Resources.

Yep. Come on up to the um the podium and there's a little gray button there you can push. Uh please state your name and who you're with.

Hello everyone. My name is Jess Barau and I'm with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Land Conveyance Section. Uh thank you all for letting me come here and give you guys a very brief overview of a few proposed project areas that the state has and that we are looking at currently. Um so kind of like I said, it's going to be very brief today. I want to make sure everyone knows that we are coming back here on Thursday evening 6:30 to 8:30 in this room to host a public scoping meeting where we're going to spend two hours kind of looking at project areas. And that is going to be the time for as many folks who want to come and give us input and ask us questions about what we could potentially do with these areas and how you see them fitting into your community and your plans. Um, I just want to start with saying that we are very, very early in this process. And so, if you feel like this is the first time that you've heard of this, it's because it's the first time that we're bringing it up. So, you're in the right place. Um, it's the onset of our development. And we have not made any formal plans for the four areas that we're going to discuss. Uh, I want to let everyone know that it's kind of going to be like a workshop style public scoping meeting. And I'll have some maps to show you guys. We're going to have more maps on the tables. So, at the end, we can kind of go walk around on that, like go walk up to them and draw on them and mark things. And, you know, I'm doing a lot of research on my end, but some of that research is dated. And so, I know that a lot of people in the community will likely be able to help with my research and also help guide our development process. So again, we're very early in the process and this is a time for us to consult the people of this community and who do utilize these areas quite often to give your input and what you guys maybe want to see or how they're being used right now and how that development can maybe assist with your your own community. So if you look, it looks like the map is up now. Um

they're also being passed around the room. There are four different areas that we'll be discussing in quite a bit of detail Thursday evening. Uh the red is Passage Canal Panorama and it is within that black dotted box which means it's just it's within the city of Whittier. Okay. So that's just kind of showing you where it lies in terms of geographic location. The other three areas on that map, the Billing Cove, Billings Cove is in green, so right across over here. And then we have PoE West, which is the west side of PoE. And then we also are going to be discussing Esther Bay, uh the acreages and things like that, what we're thinking in the areas and ideas and any of the research that I've completed. I'm going to share that with you guys Thursday evening. Okay. And Thursday, you will be able to call in on Teams if you're not able to make it in person. So, I do believe Shelby has posted that on your guys' website and Facebook page. Um, and I'll have members of my team here helping as well to make sure you guys are getting in on that team's meeting and able to submit questions or comments or give us input. Um, so that is when we're going to really discuss the nitty-gritty. If you want to hit the next slide there, I'm just going to circle back to our process. So, the reason I wanted to show this to you is because I would really love to spend Thursday coming up with really cool ideas for these areas versus rambling on about the process. Right. Your packets also have uh a lot of more a lot more verbiage behind them. Okay, I'm giving those to you because they're fact sheets and that's your that's your guys' homework for Thursday. So, if you come prepared kind of knowing how the process works, we can kind of breeze through that part and really move on to having a collaborative meeting and getting your guys' input for these areas. Uh so, just kind of a simple breakdown. The planning is it always starts with planning with the state. So, that was done in 1988. I wasn't here in 1988. Um, so it's been a while since we've talked about these areas and brought it to the public for input. Okay. So again, early stages. We're

trying to include you guys as soon as possible. Um, so right now we're doing the research and we're doing the agency review. And what that entails is I I go online. I look at a lot of stuff. I look at a lot of maps. I look at a lot of, you know, recreational resources and things like that. And I'm compiling data. But as you can see, you know, there are things from 1988 that I'm probably looking at and some of that information might be outdated or inaccurate. And that's where you guys can help me and confirm or say, "Nope, that anchorage moved here." Or, "Nope, we don't camp there anymore." Or, "Nope, that trail is no longer there." Okay? These are all really good things I want you guys to try to come prepared to that meeting with. Bring some good ideas, bring some good information, and it'll really help us in the development process. It'll help us decide if we are even going to develop them. There's nothing set in stone, okay? So, we're not coming in and just saying we're selling all this land. Um, we're we're really trying to say how can we make this work with as many people in Alaska as possible. Okay. So, again, the big red box, we are here. We're consulting agencies as well, Department of Fish and Game, you know, if we have anadimous streams, if we have certain things like that, wildlife, we have to we have to take all of that into account. Once we kind of meet and have some more discussion after Thursday, I'll start working on a proposal and that's where we get the preliminary decision. And that preliminary decision is sent out to formal public notice. Okay? That is when you can submit written comments on what the proposal says and you know really have your say there. But again, we're meeting before we even get there. I'm trying to include as many people from the public before we even get to the formal public notice because what you guys have to share and what you guys have to say is really important because Whittier's, you know, a unique place and I think it's important to discuss as much of it ahead of time before I start spending all this time writing these 30-page documents. Okay, you guys live here, you guys operate out of here, you

have a lot of good information. Um, I've been here a lot. I've caught my biggest halibet here. shot my black bear here, learned how to drive a boat and really tell the weather here. Um, but that doesn't mean that I live here and know a ton about everything, right? So, that's where locals are really important. Um, and then it keeps going if the proposal makes sense, right? Or if it doesn't make sense, then the project gets set aside and maybe it gets picked up 20 years from now, maybe almost 40 years from now. You know, 1988 was a long time ago. That's the last time any of these areas have been kind of thought about and brought to the public. They were brought to the public very briefly, so we didn't really miss anything. This is where we're looking at it a little bit more with a fine tooth comb. So hopefully that makes a little bit more sense. And uh Thursday, this Thursday, we're going to be back here two hours for lots of information. There's going to be a big fat packet. So if you love paper come Thursday, um I probably have time for one or two questions from the council if you have one. So that uh the red X that's um in the city uh limits.

