Palmer: Oct. 12, 2026, Special City Council Meeting

All right, 6 o'clock. I call the special meeting to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Mayor Cooper. Here.

Councilmember Alcantara— Deputy Mayor Alcantara. Here. Councilmember Carrington.

Oh, we lost her here. Oh, there she is. Councilmember Collins. Hey, yo, um, here. Councilmember Graham is absent.

Councilmember Mosier. Here. And Councilmember Allen. Here. We have a quorum.

Thank you. Sir, Miss Brown, would you lead us in the pledge, please? 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. Thank you.

What are the wishes of the council on approval of the agenda? Moved to approve. Second. Any discussions, questions, comments, objections? Hearing none, we'll accept that as approved.

Next item is a proclamation that I have, uh, to recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day. Indigenous Peoples' Day is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of Alaska Native peoples and Indigenous communities throughout our nation. The City of Palmer recognizes that the Matanuska Valley is located within the traditional lands of the Ahtna and Dena'ina Athabaskan peoples, whose deep connections to the land, waters, and natural resources have shaped the history and heritage of our region for countless generations. Alaska Native peoples have demonstrated extraordinary resilience, strength, and dedication to preserving their languages, cultural traditions, and ways of life, passing their knowledge and values from one generation to the next. Indigenous peoples continue to make significant contributions to the cultural, social, economic, and civic life of Alaska and the city of Palmer, enriching our community through their leadership, knowledge, and traditions.

Indigenous Peoples' Day provides an opportunity for reflection, education, and greater understanding of the histories and experiences of indigenous peoples. While encouraging mutual respect and appreciation among all members of our community. City of Palmer recognizes the importance of honoring indigenous heritage, celebrating cultural diversity, and fostering a welcome and inclusive community for present and future generations. Therefore, by the mayor and city council of the City of Palmer, we do hereby proclaim October 12th, 2026 as Indigenous Peoples' Day in the City of Palmer and encourage all residents to recognize and celebrate the history, heritage, cultures, and and lasting contributions of Indigenous peoples to our community, our state, and our nation.

Thank you. Is there anybody in the audience who would like to come forward and speak?

All right, seeing no one, we'll close audience participation. Madam Clerk, this is your show.

Um, I do have a quick staff report regarding the Resolution 26-028, um, approving or certifying the election. On October 6th, 2026, the City of Palmer held its regular election, having met the notice and posting obligations in PMC Title 18. I do— I would like to report that at Precinct 25-320, which is located at at the Matsu Assembly Chambers, the ICP machine would not accept the password to allow the machine to accept ballots. After speaking with the election officials at the precinct, it was decided to use one of the city's backup machines. The polls were open at 7:00 AM as required by law, and people were able to vote by placing their ballots in the emergency slot in the back of the black box.

Once I brought over the backup ICP machine, It did take the password and the new machine was ready for use. We were able to run ballots through, no problem. After the polls were closed for the night, the election officials ran the 3 ballots that were in the emergency slot. I reported it to Canvas Board and Canvas Board determined that we were good to go, that that didn't adversely affect the outcome of the election. The Canvas Board did meet on October 7th, at 1 PM for initial canvassing, then again on October 9th at noon to complete canvassing and perform a final count.

We had—. I just wanted to clarify that we did send out 26 absentee by mail ballots, but only 20 were returned to us. 2 Of the ballots, Canvas Board determined to be a no count, as though 2— those 2 individuals were registered to vote outside the City of Palmer limits. Our overall voter turnout was 4.75%, which was 7.3% lower than last year's 12.28%. Canvas Board found that there were no irregularities report and that no ballots were received after Canvas Board met and to rec— and they certified to recommend to certify the election.

Any questions for me? Yes, sir. Uh, thank you, uh, Clerk Johnson. No, no real questions, just, uh, kudos for a job well done. And I think the election was run very smoothly.

Um, you know, you've heard me like a broken record about low turnouts, a problem anywhere and everywhere. And, you know, there was a contested race, but two races are not contested. So I know that's having less than 5% turnout I know it frustrates you as much as anybody else that you just don't see as many voters as you'd like to see, but I think, uh, job well done, and thank you for all your work and all your work here, Deputy Clerk Robinson, as well. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Yeah, my, uh, my comment is I, I obviously am disappointed the 5%. We haven't had that, I think, in quite a long time. But on a positive note, our last year's 12-point Whatever. I just figured out, yeah, our 13 point— our 12.28 still beat Wasilla.

Still beat Wasilla this year. So you're here.

Yeah, so yeah.

Yes, sir. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I, um, do I need to move Resolution 26-028? I just blew someone up for a second.

