Valdez City Council Regular Meeting - August 4, 2026
Valdez City Council Regular Meeting - August 4, 2026
The Valdez City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a work session at 6:00 PM on municipal property tax exemption options under HB13 (no transcribed minutes). The regular session covered consent agenda items, appointments, contract approvals, a budget resolution, reports on the scrap barge program, and updates from city staff and officials. All votes were unanimous (7-0) on items brought to a vote.
Consent Calendar
- Proclamation: 2026 Coast Guard Day – Recognizing August 4, 2026, as Coast Guard Day in Valdez, honoring the U.S. Coast Guard's role in maritime safety and security.
- Proclamation: Safe and Sound Week 2026 – Proclaiming August 10–16, 2026, as Safe and Sound Week to promote workplace safety awareness.
- Acceptance of Resignation of Ports and Harbors Commission Member Edward Day – Approved.
- Approval to Go Into Executive Session Regarding City Manager Evaluation/Review – Approved. (Motion carried 7-0.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Annalisa Roberts (staffer for Senator Rouscher) – Provided an update: the legislature will reconvene August 10 for the continuation of a special session expected to conclude by late August; the Senator visited Talkeetna regarding flooding/erosion and a state disaster declaration was issued; appreciation extended for Gold Rush Days participation.
- Kathy Renfeld (Entrepreneur in Residence, University of Alaska Fairbanks) – Introduced herself, noting she supports coastal communities with entrepreneurship, innovation, and workforce development, and has been engaging with Valdez businesses and educators.
- Unnamed speaker (public comment on Resolution #26-38) – Noted that the supplemental tax roll resulting from the tax cap must be applied to bonded indebtedness; stated that this resolution will eliminate most bond debt, necessitating new bond debt next year, and that the 19-mil levy may need re-evaluation; suggested the council could put enough projects on the ballot to cover 20 mils.
Discussion Items
- Appointment to Ports & Harbors Commission Vacancy – Applicants Jamie Pierce and John May. Council appointed John May (motion by Councilmember Lowley, seconded). Unanimously approved.
- Appointment to Beautification Commission – Applicants Meg Weaver, Timi Miner, and Cassandra MacDonald. Council appointed Meg Weaver and Timi Miner (motion by Councilmember Lally, seconded). Unanimously approved.
- Approval of Contract Award with Prism Design and Construction for Animal Shelter Fuel Piping Project – Amount $176,314.44. A councilmember asked about the relocation of the fuel tank due to proximity to a propane tank; City Manager Duval explained a code change occurred between original installation and current requirements. Contract approved unanimously.
- Approval of Amendment #1 with North Star Fire Protection, LLC to Extend 2025 Fire Prevention Systems Inspections Contract Through 2027 – Motion by Councilmember Foster, seconded. Unanimously approved.
- Resolution #26-38 – Amending the 2026 Budget – Accepting an additional $17.4 million in unbudgeted revenue, appropriating $12.7 million to the Debt Service Fund for principal and interest on bonded indebtedness, and appropriating $4.7 million to the Repayment Reserve. Approved unanimously.
- Report: Scrap Barge 2026 – Presented by Interim Public Works Director Mark Barton. Provided an update on the multi-year scrap metal removal program. Key details: the barge (Atlas, 100x300 ft, max 8,000 tons) is due to arrive August 9; loading expected August 11; target 4,000 tons of scrap to be shipped; operations involve multiple sites (C&D Pit, pipe yard); 18 personnel working 12-hour shifts; post-barge operations will continue through September for nuisance abatement and property cleanup. Councilmember expressed appreciation for the program.
- Report: Valdez Tourism Task Force Recommendations for Future Bylaws for Destination Valdez – No discussion or action taken; report noted.
- Change Order Report: Emergency Generator Annual Inspection Contract Extension Through 2027 in Amount of $23,000 – No discussion; report noted.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items approved unanimously (7-0).
- John May appointed to Ports & Harbors Commission.
- Meg Weaver and Timi Miner appointed to Beautification Commission.
- Contract with Prism Design and Construction for animal shelter fuel piping approved (7-0).
