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, MAY 19, 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. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY

26-076

Mayoral Proclamation Honoring the Northern Knights Robotic Team

05/19/26 - Proclamation

Attachments:

VI. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETINGS

26-079

A. Assembly Regular Meeting Minutes: 04/07/26

B. Assembly Departmental Budget Presentation Minutes: 04/09/26

C. Assembly Regular Meeting Minutes: 04/21/26

D. Assembly Budget Public Hearing Minutes: 04/23/26

E. Assembly Budget Public Hearing Minutes: 04/28/26

F. Assembly Budget Public Hearing Minutes: 04/30/26

05/19/26 - Minutes for Packet

Attachments:

VII. 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

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

26-080

1. Caswell Lakes RSA Board of Supervisors: 04/09/25, 06/09/25

2. Fishhook Community Council: 10/23/25, Resolution No. 26-01

3. Glacier View Community Council: 03/26/26

4. Knik RSA Board of Supervisors: 04/07/26

5. Lazy Mountain RSA Board of Supervisors: 02/05/26, 05/07/26

6. Parks, Recreation, and Trails Advisory Board: 03/23/26

7. Planning Commission: 04/20/26

8. Talkeetna Community Council: 03/02/26, 04/06/26

9. Tanaina Community Council: 03/23/26

05/19/26 - Citizen and Other Correspondence

Attachments:

G. INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUMS

IM 26-098

Reporting The Conclusion Of Contract For Bid No. 24-144B With

Nodak Electric And Construction, Inc. For A Final Contract

Amount Of $344,200 For The Supply And Install Of Generators

For Emergency Services.

IM 26-098

Attachments:

IM 26-104

Reporting The Conclusion Of Contract For Bid No. 24-157B With

Orion Construction, Inc. For A Final Contract Amount Of

$1,072,202.93 For The Animal Care And Regulation 2023

Upgrades To The Animal Care Facility.

IM 26-104

Attachments:

VIII. 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 26-041

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.

OR 26-041

IM 26-065

Attachments:

OR 26-050

An Ordinance Approving A Less Than Fair Market Value Sale Of

Nine Borough-Owned Properties To The Alaska State Department

Of Transportation And Public Facilities For A Public Purpose.

OR 26-050

IM 26-081

Attachments:

OR 26-051

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $338,000 From The

United States Department Of Military And Veterans’ Affairs,

Division Of Homeland Security And Emergency Management,

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

RS 26-038: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget And Authorizing The Manager To Enter Into An Agreement

For The Sushana Drive Drainage Improvement Phase 1.

Attachments:

An Ordinance Approving Land Classification Of Three

Borough-Owned Properties In The Big Lake Area As Reserved Use

Lands, Resource Management Lands, And General Purpose Lands.

OR 26-052

IM 26-085

Attachments:

OR 26-053

An Ordinance Extending The Date Of Completion Of The Brett Ice

Arena Digital Sign Display Project Through June 30, 2027.

RS 26-040: A Resolution Amending The Scope Of Work And

Retitling The Brett Ice Arena Digital Sign Display Project.

Attachments:

An Ordinance Establishing The Board For Advisory Review Of

Kennel Standards (“BARKS”) As An Advisory Board To Review

And Make Recommendations Regarding Kennel Licensing And

Enforcement.

Sumner, Fonov and Bernier

Sponsors:

OR 26-056

IM 26-094

Attachments:

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 26-034

A Resolution To Waive The $500 Application Fee For The

Nonprofit Wasilla-Knik Historical Society And To Inform The

Assembly Of The Borough’s Intent To Enter Into A New

Management Agreement For A Five-Year Term To Use And

Manage Borough-Owned Land And Buildings, Including The

Knik Museum And The Bjorn Cabin, Located Within Section

24, Township 16 North, Range 3 West.

RS 26-034

IM 26-076

Attachments:

RS 26-041

A Resolution Waiving All Application And Land Use Permit

Fees For The Alaska State Department Of Fish And Game’s Use

Of Borough Land For Resource Monitoring And Management

Activities.

RS 26-041

IM 26-088

Attachments:

RS 26-050

A Resolution Amending The Budget For Birchtree Charter

School And Approving The Budget For American Charter

Academy To Address Unforeseen Conditions, Infrastructure

Needs, And Resulting Cost Impacts During Construction.

RS 26-050

IM 26-105

Attachments:

RS 26-051

A Resolution Encouraging Property Maintenance, Community

Cleanliness, And The Preservation Of Individual Freedom Of

Choice Regarding The Use Of Outdoor Yard Power Tools,

Including Leaf Blowers.

Sumner

Sponsors:

RS 26-051

IM 26-107

Attachments:

2. ACTION MEMORANDUMS

AM 26-050

Approval Of An Extension Of The Final Completion Date To

June 30, 2027, For Contract No. 22-090P(A) With CRW

Engineering Group, LLC For The Tex-Al Drive Extension

Upgrade And Pathway Project.

AM 26-050

Attachments:

AM 26-055

Approval Of Change Order No. 3 For Contract No. 22-055P

With Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. For The Seldon

Extension Phase II Right-Of-Way Acquisition Map Completion

To Extend The Contract To June 30, 2027.

AM 26-055

Attachments:

AM 26-056

Approving The Fiscal Year 2027 Payment To The City Of

Palmer In The Amount Of $1,395,571.64 For The Fire Services

Agreement.