Second. Any, any other discussion, questions about the resolution to accept the certification of our election? Seeing none, Madam Clerk.

Deputy Mayor LaCantra? Yes. Council Member Carrington? Yes. Council Member Collins?

Yes. Council Member Mosier? Yes. Council Member Allen? Yes.

And Mayor Cooper? Yes. It is approved and unanimous. Thank you. So this particularly, we don't normally, normally don't have 2 opportunities for council comments, but on our election special meeting for election certification, we do, and that's an opportunity for us to say something about or to Mr. Allen, and/or another opportunity for you to speak.

So anybody? Yes, sir. Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I had just forgotten about this double dip, the council member chip, so to speak. But I thought the last time maybe we'd see Councilmember Allen up here in the dais was the meeting before he took off to Morocco.

But I just want to say thank you for your service, Mr. Allen. Thank you for being here tonight and kind of putting a bow on it. And, um, I mean, I, I know you're still going to be heavily involved in all things Palmer, but, uh, certainly speaking for myself, you will be missed. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

I would just like to direct my comments to Councilmember Allen. Thank you for being here and serving, um, this short period of time. It's been interesting listening to you and learning from you. I know that was one of the first things you said to me was I'd look forward to learning from you, but I learned as much from you as well. So thank you.

I do, I do have a comment that, Rick, I really appreciate the fact that you, that you volunteered to do this, and I've, you know, approached you in, in Juneau with that, and I'm, I'm glad you accepted. Um, you know, um, and I've mentioned this to you before, that, you know, with the lawyers on our staff, that you, you bring us to, uh, put a different spin on the thought process. I think you actually bring us to a higher level on the way that you guys process and before you, you know, make comments on any of the issues that we've had. And I know this is a year off for you. You're gonna be off of planning in December, but next October I expect to see your name, you know, again on one of our lists.

Thank you. Well, Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for the kind words, and thank you to my fellow council members too for their kind words. I did not expect to be up here today. I came to see my friend Bruce get sworn in, and that's why I was a minute late, and I apologize. I'm usually, as you know, a pretty timely person, but— and the way I'm dressed, I'm very casual.

I apologize for that too. I did not expect to be up here, but it does give me another opportunity to say thank you to all of you and to tell tell you just how much I really enjoyed having this opportunity to serve in this way. And I did learn a lot, and I was impressed by, um, the amount of work that folks put in, uh, by how much everyone up here truly cares about our town, and, um, frankly, the courage that everyone up here ended up having to show at different times over the course of the last 10 months or so that I've been involved, you know, there have been some pretty sticky wickets, some tough things, and these are people of principle, and I just, you know, it was a real honor to serve with all of you, and I know that my friend Bruce will do a great job going forward, and in terms of future service, Mayor, we will see what the future holds. Thank you so much. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

I guess it's up to you now. It's up to me now. Minister, the oath of office, please.

I have one for you to look at while we read it. I, Bruce Brown, I Bruce Brown do solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America; the Constitution and laws of the State of Alaska; and the charter and ordinances of the City of Palmer, of the City of Palmer, and to do the best, and to the best, and to the best, thank you, of my ability, of my ability, honestly, faithfully, honestly, faithfully, and impartially, and impartially, discharge my duties, discharge my duties, and obligations, and obligations, as council member, as council member, of the City of Palmer, so help me God. City of Palmer, so help me God. Great, and go ahead and sign. Sign?

Yeah, let me get you a pen. Oh, here's one here. And then I will sign.

Okay, thank you. And then Council Member Bosier.

Raise your right hand over it so it won't hurt. I, Penny Mosher, I, Penny Mosher, do solemnly swear, solemnly swear, to support and defend, to support and defend, the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.

To support and defend the Constitution of laws at United States of America; The constitution and laws of the State of Alaska: Constitutional law to state of Alaska; The charter and ordinances of the City of Palmer: Charter and ordinance of city of Palmer; And to best my ability— Honestly faithfully— honestly faithful—and impartially Discharge my duties and obligations as council member of the City of Palmer, so help me God. Of the City of Palmer, so help me God. Go ahead and sign. Okay, I think this is the most awkward part of my job.

We're going to swear Sheryann right now.

I don't have a cheat sheet. It's okay, I'll go slow. I, Sherry Carrington. I, Sherry Carrington. Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear. To support and defend. To support and defend. The Constitution. The Constitution.

And laws of the United States of America. And laws of the United States of America. The Constitution and laws. Constitution and laws. Of the state of Alaska.

Of the state of Alaska. And the charter and ordinances. And the charter and ordinances. Of the city of Palmer. Of the city of Palmer.

