Agenda - ASSEMBLY REGULAR MEETING

MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH

350 East Dahlia Avenue, Palmer, Alaska 99645 - 907-861-8683

BOROUGH MAYOR

Edna DeVries

BOROUGH ASSEMBLY

Michael Bowles, District 1

Stephanie Nowers, District 2

Dee McKee, District 3

BOROUGH CLERK

Lonnie R. McKechnie, CMC

Maxwell Sumner, District 4

Bill Gamble, District 5

BOROUGH MANAGER

Michael Brown

Dmitri Fonov, District 6

Ron Bernier, District 7

BOROUGH ATTORNEY

Nicholas Spiropoulos

ASSEMBLY AGENDA

ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS

350 EAST DAHLIA AVENUE, PALMER

ASSEMBLY REGULAR MEETING

6:00 PM

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ASSEMBLY MEETING IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND IN

PERSON:

IN WRITING:

* You can submit written comments to leg.com@matsugov.us

TELEPHONIC TESTIMONY:

* Dial 1-855-225-2326

* You will hear “Joining conference” when you are admitted to the meeting.

* You will be automatically muted and able to listen to the meeting.

* When the Mayor announces audience participation or a public hearing you would like to speak

to, press *3; you will hear “Your hand has been raised.”

* When it is your turn to testify you will hear “Your line has been unmuted.”

* State your name for the record, spell your last name, and provide your testimony.

OBSERVE: observe the meeting via the live stream video at:

* https://matanuska.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

* https://www.facebook.com/MatSuBorough

* Matanuska-Susitna Borough - YouTube

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. ROLL CALL

III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

V. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETINGS

26-105

A. Assembly Regular Meeting Minutes: 05/19/26

B. Assembly Special Meeting Minutes: 06/02/26

C. Assembly Regular Meeting Minutes: 06/02/26

Attachments: 07/21/26 - Minutes for Packet

VI. REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE

A. AGENCY REPORTS (MSB 2.12.082; Seven minutes per person)

1. Reports From Cities

2. Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

3. State of Alaska

4. Mat-Su Valley Planning for Transportation

26-108

Mat-Su Valley Planning for Transportation Presentation

Attachments: MTP 2050 & MVP's TIP Overview - 07/21/26

MVP Funding Flyer - 07/21/26

MVP Full Project List - 07/21/26

B. COMMITTEE REPORTS

1. Joint Assembly/School Board Committees

2. Assembly Public Relations

C. MANAGER COMMENTS

1. State/Federal Legislation

2. Strategic Planning Issues

D. ATTORNEY COMMENTS

E. CLERK COMMENTS

F. CITIZEN AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE

26-106

1. Animal Care And Regulation Board: AC&R 26-02, 26-01

2. Big Lake RSA Board of Supervisors: 04/13/26, Resolution No.

26-04

3. Butte Community Council: 05/13/26

4. Central Mat-Su FSA Board of Supervisors: 04/13/26

5. Enhance 911 Advisory Board: 04/14/26

6. Greater Talkeetna RSA Board of Supervisors: 05/14/26

7. Local Road Service Area Advisory Board: 04/16/26, Resolution

No. 26-02

8. MSB Fish and Wildlife Commission: 05/08/25, 05/15/25

9. Meadow Lakes Community Council: 10/08/25, 11/12/25,

01/14/26, 02/11/26, 03/11/26, 04/08/26

10. North Lake Community Council: 03/26/26, 04/19/26, 04/30/26,

05/20/26

11. Planning Commission: 06/01/26

12. Platting Board: 05/21/26, 06/04/26

13. Point MacKenzie Community Council: 01/08/26, 02/12/26,

03/12/26, 04/09/26, 05/14/26

14. South Lakes Community Council: 06/01/26

15. Susitna Community Council: 01/01/26, 02/05/26, 03/05/26,

05/07/26

16. Trapper Creek Community Council: 04/16/26

17. Water & Wastewater Advisory Board: 05/06/26

18. West Lakes FSA Board of Supervisors: 05/11/26

Attachments: 07/21/26 - Citizen and Other Correspondence

G. INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUMS

IM 26-134

Informing The Assembly Of The Submission Of A Grant

Application In The Amount Of $45,000 To The American Society

For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals To Assist The Shelter In

Expanding Access To Preventative Veterinary Services In Borough

Communities.