Is that where that cabin is? There is no cabin on that property. What is What is the name of that cabin up there that I know of? Something Cove. Squirrel Cove. Squirrel Cove, I think. I think Squirrel Cove. So this the red X is right at the um you know where they did staged all the material for the extension of Shotgun Cove Road this year. It's up the hill right across it's essentially up the hill from those two double staging areas like at salmon. Yeah. Second salmon run out here by decision point. I think we're about like this project is like 2.3 miles down Shotgun Cove Roadish.

Thought it was eight. We'll wait for more information. Yeah. Okay. I don't know of any cabin on that property. No, I did quite a bit of spelunking there this fall, so anything else? Uh, don't have I don't want to take up too much of you guys' time, so we can save it all for Thursday if that works. Where were you spelunking? Spelunking? I was just roaming around past our little project area there, me and some co-workers. I did lose my really nice knife. So, if anybody's in there and you see a gray knife, you guys have my phone number.

It is, but you know, adventuring, spelunking. Sorry. Incorrect word usage. Probably by the cabin. No, I'm just kidding. I'm kidding. I've never been there. Okay. Thank you all very much. I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday. Thank you.

Okay. Next presentation I'll be reminding Kai is on our representative. Got it. Okay. Next presentation we have Mr. Kai Holland. Hi, good evening. This is Kai. Just want to check and make sure you can hear me. Okay. Yes, we can. Thank you.

Perfect. Thank you for that confirmation. Hi, this is Kai Holland, House District 9 representative. Um, I had a couple things I wanted to bring to your attention tonight. Um uh first off I just appreciate the recent visit by some of the students from the school in Whittier that were in Juno. It was a pleasure to see them in the capitol and uh also been uh you know continuing to work on some of the broader initiatives I think I talked about when I've been visiting there in terms of energy education economic development wildfire. The two things I really wanted to bring to your attention tonight. One is just an update on the Whittier Alaska Railroad land transfer bills. I'm carrying House uh bill um 216. That one got through the state affairs committee and it's now in community and regional affairs committee and we had public testimony today and it's uh moved along nicely. There's also a companion bill, Senate Bill 191 in the Senate that is also moving along. And between one or the other of the two bills, we'll get this thing done here, I think, in pretty short order. It's gone very smoothly. I appreciate very much um city manager uh down in Juno and online helping support this u having her testifying has been a huge help along with the railroad who's been very active and uh helping with the bill process in there. Um, the other thing though that I particularly wanted to bring your attention is the safer sewer highway project comment period got extended to the end of February. Those comments are due on the 27th. I'm leading an effort by uh the delegation uh particularly of the Anchorage legislators and writing some um comments uh into the record of that project. And I would really appreciate any feedback from the city council and the city on your position on the safer sewer highway project and encourage you to contribute

your comments to this phase of the project. There's a lot of concern about what's being proposed in terms of the amount of effort and costs that would go into the project. Uh on one hand, it would create a a fairly significant amount of separated um uh highway um along the route from Potter Marsh um out to uh the the Bird Flats area there. U but it would also in uh end up putting in a fairly large intersection at Alaska and spending quite a bit of money. Um, so there's there's reasons for and against it, but I want to encourage you to be on record with that if you can, as well as let me know if you have any concerns or would like me to advocate in particular for any particular priorities or approaches in that uh funding. So, um, other than that, just uh, a couple quick updates. You know, the CAPSUs projects, if you're submitting anything, including uh, you know, the EMS equipment, those are due on the 20th. That's the end of this week. and uh currently working on the supplemental that we'll be voting on tomorrow for highway funding. But happy to take any questions you have any, but again, just let you know the railroad uh land transfer bill is moving along and encouraging your comments to me by the 27th uh or earlier if you'd like me to include them in the letter that we're working on for the Safer Sewward Highway Project. Thank you. Any questions? Thank you, Kai. Okay, Miss Wild, you have a presentation for us.

I do have a presentation for this month's Wild recognition. Unfortunately, Amy Pentalone was not able to be here this evening, but I do want to state that she has played an essential role in our organization, providing steady, reliable support beyond this past year in all the years that she's been here. As accounts payable, she is a rock star. She's continuously helped every department function smoothly, ensuring a day-to-day operation. Amy is always willing to learn more than she can better to better her support her city and her citizens. Her curiosity, adaptability, and commitment to understanding the broader picture strengthens not only the finance department, but the organization as a whole. During challenging periods, she has been instrumental in supporting the finance director and helping keep the city on track. Her professionalism, institutional knowledge, and dedication to service has made her a valued team and a trusted member of our team. Her contributions are often made behind the scenes, which none of you see, but you feel the impacts of her. So, I just want to say congratulations to Amy, and we're as a city are very lucky to have her on staff. Thank you, Miss Wild. And thank you, Amy. Okay. All right. Mayor report. The only thing I have to report is um I went of sub I attended a the January 19th meeting uh with uh stakeholders regarding the ground transportation fee. Um that ends my report. Mr. Vice Mayor, do you have a anything to report?

Nothing report. Thank you. Okay, Miss Wild, back to you. Do you have a city manager report for us?

