Soldotna: 9-9-2026 City Council Meetings

Good evening, Dan. Do you want to do a mic check?

Good evening, can you hear me? Yes, we can. Excellent.

Well, that's a positive spin on it. I know, look here. So that's appreciated.

I would like to call the September 9th, 2026 City Council regular meeting to order. Would everyone please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? 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.

Will the clerk please call the roll?

Carrie? Present. Chilson? Present. Hutchings?

Nelson? Present. Parker? I'm here. Wackler?

Present. You have a quorum, sir. Uh, next item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda and consent agenda. May I have a motion to approve the agenda and consent agenda? Miss Hutchings?

I'll make a motion to approve the agenda and consent agenda. A second, please? Second. Thank you, Mr. Carey. Thank you.

Are there any changes to the agenda or consent agenda? Seeing none, would the clerk please read the consent agenda?

August 12th, 2026 City Council meeting minutes. Resolution 2026-027, recognizing access to early childhood education as an essential economic need, sponsored by Wackler. Action Memorandum 2026-020, approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission Student Representative Program. Sponsored by the City Manager. Action Memorandum 2026-021, confirming the Mini Grant Review Committee's recommendations for FY '27 Cycle 1 mini grant awards.

Sponsored by the City Clerk. That is your consent agenda. Thank you. Are there any public comments on any of the items just read? Anyone in the audience wishing to comment on any of the items just read?

And we have no one signed up. Next, while having no one wishing to speak, the approval of the agenda and consent agenda is back before the council. Are there any objections to approving the agenda and consent agenda? Seeing and hearing none, the agenda and consent agenda are approved by unanimous consent. Uh, next item on the agenda is I'm going to read a proclamation, and would Miss Henshaw from the Elks please Whereas the Red Rock Protective Water Balance Group's Constitution stands in the patriotic order, whereas we further uphold the idea that the citizens of this nation live in freedom, long through the great sacrifice— free, prosperous, independent life.

Whereas, we recognize that each generation must diligently work to preserve this freedom, understanding that through carelessness or indifference, the rights and liberties we cherish may be lost. Whereas, it is both fitting and proper to honor this freedom and the nation that provided it. Now therefore, I, Whitney, Mayor of the City of Toronto, hereby proclaim September 14th through 20th, 2026, as National Safety Day in the City, and urge all citizens to join with the benevolent Protective Order Belt in expressing gratitude for the privilege of American citizenship and appropriate celebration of democracy.

Moving along to the next agenda item, and that is public comments and presentations. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak on any item not appearing on the agenda? Anyone here in the audience wishing to speak on anything not appearing on the agenda? And we have no one signed up to speak remotely. Next item, Assembly and Legislative Report.

Are there any representatives from the borough and/or state legislature that would like to address the— and we have no one here in the audience, and I don't think we have anybody online either. Next one, public hearings, and we have none for this evening. Next item on the agenda Moving right along, we're down to Mayor and Council Reports. I might set a record on this one here. Mayor's Reports and Proclamations.

I have another one here I'll read, um, and that is, whereas the United States National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year, this year that date is September 18th, 2026, whereas according to the Department of Defense whereas more than 80,000 American service members are missing from previous conflicts and 38,000 are estimated to be recoverable, and whereas we acknowledge with deep respect those Americans who were held in captivity and those whose fate have never been resolved, remembering the indignities and brutalities they suffered, and whereas we recognize that the families of these courageous individuals have endured the pain of separation and the anguish of uncertainty, bearing a heavy burden as they await the return of their loved ones or seek closure and solace through the knowledge that their sacrifices are not forgotten. And whereas the National POW/MIA Recognition Day serves as a solemn reminder of our duty to honor and remember all those who have served in uniform and to ensure that no one is left behind or forgotten, reaffirming our commitment to the values of loyalty, duty and respect for those who have borne the cost of our liberty. Now, therefore, I, Paul Whitney, Mayor of the City of Soldotna, do hereby proclaim September 18th, 2026, National POW/MIA Recognition Day in the city in honor of those who became prisoners of war and those who remain missing in action, encouraging our citizens to fly the POW/MIA flag as a tribute, dated this 9th day of September, 2026. Next, I have—.

At Industry Appreciation Day, the city received the Industry Appreciation Day Perseverance Award. Perseverance Award. The City of Soldotna Parks and Recreation, your unwavering commitment brought the Soldotna Fieldhouse to life creating a new opportunity for recreation, connection, and community for generations to come. And we will put that up somewhere here temporarily and then out to the Parks and Rec Department out at the Fieldhouse. I will pass that along through the city clerk.