Attachments: IM 26-134

IM 26-136

Informing The Assembly Of The Manager’s Signature On And

Submittal Of A Grant Application To The United States Department

Of Transportation Federal Highway Administration For The 49th

State Street And Tern Drive Fish Passage Improvements.

Attachments: IM 26-136

IM 26-138

Notifying The Assembly Of The Submission Of A Grant Application

To The Mat-Su Health Foundation’s Target Wellness Program In

An Amount Not To Exceed $25,000. To Be Used To Participate In

The National Animal Care And Control Association Field Forward

Program To Conduct A Comprehensive Organizational Assessment

And Strategic Review Process.

Attachments: IM 26-138

VII. SPECIAL ORDERS

A. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (You can speak under one of the audience

participations on the agenda, but not both; Three Minutes Per Person.)

B. PUBLIC HEARINGS (Three Minutes Per Person.)

OR 26-028

An Ordinance Amending MSB 17.80, Nonconforming Structures,

To Repeal The Notification Process And Fee Section.

Sponsors: Sumner

Attachments: OR 26-028

IM 26-041

OR 26-030

An Ordinance Repealing MSB 8.25, Water Pollution Control; And

MSB 17.55.020(E), Under Setbacks For Shorelands, In Their

Entirety.

Sponsors: Sumner

Attachments: OR 26-030

IM 26-044

OR 26-036

An Ordinance Changing The Exemption To Weight Restrictions On

Borough Roads For Emergencies Only.

Sponsors: Nowers and McKee

Attachments: OR 26-036

IM 26-058

04/07/26 - Nowers Reconsideration of Public Hearing Date

C. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (You can speak under one of the audience

participations on the agenda, but not both; Three Minutes Per Person.)

D. CONSENT AGENDA

1. RESOLUTIONS

RS 26-062

A Resolution Correcting The Planning Department Fee Schedule

For The Master Plan Final Review Fee.

Attachments: RS 26-062

IM 26-122

RS 26-064

A Resolution Amending The Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Budget To

Reallocate Funding From Safe Streets For Schools Match

Funding To The Iditarod Elementary Cladding Project.

Attachments: RS 26-064

IM 26-131

RS 26-065

A Resolution Declaring A Local Emergency In Response To

Imminent 2026 Talkeetna Flooding And A Request For State

Assistance.

Attachments: RS 26-065

IM 26-133

RS 26-066

A Resolution Adjusting The Planning Department Fee Schedule

For The Utility Permit Distance Fee Per Linear Foot.

Attachments: RS 26-066

IM 26-135

RS 26-071

A Resolution Amending The Budget For The Houston Middle

School Insurance Proceeds And Approving The Scope Of Work

And Budget For The Iditarod Elementary School Cladding

Project.

Attachments: RS 26-071

IM 26-141

2. ACTION MEMORANDUMS

AM 26-087

Award Of Proposal No. 26-126P To Jacobs Project

Management Company In The Annual Contract Amount Not To

Exceed $150,000 To Provide On-Call Engineering Consulting

Services For The Central Landfill.

Attachments: AM 26-087

AM 26-091

Approval Of An Extension Of The Final Completion Date To

September 30, 2027, For Contract No. 25-079P With Collins

Architecture + Energy Conservation, LLC, To Design School

District Elevator Replacements.

Attachments: AM 26-091

AM 26-092

Acceptance Of Late Filed And Retroactive Senior Citizen And

Disabled Veteran Tax Exemption Applications For The Period Of

May And June 2026.

Attachments: AM 26-092

AM 26-093

Award Of Bid No. 26-170B To Bristol Infrastructure Design

Services, LLC. In The Contract Amount Of $553,408.46 To

Complete Improvements For East Kepler Drive Bridge

Replacement.

Attachments: AM 26-093

AM 26-094

Authorization To Vacate Two Public Use Easements Located

Within Parcel A3 (South 1/2 Northeast1/4 & Southeast1/4),

Located Within The East 1/2 Section 04, Township 24 North,

Range 04 West, Seward Meridian, Alaska. Easements Were

Created By Benka Lake Alaska Subdivision, Plat No. 85-14

Talkeetna Recording District And Easement Documentation

Recorded At Book 103, Page 997, Recorded On November 8,

1984.

