Video Clips
Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.
Speaker A
“CBJ audits results. We also issued unmodified opinions over all opinion units. So again, I mentioned the different types of funds you have, so we're issuing multiple opinions on each of those reporting units or funds. We had two material weaknesses in internal controls and one significant deficiency.”Juneau: June 3, 2026 Assembly Finance Committee · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker A
“We did have what we call some material misstatements that were corrected as a result of our audit. To highlight quickly these, there was $10 million that was a timing thing. The bond was not issued till FY26, but it got recorded in '25.”Juneau: June 3, 2026 Assembly Finance Committee · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker A
“And then we found a calculation error in the sales and hotel tax accrual that was done at year-end, and it changed it by $2.7 million. So again, what we're looking for is large amounts that could change decision-making, right? And these are all larger amounts that are part of your financial statements.”Juneau: June 3, 2026 Assembly Finance Committee · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker A
“The second material weakness related to— I mentioned the lease receivable for the Harbors. We found that communication between Harbors and Finance was not sufficient and that there hadn't been adequate review of the variable leases.”Juneau: June 3, 2026 Assembly Finance Committee · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker A
“The overall preparation has really improved. And so I don't want you to dwell on this. I want you to think about that you have an unmodified opinion, and that is what you want, right? So, so nothing led us to conclude that amounts were wrong in the financial statements as they were issued. It's just what we see is that there's some improvement that can be done over the reconciliation and review process.”Juneau: June 3, 2026 Assembly Finance Committee · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker A
“Bartlett's auditors issued one material weakness over financial reporting. It's on your screen. It is similar to what the city had last couple years in that basically there were design and implementation issues related to preparing for the audit. So essentially not having internal controls in place to make sure that the information was ready.”Juneau: June 3, 2026 Assembly Finance Committee · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker B
“So typically by November 1st, with a kind of final draft around Thanksgiving time, and that allowed about 3 weeks before we tried to issue in mid-December to late December. And that was the timeframe that was followed for many years, essentially until COVID hit, and then we started running into delays”Juneau: June 3, 2026 Assembly Finance Committee · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“we are just here to thank you for considering the amendment to the budget that includes a grant for the utility costs should we be able to reach an agreement to take over operations of the Kenai pool. And we encourage you to vote for. That amendment and approval of the budget.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“The AV infrastructure used for broadcasting and recording public meetings and other governmental communications, specifically, as we know the world, is post Covid very technologically driven. And that's how a lot of people communicate and connect with each other, with public agencies, with their government. And it has increased access and general ability to be part of the process that wasn't there before.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker B
“currently it's the responsibility of the administrative assistant and the airport manager at the airport to monitor the activity of, you know, landings and transient parkings and things like that at the airport. And I think that is where the hole is in our system is that requires them to actually see this activity. And then obviously they're only there during normal business hours.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker B
“The majority of this is mirrored after the code that deals with recreational vehicles. Campers and RVs both require a primary structure on the property in order to have tents. Or if it's a vacant property, it needs to be adjacent to A property owner with a primary structure, it limits the length of time a tent can be erected to three consecutive days or seven days within a 30 day period where a recreational vehicle is limited to no more than 30 days.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“City Manager Eubank's example that he gave was in response to a. A specific complaint that involved tents that had a dumpster and had a biffy on site. So they were providing sanitation options for their garbage and their human waste, but they were sleeping in a tent, not a camper.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“I move to amend Ordinance Number 3525, 2026 by amending the title to read an ordinance amending Kenai municipal code section 14, 20.320, definitions to provide definitions regarding tents and campgrounds and amending Kenai municipal code section 14.22, land use table and delete from the ordinance sections 1 and 3 and renumber existing section 2 and 4 to 1 and 2.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“Our infrastructure is dated and doesn't offer that accessibility, which if we don't continue to move forward and meet residents where they're at, I think it would raise the question as to whether or not we're really participating in open and accessible government activities. Increases transparency and overall, I think it will reduce the cost and burden on some of our staff.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker B