Thanks, sir. Uh, next, uh, quick thing is we— I attended along with Vice Mayor Parker and the city manager the AML conference, summer conference in Fairbanks, and it was a very good meeting. A lot of things were discussed— policy, procedures, strategic planning, resolutions, and all kinds of different things. This was in the discussion mode, and these items will be brought up at the annual meeting held in December, where there'll be more information on them and the actual resolutions. And also, I might mention that I had the opportunity to run into a gentleman that I worked with in the police department 51 years ago.

That's the first time I've seen him in 51 years. He happened to be coming to Alaska to visit, and we sat down and had coffee and met him and his wife. And that's like I said, it's the first time I've seen him in 51 years. We do look a little bit different, just a wee bit. Next item on the agenda is mayor's report and our council report on boards and commissions.

August 26th, Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting. Mrs. Wackler.

Yes, I attended the chamber board meeting. Um, of note, I wanted to remind everybody that the 32nd annual pie auction will be going on, and It is Stars, Stripes, and Soldatna—. September 26th.

Stars, Stripes, and Soldatna Nights. Um, yes, it is September 26th, and the doors will open at 4:30. Tickets are on sale now. Um, it is a wonderful fundraiser. They're planning on doing it a little bit different this year.

They've brought in a, um, Character to be the emcee or auctioneer, which they're really excited about, and plan to run things a little bit, a little bit different, a little fun, different games this year. So I encourage everybody. Their fundraiser does go to support their scholarships. So they do hand out a number of scholarships for our community, and it's a great organization to support. So That is my report for today.

Any questions for Ms. Macklin? Seeing none, the next one is Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Mr. Carey. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The Planning and Zoning Commission met, uh, week ago today.

It was a very short meeting and everyone was doing just fine.

Okay, any questions for Mr. Carey? Seeing none, next item on the agenda is public comments. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak on any item? Anyone here in the audience? Seeing none, uh, we have no one on remote.

Next item on the agenda, Mayor. Oh, okay, Miss Hinchall, please state your name and address for the record, and you'll have 3 minutes.

Microphones.

I have a question for planning.

I've seen an influx of apartment buildings coming in, particularly on Readout Road across from the elementary school. My concern is, number one, when these people put their plans in, they are not, as I was explained to by an individual who put as many buildings as he can put on them— Is your microphone on?

Nope, wrong one. Nope, wrong, wrong microphone. Face in front of you. Yeah, and make sure it's right here. You need—.

Funny. We got Johnny under the table. Our clerk does whatever needs to be done. Other duties as assigned. Please try again, ma'am.

It's yellow. I mean, it's green. Okay. There. My name is Elizabeth Hinshaw.

I live at 112 Rose Garland Road, Soldotna, in the area of Readout Elementary. My concern is for planning. Individuals have bought up property and have been building.

I don't— I'm not really sure if they're permanent housing or what. We've got duplexes on lots and lots of duplexes on a lot. And I understand when this individual put in his plan, there was no indication that he would have planned for an area to push his snow, a removal of his snow. Uh, consequently, he was contacted by the city, um, roads, I believe, um, regarding him pushing his snow out into the middle of the road in front of Readout Elementary. Um, he wasn't contacted once, he wasn't contacted twice, he was contacted 4 times.

Um, he just likes to push snow in the street. Uh, anyway, I'm wondering if possibly when they come to you for approval on the— they bought the property, but what they're going to do with that property, that that might be something that you might want to inquire about. This man actually has built so much on that lot that he has no place to push snow, so it wasn't really anything that he thought of. He's from California. They have sunshine and it melts.

Uh, but he did not have any indication that he was gonna have to push that snow anywhere but in the street. Now we have another building that just is in the completion stage farther down Readout. And, uh, this individual has a huge lot, so he'll have plenty of places to push his snow. But again, we're in an elementary area with lots of people that come and go. My concern is the kids and the traffic.

So I'm just wondering if maybe planning might do a little bit more due diligence when it comes to putting these things together for those individuals.

Can you respond to that? Um, thank you for your comments, and I will pass that on to, um, our planning director and, um, And I know she will work with the Planning Commission.

We do require snow storage on property, so we will be checking into that property. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak?

