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Record of Proceedings

City Council Meeting – February 17, 2026: Approvals, Reports, and Executive Session

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, February 17, 2026
BodyValdez, Alaska
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, February 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 39:14

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Let's see everybody online here.

0:04

Olivia and Jimmy online.

0:09

Jimmy.

0:10

Yes, ma'am.

0:11

Okay.

0:12

All right.

0:12

Um, okay, Mr.

0:14

Mayor.

0:14

Um, all council members are present this evening.

0:18

Okay, please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:24

All right.

0:29

And to the Republic for which one nation under God.

0:34

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:40

Okay.

0:42

Roll call.

0:44

We did um public business from the floor.

0:47

Any public business from the floor.

0:51

Okay, seeing none, we will go to the uh consent agenda.

0:55

We have two items on the consent agenda.

0:58

Approval to go into executive session, discussion of implications of city revenue and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Ad Valorum tax issues.

1:08

Number two is approval of senior center hardship property tax exemption for Barbara Ezel.

1:15

Move to approve the consent agenda.

1:18

Second, and moved by Councilmember Lally.

1:23

Uh second by council member Whitty to approve all items on the consent agenda.

1:29

Ready for the vote.

1:31

Um all those in favor, please say aye.

1:34

Aye.

1:35

Aye.

1:35

All those opposed.

1:38

We have seven yes.

1:39

Motion carries.

1:41

Okay, moving on to new business.

1:43

We have approval of the 2026 community purpose property tax exemption applications.

1:51

Move to approve.

1:53

Move to a second.

1:57

Then move by council member Love, second by Councilmember Foster to approve the 2026 community purpose property tax exemption applications.

2:07

Do we have any comments on that?

2:09

Go ahead.

2:10

Just a couple questions.

2:11

Just curious about in general.

2:14

Were all these properties also do they receive the exemption last year?

2:18

Are there any new properties on the list?

2:22

Through the mayor, council member love.

2:25

These are all properties that have received the exemption in the past.

2:29

Okay.

2:29

And then I just saw in on that table that uh KCG property with just 64% of the area exempt.

2:37

Is that the same as last year too?

2:38

Was that highlighting the table just because it's not a high?

2:41

They re-measured the proportions.

2:44

So that is different from last year.

2:46

Okay.

2:46

So they're claiming a slightly higher proportion of the building.

2:50

Okay.

2:50

Gotcha.

2:51

But they re-measured.

2:52

Um something to do with the stairwell.

2:54

That's what we've been told.

2:55

Okay, gotcha.

2:57

It was just a change from last year.

2:59

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
City Manager Report███████████████████████23%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Pending Litigation█████████████████17%
Legislative Advocacy███████████11%
City Clerk Report███████████11%
Election Funding██████████10%
Public Engagement█████5%
Senior Tax Exemption███3%
Strategic Planning███3%
Summary of Proceedings

City Council Meeting – February 17, 2026

The Valdez City Council met on February 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM. The meeting included unanimous approval of the consent agenda and new business, followed by reports from the city manager, clerk, attorney, mayor, and council members. The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System ad valorem tax issues and escape property matters.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (7-0) the approval to go into executive session regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System ad valorem tax issues and litigation strategy.
  • Approved the Senior Citizen Hardship Property Tax Exemption for Barbara Ezell.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made from the floor.

