Wasilla: City Council Regular - 12 Oct 2026

Please, our teleconference went offline, so we will take a brief attes.

Technical difficulties.

Please enter your participant or moderator. This is my third or fourth one.

Please say your name followed by the pound.

Holly? Oh, hello. I'm here. Can you hear me? Yes.

Yeah, I can hear you. Both of you.

Oh, great. Okay, sorry about that. This is the city clerk, Holly, and Councilmember Schmidt. We had a minor technical difficulty, but we're at roll call now. So I'm going to call the roll.

Councilmember Caudle? Here. Councilmember Graham? Here. Councilmember Schmidt?

Here. Councilmember Crafton? Here. Councilmember Johnson? Here.

Councilmember Rubio? Here. You do have a quorum, Madam Mayor. All members are with us in chambers except Councilmember Schmidt, who is participating telephonically, and then our city attorney is on the phone as well. Okay, thank you.

Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmember Rubio, would you please lead us?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The next item of business is approval of the agenda.

Madam Mayor? Yes? Can we move, uh, 8.3.5, Resolution Number 2661, to new business, please?

Okay. Are there any other changes?

Hearing none, the agenda is approved as presented.

As amended. We are now at special orders of the day. There is one proclamation that I will read.

City of Wasilla proclamation honoring Alaska Day. Whereas October 18th, 1867 marks the date when the United States formally acquired Alaska Alaska from Russia, a historic event that expanded the boundaries of our great nation and brought Alaska into the fold as an integral part of the United States. And whereas, in 1917, the Territorial Legislature of Alaska officially declared Alaska Day a holiday to honor and celebrate the acquisition of Alaska by the United States. And whereas, Alaska Day was initially initially commemorated in 1949 with the unveiling of a bronze statue named the Prospector, which continues to serve as a tribute to Alaska's pioneers. And whereas this significant event in our state's history laid the groundwork of Alaska's progress towards becoming an official part of the United States, which eventually happened 92 years later when Alaska gained statehood on January 3rd, 1959.

And whereas Alaska is known for its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and historical significance, contributing to the state's unique identity. And whereas Alaska Day is an occasion to recognize the resilience, fortitude, and pioneering spirit of the people of Alaska, who have summoned challenges and flourished in one of the most distinctive and awe-inspiring regions in the world. Now therefore, I, Glenda D. Lippford, Mayor of the City of Wasilla, do hereby proclaim October 18, 2026, as Alaska Day in Wasilla, and we invite all residents to commemorate this special day by celebrating our shared history and honoring the exceptional spirit of Alaska and its people. Dated this 12th day of October, 2026.

Okay, and Madam Clerk, please read the next item by title. Thank you, Madam Mayor. This is the service award presentation to Mayor Glenda, uh, D. Ledford and Council Member Tim Johnson. And so I have asked if, uh, Council Member Stu Graham, who is our longest serving member on the city council, if he would present those two service awards. To Mayor Ledford and Councilmember Johnson.

Be my honor.

Mayor Ledford, please come around.

We out there take pictures, I suppose? Sure, sure. You know, here in the United States, we are indeed lucky to live in a country where we have a representative democracy. That's what we do. There are no qualifications to be representative or to be mayor.

What you do is you get elected and then you figure out your way. And this little plaque or statue, whatever it is that we're presenting to the mayor, is in the shape of a flame. Because it is up to the elected representatives to keep the flame of our representative republic burning and to keep us moving forward at all times. So, Mayor Glenda Ledford, thank you for 6 years of service as mayor. We certainly appreciate it.

I am truly honored to accept this award from the City of Wasilla. The place I call home and have for the last 40 years and will continue to call it home. So thank you very much.

I don't have to kiss her, do I? No. Now she's got a surprise too. Mr. Johnson. You said keep the flame burning up, which is what you did.

Yeah, you know, that would have hurt it too. I know. They're going to be right there, Mayor. You know, uh, uh, Tim Johnson, uh, like I said, comes to us, uh, not as a previously elected official or anything like that. He kind of starts at the beginning, but he inherits the flame of the Democratic Republic and our democratic way of life that we have here.

And, uh, Councilperson Tim Johnson has kept that flame burning despite some, uh, tremendous personal difficulties, and, uh, we at the City of Wasilla and those of us on the council appreciate everything that you have done and wish you well in the future. Thank you. Thank you very much. Been a pleasure serving on the council. Thank you.