Attachments: AM 26-094

AM 26-095

Approval Of Contract Extension For Contract No. 22-090P(C)

With HDL Engineering Consultants, LLC. To December 31,

2026, For The Engstrom Road To Trunk Road Corridor Project.

Attachments: AM 26-095

AM 26-096

Award Of Bid No. 26-166B To Professional Trails In The

Contract Amount Of $965,270 To Construct Cell 3 Gas

Collection And Control System Expansion At The Central

Landfill.

Attachments: AM 26-096

AM 26-097

Award Of Bid No. 26-180B To YH Constructors, Inc. In The

Contract Amount Of $1,921,174 To Construct Iditarod

Elementary School Cladding Replacement.

Attachments: AM 26-097

AM 26-098

Award Of Bid No. 27-002B To McKenna Brothers Paving, Inc.

In The Contract Amount Of $661,087.40 For Pavement

Preservation For Fairview Road Service Area No. 14, Big Lake

Road Service Area No. 21, And Meadow Lakes Road Service

Area No. 27; For The Fiscal Year 2027.

Attachments: AM 26-098

AM 26-099

Award Of Proposal No. 26-176P To Shannon & Wilson For The

Annual Contract Amount Not To Exceed $200,000 To Provide

On-Call Geotechnical Engineering Service.

Attachments: AM 26-099

VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

IX. VETO

X. NEW BUSINESS

A. INTRODUCTIONS (For Public Hearing 08/04/26 Assembly Chambers)

OR 26-080

An Ordinance Adopting The Areawide Power To Acquire Public

Rights-Of-Way, Design And Construct Roads, Streets, Sidewalks,

And Related Drainage Facilities; And To Submit The Question To

The Qualified Areawide Voters At The November 3, 2026, Regular

Election.

Attachments: OR 26-080

IM 26-126

OR 26-081

An Ordinance Changing School Board Terms From 3 Year Terms

To 4 Year Terms, Providing For Transitory Terms To Align School

Board And Assembly District Terms, And To Submit The Question

To The Qualified Areawide Voters At The November 3, 2026,

Regular Election.

Sponsors: Fonov, McKee and Bernier

Attachments: OR 26-081

IM 26-127

OR 26-083

An Ordinance Adopting MSB 1.10.170 And MSB 3.35, 3 Percent

Areawide Sales Tax, Enacting An Areawide Real Property Tax Cap

Of 4 Mills, And Submitting The Proposition To The Voters At The

November 3, 2026, Regular Borough Election.

Sponsors: Bernier

Attachments: OR 26-083

IM 26-129

OR 26-085

An Ordinance Defining A Newspaper Of General Circulation And

The Words Publish Or Publication.

Sponsors: Gamble

Attachments: OR 26-085

IM 26-132

OR 26-073

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $5,000 From The

Scotty Gomez Foundation For Any Improvements To Big Lake

Lions Recreation Center.

RS 26-058: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For Any Improvements To The Big Lake Lions Recreation

Center.

Attachments: OR 26-073

RS 26-058

IM 26-118

OR 26-074

An Ordinance Reappropriating $400,000 From Central Mat-Su Fire

Service Area Fund Balance To The Central Mat-Su FSA Facilities

And Vehicles Project For Perfluoroalkyl Substances Mitigation And

Remediation Activities.

RS 26-059: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For Perfluoroalkyl Substances Mitigation And Remediation

Activities.

Attachments: OR 26-074

RS 26-059

IM 26-119

OR 26-075

An Ordinance Approving An Appropriation Of $275,000 From The

West Lakes Fire Service Area Fund Balance To A Project To

Upgrade Radios.

RS 26-060: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For A Project To Upgrade Radios For The West Lakes Fire

Service Area.

Attachments: OR 26-075

RS 26-060

IM 26-120

OR 26-076

An Ordinance Approving An Appropriation Of $25,000 From The

West Lakes Fire Service Area Fund Balance To A Project To

Purchase A New Brush Skid Unit.

RS 26-061: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For A Project To Purchase A New Brush Skid Unit For The

West Lakes Fire Service Area.

Attachments: OR 26-076

RS 26-061

IM 26-121

OR 26-077

An Ordinance Amending The Composition Of The Borough Fish

And Wildlife Commission To Reduce The Membership From 8

Voting Members To 7 Voting Members.

