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Record of Proceedings

Valdez City Council Regular Meeting - July 21, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
BodyValdez, Alaska
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, July 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 46:07

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
2:00

Mr.

2:00

Mayor, everyone is present this evening.

2:04

Do we have any public business from the floor?

2:08

On non-agenda diet.

2:12

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

2:16

We have five things on the consent agenda tonight.

2:19

Approval to purchase of municipal assess assessment record system, Mars from Alaska Cam in the yearly amount of twenty thousand, totaling a hundred thousand over five years.

2:30

Number two, approval of the Valdez Consortium Library Agreement with the academic years ending twenty twenty-seven, twenty twenty-eight, and twenty twenty-nine with Prince Williams Sound College.

2:41

Approval of memorandum of understanding with Doc UPET PET registration system.

2:48

And number four, approval of memorandum of understanding between the City of Valdez Police Department and IPOs, integrated public alert and warning system.

2:59

And number five, approval to go into executive session discussion of implication of four city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Adler tax issues.

3:14

Move to approve.

3:17

Second.

3:22

Second by Council Member Lally to approve all items on the consent agenda.

3:28

All those in the vote for all those in favor, please say aye.

3:32

Aye.

3:33

All those opposed.

3:38

Okay, starting with new business, approval of the twenty twenty-five financial audit.

3:45

Move to approve.

3:46

Second.

3:59

Second by council member foster.

4:47

Okay.

4:48

I I would second that.

4:52

Well done.

4:53

And uh the good work.

4:55

Thank you.

4:59

All right.

5:00

Any other comments?

5:02

Okay.

5:03

All those in favor, please say aye.

5:05

Aye.

5:05

Aye.

5:06

All those opposed.

5:07

Seven yes, motion carries.

5:10

Okay, number two, new business approval of amendment to Providence Valdez Medical Center 2026 capital projects budget in the amount of 163,607.

5:23

Move to approve.

5:24

Second.

5:26

Move by council member Foster, second by council member Green to approve an amendment to Providence Valdez Medical Center 2026 Capital Projects Budget, an amount of 163,607.

5:42

Any discussion on the side of go ahead.

5:45

Yeah, I had a couple questions.

5:46

Um do we know has Providence is Providence funding any of this project?

5:53

Um I know typically my experience with hospitals down the lower 48.

5:58

There was always like a uh uh a singular providence that when they approve projects or projects needed upgrading that some of the smaller hospitals, typically the funding would come from Providence itself and the income that it makes.

6:14

Do we know?

6:17

Uh so this is say uh we have uh Ben Carver and Pauline Ducet on the line to talk about it.

6:26

But uh I guess historically what we've done on many of these projects.

6:31

Uh sometimes there are prob initiatives that they pay for, uh but more often than not, capital improvements come from the reserve account.

6:36

But I'll let Ben speak to this item specifically.

6:40

Yeah, I don't I don't know if I need to give much more information than that.

6:44

Um thank you for that.

6:45

Uh there are other projects that are related to this at the other Providence-owned hospitals, but because Providence Valdez is owned by the city of Valdez, uh, the funding for this would come from the reserve account that Providence Valdez maintains on behalf of the city.

7:11

Valdees did apply for some RHTP funding for the uh calendar year 26.

7:18

Um that was not approved in the first round, but Pauline and I do intend to explore what opportunities we have to um tap into that RHTP funding for this coming up year.

7:29

Thank you very much for looking into it.

7:31

Any amount helps.

7:32

Thank you.

7:35

Okay, go ahead.

7:37

Hi, I was just curious.

7:38

Ben, can you introduce yourself to the council, please?

7:41

My name's Olivia.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Senior Tax Exemption█████████████████████21%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Public Works██████████████14%
City Manager Report██████6%
City Clerk Report██████6%
City Attorney Report██████6%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Tourism Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Valdez City Council Regular Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Valdez City Council met on July 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM (timestamp 2026-07-21 16:00:00+00:00) in Council Chambers. All council members were present. The meeting covered a consent agenda, new business items, resolutions, reports, and an executive session. All votes were unanimous (7-0).

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the purchase of the Municipal Assessment Record System (MARS) from Alaska CAMA Co. at $20,000 per year for five years ($100,000 total).
  • Approved the Valdez Consortium Library Agreement with Prince William Sound College for academic years 2026–2029.
  • Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with DocuPet Pet Registration System.
  • Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Valdez Police Department and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
  • Approved a motion to go 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 from the floor.