Him either. He's trying to kiss you now. 1, 2, 3. Thank you very much.

Thanks, guys.

Okay, we will now take a 10-minute break for refreshments.

All we've done all day is eat. Come on back, everybody.

In—. And—.

We are back on the record at 6:19.

So we are now at commission and agency reports. So we will hear from Wasilla High School student representative. Please come forward and state your first and last name.

This is Austin Nusity representing Wasilla High School. Uh, first, the JROTC Raider Decathlon was on the 19th of September with Wasilla High School winning for the 10th year in a row. Uh, Wasilla also won the 48th Annual Potato Bowl against Palmer High School. Uh, Edward Jones sponsored, sponsored this event, giving everyone free admission. Wasilla High School won the academic award at Tennis State with members of our tennis teams having the highest collective GPA.

We hosted the ASAA flag football state tournament this last weekend, October 8th through the 10th, with all of the Division II and Division III games. The Alaska Association of Student Governments was attended by myself and other delegates at Tri-Valley High School in Healy, Alaska. Wasilla High School student Gracie Peterson presented her resolution on the current status of the decoration of graduation caps. Wasilla High School leadership also plans for a Halloween spirit week for the last week of October with all of the usual events like dress-up days and assemblies. More to come on that.

Thank you. Thank you. And I'm so happy that we won the potato bowl because now Mr. Cooper's got to buy me lunch.

Thank you. So now we are at public hearing. Madam Clerk, please read the ordinance by title. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance serial number 2618, adopting the 2026 Wasilla Municipal Airport Master Plan.

The public hearing on ordinance serial number 2618 is now open. Anyone wishing to testify, please come forward and begin by stating your first and last name. Comments, 1 to 3 minutes.

Seeing no one, I will close public hearing. Is there a motion to adopt serial number 26-18?

Councilman Johnson moves ordinance serial 26-18 adopting the 2026 municipal airport master plan. Is there a second? Graham seconds. It's been moved by Council Member Johnson and seconded by Council Member Graham to adopt ordinance serial number 2618. Is there discussion?

Mr. Gray. Thank you, Madam Mayor, and more importantly, thank you to Eric. This is a long and involved and detailed process involving many different agencies, many different, uh, corporate entities, many different private interests. I mean, it's a general aviation airport, which kind of equates to a migraine for a public works director. But I'm very impressed with the way it came together and the way that it met the FAA standards and the way that we as a city will be moving forward with a tremendously important asset for our future.

So thank you, sir.

Is there further discussion? Hearing none, is there objection to the motion? Hearing none, the motion is adopted.

Madam Clerk, persons to be heard. We are at persons to be heard. It's a time for members of the public to share their views with the council. Please note that this is not a question and answer period. Speakers may be referred to administration, and items raised may be taken under advisement.

Please begin your testimony by stating your first and last names, and if you're a city resident. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. Jason Marvel.

Uh, Jason Marvel. Whoa, that was loud. Uh, Jason Marvel. I am the, uh, executive Director of Wasilla Workforce Development Initiative. I am a non-resident of this, the city of Wasilla.

Um, I first would like to congratulate Mayor Ledford on her 6 years of service. Uh, you have been a blessing to Wasilla, and I've just really appreciated working with you in my former capacity as Wasilla High School, uh, principal. I also want to congratulate, uh, Mayor-elect Alina Rubio, um, again, as a former principal of Wasilla High School, It's really cool to see our Warrior alum leading. So I'm excited to see what the future brings. Um, the real reason for my public comments is to thank the City Council and the City of Wasilla for the $2,500 donation that you gave to Wasilla Workforce Development Initiative.

Um, our mission is to support our community in developing a skilled workforce. We started our programming this last Thursday. We're running out of Wasilla High School in the evenings. We had over 50 participants, 50 adults 18 and older, in 5 of our pathways. Those pathways are marketing, entrepreneur— marketing and entrepreneurship, Yamaha Outboard Systems, automotive, electrical, and then our healthcare pathway, which is patient you can get a certification in patient care technician or pharmacy tech.

So again, I just want to thank the City Council and the City of Wasilla for their generous donation. Have a good evening. Thank you. Okay, seeing no one else, I will close persons to be heard. Too soon.

Oh, sorry, Amy.

You don't never talk. I don't, except that today and next time. Turn your— there you go. Thank you so much. My name is Amy Bouchatz.