Discussion Items

  • Approval of 2026 Community Purpose Property Tax Exemption Applications: Approved unanimously. Councilmember Love inquired whether all properties had received the exemption previously. City Clerk Sarah Jorgensen confirmed all were prior recipients except KCG property, where the exempt percentage changed from last year due to a re-measurement of the stairwell area.
  • Procurement Reports: The council received reports on the purchases of a 2025 Kubota L3560HSTC-LE tractor, two 2025 Ford Explorer patrol vehicles (#251 and #252), a 2025 Chevrolet 2500 crew cab, and a 2025 CAT skid steer. Additionally, a change order with Knik Construction for the Kelsey Dock dolphin/bollard temporary installation in the amount of $16,500 was reported. Councilmember Foster asked about completion status; City Manager Duval confirmed the work is complete and ready for the upcoming season.
  • City Manager Report:
    • A water line break near the Best Western was repaired and backfilled.
    • The sled hill at the elementary school will be installed this week.
    • Proposed a work session on March 17, 2026 (before the next council meeting) to discuss strategic planning topics for the upcoming summer.
    • Discussed the upcoming DC trip (first week of March). Due to federal government shutdown concerns, recommended sending a smaller contingent (Mayor and one council member) for March, possibly with a larger group in fall. Council discussed the value of meeting with agencies and the open earmark portal. Consensus leaned toward sending Mayor Fleming and Councilmember Green.
  • City Clerk Report:
    • Flash vote results on boards and commissions were distributed; internal meeting planned; an open house before the annual training may be held.
    • "I Voted" sticker design challenge: top eight finalists selected (four per age group: 12-and-under and 13-18). Public voting via Flash Vote will take place March 2-4, 2026.
    • Petitions for city council (two three-year seats and one two-year seat) and school board (two three-year seats) are available; filing deadline is March 16, 2026.
    • Request to move the May council meeting to May 26, 2026 to avoid placing new council members on the Board of Equalization (scheduled for May 14-15). Council agreed.
  • City Attorney Report (Drake):
    • C Plan: motion to supplement the record filed; awaiting order.
    • Redistricting: appeal on attorney fees; board's brief due April 1, 2026; city's reply due April 21.
    • BP Hill Corp transaction: Supreme Court granted RCAC's amicus brief supporting the city; petition for review filed.
    • Escape property tax years 1997-2016: appeal filed. 2017-2018: dismissed, refunds paid. 2019-2023: city prevailed; supplemental assessment of approximately $13 million expected within the first or second quarter of this fiscal year.
    • TAPS ad valorem issues: mediation update to be discussed in executive session.
  • Mayor and Council Reports:
    • Mayor Fleming reported on the Juneau trip, noting state budget challenges but positive reception of the city's asks.
    • Councilmember Green announced he has taken out a petition to run for re-election.
    • Councilmember Love thanked first responders for their response to the man camp fire.
    • Councilmember Foster thanked the city clerk and staff for the sticker challenge and the Juneau contingent.
    • Councilmember Lally reported that drones donated to Skagway were well received.
    • Councilmember Whitty echoed thanks for the Juneau trip.
    • Councilmember Olivia expressed excitement for the i voted stickers and appreciation for Councilmember Green's re-election bid.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved (7-0) to enter executive session and grant senior citizen hardship exemption.
  • 2026 Community Purpose Property Tax Exemption Applications approved (7-0).
  • Work session scheduled for March 17, 2026 at 5:30 or 6:00 PM (to be confirmed) for strategic planning.
  • DC trip: Likely sending Mayor Fleming and Councilmember Green in early March; final decision pending.
  • May council meeting moved to May 26, 2026.
  • Supplemental assessment of approximately $13 million for tax years 2019-2023 expected within the first or second quarter of the fiscal year.
  • Executive session held; direction given to city attorney on escape properties and TAPS ad valorem issues.

Meeting Transcript

Let's see everybody online here. Olivia and Jimmy online. Jimmy. Yes, ma'am. Okay. All right. Um, okay, Mr. Mayor. Um, all council members are present this evening. Okay, please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance. All right. And to the Republic for which one nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Roll call. We did um public business from the floor. Any public business from the floor. Okay, seeing none, we will go to the uh consent agenda. We have two items on the consent agenda. Approval to go into executive session, discussion of implications of city revenue and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Ad Valorum tax issues. Number two is approval of senior center hardship property tax exemption for Barbara Ezel. Move to approve the consent agenda. Second, and moved by Councilmember Lally. Uh second by council member Whitty to approve all items on the consent agenda. Ready for the vote. Um all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. All those opposed. We have seven yes. Motion carries. Okay, moving on to new business. We have approval of the 2026 community purpose property tax exemption applications. Move to approve. Move to a second. Then move by council member Love, second by Councilmember Foster to approve the 2026 community purpose property tax exemption applications. Do we have any comments on that? Go ahead. Just a couple questions. Just curious about in general. Were all these properties also do they receive the exemption last year? Are there any new properties on the list? Through the mayor, council member love. These are all properties that have received the exemption in the past. Okay. And then I just saw in on that table that uh KCG property with just 64% of the area exempt. Is that the same as last year too? Was that highlighting the table just because it's not a high? They re-measured the proportions. So that is different from last year.

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