Discussion Items

  • 2025 Financial Audit: Approved unanimously. Council commended staff for their work.
  • Providence Valdez Medical Center Capital Projects Budget Amendment ($163,607.82): Discussion included questions about funding sources. CFO Ben Carver stated the funds would come from the hospital reserve account, and the city will explore RHTP grant opportunities after an initial denial. Approved.
  • Valdez High School Remodel – Wolf Architecture Agreement ($824,449): City Manager Nate explained the agreement covers feasibility, community outreach, stakeholder engagement, and 35% design (an estimated 20–30% of total design costs). Superintendent Jason Weber expressed support. Approved.
  • Late File Senior Property Tax Exemptions: Two applications (Andy Foor and Robin Chaffin) were accepted after the January 15 deadline and after the tax roll had been certified. City Clerk Sherry detailed the administrative burden and noted that due to an earlier late file, the tax roll would be resubmitted anyway. Council encouraged a code revision to set a firm cutoff after certification. Both approved unanimously.
  • Resolution #26-35 – Destination Valdez Nonprofit: Authorized the establishment of a nonprofit corporation for destination marketing and visitor services, and appointed an initial board of directors. Approved. Council thanked applicants.
  • Resolution #26-36 – Budget Amendment: Accepted $25 million in additional property tax revenue and appropriated $15.2 million to the debt service fund for bonded indebtedness principal and interest. Approved. Council reminded the public that additional revenues should be used in the community’s interest.
  • Resolution #26-37 – Council Priorities for 2027 Operating Budget: Approved after discussion. City Manager noted minor adjustments from the strategic planning session to provide flexibility on House Bill 13 exemptions and the energy assistance program.
  • Monthly Projects Update (via Casey Walker, Director): Reported progress on multiple capital projects: Meals Avenue and Robe River Drive (20% complete), Well House #5 (backfill issues due to wet weather), Child Care Facility (awaiting environmental review), Hospital Generator Replacement (75% complete), Radio Tower (preliminary stages, conditional use permit pending), Kelsey Dock Dolphin Replacement (95% complete, pending underwater inspection), and Valdez High School Remodel (design phase commencing). City Manager added updates on erosion at Walt Dave Morio Road (rock truck deployment planned) and scrap barge processing (loadout August 17).
  • City Attorney Report: Update on the VMT C plan adjudicatory hearing (oral argument July 8, with supplemental briefing due July 24; decision expected within 60 days). A hydro test of secondary containment at cell number four is planned for July 27. Also reported progress on the ABLES litigation (discovery ongoing, motion for summary judgment forthcoming).
  • Council Member Comments: Members congratulated staff on receiving the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award, thanked Destination Valdez board applicants, and extended congratulations to Director Walker on the birth of his child. Council Member Wiggin mentioned a recent dinner with Senator Murkowski.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent agenda items, new business items, and resolutions were approved by unanimous 7-0 votes.
  • Council set a future housing subcommittee meeting for August 3 to discuss House Bill 13 property tax exemptions and the energy assistance program.
  • An executive session was held to discuss TAPS ad valorem tax litigation strategy; council acknowledged the need to plan and budget for ongoing litigation.

Meeting Transcript

Mr. Mayor, everyone is present this evening. Do we have any public business from the floor? On non-agenda diet. Okay, seeing none, we'll go to the consent agenda. We have five things on the consent agenda tonight. Approval to purchase of municipal assess assessment record system, Mars from Alaska Cam in the yearly amount of twenty thousand, totaling a hundred thousand over five years. Number two, approval of the Valdez Consortium Library Agreement with the academic years ending twenty twenty-seven, twenty twenty-eight, and twenty twenty-nine with Prince Williams Sound College. Approval of memorandum of understanding with Doc UPET PET registration system. And number four, approval of memorandum of understanding between the City of Valdez Police Department and IPOs, integrated public alert and warning system. And number five, approval to go into executive session discussion of implication of four city revenues and litigation strategy regarding Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Adler tax issues. Move to approve. Second. Second by Council Member Lally to approve all items on the consent agenda. All those in the vote for all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those opposed. Okay, starting with new business, approval of the twenty twenty-five financial audit. Move to approve. Second. Second by council member foster. Okay. I I would second that. Well done. And uh the good work. Thank you. All right. Any other comments? Okay. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. All those opposed. Seven yes, motion carries. Okay, number two, new business approval of amendment to Providence Valdez Medical Center 2026 capital projects budget in the amount of 163,607. Move to approve. Second. Move by council member Foster, second by council member Green to approve an amendment to Providence Valdez Medical Center 2026 Capital Projects Budget, an amount of 163,607. Any discussion on the side of go ahead. Yeah, I had a couple questions. Um do we know has Providence is Providence funding any of this project? Um I know typically my experience with hospitals down the lower 48. There was always like a uh uh a singular providence that when they approve projects or projects needed upgrading that some of the smaller hospitals, typically the funding would come from Providence itself and the income that it makes. Do we know? Uh so this is say uh we have uh Ben Carver and Pauline Ducet on the line to talk about it. But uh I guess historically what we've done on many of these projects. Uh sometimes there are prob initiatives that they pay for, uh but more often than not, capital improvements come from the reserve account. But I'll let Ben speak to this item specifically. Yeah, I don't I don't know if I need to give much more information than that. Um thank you for that.

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