I am the executive editor of Matsu Sentinel, uh, and not a Wasilla resident, but don't hold that against me. I'm speaking to you tonight about an ordinance that is up for introduction, Ordinance Serial Number 2619, which is a donation agreement between the City of Wasilla and the Matsu Sentinel for the donation of bound volumes of the Matsu Frontiersman to the Wasilla Public Library. I just want to speak briefly about this, even though I know we'll have another chance next time. When the Matsu Sentinel purchased the Frontiersman, one of the primary concerns I had was what to do with the physical archive of the Frontiersman, which is bound volumes of 80 years of Matsu Valley history. And I knew that it should not be in a place where the members of the public cannot access it, i.e., an office.

It had previously been in the storage in a room in the Frontiersman, and if you knew it was there, you could ask to go see it and they would let you. But most people didn't know it was available that way. So I started searching for a home for it. UAA thought maybe they could help me. They had some ideas I could send, you know, portions of it to the state, but I wanted to keep it in the Mat-Su.

So I contacted Zane at the Wasilla Public Library, and he agreed that Wasilla could be a good home for it. So it's important for the, this collection to be in Mat-Su. And I, you know, as far as I'm concerned, it's an honor for it to be kept and to be accessible in Wasilla. It is every time I open these volumes, I'm taken on a journey of something like a side quest of something I wish I knew about Matsu before that moment. I was looking at it for past pic photos of previous presidential visits, hoping that they had somebody at the Palmer State Fair in 1960 to photograph Chuck JFK, which they did not, but they had a newspaper article about his visit.

They had an advertisement for the fair in there. And then I went on a journey into 1980 looking for similar news out of Jimmy Carter's visit. He came and fished at a remote lake. Nothing in there on that, but then I was on a side quest into history of Port McKenzie. And so it's just very informative and really very fun to read through.

And so I'm looking forward to all members of the public having access to that. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, now I will close questions to be heard and bring it back. Madam Clerk, please read the items for approval under the consent agenda by titles.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. We have quite a few here, so bear with me. First is regular meeting minutes, September 14th, 2026. We have 4 introductions, uh, recommended public hearing date October 26th. 2026.

The first is Ordinance Serial Number 2619, approving a donation agreement between the City of Wasilla and the Matsu Sentinel for the donation of bound volumes of the Matsu Frontiersman to the Wasilla Public Library. Ordinance Serial Number 2620, authorizing the execution, acceptance, and appropriation of a state revolving fund forgivable loan in the amount of $75,000 for the Water Master Plan project. Ordinance Serial Number 2621, amending the fiscal year 2027 budget by accepting and appropriating federal funding from the Department of Energy, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, in the amount of $75,390. Ordinance Serial Number 2622, amending the fiscal year 2027 budget by accepting and appropriating $11,880 from the Alaska State Museum Grant in aid for preserving tradition. Through conservation, care of 3 Alaska Native gutskin parkas, and expanding public access to Wasilla Museum collections.

We have 5 items remaining left under our consent agenda resolutions. Resolution serial number 2656, authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Wasilla Youth Soccer Association for lease space in the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center for 3 years, effective July 1, 2026. Through June 30th, 2029. Resolution serial number 2657, approving a contract award to Matsu Customs in the amount of $38,509.23 for the custom build of a flatbed truck body and the custom build of a steel utility body for 2 new parks vehicles. Resolution serial number 2659, approving a contract between the City of Wasilla and Koa Hills for $252,175 in consideration for professional services for project management, training, and support for utility billing services.

Resolution serial number 2660, approving a contract between the City of Wasilla and Koa Hills for $252,175— excuse me, $252,175 in consideration for professional services for project management training and support for permitting and licensing implementation services. And lastly, Resolution Serial Number 2662, accepting a federal grant from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for the Statewide Multijurisdictional Task Force Program Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant, JAG, in the amount of $178,128.

Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as read? Madam Mayor, I move to approve the consent agenda as read into the record by the clerk. Is there a second? Rubio seconds. It's been moved by Council Member Caudill and seconded by Council Member Rubio to approve the consent agenda as read.

Is there objection to the motion? Hearing none, the consent agenda is approved. We have no unfinished business. We have new business. Uh, Madam Clerk, thank you.

Resolution serial number 2661, approving a contract between the City of Osceola and HDL Engineering Consultants, LLC, for $113,030 in consideration for water master planning and engineering services for the Herman Reservoir.