“what this amendment does is it puts the funding in the budget to allow us to issue a grant. We still would have to work on a grant agreement with the club. The club. Obviously, I think, like Ms. Kasmore's testimony, they still have to get an agreement with the district to operate the pool.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker B
“during last year's personal use fishery, we received a complaint from members of a neighborhood about a piece of property. It's a vacant lot within the subdivision in the neighborhood that somebody had purchased. And there were. They had brought in sanitary facilities, they brought in dumpsters, they brought in some porta potties, but they had a number of tents that were housing people that were participating in the fishery.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“if a family does put a tent in their front yard for their kids to camp in off and on all summer, as my kids did, or as my son completed his camping nights to earn his Eagle Scout in the backyard, that was seven nights.”Prefix - Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“we are just here to thank you for considering the amendment to the budget that includes a grant for the utility costs should we be able to reach an agreement to take over operations of the Kenai pool. And we encourage you to vote for. That amendment and approval of the budget.”Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker B
“what this amendment does is it puts the funding in the budget to allow us to issue a grant. We still would have to work on a grant agreement with the club. The club. Obviously, I think, like Ms. Kasmore's testimony, they still have to get an agreement with the district to operate the pool.”Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“The AV infrastructure used for broadcasting and recording public meetings and other governmental communications, specifically, as we know the world, is post Covid very technologically driven. And that's how a lot of people communicate and connect with each other, with public agencies, with their government. And it has increased access and general ability to be part of the process that wasn't there before.”Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker B
“I also want to recognize the efforts of Tyler Best and the Parks and Rec crew and Parks and Rec Commission again the public and now Council here tonight for adopting that Parks and Rec master plan. I think that's that is the first Parks and Rec plan that the City of Kenai has ever adopted.”Kenai: 06/03/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Mike Mickelson
“I'm in support of keeping it where it is. I've had numerous community members come up and say they oppose raising it. And I certainly understand the financial pressures that we're under right now, but I just feel like this, this isn't the time.”Cordova: June 3, 2026, Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Kasey Kinsman
“keeping the mill rate exactly where it's at accounts for increased value on properties, accounts for just even sentiment in the community of just matching and that for not. Not raising the mill rate. It's staying the same. It's different than the budgeted mill rate adjusted, but the mill rate is staying the same.”Cordova: June 3, 2026, Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker A
“this is a public hearing for resolution 062622, a resolution of the city council of the city of Cordova, Alaska, establishing the property tax mill rate for 2026 tax year.”Cordova: June 3, 2026, Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker G
“if this city doesn't understand that fishing is what pays, really pays the bills and the families that work in fishing in this town, that's what, that's where you get most of your money. Raising the mill rate and forcing people out of town to make it where they can't afford to live. Here you wait, see what happens.”Cordova: June 3, 2026, Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
David Zastrow
“although yes, our budget, our current revenue is supporting our needs, we have more than established that our needs are not met. And although our budget. We're not in a deficit, I feel like we're in a severe deficit with their maintenance.”Cordova: June 3, 2026, Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Debra Adams
“I am a member of the community that disagrees with the comments that you can live without a library and you can live without a museum. I think we need to find ways to include those in our budget.”Cordova: June 3, 2026, Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Kasey Kinsman
“I move to approve resolution 0626 22, a resolution of council of the city of Cordova, Alaska establishing the property tax mill levy for the 2026 tax year at its current rate, 11.44 mills for all properties in the city of Cordova.”Cordova: June 3, 2026, Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker A
“Motion carries. 7, 0.”Cordova: June 3, 2026, Public Hearing & Regular Council Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Matt Kissinger
“The first one is non Alaska aligned contracts. So we have the Alaska Advantage principles that we'll talk about next and we get to review every key contract that is progressed through eight Star and ensure that they're all in line with those principles.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/3/26, 1:30pm · Jun 3, 2026
Adam Prestidge