And to the best. And to the best. Of my ability. Of my ability, honestly, faithfully, honestly, faithfully, and impartially, and impartially, discharge my duties, discharge my duties, and obligations, and obligations, as council member, as a council member, of the City of Palmer, of the City of Palmer, so help me God, so help me God. That's it.

All right, I'm done. That's right, that's right.

We do have cupcakes. Yeah, all right.

Thank you, thank you, Councilwoman Carrington. We'll have you sign it when you get back.

All right, okay, organization of council. I do have the cheat sheet for everybody. I printed out code, how to do the deputy ma—.

And we are at that point where we need to, um, have an organization of the council. And as you can see, that we need to have nominations for Deputy Mayor first, please.

Mayor, I would like to nominate, uh, Allison Collins as, uh, Deputy Mayor. Second. Thank you. Any, any others? Any other nominations?

Any objections? I guess do we need to— I guess we need to vote too, right?

Yes, yes, yes. Madam Clerk.

Council Member Brown.

Yes, I see you're in the hot seat.

Council Member Alcantara. Yes. Council Member Carrington. Yes. Council Member Collins.

Yes. Council Member Mosher. Yes. And Mayor Cooper? Yes.

It is unanimous.

Welcome, Deputy Mayor. Mr. Mayor, and the next is, uh, alternate deputy mayor election nominations for that, please. Mr. Mayor? Yes, sir. I nominate Council Member Amanda Graham for the office of alternate deputy mayor.

And look for a second.

Second. Any others?

Hearing none, Madam Clerk.

Mayor Cooper? Yes. Councilmember Brown? Yes. Councilmember Alcantara?

Yes. Councilmember Carrington? Yes. Councilmember Collins? Yes.

And Councilmember Mosier? Yes. It is unanimous and approved. Thank you. I guess we can move right into councilmember comments.

Now I'm going to start that, uh, John, it's been a kind of an honor and a privilege to have you as Deputy Mayor this last year. I really appreciate that. And I know I did— I didn't throw a lot of stuff your way, you know, but I knew that you were there anytime if I need to call, that you had my back. So, you know, I appreciate, you know, that, that you were ready to do that and, and, uh, take the bull if you had to. I appreciate it.

Thanks, Mayor Cooper. Yes, ma'am. Uh, I just, uh, I didn't get to tell, uh, Mr., uh, Allen, really appreciated his stepping in for the last year and, uh Look forward to, uh, Mr. Brown being on the council this, this next year.

Thank you. Yes, ma'am. I'd like to say congratulations to Council Member Brown, um, congratulations to our Deputy Mayor, um, Collins, and, uh, um, to Amanda, uh, as well, Council Member Graham as Deputy. So thank you. Yes, sir.

Uh, yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, basically just ditto to what Councilmember Mojo just said. I don't want to say, uh, congratulations to Mr. Brown and, uh, welcome you on the council. And, uh, congratulations both to Allison Collins as Deputy Mayor. And I know Amanda Graham's got a busy 48 hours in front of her with a little, little visit to Wasilla, but, uh, um, I know she'll also do a great job as the alternate, the case may be.

So, uh, I I congratulate Councilmember Mosier and Councilmember Carrington as well for their reelections to council, and I think you guys are going to be in good shape for the future. Yeah, yeah, thank you. Mr. Brown, do you have anything you would like to—.

Yes, I would like to say thank you all for accepting me here today as your new council member. I feel very welcomed here and very This is a very friendly body, and I appreciate that. And I think, I think the people of Palmer appreciate the professionalism and, and the collegiality of this board, and that we, I hope to make a contribution as best I can. Thank you. Thank you.

Deputy Mayor Collins. Thank you. Um, like Councilmember Alcantara said, kind of ditto to everything. I feel funny saying it all again, but also wanted to welcome Bruce Brown here, and excited as well that Councilmember Mosier and Councilmember Carrington are with us for another 3 years. So that's exciting.

And also, I want to tell Rick Allen that it was always a pleasure to work with you, and excited for this next year.

Thank you. Yeah, again, so Mr. Allen, I— now that you're off and out of an official capacity, I guess when we have coffee then it won't be as— we don't have to talk. Well, I guess now you can tell me what the heck to do, either doing right or doing wrong, you know. Um, Bruce, you know, welcome, welcome to the council. I appreciate that, that you, that you decided to run.

And for the, for the, the two on my left Thank you for running this. You know, I'm glad that you, uh, didn't take, uh, too much heat from me to put your name in on the list. So I'm really glad that you're here. I think we, like, um, Mr. Alcantara said, I think we've got some, you know, good times ahead of us, uh, and we're headed in the right direction. So with, with that, I think we'll eat, um, cupcakes.

So we're adjourned.