AM 26-056

Attachments:

AM 26-057

Acceptance Of Late Filed And Retroactive Senior Citizen And

Disabled Veteran Tax Exemption Applications For The Period

Of March And April 2026.

AM 26-057

Attachments:

AM 26-058

Approval Of Contract Amendment No. 2 For Contract No.

26-017C With Wolf Architecture Inc. For American Charter

Academy Construction Administration Services To Add $25,541

For Additional Design Services Related To On-Site Traffic

Improvements.

AM 26-058

Attachments:

AM 26-059

Award Of Bid No. 26-127B To Granite Construction Company

In The Amount Of $1,527,531.50 To Construct The Compost

And Tire Area Improvements At The Central Landfill.

AM 26-059

Attachments:

AM 26-060

Approval Of Contract Extension For Contract No. 24-060P With

RESPEC, Inc. Adding $9,920 For Continued Construction

Administration Services To Design Central Landfill Entrance

Improvements Phase I; And Extending The Contract Completion

Date To June 30, 2026.

AM 26-060

Attachments:

AM 26-061

Approval Of Change Order No. 3 For The E-911 And Dispatch

Services Agreement No. 16-100P Increasing The Annual Cost

By $569,600 In Fiscal Year 2027 For Two Additional

Dispatchers And Two Additional Call Takers.

AM 26-061

Attachments:

AM 26-062

Authorizing A Purchase from FERNO In The Amount Of

$868,372.76 Of Power X-2 Ambulance Stretcher Platforms With

Pro F1 Mounting Systems.

AM 26-062

Attachments:

AM 26-063

Award Of Bid No 26-167C To Braun Northwest Inc. In The

Anticipated Cost Not To Exceed $506,000 To Remount And

Refurbish Two Ambulances.

AM 26-063

Attachments:

IX. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

X. VETO

A. Motion to Override Any Possible Mayoral Veto on Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Items

(Ordinance Serial No. 26-026)

XI. NEW BUSINESS

A. INTRODUCTIONS (For Public Hearing 06/02/26, Assembly Chambers)

OR 26-021

Sponsors:

An Ordinance Repealing A General Standard Of MSB 17.30,

Conditional Use Permit For Earth Materials Extraction Activities.

Sumner

OR 26-021

IM 26-030

Attachments:

OR 26-054

An Ordinance Extending The Completion Date For The Steam

Thaw Truck Project Funding To June 30, 2028.

RS 26-044: A Resolution Amending The Budget For The Thaw

Truck, Cold Planer, Pickup Truck Purchase; And Approving The

Scope Of Work And Budget For The Road And Pathway

Sustainment Project.

Attachments:

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $37,700 Received

From The Surplus Sale Of Road Service Area Equipment For The

Road And Pathway Sustainment Project.

RS 26-045: A Resolution Amending The Budget For The Road And

Pathway Sustainment Project.

Attachments:

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $75,000 From The

Alaska State Department Of Transportation And Public Facilities

For West Susitna Parkway Improvements.

RS 26-046: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For West Susitna Parkway Improvements.

Attachments:

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $523.73 From The

United States Fish And Wildlife Service And $583.74 From The

Alaska State Department Of Fish And Game, Passed Through The

Palmer Soil And Water Conservation District For A Total Of

$1,107.47.

RS 26-047: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget; And Authorizing The Manager To Enter Into An

Agreement For The Caswell Creek/Caswell Lake Streambank

Rehabilitation Project.

Attachments:

An Ordinance Increasing The Marijuana Sales Tax Levy From 5

Percent To 10 Percent; And To Submit The Question To The

Qualified Areawide Voters At The November 3, 2026, Regular

Borough Election.

Bernier

Sponsors:

OR 26-061

IM 26-100

Attachments:

OR 26-062

An Ordinance Levying A Tax Up To 10 Percent On The Sale Of

Alcoholic Beverages; And To Submit The Question To The

Qualified Areawide Voters At The November 3, 2026, Regular

Borough Election.

Bernier

Sponsors:

OR 26-062

IM 26-101

Attachments:

OR 26-063

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating A Grant In The

Amount Of $44,000 From The Alaska State Department Of Health

And Social Services For A Project For The Continued Management

Of Points Of Dispensing Sites That Will Be Used To Distribute

Medicines Or Vaccines To Residents And Visitors In Our Area In

The Event Of An Incident That Requires Large Numbers Of People

To Receive Preventive Medicines And Medications.

RS 26-048: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For A Grant In The Amount Of $44,000 From The Alaska

State Department Of Health And Social Services, For The

Continued Management Of Points Of Dispensing Sites Project.

Attachments:

An Ordinance Reappropriating $10,000 From The 2023 Fiscal Year

Areawide Budget Appropriation To Fish Passage Improvements For

The Cottonwood Creek Pike Barrier Project.

RS 26-049: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For The Cottonwood Creek Pike Barrier Project.

OR 26-064

RS 26-049

IM 26-103

Attachments:

B. INTRODUCTIONS (For Public Hearing 06/16/26, Assembly Chambers)

OR 26-065

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.

Nowers

Sponsors:

OR 26-065

IM 26-106

Attachments:

C. MAYORAL NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

1. VACANCY REPORT

26-081

Mayoral Requests for Confirmation

05/19/26 - Vacancy Report

Attachments:

D. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

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

Date Specified By The Assembly)

XII. RECONSIDERATION

XIII. MAYOR, ASSEMBLY, AND STAFF COMMENTS

XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION

XV. 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.