The Valdez City Council met on September 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, with all seven members present (Council Member Foster participating online). The meeting covered a consent proclamation, several new business items, ordinances, and resolutions—all approved unanimously—along with reports from city staff and the city attorney. Key actions included approving a $222,351 professional services agreement for child care facility design, authorizing a $4 million federal grant application for port improvements with up to $1.25 million in local match, and accepting a $16,000 ASPCA grant for animal shelter kennel upgrades.
Here we will go ahead and uh please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Could you go ahead and give us a roll call? All council members are present with Council Member Foster online. Okay, do we have any uh public business from the floor on non-agenda items? Okay, seeing none, we'll go ahead and go into the consent agenda where we have one um item on the consent agenda, which is a proclamation of suicide prevention month uh month. Can I please uh get a uh second? Uh huh. Motion to consent, second Jimmy and Okay. I'm gonna go ahead and uh call for the vote vote. All right, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? With seven yes, motion carries. Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and read the proclamation. Um, whereas September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, and September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. This is a time when millions of people around the world join their voices to raise awareness of suicide prevention, treatment, and recovery. And whereas this is a time that is dedicated to bring visibility to the role everyone in the community can play in preventing suicide and to encourage all community members to know the signs. First the words and reach out to someone they're concerned about. And whereas the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide continues to work against suicide prevention efforts by discouraging our friends, families, and neighbors at risk for suicide from seeking life-saving assistance and further traumatizes survivors of suicide. And whereas education about the warning signs of suicide, the value of prevention measures, and the best methods methods to support those in need, is essential to our community. And whereas suicidal thoughts can affect everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, orientation, income level, religion, or background. And whereas, according to the American uh foundation for suicide prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages 10 and 34, with more than 48,000 people dying by suicide annually in the United States. Whereas every member of our community should understand that throughout life's struggles, we all need the occasional reminder that we are all slightly fighting our own battles. And whereas we can help prevent suicide. If you or someone you know need support now, call or text the Suicide Crisis Lifeline at 988. Access chat at 988Lifeline.org or dial 911. Now, therefore, I Dennis Fleming, mayor of the city of Valdez, do hereby proclaim that the month of September is designated as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and encourage all citizens to take the time to inquire as the well-being of their family, friends, and neighbors, and to generally convey their appreciation for their existence by any gesture they deem appropriate. And I have on behalf of accepting the proclamation, sound mental health. One more yeah. Yeah, I appreciate that. I appreciate the uh proclamation. Uh suicide is a very difficult topic, and we don't talk about it very often. Um but it is very uh very tragic and has very um it's very impactful on our community. Uh but I I like the proclamation because it highlights a couple of things, and one of those is that suicide, although is often associated as a mental health problem. Um as noted in here, there's references to mental health, but this proclamation also suggests that uh suicide is a community problem, it's a social problem. It has something to do with the way that we connect with each other and the ways that we don't connect. And so I appreciate the uh the proclamation and um hope that we can all continue to work to prevent suicide in our community. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, moving to new business approval of professional service agreement number 2410 with uh Bettlesworth North Architects or plan planners for child care facility design in the amount of 222,351 dollars. Move to approve. Second council discussion public discussion. Okay, seeing none, call for the vote. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed with seven yes, zero opposed, motion carries okay. Now moving on to ordinances. Uh authorizing an amendment to the zoning map to effect a change to lot two ASLS 78139 plat 98-2 to general commercial first reading public hearing.