Is there a motion to Uh, adopt, adopt Resolution 2661. Is there a motion to adopt Resolution Serial Number 2661? Madam Mayor, I move Resolution 2661.

Is there a second? Second, Councilman Johnson. It's been moved by Council Member Crafton and seconded by Council Member Johnson to approve Resolution serial number 2661. Is there discussion? Madam Mayor, Mr. Crafton.

Thank you, Mayor. I think I see Eric with the mic in hand already. Uh, Eric, could you just talk us through— talk me through a bit of how we decided to bundle a couple different tasks together here on this one? And normally would seem like this would be 2 different projects, but we put everything under one. Could you explain that a bit?

Yeah, through the mayor. So with this contract that we have with HDL, this is through the RFP process for the Water Master Plan and associated projects. We have the ability to move ahead with the main project, which is the Water Master Plan, and then all of the rest of the water design projects. We've been working incredibly fast through the summer to expend the rest of the ARPA monies that went into the water, the Wasilla Palmer Water Interconnect. And so that was completed within the fiscal deadline, which was the end of September.

So we spent that effectively, and now we're rolling into some of those projects that we started on that side. So what you see is this first request of the funding that exists, putting that into the contract with HDL. You're going to see more tasks that come through with the other funding that we have because we have standalone water master plan funds, and then we also have the state revolving loan funds. And so we're— you're going to see multiple tasks come through all under that contract. And so this is just the first couple tasks that have been waiting in the wings until we got over the hurdle of meeting the, um, the Interconnect funding requirements.

That was— we didn't want to run the risk of not expending at all, and so that was their edict all summer long, was to get us across that hurdle. So, a couple of these are initial projects through the new contract to keep HDL moving, and then we're going to bring back some more tasks with the rest of the water funding to get through the master plan and the other designs. Awesome, thank you. Mr. Gray. Thank you.

So, Eric, have other engineering firms been involved in this water master plan and other associated things, or, I mean, I see HDL's name a lot, so are they kind of our go-to store of knowledge for our water system at this point? Yeah, great question. So, we have had contractual relationships with CRW, HDR, a little bit of R&M. HDL was selected through the RFP process to be part of the Wasilla Palmer Water Interconnect, and then we went back out to RFP and we received 3 proposals, I believe, which HDL was the top selected proposal. So they keep competing, and they also competed and were selected for the Sewer Master Plan and, uh, as well as the airport.

So it's been competitively, uh, proposed on all 3, and they just know our system and they write exceptional RFPs and provide that service. So, okay. Is there further discussion? Hearing none, is there objection to the motion?

Hearing none, the motion passes. There we are now at informational memorandums. Madam Clerk. Thank you. We have IM number 2613, disposition of caboose, waiver and release for disposition and surplus inspection required, and Planning Commission meeting minutes, September 8th, 2026.

Okay, and now audience comments, which is a time for members of the public to share their views with the council. This is not a question and answer period or a time for dialogue. Speaker may be referred to administration, or issues raised may be taken under advisement by the council or administration. So please begin your testimony by stating your first and last name, and if you are a city resident. Comments are limited to 3 minutes.

Seeing no one, I will close audience comments and bring it back to the dais. Madam Clerk. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, just, I Again, I don't want to steal any comments from you, but City Hall is closed tomorrow for an event, large-scale event at the Menard Center. And then the following day, Wednesday, we do have a special city council meeting here at 6 o'clock to certify the election.

I believe it's the intent of our canvas board chair, as she traditionally does, she will call in just to give a brief report. And Madam Mayor, I am not going to say my goodbyes until Wednesday. We have you for one more meeting, as we do Mr. Johnson. So, those are my only comments. Thank you, Madam Attorney.

Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor. No, I do not have any comments. Councilmember Schmidt. Yeah, I'd like to say congratulations to Rubio and thank you for your service, Glenda, and thank you for your service, Tim Johnson. And wow, it was a quick, fast meeting.

I appreciate it. Thank you, and that's it. Okay, Councilmember Graham.

Thank you, Madam Mayor, and I'm going to agree with, uh, Mr. Schmidt. That's the quickest disposition of a 500-page packet that I've seen in ever, I think. So I appreciate that. I do, uh, have one thing that I would like, uh, for Zane to address us at a future meeting. Our library director is You know, with accepting all these volumes from the Frontiersman, I mean, these are newspapers and subject to deterioration.

