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, AUGUST 4, 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

26-111

A. Assembly Special Meeting Minutes: 06/16/26

B. Assembly Regular Meeting Minutes: 06/16/26

Attachments: 08/04/26 - 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

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

26-112

1. Big Lake Community Council: 04/14/26, 05/12/26, 06/09/26

2. Greater Talkeetna Community Council: 06/11/26

3. Local Road Service Area Advisory Board: 05/21/26

4. Midway RSA Board of Supervisors: 04/08/26

5. South Colony RSA Board of Supervisors: 04/08/26

6. West Lakes FSA Board of Supervisors: 06/08/26

Attachments: 08/04/26 - Citizen and Correspondence

G. INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUMS

IM 26-142

Reporting The Conclusion Of The 2026 Lake Level Analysis

Report.

Attachments: IM 26-142

IM 26-143

Reporting Conclusion Of Contract No. 26-073B with Tutka, LLC.

For A Total Contract Amount Of $959,226.54 For The Circle View

Dikes Repair Project.

Attachments: IM 26-143

IM 26-146

Reporting Conclusion Of Contract No. 25-177B with QAP For a

Total Contract Amount Of $1,249,897.03 For The Meadow Lakes

Loop Improvements Project.

Attachments: IM 26-146

IM 26-147

Notifying The Assembly That The Manager Intends To Enter Into A

Five-Year Lease Agreement With The Alaska State Department Of

Transportation And Public Facilities, For Continued Operation Of

The Willow Elementary School Site Described As Parcel A, Section

17, Township 19 North, Range 4 West, Seward Meridian, Situated

On Willow Airport Property, Consisting Of Approximately 882,874

Square Feet, For An Annual Lease Payment Of $65,332.68.

Attachments: IM 26-147

IM 26-155

Reporting The Conclusion Of Contract For Bid No. 23-055P With

Heartland Water Technology, Inc. For A Final Contract Amount Of

$5,995,000 For The Design And Build Of A Leachate Reduction

System.

Attachments: IM 26-155

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 26-080

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

Areawide Transportation Authority Ballot Proposition

08/04/26 - Transportation Advisory Board Resolution

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

08/04/26 - Marijuana Sales Tax Rate Decrease Proposal

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

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 26-077

A Resolution Amending The Budget For The Dorothy Swanda

Jones Building Environmental Systems Maintenance And Repair

Project; And Approving The Scope Of Work And Budget For

The Animal Care Facility Drainfield Replacement Project.

Attachments: RS 26-077

IM 26-156

2. ACTION MEMORANDUMS

AM 26-100

Award Of Bid No. 27-003B To Northern Asphalt Construction,

Inc. In The Contract Amount Of $327,234 To Construct And

Improve South Adele Circle And South August Circle.

Attachments: AM 26-100

AM 26-101

Approval Of Change Order No. 2 For Contract No. 25-114P

With Strong Data, Inc. To Add $61,000 To The Current

Contract For Providing Enterprise Waste Management Software.

Attachments: AM 26-101

AM 26-102

Authorizing The Manager To Enter Into A Memorandum Of

Agreement With The Alaska State Department Of Transportation

And Public Facilities Regarding The Reconstruction And

Transfer Of Roads In Connection With The Big Lake Road

Milepost 3.6 To 9.1 Rehabilitation Project.

Attachments: AM 26-102

VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

OR 26-071

An Ordinance Approving An Additional Land Classification For 16

Borough-Owned Properties Along Deshka River As Watershed Lands

For The Purpose Of Fish Habitat.

Sponsors: Gamble

Attachments: OR 26-071

IM 26-114

IX. VETO

X. NEW BUSINESS

A. INTRODUCTIONS (For Public Hearing 08/18/26, Assembly Chambers)

OR 26-031

An Ordinance Amending MSB 17.73, Multifamily Development

Design Standards, To Align Permitting And Design Standards With

The Scale And Complexity Of Development Projects.

Sponsors: Sumner

Attachments: OR 26-031

IM 26-045

OR 26-067

An Ordinance Conveying And Merging The Borough’s Development

Rights Interest With The Agricultural Rights Title For Fee Simple

Title With Agricultural Covenants For Tax Id Nos. 8537000l002

And 8537000l003, To Paul And Margaret Cook, And Cook

Raevsky Ezra LK, LLC., Respectively.

