OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Valdez City Council Regular Meeting – January 6, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, January 6, 2026
BodyValdez, Alaska
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, January 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

Okay, we'll go ahead and call this uh meeting to order.

0:03

Um please stand with me to the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:08

Aye, Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to republic for which it stands under individuality.

0:24

King, you got a roll call.

0:30

Uh everyone is present this evening.

0:32

Council member um foster is um joining us via the via the internet here or via the yeah okay.

0:44

We'll go into uh approval of minutes, uh approval of the minutes for regular meeting of December 16th, 2025.

0:50

Anybody have any objections?

0:52

Okay, seeing the minutes uh they will be approved.

0:56

Uh public business from the floor.

0:58

Uh is there anybody here that would like to do public business from the floor on a non-agenda title?

1:06

Okay, seeing none.

1:08

Uh we have uh the consent agenda.

1:10

We have an appointment uh to VMHA board of directors, applicant Martha Baburio.

1:17

Um number one, number two is approval to go into executive session, implications for the city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska pipeline system advocate tax issues, discussion of ongoing escape property, legal issues, and discussion of local regulations and assessment of oil spill prevention and response property.

1:37

Um anybody wish to pull any of these items?

1:41

Motion to consent.

1:42

Mayor Fleming.

1:44

I'm sorry for interrupting.

1:45

Uh Mayor Fleming, I asked to pull the executive session item.

1:49

Uh we don't have an update to discuss an executive session more than what I'll discuss in my public update.

1:56

Oh, okay.

1:57

Excellent.

1:59

So we only have the appointment.

2:01

So back, we only have the appointment to the VAMA board of directors.

2:06

Motion to consent to the single item.

2:10

Second.

2:13

It's been moved by council member Devons, um, second by council member Lally to approve all items on the item on the consent agenda.

2:22

Okay, ready?

2:23

Yes, go ahead.

2:24

All those in favor, please say aye.

2:26

Aye.

2:26

Aye.

2:27

All right.

2:27

All those opposed.

2:30

Okay.

2:31

Yeah.

2:31

Seven nays, motion carries.

2:34

Okay, moving on to resolutions.

2:37

We have number 2601, amending the housing housing initiative plan for the purpose of constructing new residential dwelling units and rescinding resolution 24-14.

2:51

Motion to approve.

2:52

Second.

2:54

Move by council member Devons, uh, second by council member love to approve resolution 2601.

3:02

We have any council discussion on this item.

3:09

Go ahead.

3:09

Um, just question regarding the status of the housing needs assessment.

3:14

I think I saw it in the city manager's report.

3:16

We're talking about that maybe in February.

3:18

But is it is the report is the report done?

3:20

Or when are we gonna see that?

3:22

I guess.

3:22

Yeah, so right now we have a final draft.

3:25

Um, so we're having them work on some of our comments that we're giving back to them, and then we will submit a copy to you all to review in advance of any work session or council meeting.

3:35

But uh it's probably target is the first meeting in February to get that final draft back.

3:43

Thank you.

3:45

Okay, any uh public discussion.

3:50

All right, call for the vote.

3:52

All those in favor, please say aye.

3:54

Aye aye.

4:00

Okay, resolution 26-02 authorizing the purchase of a five-acre parcel known as lot two Mineral Creek Industrial Subdivision Track K from the Porta Valdeese Company in the amount of 415,000.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████33%
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Pending Litigation████████████████16%
Affordable Housing█████████████13%
Environmental Protection███████7%
City Manager Report██████6%
Healthcare Access█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Valdez City Council Regular Meeting – January 6, 2026

The Valdez City Council held a regular meeting on January 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting covered routine approvals, three resolutions, and reports from city staff. All resolutions were passed unanimously. No public comments were received from the floor.

Consent Calendar

  • Appointment to VMHA Board of Directors: Martha Barberio was appointed to the Valdez Municipal Housing Authority Board of Directors by unanimous consent.
  • The item to go into executive session was pulled from the consent agenda after a council member stated no update was needed for discussion.

Resolutions (Discussion Items)

  • Resolution #26-01: Amending the Housing Incentive Plan for new residential dwelling units and rescinding Resolution #24-14. Approved unanimously (7-0). During discussion, Councilmember Lally asked about the status of the housing needs assessment; City Manager DeVal responded that a final draft is expected by the first meeting in February.
  • Resolution #26-02: Authorizing purchase of a 5-acre parcel (Lot 2, Mineral Creek Industrial Subdivision, Tract K) from Port Valdez Company for $415,000. Approved unanimously (7-0). Councilmember Lally inquired about potential contamination or remediation issues; City Manager DeVal stated no known contamination, though poor silty soils are expected. The purchase also secures a permanent easement for water tower access, previously unwritten.
  • Resolution #26-03: Authorizing the sale of a 2011 Skidsteer Bobcat S100. Approved unanimously (7-0).