“The distinction here is that recognizing the importance of AGDC's role representing the State of Alaska, there are additional components and rights and, and principles that benefit the AGDC minority share and require certain things from Glenfarn”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/3/26, 1:30pm · Jun 3, 2026
Matt Kissinger
“Additional capital asks of AGDC or of the state have to have AGDC approvals. That's a really important one. There are no more capital asks of AGDC into 8 star without AGDC's consent.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/3/26, 1:30pm · Jun 3, 2026
Adam Prestidge
“In addition we have an independent non voting board member that sits on the board. That person at all times needs to be an Alaska resident. That position is appointed by the mutual agreement between Glenfarn and agdc. That role, that board seat is currently held by Janet Wiese who was formerly the president of BP Alaska.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/3/26, 1:30pm · Jun 3, 2026
Adam Prestidge
“Two of those board members are appointed by Glenn Farn. The first, the chair of the board is Brendan Duvall, the CEO and founder of Glenfarn Group. And the second board member appointed by Glenn Farn is myself, Adam Prestage. AGDC has the right to appoint one board member and they've appointed Frank Richards the president of of agdc.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/3/26, 1:30pm · Jun 3, 2026
Matt Kissinger
“These are the overarching principles that we put in place to truly protect the key issues of importance to Alaskans. So the first one is establish and maintain a substantial operational presence in Alaska. And again, if we see contracts coming through that don't achieve that aim, then AGDC has the right to disapprove of those contracts.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/3/26, 1:30pm · Jun 3, 2026
Matt Kissinger
“Same with asset distributions. They're not allowed to distribute the assets of eight Star without our approval. So that protects eight Star and the assets within it. That especially the permits and the right of way and things that we've contributed to it.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance, 6/3/26, 1:30pm · Jun 3, 2026
Lisa Murkowski
“S. 630, the Quapaw Tribal Settlement act, sponsored by our former colleague, Mark Wayne Mullen, would implement a $137.5 million U.S. court of Claims recommended settlement between the United States and the Quapaw Nation.”Senate Indian Affairs (Murkowski): Hearings to examine S.630, to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments to the Quapaw Nation and certain members of the Quapaw Nation in accordance with the recommendation of the United States Court of Federal Claims, S.1514/H.R.2389, to take certain land in the State of Washington into trust for the benefit of the Quinault Indian Nation, S.2796, to provide for a land exchange in San Bernardino County, California, S.2871/H.R.2400, to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe, S.3219, to transfer certain Federal land into trust for certain Indian Pueblos in the State of New Mexico, and S.3475/H.R.2916, to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York. · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker B
“I just wanted to highlight a couple things about the workplace satisfaction survey that we did in April.”Petersburg Borough: Hospital Board Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker C
“compared to 2024. In 2026 we increased overall satisfaction for employees from 84 to 91%, which is really incredible. This is well above the national averages.”Petersburg Borough: Hospital Board Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Jason
“you should always be proud and grateful that you live in Alaska because they have their act together. You're, you're probably one of the leading states. You were awarded the most money, but you're also well ahead, at least two months ahead of most states in terms of rolling out the program”Petersburg Borough: Hospital Board Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker C
“We have either stayed the same or increased satisfaction in all areas that were surveyed since 2024. And significant progress has been made in a couple areas. So we're going to continue to focus on the great stuff that's going on as well as listening to those that are less satisfied in trying to translate those to meaningful improvements”Petersburg Borough: Hospital Board Meeting · Jun 3, 2026
Speaker A
“We were recently involved with reviewing the Vogel nuclear power plant down in Georgia. Units 3 and 4 that were completed a few years ago. That project, I believe, ended up at roughly $36 billion and took, I believe it was seven years longer than planned to complete.”Senate Finance, 6/2/26, 9am · Jun 2, 2026
Speaker A
“a Black Swan event is just something that is unplanned for as low probability, but high impact when it does occur. COVID 19 was a great example of a Black Swan event.”Senate Finance, 6/2/26, 9am · Jun 2, 2026
Speaker A
“the most recent information I've heard is that it's imminent. I understand it's pushed from what was previously forecasted, but I believe it's still expected the first half of this year.”Senate Finance, 6/2/26, 9am · Jun 2, 2026
Speaker A
“the pre FID status including gas sales precedent agreements, downstream letters of intent, pipe supply, preliminary agreements and engagement with EPCM and EPC contractors”Senate Finance, 6/2/26, 9am · Jun 2, 2026
Speaker A
“Bent Flyberg is recognized as one of, if not the preeminent researcher of megaprojects. Through his research of Thousands of projects. He's found 92% of megaprojects are over budget, over schedule or both, which he has dubbed the Iron Law megaprojects.”Senate Finance, 6/2/26, 9am · Jun 2, 2026