Attachments: OR 26-067

IM 26-110

OR 26-088

An Ordinance To Retain For Public Purpose Three Parcels Which

Were Acquired By The Borough Through Tax Foreclosure.

Attachments: OR 26-088

IM 26-144

OR 26-089

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $300,000 From The

Rasmuson Foundation For The Matanuska River Park And

Campground Upgrades; And The Alaska Long Trail Gateway

Installation.

RS 26-072: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For The $300,000 Grant From The Rasumson Foundation

For The Matanuska River Park And Campground Upgrades; And

The Alaska Long Trail Gateway Installation.

Attachments: OR 26-089

RS 26-072

IM 26-145

OR 26-090

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating $1,537.50 From The

Alaska State Department Of Fish And Game, Passed Through The

Palmer Soil And Water Conservation District.

RS 26-073: A Resolution Approving The Amended Budget Of The

Caswell Creek/Caswell Lake Rehabilitation Project.

Attachments: OR 26-090

RS 26-073

IM 26-148

OR 26-091

An Ordinance Approving The Land Classification Of A

Borough-Owned Property (Tax Id No. 27N05W18A001) Near

Milepost 123 Of The Parks Highway, As Reserved Use Land For

The Purpose Of A Shooting Range.

Attachments: OR 26-091

IM 26-150

OR 26-092

An Ordinance Approving The Land Classification Of A

Borough-Owned Property (Tax Id No. 20N04W08A001) Near

Milepost 77 Of The Parks Highway, As Reserved Use Land For

The Purpose Of A Shooting Range.

Attachments: OR 26-092

IM 26-151

OR 26-093

An Ordinance Accepting And Appropriating A Grant In The Amount

Of $100,000 From The Alaska State Department Of Natural

Resources, Division Of Forestry And Fire Protection, For A Project

For Disposal Of Debris From Firewise Clearing Projects.

RS 26-075: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For An Alaska State Department Of Natural Resources,

Division Of Forestry And Fire Protection Grant, For A Project For

Disposal Of Debris From Firewise Clearing Projects.

Attachments: OR 26-093

RS 26-075

IM 26-152

OR 26-094

An Ordinance Approving A Reappropriation Of $125,000 From

Solid Waste Project Fund No. 25048-2400-2429; And $158,000

From Solid Waste Project Fund No. 25020-2400-2414; And

$962,000 From The Solid Waste Enterprise Fund To Solid Waste

Project Fund No. 25007 For The Design And Build Of The Central

Landfill Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

RS 26-076: A Resolution Approving The Amended Scopes Of Work

And Budgets For The Solid Waste Project Fund No.

25048-2400-2429; The Solid Waste Project Fund No.

25020-2400-2414; And The Solid Waste Enterprise Fund To Solid

Waste Project Fund No. 25007 For The Design And Build Of The

Central Landfill Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Attachments: OR 26-094

RS 26-076

IM 26-153

OR 26-095

An Ordinance Amending MSB 3.04.077(A) To Lower The

Areawide Real Property Tax Cap From 9.5 Mills To 7 Mills.

Sponsors: Bowles

Attachments: OR 26-095

IM 26-154

OR 26-097

An Ordinance Reappropriating $26,376.35 From The Pioneer Peak

Trailhead Project Fund And $23,589 From The Big Lake Lions

Recreation Center Project Fund, To A Wasilla Pool Repair Project

Fund.

RS 26-079: A Resolution Approving The Scope Of Work And

Budget For The Wasilla Pool Repair Project.

Attachments: OR 26-097

RS 26-079

IM 26-159

B. MAYORAL NOMINATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

1. VACANCY REPORT

26-114

Mayoral Requests for Confirmation

Attachments: 08/04/26 - Vacancy Report

C. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

1. Motion to Rescind - Assemblymember Bowles

OR 26-072

An Ordinance Adopting MSB 3.15.036 $75,000,

Owner-Occupied Residential Real Property Exemption And MSB

1.10.170, 1 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

06/16/26 - Fonov Adopted Amendment

07/21/26 - McKee Reconsideration

08/04/26 - Bowles Rescind Notice

08/04/26 - Updated Sales Tax Projections Post Amendment

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

Date Specified By The Assembly)

XI. RECONSIDERATION