I'm just going to highlight a couple things. As um Representative Holland stated, I have been in Juno the last couple weeks really um standing behind and helping support our House Bill 216 and our Senate Bill 191 that is moving along um really well. We're still have a couple more hearings before it goes to the floor. So, we're going to keep moving in that positive um aspect, working side by side with the railroad. Uh this again is a reminder, it is for the five parcels that were initially um discussed, we're sort of calling it a phase one and a phase two. Um in order for us to even move to that process, the legislative level has to approve the sale of the land by for the railroad to also approve it. So while we have move this momentum um we still need to keep a positive move forward. We still need to um work with and work on the items behind the scenes. Uh that entails working other properties that um will have to be surveyed as well as not other properties but the properties have to be surveyed. We have to look at permitting and those items. So, while we are moving fast, it's still a very slow process. So, I just want everybody to keep positive momentum on it. Um, I also want to remind the council that I will be out of the office from February 24th to March 9th. Uh, just as a reminder and I don't believe we have anything else to give updates for unless you as council have questions for me or the staff.

Any questions from the council? Mr. Pen Kush. No, no question. Thank you. Okay.

Thank you. Let's move on to public hearings. We have ordinance 2 2026-001 an ordinance amending chapter 10-30 of the Whittier Municipal Code to clarify reporting procedures and timelines for businesses registered and subject to the commercial ground passenger fee. I'm going to I'm going I'm opening the public hearing for ordinance 2026 0001 at 8:06 p.m. Is there anyone present who would like to speak at this time on ordinance 2026-001?

You have several signed in. The first on the list is Stephanie Carlson.

Okay. I'm reading this letter on behalf of Kelly Bender, who is out of state attending to a family member. I come before you once again an open forum to discuss the implication and consequences of the ground transportation fee. If you went to or hopefully listen to the recording of the stakeholders meeting on January 15th, Miss Carlson. Yes.

Do you have anything regarding directly to the ordinance the amendments to the ordinance regarding the reporting um and timelines for the meeting? Otherwise, if it is about the um the ground transportation fee as a whole, um is it possible for you to comment during citizens comment? Isn't isn't this where I would be commenting? This isn't where I should be commenting on this. Oh, of course, this council meeting is totally appropriate place. However, at this time, we are just looking for opening for comments regarding the reporting and the timelines in the ordinance. the changes to the ordinance regarding the timeline and

and I'm in opposition of it and and I guess I don't understand are you in opposition of changing the reporting requirements and the dates the deadlines for I'm I'm in opposition of the ground transportation fee and I'm speaking in opposition of any changes to it in general. So when this um yeah go ahead Miss Wild. It's I guess I'm thinking that just on keeping compartmentalizing or compartmentalizing or this this open session here is just for the reporting and the timelines whereas if you had comments in opposition of the fee as a whole that would be more appropriate during citizens comments at the end of the meeting.

At the end of the meeting. Yeah. So basically the public hearing tonight is only regarding the amendments to the reporting and so if you're speaking as the public hearing portion that is only on the reporting side and like like Mayor Shen just said um if it is in opposition of the total entire ordinance as it sits then you would want to do that at the end of the meeting during citizen comments. Okay. I'll chat with you. Well thank you Miss Carlson. Next on the list is Chris Herman.

Thank you. Thank you, Tom Marage. I got your name right this time. Oh yeah, I will speak.

What's that gray button there?

There we go. Oh, it needs to be read. Thank you. Um, so just real quick, I would just say that just looking at the interpretation of this um, as a partner of Premier Alaska Tours, for instance, it it has, you know, verbiage here that talks about the commercial recreational business uh, becomes delinquent. Um, and then operators, you know, certify the accuracy because we do work handinand. um you know when this whole thing was started as someone who pays into the waterborne transportation tax we were kind of explained to us that reporting you know it's a huge cost for us administratively we're a small company um a handful of people in our executive offices um and so to be able to say that you know hey we're not going to be affected by this one the fee in general of course we will be whether we're paying it in person or not but literally the fact that saying that now you Premier for instance, you know, as long as they certify that our numbers of our manifest of our motor coach that we rent from them is accurate, then we're still having to produce all those reports. We're still having to produce all those things. So, I don't really see how this remedies the situation of the burden that it's going to put on small operators that do partner with companies like Premier. So, um I don't really agree with the terminology that's being used. Um nor like uh the fact that just at all including but not limited to passenger manifest being able to access like people's names. Um we acquire those and keep those very close to chess because it's coastard related. Um we have to have those names that are going out on our boats. Um and so to have access to people's personal information, I think you're kind of floating in a gray area there. um asking for the manifest of the people's names. Um so uh yeah, and not clarifying that it's just the sheer number that's on the motor coach. Maybe it is somewhere else and I'm not seeing that, but I think there's just a lot of gray area here that you might run into some some issues. So thank you.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Next on the list is Tor Wallen. to Wallen with Huna Totem and on behalf tonight of Pacific Alaska Tours, which is our sister company in the motor coach business. And I think Tom really summed it up really well. Um, all you've done is just changed the times that this has to be reported. you still haven't taken the burden off the businesses and all the data that you're collecting, all the data that you're wanting. So, um, we still stand in opposition of this whole ground transportation fee.

Thank you, Mr. Mullen. Next on the list is Michelle Lang. No. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. And, um, Joe Shen is next. M he just ah okay thank you. There are no others signed in. Okay thank you.

Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to speak regarding or ordinance 2026-001. I see Mr. Shin has come back and Mr. Do you care? Would you like to speak regarding ordinance 2026-001 regarding the um amendments to the reporting procedures and timelines for the businesses registered the commercial passenger ground person tax? Yeah, that would be a more appropriate venue would be the citizens.

Oh, if those comments you can um say th those be more appropriately said stated in the citizens comments at the end of the meeting. Thank you. Any other audience members who would like to speak regarding the reporting procedures and timelines for the businesses business transportation tax?

Okay. Apologies. Mr. Denmark, microphone, please. Thank you. Apologies. I missed the last meeting. This is a second reading. Thank you. If there is no further public comment, the public hearing for ordinance 2026-001 is closed at 8:15. Is there a motion and second to adopt ordinance 2026-001? I'll make that motion.

Second.

Thank you. Um, is there a staff report we can start off with? Uh just as last year or last um meeting in January, uh this this amendment is specifically based off of um input that was given to us by the industry stating that it was difficult to provide a monthly report. So we changed it to a quarterly report and instead of requiring a manifest for every uh single report, it was only a manifest if required by a possible audit of said reporting. So that is basically what this amendment is for your um ordinance that is already in effect.

Okay. Thank you. So there is no manifest um required to be submitted during these quarterly reports. No sir, it is um it is simply a an auditing mechanism. If if we were to be audited or we would need to audit a number, we would then request it by code in a manifest form. Thank you. Any questions or comments regarding this ordinance? Mr. Pin Kush online. Mr. Mayor. Yes. Go ahead. Mr. Penush. Is Chris not on tonight or is she there?

Chris is online. Council member Pen, the the comments that were made. It's not clear that uh how it would be reported but I it's my understanding that basically the ground transportation fee would be the the information we provided same as the as the um waterborne fee which is simply a total number of passengers for the quarter multiplied by the amount and the only time names might apply would be during an audit. Is that correct? Yes, council member Pinush through the mayor. That's correct.

Okay. So, um having done that, I'll just say that it's that I feel it's fairly simple. There were changes made to the to the reporting form to make it quite simple um for everybody I think and so that reporting the names is only if you are audited. It would never come up otherwise. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Penush. Last call. Okay, mayor. This is Holly. Hello.

Oh, hi, Holly. Yes. Hi.

Hi. Sorry. I just I one thing I want to say for the record, there was some references to the ground transportation tax um but also made by council members and um I just want to make it clear for the record this is a fee. the amounts charged have to be used to benefit the users. And I know the administration is working really hard to make sure those services are in place and are tied to the fee charged um as required expressly by the language. So just because I heard the word tax from a few council members, I just want to say that because I think that was just a misnomer repeating some of the um what you heard in the comments. So, I just I know that the council's very aware that it's a fee, but I just want to state it so that it's clear on the record.

Oh, thank you, Miss Wells. Is there any further discussion after that comment? Okay, hearing that. Oh, go ahead, Tom.

I have a question. So, were our shareholders The city manager said that um these changes were proposed because of input that we got from the original reporting uh direction. And so I'm understanding that we we made changes. Um were the shareholders provided with copies of the changes that you had agreed? It seems like people came up here and spoke out against things that were changed and I'm confused.

Council member Wagner through the mayor, I would state that um while this was noticed and heard as an introduction in your January meeting. It was in your packet in in the January meeting. It has it was even talked about at um the January 19th meeting where we let the stakeholders in that room know that we were looking at making amendments to the reporting mechanism. So we have given that ability and even at your January meeting they had the ability to during that introduction also know that what was happening and coming forward because it was in the packet.

Okay. Yep. Go ahead.

Just to speak to Tom's question, this is almost the same thing we did with the with the waterborne fee. We basically when it was originally put out, the request was monthly and you had to provide manifest. This change changes it from monthly to quarterly and eliminates the requirement to to provide the manifest and less request during an audit and that which is align it to the same system we have with the waterborne fee. That's what that's what this that's what these amendments are doing. Okay. Thank you. Hearing no further discussion. Um, Madame Clerk, will you please call the role?

Voting on the motion to adopt Ordinance 2026-001, an ordinance amending chapter 10.30 of the Whittier Municipal Code to clarify reporting procedures and timelines for businesses registered and subject to the commercial ground passenger fee. Mrs. Borg. Yes. Mr. Denmark. Yes. Mr. Wagner. Yes. Mr. Mccalto. Yes. Mr. Pinkush. Yes. Mrs. Loan. Yes. Mayor Shen. Yes.

The motion passes and ordinance 2026-001 is adopted. Next resolution we have or first resolution we have is resolution 2026-007 a resolution expanding the co scope of grant application funding to solstice Alaska consulting to apply for PIDP funding to replace the dong do and appropriating funds. Is there a motion and second? Second.

Do we have a staff report?

Yes, Mayor Shen. Um, so this resolution, I'll give you a little background and justification. As you all know, in 2018, a study was done on the Dong Dock, and we've been using those major numbers to apply for grants. um since then by providing a slight increase. At the same time um this last session of grants our our staff is very limited. This is a very large grant that we're trying to go for and pro we need the support of a secondary agency to be able to do the basically new cost assessment as well as um do the leg work behind that grant. Uh we've worked with Solstice Engineering in the past. Our goal is to um if approved this evening, they'll move forward and we will apply and have them apply for our PIPD and mer grants for the next round and it will update the number from 2018 to current totals.

