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Record of Proceedings

Valdez Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – February 10, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, February 10, 2026
BodyValdez, Alaska
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, February 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

This regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 7.06 p.m.

0:06

And all members are present and uh are present.

0:10

So yay, go us.

0:13

Um we can continue.

0:15

Um approval of minutes.

0:18

We have one set of minutes to approve for uh November 13th, 2025.

0:24

Are there any objections or changes to note?

0:28

I would like to make a note.

0:31

Um, and maybe I was misreading this.

0:34

Um I believe that in the first section where we talk where we're voting for the chair and the chair pro tem.

0:42

It mentions in the in there that for the chair pro tem uh that commissioner Rabita was uh let me see.

0:53

Let me walk.

0:54

I don't have the minutes in front of me.

0:56

I do.

0:58

Okay, yeah.

1:00

Yes.

1:01

Commissioner member will be there for the second by commissioner member Rush vote to nominate chair against the read the second one.

1:11

Uh vote on motion, yes for this one.

1:14

Uh nope.

1:16

So sorry, here it is.

1:18

Um at the bottom of page two.

1:23

Yes, so it says motion commissioner member rush moved, seconded by commissioner chair Jorgensen Owen to nominate commissioner member Robita for chair pro tem.

1:34

But then later on in the business from the floor, it says, well, and we know um commission member rush is the chair pro tem.

1:47

So I think it just sorry, all that to say there was a name, there was the wrong name at in the election for the chair pro tem.

1:57

I thought we voted Jeremy.

1:59

So did I thought it was me and Jeremy?

2:01

So I think it is Jeremy, yes, okay, because later on, but later on in there from Commission Business from the Floor, it says chair pro tem rush um commented.

2:11

So that was why I was confused.

2:12

But yes, okay.

2:13

Well, I'm glad I brought it up.

2:15

So apparently Jeremy and and Ben.

2:18

Okay, so Jeremy is the pro tem.

2:22

Okay.

2:23

So I just need to change the note part further down in the commission.

2:27

Yes, yeah.

2:30

And then we'll just make make a note for you in boot.

2:36

Jared, yes, but that's fine.

2:38

It's it's fine.

2:39

We just there was a confusion as to the chair pro tem for a second here.

2:44

So and then next meeting, you guys will be swapped because Jeremy will.

2:52

Okay.

2:54

Are there any other notes or discussion or notes related to or clarifications for the minutes, other than that piece?

3:07

Okay.

3:08

All right.

3:10

Um so the minutes won't stand adopted, but uh we'll vote on the approval then at the next meeting.

3:18

Um once those changes have been made.

3:20

Thank you, Lisa.

3:22

Sorry, it was kind of a long way around the barn.

3:25

I was and that does explain because I was like, I thought it was Jeremy.

3:29

Then I was like, well, maybe it's Ben.

3:31

I I couldn't remember.

3:32

All right.

3:33

Okay, moving forward.

3:35

Public business from the floor is the time for members of the public to address the commission on non-agenda items.

3:42

Uh seeing that there is no one here from the public, uh, I am going to move on to the next item.

3:49

Uh reports.

3:51

So we have a um, we have two reports actually.

3:56

We have the parks and recreation cultural services 2025 year end report, which was included in your packets.

4:04

Um Cole, did you have anything to add before?

4:08

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████53%
Public Engagement████████████████████████28%
Procedural████████████████19%
Summary of Proceedings

Valdez Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – February 10, 2026

The Parks and Recreation Commission of Valdez, Alaska, met on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 7:06 PM in the Council Chambers. All commission members were present. The meeting lasted approximately 20 minutes and adjourned at 7:26 PM. Key topics included a correction to the November 2025 minutes, updates on winter trail grooming, campground maintenance and contracts, and the interim director's report.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval (November 13, 2025): Commissioner Rush requested a correction regarding the election of chair pro tem. The minutes incorrectly named Commissioner Robita; the correct selection was Commissioner Rush (Jeremy). The minutes were not approved tonight; they will be revised and voted on at the next meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public were present to address the commission.

