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Record of Proceedings

Valdez City Council Regular Meeting - March 3, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, March 3, 2026
BodyValdez, Alaska
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, March 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 12:08

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0:22

We can take the roll, City Clerk.

0:24

All members are present except for Mayor Fleming, who is away on city business and is absent and exclude excused.

0:31

Councilmember Foster is joining online.

0:34

Great, thanks.

0:35

And Olivia, can you hear us?

0:39

Yes, Mayor Pro Tem.

0:40

Thank you.

0:41

Thanks.

0:42

All right.

0:43

Next we have approval of the minutes.

0:45

We got two minutes up for approval.

0:47

We have the minutes from the January 6th, 2026 regular meeting.

0:51

And we have the minutes from the February 17th, 2026 meeting.

0:56

Do we have any corrections to the minutes?

1:02

All right.

1:03

No corrections.

1:04

So those stand is approved.

1:07

All right.

1:08

Next we have public business from the floor.

1:10

Does anybody have public business from the floor?

1:12

If you do, please state your name and you have five minutes.

1:17

Okay.

1:22

All right.

1:23

Seeing none, moving on to the consent agenda.

1:26

We have four items on the consent agenda.

1:29

The first item is appointments to the PBMC Community Advisory Council.

1:33

Applicants Kate Dugan and Pam Sherell.

1:35

The second item is approval of liquor license renewal, Mike's Palace.

1:40

The third item is approval of memorandum of agreement between U.S.

1:43

Coast Guard, Sector Field Office Valdees, and Valdez Fire and EMS department.

1:49

And the fourth item is approval to go into executive session regarding discussion of implications for city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Ad Valorum tax issues.

2:02

Move to approve the consent agenda.

2:05

Second.

2:07

Moved by Councilmember Lally, seconded by Councilmember Whitty to approve the consent agenda.

2:14

All right.

2:15

All those in favor.

2:20

Aye.

2:21

Aye.

2:22

Any opposed?

2:24

With a vote of six yes, one absent, Mayor Fleming.

2:28

Motion carries.

2:30

All right.

2:31

Moving on to new business.

2:34

We have one item of new business.

2:36

It's appointment to the Valleys Museum Historical Archive Board of Directors.

2:40

We have two applicants, Rochelle Barris and Karen Mitchell.

2:46

I think everybody has little voting papers to hand down to the city clerk once you have that.

2:54

But I don't see any references just don't have comments.

2:58

Okay.

2:59

And then you have something worked out with Olivia.

3:02

Olivia tests with me.

3:03

Okay.

3:04

Great.

3:05

And do we have any public comments on the appointment to the VMHA board of directors, the applicants?

3:17

All right, I'm not seeing any public comment on that one.

3:26

Come up to the mic if you have public comment on the agenda item.

3:31

For this agenda item.

4:01

I move to approve Karen Mitchell to a three-year term on the VMHA board of directors.

4:10

Second.

4:13

Moved by Councilmember Lally, seconded by Councilmember Green to appoint Karen Mitchell for a three-year term on the VMHA board of directors.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
City Clerk Report█████████████████████21%
City Attorney Report███████████████████19%
Pending Litigation█████████████13%
Legislative Advocacy█████████9%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Election Funding████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Valdez City Council Regular Meeting - March 3, 2026

The Valdez City Council held a regular meeting on March 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM (16:00 UTC). Mayor Fleming was absent and excused; Councilmember Foster participated remotely. The meeting covered routine approvals, appointments, reports, and initial discussion on a state retirement bill.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from January 6, 2026, and February 17, 2026, regular meetings without correction.
  • Appointed Kate Dugan and Pam Shirrell to the PVMC Community Advisory Council.
  • Approved liquor license renewal for Mike's Palace (License #892).
  • Approved a Memorandum of Agreement between the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Field Office Valdez and Valdez Fire & EMS Department.
  • Approved going into executive session to discuss implications for city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans Alaska Pipeline System ad valorem tax issues.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the public business from the floor or during the VMHA board appointment discussion.

Discussion Items

  • City Clerk Report: The clerk reported on upcoming elections: only one person has filed for the three-year council term, one petition picked up for the two-year term, and two persons have filed for two three-year school board seats. The "I Voted" sticker flash vote is open until 11:00 AM the next day. The clerk also presented a resolution request from State Representative Chuck Hopp regarding a defined benefits retirement bill. Councilmembers expressed interest but requested more time to study implications before voting. Mayor Pro Tem Love agreed to draft a resolution and provide additional background material.
  • City Attorney Report: Attorney Stacer provided a preliminary assessment of TAPS ad valorem property values. The assessed value of AS 4356 property in Valdez's jurisdiction is $2.97 billion, equating to $59.4 million at 20 mils. VMT and pipe within the city's jurisdiction were valued at $10.3 billion, with increases from escape property and vessels deemed taxable by Judge Seaman. Further discussion was deferred to executive session.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda passed unanimously (6-0, with Mayor Fleming absent).
  • Appointment to VMHA Board: Karen Mitchell was appointed to a three-year term on the Valdez Museum Historical Archive Board of Directors, replacing two applicants (Rachelle Barrus and Karen Mitchell). Motion by Councilmember Lally, second by Councilmember Green; passed 6-0.
  • Retirement Resolution: Council directed the mayor pro tem to draft a resolution supporting the defined benefits bill and provide additional information for future discussion.
  • Executive Session: The council adjourned to executive session to discuss TAPS tax litigation and revenue implications.

Meeting Transcript

We can take the roll, City Clerk. All members are present except for Mayor Fleming, who is away on city business and is absent and exclude excused. Councilmember Foster is joining online. Great, thanks. And Olivia, can you hear us? Yes, Mayor Pro Tem. Thank you. Thanks. All right. Next we have approval of the minutes. We got two minutes up for approval. We have the minutes from the January 6th, 2026 regular meeting. And we have the minutes from the February 17th, 2026 meeting. Do we have any corrections to the minutes? All right. No corrections. So those stand is approved. All right. Next we have public business from the floor. Does anybody have public business from the floor? If you do, please state your name and you have five minutes. Okay. All right. Seeing none, moving on to the consent agenda. We have four items on the consent agenda. The first item is appointments to the PBMC Community Advisory Council. Applicants Kate Dugan and Pam Sherell. The second item is approval of liquor license renewal, Mike's Palace. The third item is approval of memorandum of agreement between U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Field Office Valdees, and Valdez Fire and EMS department. And the fourth item is approval to go into executive session regarding discussion of implications for city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Ad Valorum tax issues. Move to approve the consent agenda. Second. Moved by Councilmember Lally, seconded by Councilmember Whitty to approve the consent agenda. All right. All those in favor. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? With a vote of six yes, one absent, Mayor Fleming. Motion carries. All right. Moving on to new business. We have one item of new business. It's appointment to the Valleys Museum Historical Archive Board of Directors. We have two applicants, Rochelle Barris and Karen Mitchell. I think everybody has little voting papers to hand down to the city clerk once you have that. But I don't see any references just don't have comments. Okay. And then you have something worked out with Olivia.

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