Sponsors: DeVries

Attachments: OR 26-077

IM 26-123

OR 26-078

An Ordinance Amending MSB 15.39.190(D) And MSB

24.30.030(B)(10) To Require Deliberations To Be Held In Open

Session.

Sponsors: DeVries

Attachments: OR 26-078

IM 26-124

OR 26-079

An Ordinance Amending MSB 2.12.112(F) To Clarify The Effective

Date Of Assembly Action When A Motion To Reconsider Is

Withdrawn Or Fails.

Sponsors: DeVries

Attachments: OR 26-079

IM 26-125

OR 26-082

An Ordinance To Decrease The Marijuana Sales Tax Levy From 5

Percent To 3 Percent.

Sponsors: Bowles

Attachments: OR 26-082

IM 26-128

OR 26-084

An Ordinance Reappropriating $110,000 From The Land

Management Permanent Fund To The Big Lake Lions Recreation

Center Project For The Purchase Of The Adjacent Lot.

(MSB008202)

RS 26-063: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For The Purchase Of The Lot Adjacent To The Big Lake

Lions Recreation Center.

Attachments: OR 26-084

RS 26-063

IM 26-130

OR 26-086

An Ordinance Approving Time Extension Of The Areawide Budget

Appropriations For The Bradley Road Bridge Replacement Over

Trapper Creek Project, The 2024 Shirley Towne Bridge

Maintenance Project, And The 2024 Montana Creek Bridge

Maintenance And Armoring Project To June 30, 2029.

RS 26-067: A Resolution Approving The Scopes Of Work And

Budgets For Six Bridge Projects.

Attachments: OR 26-086

RS 26-067

IM 26-137

OR 26-087

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $323,298.14 From The

Alaska State Department Of Health And Social Services, Approving

The Scope Of Work And Budget For Human Services Community

Matching Grant Program.

RS 26-069: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For The Human Services Community Matching Grant

Program.

RS 26-070: A Resolution Allocating Fiscal Year 2027 Human

Services Community Matching Grant Program Funding To

Non-Profit Agencies For The Provision Of Critically Needed

Essential Health And Social Services To The Citizens Of The

Borough.

Attachments: OR 26-087

RS 26-069

RS 26-070

IM 26-140

B. MAYORAL NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

1. VACANCY REPORT

26-107

Mayoral Request for Confirmation

Attachments: 07/21/26 - Vacancy Report

C. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

1. Motion to Rescind - Assemblymember Gamble

AM 26-075

Award Of Bid No. 26-157B To Tew’s Inc. In The Contract

Amount Of $1,116,525.33 For Big Lake Road Service Area

Annual Road Maintenance - Rebid.

Attachments: AM 26-075

06/16/26 - Nowers Possible Reconsideration

07/21/26 - Gamble Possible Motion to Rescind

D. REFERRALS (For Referral To The Planning Commission For 90 Days Or Other

Date Specified By The Assembly)

XI. RECONSIDERATION

OR 26-072

An Ordinance Adopting MSB 3.15.036 $75,000, Owner-Occupied

Residential Real Property Exemption And MSB 1.10.170, 1.5 Percent

Areawide Sales Tax (With Exemptions For Sales Within The Cities);

And Submitting The Proposition To The Voters At The November 3,

2026, Regular Borough Election.

Sponsors: Nowers

Attachments: OR 26-072

IM 26-117

06/02/26 - Sales Tax Projections

06/16/26 - Fonov Possible Amendment

07/21/26 - McKee Possible Reconsideration

XII. MAYOR, ASSEMBLY, AND STAFF COMMENTS

XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION (For Matters, Which The Immediate Public Knowledge Of

Would Clearly Have An Adverse Effect Upon The Finances Of The Borough; And Matters

Which By Law, Municipal Charter, Or Ordinance Are Required To Be Kept Confidential;

And To Discuss Matters Involving Consideration Of Borough Records That By Law Are

Not Subject To Public Disclosure; And Discussion Of Matters Subject To Attorney/Client

Privilege.)

A. Davidson Family Trust v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough 3PA-26-02199CI

XIV. ADJOURNMENT

Disabled Persons Needing Reasonable Accommodation In Order To Participate At An Assembly Meeting Should Contact The

Borough ADA Coordinator At (907) 861-8432 At Least One Week In Advance Of The Meeting.