Discussion Items

  • PRCS 2025 Year End Report (presented by Cole, Parks Maintenance Supervisor):
    • Mountain bike trail grooming at Nioklagu Park: Grooming is being done with a snow machine; main trails have corduroy and parallel tracks. Alder Flow is groomed and skiable/hikeable, though some turns are tight; it is open to any non-motorized uses. New signage for trail etiquette will be installed in spring.
    • Salmonberry Ski Hill rope tow: Opening day had great turnout. An unofficial poll suggested strong interest in nighttime use with lights; Cole confirmed plans to offer night sessions, possibly aligned with full moons, with staff willing to work night shifts.
    • Campground maintenance: Significant brush clearing was completed this fall using a mini excavator. Roughly 100 dump truck loads of alders were removed, and fill was brought in for tent pads, parking, and potholes. Two city-owned campgrounds (Valdez Glacier and Allison Point) are operated under contract; Allison Point contractor (MWR) is giving up that portion, so a new RFP is being issued.
  • Interim Director Report (delivered by Cole):
    • Cole is serving as interim director while Bridget is on maternity leave. Programs are going smoothly; an ice climbing class over the prior weekend had full enrollment and positive feedback. Salmonberry Ski Hill is open, and winter grooming is ongoing.
    • Contracts: The lawn care contract is currently out for bid via RFQ. Allison Point campground is being put out for RFP because the current contractor, MWR (based out of Fort Greely), chose not to continue that part of the contract but will retain Valdez Glacier Campground.

Commission Business from the Floor

  • Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Tran had no items.
  • Commissioner Robita praised the skating and skiing trails and the rope tow, noting the snow community is active.
  • Commissioner Rush thanked staff for engaging his students and highlighted many activities (ice fest, Salmonberry, muckluck, pickleball). He relayed a student's question about recycling in Valdez; the chair noted that recycling information is available on the city website and offered to share details offline.
  • The chair (also the city's communications manager) announced a new webpage for Nioklagu Park, accessible via valdezAK.gov/mealshill or the parks page. It includes trail maps, etiquette (including "slow and say hello"), and photos. Upcoming videos will feature Sukstoon names of plants and animals. The chair also thanked Cole for his work and noted the next meeting will include a trail etiquette presentation.

Key Outcomes

  • The November 13, 2025 minutes were not approved; corrections will be made and the minutes brought back for approval at the next meeting.
  • The commission acknowledged the plan to introduce night lighting at Salmonberry Ski Hill.
  • New RFPs for lawn care and Allison Point campground operation are being issued; community members interested are encouraged to respond.
  • The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2026, at 6:30 PM, and will include a trail etiquette program presentation.

Meeting Transcript

This regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 7.06 p.m. And all members are present and uh are present. So yay, go us. Um we can continue. Um approval of minutes. We have one set of minutes to approve for uh November 13th, 2025. Are there any objections or changes to note? I would like to make a note. Um, and maybe I was misreading this. Um I believe that in the first section where we talk where we're voting for the chair and the chair pro tem. It mentions in the in there that for the chair pro tem uh that commissioner Rabita was uh let me see. Let me walk. I don't have the minutes in front of me. I do. Okay, yeah. Yes. Commissioner member will be there for the second by commissioner member Rush vote to nominate chair against the read the second one. Uh vote on motion, yes for this one. Uh nope. So sorry, here it is. Um at the bottom of page two. Yes, so it says motion commissioner member rush moved, seconded by commissioner chair Jorgensen Owen to nominate commissioner member Robita for chair pro tem. But then later on in the business from the floor, it says, well, and we know um commission member rush is the chair pro tem. So I think it just sorry, all that to say there was a name, there was the wrong name at in the election for the chair pro tem. I thought we voted Jeremy. So did I thought it was me and Jeremy? So I think it is Jeremy, yes, okay, because later on, but later on in there from Commission Business from the Floor, it says chair pro tem rush um commented. So that was why I was confused. But yes, okay. Well, I'm glad I brought it up. So apparently Jeremy and and Ben. Okay, so Jeremy is the pro tem. Okay. So I just need to change the note part further down in the commission. Yes, yeah. And then we'll just make make a note for you in boot. Jared, yes, but that's fine. It's it's fine. We just there was a confusion as to the chair pro tem for a second here. So and then next meeting, you guys will be swapped because Jeremy will. Okay. Are there any other notes or discussion or notes related to or clarifications for the minutes, other than that piece? Okay. All right. Um so the minutes won't stand adopted, but uh we'll vote on the approval then at the next meeting. Um once those changes have been made. Thank you, Lisa. Sorry, it was kind of a long way around the barn. I was and that does explain because I was like, I thought it was Jeremy. Then I was like, well, maybe it's Ben.

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