- Amendment with North Star Fire Protection to extend inspections contract through 2027 approved (7-0).
- Resolution #26-38 budget amendment approved (7-0).
- The council moved into executive session at the end of the meeting for city manager evaluation/review (previously approved on consent).
- No other votes or formal actions taken.
Reports & Updates
- City Manager Report – Provided by City Manager Duval: updates on childcare workforce pipeline with UAA/Prince William Sound College; emergency dike construction at the old cemetery due to Lowe River erosion; temporary roadway installation on the park strip for the Meals project; noted North Slope Borough has not yet adopted HB13 exemptions; personal leave and budget preparation updates.
- City Clerk Report – Provided by Sherry: absentee voting for August 18 state primary underway at City Hall; reminder of virtual meet-the-candidates for Prince William Sound Community College director position; precinct three polling location moved to the airport.
- City Attorney Report – Provided by Jim: update on TAPS 2026 appeal (consolidated before Judge McKenna, protective order being established); escape property appeals on schedule; C-plan adjudicatory hearing decisions expected within 60 days from July 27; secondary containment testing underway (one dike cell tested on August 1, results pending).
- Mayor and Councilmember Comments – Councilmembers expressed gratitude for Gold Rush Days volunteers, the scrap barge program, Coast Guard service, staff work on HB13, and the community memorial for Miss Crisp. Encouraged participation in the Providence Community Health Needs Assessment Survey.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, thank you. That's what I was hoping for. Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and call this meeting to order. If you would please stand with me and do the Pledge of Allegiance. I don't see the Coast Guard here. So do we want to hold off on that? No, we'll just read the postcard proclamation and get it to them. Okay, we're gonna go ahead and call the order. Uh Sherry, do we have uh everybody present? Um everyone is present and accounted for, Mr. Mayor. Okay. We also in council members are present and uh um we got uh public business from the floor. I'd like to please recognize uh Senator Raucher's staff person online that she would like to provide an update from the Senator's office. Good evening, everyone. My name is Annalisa Roberts. I'm a staffer for Senator Rousher. The legislature is scheduled to be reconvened on August 10th for the continuation of the special session that began on July twenty-ninth is expected to conclude with a thirty-day constitutional time frame, so roughly around August twenty-fifth. Um, as you may be aware, there's significant intention that has been focused on the flooding and erosion in Talkeetna. Senator Rosher visited the area and met with residents and documented conditions to help identify potential erosion mitigation solutions. There are meetings being coordinated between DOT, the Matsu borough, and the Talkina community to discuss response efforts and long term flooding mitigation in addition, and Governor Dunley meeting has issued a state disaster declaration of response to the flooding in the Matsu borough. In addition, and Governor Dunley Vidi has issued a state disaster declaration of response to the flooding in the Mazio borough. Last Senator Rouscher extends his appreciation to everyone who helped organize and participate in this year's Gold Rush Days. Um he was up there, and he wants to thank the community for another successful celebration. So thank you all for that. And that is it. Thank you so much. Thank you. All right, uh public business from the floor. If anybody would like to speak on any uh non-agenda item for five minutes, you have the floor. Please state your name. Good evening. Yes, it's there you go. There we go. Glad I asked. Hello, everyone. Nice to see you all. My name is Kathy Renfeld, and I am here visiting and supporting Martha and Carrie Jean Shepherd on some entrepreneurial and business support initiatives that they are working on. I am the entrepreneur in residence for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and through that role, I've been supporting coastal communities throughout Alaska with entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development initiatives, as well as workforce development as well. I've been enjoying uh getting to know students through that role as well through working with the T3 teaching through technology and the Science Olympiad programs. Um, you may know Tommy Sheridan, he and I work together in a lot of those capacities as well. I've been enjoying getting to know Valdez, getting to spend some time with some of your business owners and teachers and citizens. And I look forward to finding more ways to work together with you. And I just wanted to come here tonight and introduce myself, and I hope I have more opportunities to get to know you all. Thank you. Is there any other business from the floor? Okay, moving on to the consent agenda. We have a proclamation. We have four items on the consent agenda. We have a proclamation for the Coast Guard Day.
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