Thank you, Miss Wild. Um that's open to discussion. Any comments, questions? No, that's what I was looking for. I appreciate Mr. Pin Kush. I'm good. Thank you. Okay. Hearing no further discussion, Madame Clerk, will you please call the role? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Voting on the motion to approve resolution 2026-007 expanding the scope of grant application funding to Solstice Alaska Consulting to apply for PIDP funding to replace the Dong Dock and appropriating funds. Mr. Denmark. Yes. Mr. Wagner. Yes, Mrs. Loan. Yes, Mrs. Borg.

Yes, Mr. McCalto. Yes, Mr. Pinkush. Yes, Mr. uh Mayor Shen. Yes, the motion passes and resolution 2026-007 is approved.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Resolution 2026-00011, a resolution retroactively amending the 2025 budget to record expenditures of $15,824.78 paid by the state of Alaska on behalf of the city toward the city's public employee retirement system liability for the period January through December 2025 and appropriating funds. Is there a motion in a second? I'll make the motion. I'll second. Thank you. Miss Wild, do we have a staff report? Mayor, I'd like the finance director to give you the staff report, please.

Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of council. Uh, this is a resolution that we do each year. Um the state of Alaska has um something with that's called the PERS on behalf contribution and that is where the state of Alaska by law

Mr. Could you could you hold on a minute? You're you're breaking up. I think M miss uh um the city clerk and city manager are looking into it Go ahead.

Thank you. Are you able to hear me? Yes.

Okay. My apologies. Um the state of Alaska this in um in Senate Bill 125 in 2008 established a contribution rate cap that municipalities would pay up to the first 22% contribution toward PERS. Anything over that um per year is covered by the state of Alaska on behalf of the communities. And so in um calendar year 2025, the state of Alaska contributed to the PERS system on behalf of Whittier $15,825. Um, and that is something that uh fluctuates each year depending on our salaries and depending on um the uh rates that are established by the Alaska Retirement Management Board that are necessary to fund uh the required contributions into the PERS system. So, this is something that happens each year. We have this resolution. It's retroactive because we don't know the total amount um that the state has paid on our behalf until after the year ends. And so uh we're asking council approval. This basically doesn't um exchange any cash. It just basically we are required um by generally accepted accounting principles to record the state's contribution on our books as an expense and a grant revenue on that are both offsetting one another. So, I'd be happy to answer any questions if there are any.

Thank you, Mr. Shinger. Are there any questions?

Online, Mr. Pinush. No, I'm good. Thanks. Okay, hearing no further discussion. Um, Madame Clerk, will you please call the role? Voting on the motion to approve resolution 2026-011 retro retroactively amending the 2025 budget to record expenditures of $15,824.78 paid by the state of Alaska on behalf of the city toward the city's public employees retirement system liability for the period January through December 2025 and appropriating funds. Mr. Wagner, yes. Mr. McCalto, yes. Mrs. Borg. Yes.

Mrs. Loan, yes. Mr. Denmark, yes. Mr. Pinkush, yes. Mayor Shen, yes. The motion passes and resolution 2026-011 is approved. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Our next agenda item is council comments. Any comments? about resolution uh 202610. That was we we did that. That was number 13.

Yeah. You you requested number item 13 to be put back onto the agenda and that's the ones regarding the retroactively recording pers. Oh, item 13 on I thought I item 13 was the 2026 10 resolution. Oh, it's item number 12. Okay, never mind.

Thank you, Mr. Push. Um, council comments, Miss Lone, Mr. Wagner, Miss Borg, Mr. Pin Kush, any council comments from you? No, not unless you want to go back and put resolution 20.6010 back on there, but I'm good.

You're good. Okay. I I have one um a council comment. So there is a a question I guess would be for administration and for council and it's regarding uh a few miss we sit on the parks and recreation committee and um I've also had discussions with Miss Borg and we've we've located you know we've researched some grants that we feel that we have interest in applying for however they are of small in nature and not really um I would say worth it for administration to apply administrative muscle behind and a question I guess would be like with the council be amiable to us applying for these smaller grants um in partic one one grant I'm thinking about particular is with AAP the association of um oh boy AP P. That's an acronym for something. I knew it. I keep forgetting it. Um, applying for it. However, having administration check it for dotting their eyes and crossing your tees before we submitting it. Um, and they're again these are small grants that we feel that would be beneficial to the community. Um, mostly they're um for like a quality of life improvements, small things. Yeah, maybe you could speak more to it because I'm I'm fumbling over my words here.

Thank you.

So, um, after having conversations with Mayor Shen, uh, one of the suggestions that I made was if they want to do the leg work at the end of it, we will dot the eyes, cross the tees, and do the submitt. It's just we do not have the bandwidth right now to to do that leg work which is the you know finding out what the project is what the description and what it would you know the funding would be towards. Um that's something that any citizen could even do if if was you know allotted. But as council members you know it's a great opportunity for you guys to work together and then us move forward with the the funding mechanism portion of it. Do we need a motion on this or can we just take a

um I would suggest that you um as a as a council member asking you as council if you approve it or not approve it. I would say then vote on it. Um not just a headshake. I would say if you really want them to go ahead and do it then support it that way.

Yeah, I'd um I'd make that motion if uh Shelby can put it into words. I guess just can I add like a little bit of clarification just in case anyone needs it? Um we've discussed everything from like more equipment like how we've got the snowshoes and um skis and ice skates at the school now and paying you know we've got the weekly yoga classes and things like the trail work and things like that. So it was kind of like um we've discussed all different sorts of things. So, it's not really, I guess, one specific project that we had in mind, but

okay. How's this sound? Approve park and recreation committee members to draft grant applications on behalf of the city with final approval from administration. I'll make that motion. Okay. Thank you, Shelby. This is Did you change the word approve to authorize? Oh, yes. That'll be good for the loan applications. A lot of times they're gonna want to see that in some form. Mr. Mr. Wagner, are you okay with that amendment? Okay. Excellent. A second. I'll second that. Any discussion?