Seeing none, next item, City Manager's report. Thank you, Mayor. You referenced the AML meeting that I agree with you that it was a very good meeting, and one particular area I— in the meeting that I included in the packet is regarding a listening session that was for all state candidates. We don't know, I'm not sure, but AML does who was all listening, but they were on via Zoom and AML produced an, um, it's called Alaska Municipal League Member Issues and Challenges for Incoming Legislators document. And I particularly like that document.

I like the format that was used this time. There was a lot of input from members, which particularly appreciated. There were 12 policy areas included in the document. I'm going to briefly go through 6 of them that really have an impact for the City of Soldotna. Um, the first one, protecting local taxing authorities, specifically local control of sales tax and exemptions.

This really came up through a possible Title 29 change. As you know, we're home rule. Not all of Title 29 applies to us. It was undetermined if this one would have had a home rule connection or not, but I do like that we protect our home rule, all municipalities, but especially those home rule statuses. The second one, creating a predictable state-local fiscal partnership rather than shifting state responsibilities and costs to municipalities.

As we know, that continues to happen. There are state mandates that are being pushed on to municipalities. Addressing PERS and workforce recruitment and retention, particularly in specialized municipal positions, investing in existing infrastructure and major maintenance before deferred maintenance results in substantially greater costs, which we strive to do at the city to keep up on our maintenance, improving public safety capacity including police recruitment, prosecution resources, public records requirements, and regulatory processes. And part of what was talked about was the APS. Process and streamlining that, improving infrastructure funding and project delivery, particularly for water, wastewater, transportation, and federally funded projects where delays and inflation can significantly reduce the value of an award.

And as you know, we see that as our awards get delayed. And speaking of that, I received an email from our lobbyists, both Genevieve and Sebastian, regarding our FY27 CDS appropriation for the Marydale Utilities Project. And, um, there is a continuing resolution through, um, federal, um, that has appropriated funds to keep the federal government open until December 11th. However, it does not include any CDS funding. This happened, as you remember, a couple of years ago, so we'll continue to watch this after December— excuse me, December 11th.

Um, a couple of other items. The auditors will be on site in October, and the finance department is working hard to be ready for them, and I have no doubt that they will be, and things are going very smoothly. Um, the streets condition assessment is happening this week, and I understand from Vice Mayor Parker they were on her street evaluating the conditions, and the report will contain all conditions excuse me, conditions of all pavement and gravel streets and the life left in the pavement. And this is really a very crucial report for us. We'll be able to, you know, create priorities off of it, and if there's any type of funding, grants or otherwise, that we can obtain, we really need this document to do so.

The biosolids project is continuing along, and substantial completion will be at the end of June. It really is a very big project, and basically it's an addition to the wastewater treatment plant, a large one, and installing equipment. It's two-phase. Right now they're building the addition, and it will replace the sludge equipment, and which is 40-year-old belt press will also be replaced. This will create a lot more efficiencies, and this was funded through CDS, the State Revolving Loan Fund, loan forgiveness for part of the loan, and city matching funds.

And the next project that is on the way, um, in the works is Sand Storage Structure Project. And due to shipping issues, um, the project completion should be in November. We were hoping for next month, but we'll get there in November. And the funding sources also appropriation through state budget, uh, several years ago, um, Representative Ruffridge put that in the bill, and city matching funds. Lots of projects going on, very busy with projects.

There are a lot of contacts to the building department with people who are trying to still put in foundations and get their projects going so they can continue to work through the winter. So it's been very busy. And that's it, I think, unless there's any questions. Any questions from the council for the city manager? You can tell that roads group, uh, they can come walking with me and I'll show them a few road needed improvements.

I see a few of them when I was walking. Okay, next item on the agenda is council comments, and we'll start with Mr. Nelson.

Thank you, Mayor Whitney. No comments tonight. Ms. Wackler? No comment. Ms. Hutchings?

Well, the only thing I wanted to mention is we also have the Harvest Festival the same day as the pie auction, the 26th, so everybody can have a full day. And no further comments.

Mr. Carey? No comment, thank you. Vice Mayor Parker? No comment. Mr. Chilson?

Keep up the record. No comment.

All right, next item on the agenda: executive session. There is no need for one, uh, pending leg— uh, legislation. Ordinance 26 2026-021 is postponed until October 28th. Meeting announcements: September 17th, 2026, Airport Commission meeting at 5:30, and September 23rd, 2026, City Council meeting at 6 PM. Having nothing further on our agenda, we are adjourned.