Reports

  • Temporary Land Use Permit 26-01: Issued to Valdez City School District for temporary use of city-owned property; no discussion.
  • City Manager Report:
    • Update on earmark for the radio project: the prior earmark expired with the continuing resolution, but a new commerce bill is pending in Congress.
    • Fire department work session: an AFD union representative will be in town January 19-21; council agreed to add a Q&A discussion item to the January 20 regular meeting.
    • Federal lobbying RFQ: council consensus to proceed with CHCG (incumbent); negotiations will follow.
    • Communications ongoing regarding pipeline code property.
  • City Clerk Report: Reminded council to complete performance evaluations for the city manager and city clerk by January 8 at 5:00 PM. Also reminded of a work session with BCB on Thursday, January 8 at 6:00 PM.
  • City Attorney Report (Jake):
    • TOP settlement: awaiting response from TOP owners; a preliminary indication of value from the state assessor is expected in mid-January.
    • VMTC plan update (secondary containment): SPAR issued a letter on December 24 stating the proposed testing plan was not acceptable and required improvements (e.g., testing criteria, increased duration, additional monitoring, margin of error). Alyeska must submit a revised plan by January 13; city and PWSRCAC have until January 28 to comment. Testing for cells 1-4 is required in 2026, cells 5-7 in 2027.
    • ABLE's employment matter: appointed counsel confirmed that an offer of judgment would resolve all claims; city is working with insurance broker David Hale.

Council Business from the Floor

  • Councilmember Lesser wished everyone a happy new year and expressed optimism.
  • Councilmember noted appreciation for snow and Valdez street maintenance, contrasted with Anchorage.
  • Councilmember announced Alaska will receive ~$1.4 billion over five years for federal rural health transformation programs and encouraged the city to tap into those funds; also noted the governor's proposed budget includes a $1.5 billion deficit.
  • Councilmember commented on the 4th of July fireworks display and wished everyone a happy new year.

Key Outcomes

  • All three resolutions (26-01, 26-02, 26-03) were approved unanimously (7-0).
  • The consent agenda appointment was approved; executive session item was not moved forward.
  • Council directed staff to negotiate with CHCG for federal lobbying services.
  • Council agreed to add a Q&A session with an AFD union representative to the January 20 meeting agenda.
  • No other formal votes were taken; reports were received and noted.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, we'll go ahead and call this uh meeting to order. Um please stand with me to the Pledge of Allegiance. Aye, Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to republic for which it stands under individuality. King, you got a roll call. Uh everyone is present this evening. Council member um foster is um joining us via the via the internet here or via the yeah okay. We'll go into uh approval of minutes, uh approval of the minutes for regular meeting of December 16th, 2025. Anybody have any objections? Okay, seeing the minutes uh they will be approved. Uh public business from the floor. Uh is there anybody here that would like to do public business from the floor on a non-agenda title? Okay, seeing none. Uh we have uh the consent agenda. We have an appointment uh to VMHA board of directors, applicant Martha Baburio. Um number one, number two is approval to go into executive session, implications for the city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska pipeline system advocate tax issues, discussion of ongoing escape property, legal issues, and discussion of local regulations and assessment of oil spill prevention and response property. Um anybody wish to pull any of these items? Motion to consent. Mayor Fleming. I'm sorry for interrupting. Uh Mayor Fleming, I asked to pull the executive session item. Uh we don't have an update to discuss an executive session more than what I'll discuss in my public update. Oh, okay. Excellent. So we only have the appointment. So back, we only have the appointment to the VAMA board of directors. Motion to consent to the single item. Second. It's been moved by council member Devons, um, second by council member Lally to approve all items on the item on the consent agenda. Okay, ready? Yes, go ahead. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. All right. All those opposed. Okay. Yeah. Seven nays, motion carries. Okay, moving on to resolutions. We have number 2601, amending the housing housing initiative plan for the purpose of constructing new residential dwelling units and rescinding resolution 24-14. Motion to approve. Second. Move by council member Devons, uh, second by council member love to approve resolution 2601. We have any council discussion on this item. Go ahead. Um, just question regarding the status of the housing needs assessment. I think I saw it in the city manager's report. We're talking about that maybe in February. But is it is the report is the report done? Or when are we gonna see that?

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