Well, hearing none, madam clerk, will you please call the role? Voting on the motion to authorize park and recreation committee members to draft grant applications on behalf of the city with final approval from administration. Mr. Wagner, yes. Mrs. Borg, yes. Mr. Mr. Malto, yes. Mr. Pinkush, yes. Mrs. Loan, yes. Mr. Denmark, yes. Mayor Shen, yes. The motion passes and parks and recreation committee members are so authorized.

All right. And council, last call. Council comments. Go ahead, Mr. Demark. Absolutely reasonable.

It's if I may respond, Mr. Mayor. So, we currently use a product from Civic Plus to prepare the packets and the online version is clickable. You can see the numbers are like underlined and bolded. That's a clickable link when you're online. Um, however, Civic Plus does not put page numbers on the agenda. So, um, yes, I can go back through and manually put the page numbers on for your printed packets, but it probably won't be the version that shows up online if you were to download it yourself and print it. How's that sound? Thank you.

Okay, our next item on the agenda is citizens discussion. Mr. Mayor. Oh, yes. Go ahead, Mr. Yes, we'll backpedal. Go ahead.

I would like I would like to bring up one thing. You know, we used to have Zoom and now we have Reream and I have had nothing but trouble with Reream and I think we need to evaluate that. I think it requires faster internet speed, but it's been you know over and over it like right now I can't even I'm I'm not even connected. I've lost connection over and over and over again. I think we need to address it. It's in it. Um I on this same computer last week I I was in a fishing game meeting with on Zoom and there a bunch of them poor and nobody had any issues and and this is just something is not working right for us on it and it's a continuous problem and you know I didn't basically I didn't get a um address a resolution I wanted to because of the difficulties of working and trying to read it in a hurry and but anyway I would I would like the administration to take a look at it.

They said they'll take a look at it, Mr. Ben Kush. Okay. Hearing any further discussion? Are you sure? Okay. Uh citizens discussion up next. Madame clerk, um you you have the list already. Awesome. Time is limited to go ahead. The time is limited to five minutes per speaker on any subject at over which the council has control. Again, this is not a time for dialogue. Rather is a time it is a time for to allow citizens to speak and the council to listen and madame clerk is anyone signed in for citizens discussion?

If you're not sign then I'll call in the audience afterward as well. If it's okay with you, Mr. Mr. Mayor, I was going to go back to the sign in for the public um for the public hearing since there were many people there who wanted to speak. Okay, so starting with Stephanie Carlson. Thank you for your patience.

I'm reading this letter on behalf of Kelly Bender, who is out of state attending to a family member. I come before you once again in open forum to discuss the implications and consequences of the ground transportation fee. If you went to or hopefully listen to the recording of the stakeholders meeting on January 15th, transportation operators and businesses clearly communicated how they would be affected. You heard this fee is considered illegal by the cruise industry and will face legal challenges. You heard cruise lines would like to avoid legal challenges and invite the city to work with them. You heard Norwegian Cruise Line is not in favor of this fee and will not be collecting it from their guests as previously reported by the city. You heard it is not less expensive to come to Whittier than Seward. And there are not many compelling reasons to choose Woodyear over Seward when met with excessive fees in an unfriendly business atmosphere. You heard tour operators are turning to other communities for activities like meals, cruises, and kayaking due to the increased cost and burden of this fee. You heard losing these tour operators is hurting small, locally operated businesses. You heard most cities are incentivizing cruise lines, tour operators, and encouraging businesses where this policy is discouraging businesses to look for opportunities in Whittier. Our members are now suffering from the consequences we warned the council of. Since the inception of the discussion and adoption of this fee, transportation companies have made this made the business decision to not come to Whitty. This has left groups who are already

booked on excursions to find other means. So yeah, they will find a way to get here this year, but when they look at their tour oper options in the coming years, why would they consider a location that has deterred them from coming? We also believe you should know that the city has discontinued their membership with the Greater Whittier Chamber of Commerce. When asked why after decades of membership and partnership, the city manager explained and I quote, "The city is aware that the chamber has represented its members represented to its members that is no longer align with the direction of the city of Woodier. In that context, it would not be appropriate for the city to continue providing financial support to an organization that has chosen to publicly position itself as separate rather than in part partnership with the city. We believe this is a dangerous message and precedent. It is neither our mission nor appropriate for the chamber to fully align with the city. Historically, the chamber has supported some city polic policies and opposed others depending on what we believe best serves our members and the broader community. The city man inerted that chamber leadership had involved been involved in secret meetings discouraging visitation to Whittier and exploring legal action against the city. We have never advocated for initiating legal action against the city. These allegations are false and are meant to damage the good hard-earned reputation and actions of the board. In closing, we we were the community of Whittier where we, the community of Whittier, should be incentivizing

businesses, they are in fact being driven away and other communities with similar activities are welcoming them with open arms. Please reconsider this harmful policy. Kelly Bender, president, Greater Woodier Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you, Miss Carlson. Next is Chris Herman. Okay,