At the Frontiersman, they were kept in a room and you had to ask to see them. So I would like to know what our plan is to try and make sure that we can preserve these while making them accessible. So I'm not asking for your comment today, but at some point point. I would like, like to hear that because this is a huge part of the valley and a huge part of our history and certainly should be shared, but shared in a way that we make sure that we don't destroy what's there. Because a lot of that is stuff that nobody remembers except the person that wrote the article.

So, so I, I would like to hear about that. And again, congratulations to Eric on the airport master plan. That's going to be great. It's going to be challenging tomorrow with the president in town, so let's just be patient and everybody will make it through. And we are indeed honored to have the president be here.

They—. I think a reporter from KTUU mentioned to me the other day, yeah, this is only the second time a president of the United States has been to the Matsu Valley. And I had to correct him and say, no, this is the first time a President of the United States has been to the Mat-Su Valley. When John F. Kennedy came here, he was running for president. He was not president at that time.

So this is truly a grand and historic occasion, and I hope everybody enjoys it and takes time to relax and put up with the traffic jam. Thank you.

Councilmember Caudill. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I also want to Just give kudos to Eric and also to our deputy administrator, who also, I know, also did a lot of work on this airport plan. It was a huge effort on both of your parts. And so thank you for that.

Just want to say thank you to Madam Mayor and Councilmember Johnson for all your service. And I also look forward to Wasilla moving forward with our, our mayor-elect, who will be sitting in that seat very soon. And, uh, Looking forward to another year working with my fellow council members, and this went so fast tonight. I doubt my boss will let me back in the house yet. Okay, Council Member Rubio.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I am saving my closing comments really for Wednesday night because I do get one more night with you guys. And so, um, great meeting, short, awesome. That's about it for tonight. Council Member Crafton.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, great job on the master plan to the whole staff, everybody that touched it. I think my only— as great as it went, my only comment, I think Eric and I had this conversation, and I've talked to the clerk about it as well, is that we get some of these public meetings that happen is getting updates to the council a little bit more on a regular basis. Of what's happening, since not everybody can always make those meetings. So, uh, that would— that's my only thought, is just getting a little bit more that's on the inside of what's happening. Uh, second question I did have was, I talked to a couple of the residents on Nicola about the gas station going in, and one of them mentioned to me that there was a meeting happening.

I think it was the two of you with him about the security gate or emergency gate going in, and I was curious to see what the outcome of that meeting was. Did that meeting happen yet?

Thank you, Council Member Crafton. It will be this Thursday. Uh, yeah, they, they were out of state, and so we coordinated— they'll be meeting with Public Works and Planning to address the issues and concerns they have about that particular access point. And I know the big concern is the, the amount of traffic that's going to be added. Is it something we're leaning towards of saying, hey, let's just go ahead and put the gate in, or is it an optional thing that we're considering?

Through the mayor, without having met with the neighbor, I don't know what the options are right now. We're just going to listen to their concerns and, and see what they have to say. Could you provide us an update once that meeting does happen? Absolutely. Thank you.

Other than that, we'll see you Wednesday, and for those coming, uh, Good luck tomorrow.

Councilmember Johnson. Thank you, Madam Mayor, Council. It's been certainly a privilege, and I really appreciate the service award. That was very good job on the master plan for the airport. It's a long time in coming, and it's something that I wholeheartedly support because I see that it'll offer the city of Wasilla a really chance to expand.

Expand economically. So I'm really excited about that. And I've talked to people in my companies that I work with, you know, and there was even some interest from even very large airplanes operating out of a 5,100-foot runway to support bigger events. So I'm really excited about that. So thank you very much.

Okay, everybody's excited for tomorrow. And you know, uh, we have to thank Senator Dan Sullivan for the president coming to the Valley and especially to Wasilla because he was very instrumental in bringing him out here. So thank you to Senator Sullivan for all that you do, because he also gave us, what, $12 million for the airport? So anyway, but, and thank you guys. Um, it's not always been fun at the council, but it's always been interesting.

And, uh, I appreciate your, your time, your service, You know, because the bottom line is what's best for Wasilla. So, and I think we all have that in mind. Sometimes it's just not agreeable what we all have in mind. So, and Alina, can you believe that? I listen.

So anyway, I look forward to where you're going to lead us. You know, you'll have a different perspective. We're all individuals. I get it. But you will also have Wasala, the best spirit, at the forefront.

And that's all that— as I'll be just a resident then, so that's all that you can ask. So, but.