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, APRIL 7, 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

26-065

A. Joint Assembly/Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: 03/10/26

Attachments: 04/07/26 - 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 Convention and Visitor's Bureau

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

26-056

1. Big Lake Community Council: 02/10/26

2. Butte Community Council: 02/11/26

3. Knik RSA Board of Supervisors: 03/03/26

4. Library Board: 12/09/25, 02/10/26

5. MSB Fish and Wildlife Commission: 10/09/25, 11/13/25,

01/08/26, 01/29/26

6. Parks, Recreation, and Trails Advisory Board: 02/23/26

7. Planning Commission: 03/02/26

8. Platting Board: 02/04/26, 02/05/26, 02/18/26, 03/05/26

9. South Knik River Community Council: 02/19/26

10. Tanaina Community Council: 02/23/26

11. Trapper Creek Community Council: 02/19/26

12. West Lakes FSA Board of Supervisors: 01/12/26

Attachments: 04/07/26 - Citizen and Other Correspondence

G. INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUMS

IM 26-063

Reporting The Conclusion Of Contract For Bid No. 25-108B With

CGC Services, LLC. For A Final Contract Amount Of $293,372.71

For The Palmer High School Boiler Upgrades.

Attachments: IM 26-063

IM 26-064

Informing The Assembly Of The Submittal Of A Funding Request

To The Denali Commission In the Amount Of $200,000 To Support

A Port Mackenzie Master Plan Update.

Attachments: IM 26-064

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 26-033

An Ordinance Extending The Time Limit For Completion Of

Expiring Project Funds Through June 30, 2027.

Attachments: OR 26-033

IM 26-053

OR 26-034

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $281,250 From The

State Of Alaska, Department Of Commerce, Community, And

Economic Development, Community Development Block Grant -

Disaster Recovery Program, For The Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Project.

RS 26-022: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For A Grant In The Amount Of $281,250 For The Hazard

Mitigation Plan Update Project And Authorizing The Manager To

Enter Into An Agreement With The Alaska State Department Of

Commerce, Community, And Economic Development.

Attachments: OR 26-034

RS 26-022

IM 26-055

OR 26-035

An Ordinance Increasing The Compensation Of The Members Of

The Board Of Equalization.

Attachments: OR 26-035

IM 26-057

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 26-027

A Resolution Requesting The State Of Alaska To Review DMV

Processes And Consider Modifications To Facilitate Refugees’

Ability To Renew Driver’s Licenses.

Sponsors: Fonov

Attachments: RS 26-027

IM 26-066

RS 26-028

A Resolution Opposing Senate Bill 277 And Urging The

Protection Of Parental Rights, Charter School Funding, And

Correspondence Education.

Sponsors: Bowles

Attachments: RS 26-028

IM 26-067

2. ACTION MEMORANDUMS

AM 26-032

Award Of Bid No. 26-129B To Ficklin Construction, LLC. In

The Contract Amount Of $1,186,406 For Meadow Lakes Road

Service Area Annual Road Maintenance - Rebid.

Attachments: AM 26-032

AM 26-034

Award Of Bid No. 26-121B To Northern Gravel In The Contract

Amount Of $300,000 To Remove The Conveyor System At Port

Mackenzie.

Attachments: AM 26-034

AM 26-035

Award Of Proposal No. 26-087P To ECI In The Contract

Amount Of $718,484 To Design The Willow Emergency

Services Building.

Attachments: AM 26-035

AM 26-036

Authorization To Renew The Borough’s Cartegraph Asset

Management Software With Opengov, Inc. Under A Three-Year

Agreement Covering July 1, 2026, Through June 30, 2029; The

Total Cost Of The Agreement Is $261,246.41, With Annual

Payments Subject To Appropriation.

Attachments: AM 26-036

AM 26-037

Authorization To Renew Projectmates Software With

Systemates, Inc. Under A Three-Year Agreement Covering July

1, 2026, Through June 30, 2029; The Total Cost Of The

Agreement Is $415,657.13, With Annual Payments Subject To

Appropriation.

Attachments: AM 26-037

AM 26-038

Authorization To Renew The Borough’s Opentext Content

Manager Software With Information First Under A Three-Year

Agreement Covering July 1, 2026, Through June 30, 2029; The

Total Cost Of The Agreement Is $292,165.75, With Annual

Payments Subject To Appropriation.