distinguished members of the council, my name is Chris Herman for Premier Alaska Tours. I'm a director within our cruise ship operations department and I am here this evening speaking on behalf of our company's president Josh House who is not able to attend this evening due to a prior commitment. I'm here once again to register Premier Alaska's opposition to the ground transportation fee. The ordinance violates the US Constitution and is unlawful. The ordinance is a targeted fee against the cruise industry that will result in less cruise ship visitors, just as the original Whittier head tax did in the mid 1990s. The ordinance sets a dangerous precedent for all other industries that do business in communities throughout the state of Alaska. The ordinance will be met with legal opposition if allowed to proceed for the upcoming summer season. I want to be clear that it is neither Premier Alaska Tours nor any other entity involved with this ordinance that wants to proceed with legal action against the city of Whittier. But as the summer quickly approaches, the city is leaving us, the collective companies that oppose this ordinance little choice. This will be a costly process for all that are involved. We want to uh sorry this will be a costly process that we all want to avoid as we are certain that in the end it will only harm the residents of Whittier. As the largest highway passenger transportation company in Alaska, Premier Alaska Tours has turned away 12 groups to Whittier between January and April of this year. We've advised these clients that we are not currently approved by the city of Whittier to provide transportation and they will need to find alternative options.

Most of these clients have subsequently told us that they have not been able to find alternative providers and will have to cancel their plans to visit Whittier. An email was sent to the city manager two weeks ago asking if there are any other transportation providers that we can refer these clients to and has since gone unanswered. This only hurts the business and residents of Whittier as these guests are now no longer able to travel to your community. Whether the private industry moves forward with legal actions against the city or the city has to file legal action against the private industry to try and collect the tax, the city of Whittier is positioned itself in a potentially long and expensive battle over this ordinance. Premier Lascatours strongly urges the city council to vote to table this ordinance indefinitely. This is the responsible action for the residents of Whittier for which you have all been elected to represent. Thank you.

Thank you. We have more Yes. citizens registered. Thank you. Tom Marage, did you want to speak again? Yeah. Come on in.

Sorry, I realized I didn't properly introduce myself before. Uh, my name's Tom Marage. I'm the marketing manager for Premier or sorry, Premier Alaska Tours. Yeah, sorry. Gosh, it's a long day. Very long day. Uh, Philips Cruises and Tours. Um and I uh have been given approval to stand here on their behalf and say that um we strongly strongly oppose the ground uh transportation fee. Um good old you know control find replace with um move there. Um but um if Ramire doesn't operate, we have to literally cancel thousands and thousands of reservations that we have that are motor coach operated. people coming from Anchorage, coming from Alaska. Um, also just in general, um, as a company that is invested in this town and loves this town and owns property in this town and our employees are a part of this community throughout the year, um, more so in the summer, but all through winter, um, this just isn't we don't want to see the city go through this. We don't want to see the people of Whittier go through this the the amount of money it's going to cost because it's just it's as couldn't say better than Mr. House but or Chris but um I just need to come up here and on record say that that we do not we will incur the cost twice as much as the actual fee on top of administration. Um the suggestion that we won't be audited I don't really understand how we wouldn't be audited. um you know seeing as if we provide the number and you don't agree then we will be um so uh those manifests still have to be maintained they still have to be kept people's names will still be shared if we're audited because I imagine we will be so it's just it's just this circular thing but a 30,000 foot view I just say would have to say on behalf of Phillips and myself as an Alaskan who loves Whittier and it's been coming here for over 30 years um please don't put the city through this like this is not

going to end well um because it is unconstitutional and they're going to prove that 90% of the people that you want to charge transportation fees against actually never enter the city and stay on a DOT road and get right off and get on a boat and get off the boat and get on a railroad and get on this and they aren't the ones affecting the city and hurting the trails that that this fee is supposed to help and incur things for. So, um, just please, I'm we're asking you to to reconsider this, um, and not put the city through this. A city that we love to be a part of, that we love to invest in, um, and have invested in. So, thank you very much.

Thank you, sir. Do we have more people on the list? Excellent. Uh, to Wallen, would you like to speak again?

Okay. Michelle Ling. Hello to the council members, mayor, city manager, and other parties. I'm Michelle Lang uh of Three Helms LLC, one of the new owners along with my two sisters of Lazy Otter Charters. We just want to take this opportunity to share our personal experience in regards to the new Whittier ground transportation fee or ordinance 2024005. We are brand new business owners. Um, and two of our three owners are residents here of the city in the city of Woodier. And we are excited to bring tourism dollars into our home. Every passenger that steps onto our boats means the city assesses $8 of water bone transportation fees. And for every dollar we spend on fuel, the city gets a 5% sales tax. Those passengers then provide the profits that we use to pay our property taxes, lease fees, and mortgage fees, which means further revenue for the city. And every passenger who whose van or bus drives past Whittier means money lost. We have recently had several concerning conversations with tour groups whose transportation into town has been put at risk due to this fee. Companies may still operate in Whittier this year as they have existing bookings they must honor. But we wonder and we worry what will happen next year and the year after that when they have time to plan a season without Whittier. This is very concerning as new business owners who rely on this future business. As residents of Whittier, we truly truly want what's best for our home. We understand that the city needs money, but we don't know what the solution is right now. We are new to this discussion. You know, we haven't been in

this for years and stuff. We are, like I said, new owners um and and new to this. Uh so we did just want to come and kind of say how it's been currently affecting us. Um but we are currently striving to learn and keep an open mind in this situation. Um I take thank you so much for your time and consideration in this. Um and thank you. Thank you, Miss Lang. Next on the list, Mr. Joe Shen, who I don't see in the audience.

