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Record of Proceedings

Valdez City Council Regular Meeting and 2026 Budget Hearing - Nov 18, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, November 18, 2025
BodyValdez, Alaska
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, November 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Okay, we're gonna go ahead and call this meeting to order.

0:06

Call this regular meeting to order at 7 p.m.

0:09

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance.

0:12

Aye.

0:20

Yes.

0:21

Undergallon.

0:22

Invisible with liberty.

0:24

Just describ.

0:29

Let's go ahead and do a roll call.

0:32

All members of council are present with council member Lally attending by phone.

0:38

Okay.

0:39

There are two sets of minutes for approval this evening.

0:42

Approval of the minutes of regular meeting council meeting of November 4th, 2025, and approval of minutes for special council meeting on October 28, 2025.

0:53

Are there any corrections or objections to these minutes?

0:57

Okay, let the meet uh minutes stand.

1:07

Okay, this is the time for members of the public business from the floor to address the council on non-agenda items.

1:15

Is there any public business from the floor?

1:21

Okay, seeing none, we're going to go to the consent agenda.

1:24

There are three items on the consent agenda.

1:26

Please let me know if you want to poll any of the items.

1:29

Approval to go into executive session, discussion of implications of seven city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, Evalorum tax issues, discussion of ongoing escape property legal issues, discussion of local regulation and assessment of oil school prevention and response property.

1:48

Appointment to planning and zoning commission, applicants Rhonda Wade and Don Hayes, and appointment to the Valleys Consortium Library Board applicant Chelsea Hearst.

2:00

So last, sorry, Celeste Hurst.

2:03

Is there a motion?

2:06

Move to approve all consent agenda items.

2:10

Second move by council member Foster, seconded by council member love to approve the consent agenda.

2:20

Okay.

2:20

Uh any cancel discussions.

2:25

Any public comment?

2:27

Call for the vote.

2:28

All those in favor say aye.

2:30

Aye.

2:31

Aye.

2:33

Aye.

2:35

With a vote of seven yes.

2:37

Motion carries.

2:39

Okay, there's uh new business.

2:41

There is one item under new business, and it's number one is approval of write-offs of various CPs and forwarding to collection agency.

2:49

Do I have a motion?

2:52

Move to approve.

2:53

Second.

2:55

Move by council member love, seconded by council member Whitty to approve write-offs of various city fees and forwarding to collection agencies.

3:05

Council discussion, go ahead.

3:07

There's a couple questions.

3:08

This might be for Director Nelson.

3:10

Um, just in the second table for the items over 500.

3:16

Um is the first question I just saw for uh one of the line items.

3:21

It's it's less than 500.

3:22

I was just curious why that was in the table for us.

3:31

Yeah, I think that might just be an oversight.

3:33

And then uh thank you.

3:36

And then for the um the other two that are in regards to the property acquired via foreclosure.

3:43

Um, you know, it says write-off clears the balance from property accounts tax obligation remains.

3:49

Did you just explain what that means?

3:50

So, like we're we're writing it off, but somehow we're accounting for it, you know, at the end of the day when somebody maybe uh you know purchases the foreclosed property, like how do we I guess like keep track of that once we're writing it off?

4:04

A little bit in the week.

4:05

Yeah, good question.

4:07

Good question.

4:07

I'll address that.

4:09

The we have to clear the balance from our software, and so this formally does that with council action.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Economic Development█████████████████17%
Harbor Management█████████████13%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████12%
Water And Wastewater Management██████████10%
City Manager Report████████8%
City Clerk Report████████8%
Public Engagement████4%
Legal████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Valdez City Council Regular Meeting and Public Hearing on 2026 Budget - November 18, 2025

The Valdez City Council held a regularly scheduled meeting on November 18, 2025, preceded by a public hearing on the 2026 City Budget at 6:00 PM. During the regular session starting at 7:00 PM, the council approved the consent agenda, a write-off of city fees, an ordinance repealing the Economic Diversification Commission, and three resolutions. The meeting concluded with reports from the city manager, clerk, attorney, and mayor, followed by an executive session to discuss TAPS ad valorem tax issues.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (7-0) to go into executive session regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System ad valorem tax issues, escaped property legal issues, and oil spill prevention property assessment.
  • Approved appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission (Rhonda Wade and Don Haase) and the Valdez Consortium Library Board (Celeste Hurst).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • The public hearing on the 2026 City Budget (6:00-7:00 PM) was held but no spoken testimony is recorded in the transcript. No public comments were made during the regular meeting's Public Business from the Floor or on individual agenda items.