Attachments: AM 26-038

AM 26-039

Award Of Bid No. 26-123B To Meier Excavation, LLC. In The

Contract Amount Of $496,093 To Construct A New Fish

Passage Culvert At An Existing Culvert Crossing On Homebuilt

Circle At Neklason Lake.

Attachments: AM 26-039

VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

OR 26-027

An Ordinance Amending MSB 3.28 To Increase The Property Owner

Ballot Threshold For Contiguous Local Improvement Districts From 54

Percent To 67 Percent, And Remove The Provisions That Only

Returned Ballots Are Considered In Tabulation.

Sponsors: Nowers and Bowles

Attachments: OR 26-027

IM 26-039

03/17/26 - Reconsideration Passed

IX. VETO

X. NEW BUSINESS

A. INTRODUCTIONS (For Public Hearing 04/21/26, Assembly Chambers)

OR 26-037

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $28,792.55 From The

Alaska State Division Of Forestry, Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant

Program; And Appropriating $2,879.25 In Matching Funds For

Firefighter And Firefighting Equipment, Supplies, And

Communications Equipment.

RS 26-023: A Resolution Approving The Scopes Of Work And

Budgets For The Alaska State Division Of Forestry Volunteer Fire

Capacity Grants And Matching Funds For The Fire Service Areas

Of Willow-Caswell, Talkeetna, And Sutton.

Attachments: OR 26-037

RS 26-023

IM 26-059

OR 26-038

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating Disaster Relief Funds

From The Alaska State Division Of Homeland Security And

Emergency Management In The Amount Of $823,135.48 For The

January 2022 Mat-Su Windstorm Disaster.

RS 26-024: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For Disaster Relief Funds For The January 2022 Mat-Su

Windstorm Disaster Project No. 55030.

Attachments: OR 26-038

RS 26-024

IM 26-060

OR 26-040

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $175,000 From The

Alaska State Department Of Military And Veteran’s Affairs,

Emergency Management Performance Grant; And Requesting A

Reappropriation Of $175,000 From The Emergency Management

Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget For Emergency Management

Wages And Benefits.

RS 26-026: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For A Grant In The Amount Of $175,000 From The Alaska

State Department Of Military And Veteran’s Affairs, Emergency

Management Performance Grant, For Emergency Management

Wages And Benefits.

Attachments: OR 26-040

RS 26-026

IM 26-062

OR 26-042

An Ordinance Extending The Date Of Completion On The Palmer

High School Elevator Replacement Project Through June 30, 2028.

RS 26-029: A Resolution Amending The Budgets Of The Palmer

High School Elevator Replacement, Finger Lake Elementary School

Boiler Replacement, And Snowshoe Elementary School Boiler

Replacement Projects; And Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

Deferred Maintenance - Fiscal Year 2026 Project.

Attachments: OR 26-042

RS 26-029

IM 26-028

OR 26-043

An Ordinance To Accept And Appropriate 2026 Series B Taxable

General Obligation Transportation System Bonds Proceeds Including

Issuance Costs And Additional Premium To Debt Service.

Attachments: OR 26-043

IM 26-070

OR 26-044

An Ordinance Appropriating The 2026 Series A General Obligation

School Refunding Proceeds For Issuance Costs.

Attachments: OR 26-044

IM 26-071

OR 26-045

An Ordinance Changing The Exemption To Weight Restrictions On

Borough Roads For Essential Purposes Only.

Sponsors: Sumner and Bowles

Attachments: OR 26-045

IM 26-073

OR 26-046

An Ordinance Amending MSB 3.28 To Increase The Property

Owner Ballot Threshold For Contiguous Local Improvement

Districts From 54 Percent To 67 Percent.

Sponsors: Bowles and Sumner

Attachments: OR 26-046

IM 26-074

B. INTRODUCTIONS (For Public Hearing 05/19/26, Assembly Chambers)

OR 26-041

An Ordinance Creating Republican Way Natural Gas Local

Improvement District No. 672, Approving The Improvement Plan

For The District, Authorizing The Manager To Proceed With The

Improvement, And Assessing Equally Among The Properties Within

The District The Costs Of The Improvement.

Attachments: OR 26-041

IM 26-065

C. MAYORAL NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

1. VACANCY REPORT

26-058

Mayoral Requests for Confirmation

Attachments: 04/07/26 - Vacancy Report

D. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

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

Date Specified By The Assembly)

XI. RECONSIDERATION

A. MOTION TO RECONSIDER PUBLIC HEARING DATE

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

XII. MAYOR, ASSEMBLY, AND STAFF COMMENTS

XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION

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.