Okay, so then back to you to don't make the tunnel tonight. All right. Good evening, Mayor Shen, members of city council, city manager. What are your residents? My name is Tor Wall and I'm speaking today as general manager of South Central operations for Una totem Corporation representing uh the cruise terminal Pacific Alaska Tours Portugal Cruises and as well on behalf of Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings and their three brands to express strong concerns regarding the proposed ground transportation passenger fee. Norwegian Norwegian Cruise Lines Holding is no longer supportive of this fee as currently proposed. When this concept was first introduced over two years ago to NCL, it was presented that 100% of the revenue would be dedicated exclusively to emergency services. At the time, we were told waiter had only one EMS vehicle and one crew to operate it. A cruise ship passenger emergency could exist could exhaust that single resource, leaving no coverage for all year round residents. The fee pro the fee pro proceeds were to fund a secondary emergency vehicle and a get dedicated second crew directly addressing that critical capacity gap. Our current understanding is that the this dedicated allocation is no longer accurate. The fee now supports broader general infrastructure and services. Accordingly, NCH does not support the fee in its present form. Our shared goal is to establish Jugatch Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal as premier attractive cruise port in Alaska. One that draws visitors, supports local jobs, and benefits our small community sustainably. Imposing additional passenger fees like the one like this one works against the goals by

increasing costs for guest and potentially reducing Whittier's competitiveness compared to other Alaska ports. There is a better path forward. We can address legitimate city infrastructure needs by leveraging fees already collected from cruise passengers such as the state commercial passenger passenger vessel environmental compliance to existing port charges or other mechanisms other than layering on new direct fees that burdens visitors and risk deterring businesses. One only needs to look at Huna and Icy Straight Points as a proven model of success. Huna has become a vibrant growing community through true collaboration with cruise partners, not through extra passenger fees. Working together, they have built one of the most advanced sewer processing systems in the state. This year, they are connecting ice shape points to the system, which generates additional revenue for Huna, eliminates costly sewage hauling from the site, and ensures all waste is treated with state-of-the-art protection for our shared environment and subsistence way of life. This is how it's done. collaborative partnership that invests in shared infrastructure, protects our resources, and delivers mutual economic benefits without adding friction for guest. I urge the council to reconsider this fee in its current form and instead pursue collaborative solutions with cruise line stakeholders like Huna Totem Corporation and other partners. Let's build the strongest possible economic foundation for Whittier. one that makes Chuggash Glacier Gateway Cruise Terminal destination of choice, supports our residents needs, and sets an example for sta sustainable tourism in Alaska. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you for your comments. Is there anyone else signed in?

No one else has signed in.

Uh is there any members in the audience who would like to come forth and speak? any um make citizen comments. Okay, seeing none, council administrative response to citizen comments. Does the council administration wish to respond to citizen comments at this time? Okay. Okay. Up next, we have an executive session. I have a motion and a second to enter into the executive session to discuss Alaska Railroad Corporation land purchases, matters of which, if immediately disclosed, would tend to adversely affect the finances of the city. with your municipal code 2-08-04 0B1.

I need to get out of here for a few minutes. I got to go get some stuff out in the parking lot before people leave out the tunnel. We take a break. Yes. Do you want us to enter into uh should we enter into executive session and then have a break? Okay. Thank you. I'll make a motion to go into executive session. I'll second. Who would you like to remain in the executive session? Imagine we'll need

Mayor. I'd like to have the assistant city manager, myself, the harbor master, the public works director, and the finance director be in the room for this executive session. Okay. Oh, sorry. And legal. She's on the line. Stay here, Holly. Don't leave. Thank you. No, Holly. You'll have to go to teams. Sorry, Andre. Which I'll send you. Ready to vote. I don't know. Ready to vote? Yeah. Seeing any no discussion? Um, M. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Mr. McCalto. Thank you. Mr. Wagner, yes. Mrs. Loan, yes. Mr. Pinkush, yes. Mr. Denmark, yes.

Mrs. Borg, yes. Mayor Shen. Yes. The motion passes and council enters into executive session at 9:00 p.m.

Okay. Uh, we need a motion to exit executive session here. I'll make that motion and a second. I'll second it. Discussion. Madam clerk, please will you please call the role? Voting on the motion to exit executive session. Mr. Wagner, yes. Mrs. Borg. Yes. Mrs. Loan. Yes. Mr. Denmark. Yes. Mr. McCallzo. Yes. Mr. Pinkish. Yes. Mayor Shen? Yes.

The motion passes and council has exited exited executive session at 10:09 p.m. Would you like me to read the wording for the motion? Yes, please. Direct. Um, the motion is to direct the city manager to engage in surveying and preliminary plotting of certain city-owned lands as directed for negotiations with Alaska Railroad Corporation. Is there a motion in a second? I'll make the motion. I will second. Any discussion?

Madame Cler, will you please call the role? Voting on the motion to direct the city manager to engage in surveying and preliminary plotting of certain city-owned lands as directed for negotiations with Alaska Railroad Corporation. Mr. Wagner, yes. Mrs. Loan, yes. Mr. Pinkish, yes. Mr. McCalto, yes. Mr. Denmark, yes. Mrs. Borg, yes. Mayor Shen, yes. The motion passes and it city manager is so directed. Thank you, madam clerk. Is there any further business?

Seeing no further business, this meeting is adjourned at 10.