Discussion Items

  • Write-Offs of City Fees: Approved unanimously (7-0). Director Nelson clarified that for properties acquired via foreclosure, the write-off clears the balance from the tax software but the city maintains an off-books calculation of fees and procedural costs associated with the property.
  • Ordinance #25-15 – Repealing Economic Diversification Commission: First reading and public hearing. Councilmembers debated whether to hold a work session with the remaining two commissioners. Several councilmembers (Love, Foster, Green, Devon, and the Mayor) opposed a work session, citing inability to achieve a quorum and noting the commission had accomplished its purpose. The ordinance was approved 6-1, with Councilmember Devon casting the sole nay vote.
  • Resolution #25-53 – Negotiated Sale of Pipeline Club Property: Approved 7-0. Councilmember Whitty initially voiced concern about accountability but was reassured by Section 5 of the resolution describing the original RFP terms.
  • Resolution #25-54 – Harbor Fund Transfer for Commercial Fishing Vessel Moorage Waiver: Approved 7-0. Councilmembers praised the program as a critical support for local fishermen during a poor fishing season. Clarified that the waiver was for the 2024 fishing season and tied to an economic disaster declaration.
  • Resolution #25-55 – Debt Service Fund Balance Transfer: Approved 7-0. Transfers $5,083,353 to the Projects Planning Reserve with no debate.
  • City Manager Report: Nate detailed a productive DC trip discussing Coast Guard funding and vessel of opportunity challenges. Announced a potential Senator Sullivan presentation, a work session with VCBB on December 3rd, a Providence presentation on doctor recruitment on December 2nd, and a housing needs assessment draft due December 4th.
  • City Attorney Report: Provided updates on VMTC plan renewal, including concerns about secondary containment testing methodology (pass/fail threshold of 160,000 gallons per hour deemed insufficient), granted adjudicatory hearing with a pre-hearing conference on December 5th, and a pending executive session on the TAPS settlement and wrongful termination suit.
  • Mayor’s Report: Thanked the finance department for budget work and highlighted productive DC meetings with congressional delegates and the Coast Guard.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (7-0).
  • Write-Offs: Approved 7-0.
  • Ordinance #25-15 (First Reading): Approved 6-1 (Councilmember Devon opposed).
  • Resolution #25-53 (Pipeline Club Property): Approved 7-0 (required six votes).
  • Resolution #25-54 (Harbor Fund Transfer): Approved 7-0.
  • Resolution #25-55 (Debt Service Transfer): Approved 7-0.
  • Executive Session: Held to discuss TAPS ad valorem tax issues and litigation strategy; council gave direction as discussed.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, we're gonna go ahead and call this meeting to order. Call this regular meeting to order at 7 p.m. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. Aye. Yes. Undergallon. Invisible with liberty. Just describ. Let's go ahead and do a roll call. All members of council are present with council member Lally attending by phone. Okay. There are two sets of minutes for approval this evening. Approval of the minutes of regular meeting council meeting of November 4th, 2025, and approval of minutes for special council meeting on October 28, 2025. Are there any corrections or objections to these minutes? Okay, let the meet uh minutes stand. Okay, this is the time for members of the public business from the floor to address the council on non-agenda items. Is there any public business from the floor? Okay, seeing none, we're going to go to the consent agenda. There are three items on the consent agenda. Please let me know if you want to poll any of the items. Approval to go into executive session, discussion of implications of seven city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, Evalorum tax issues, discussion of ongoing escape property legal issues, discussion of local regulation and assessment of oil school prevention and response property. Appointment to planning and zoning commission, applicants Rhonda Wade and Don Hayes, and appointment to the Valleys Consortium Library Board applicant Chelsea Hearst. So last, sorry, Celeste Hurst. Is there a motion? Move to approve all consent agenda items. Second move by council member Foster, seconded by council member love to approve the consent agenda. Okay. Uh any cancel discussions. Any public comment? Call for the vote. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. With a vote of seven yes. Motion carries. Okay, there's uh new business. There is one item under new business, and it's number one is approval of write-offs of various CPs and forwarding to collection agency. Do I have a motion? Move to approve. Second. Move by council member love, seconded by council member Whitty to approve write-offs of various city fees and forwarding to collection agencies. Council discussion, go ahead. There's a couple questions. This might be for Director Nelson. Um, just in the second table for the items over 500. Um is the first question I just saw for uh one of the line items. It's it's less than 500. I was just curious why that was in the table for us. Yeah, I think that might just be an oversight.

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