New Oyster Farms and Fireworks Before Bedtime
Photo by Tommaso Cantelli on Unsplash
Allison Sayer - CRR Staff
The Valdez City Council convened on January 17 for a regular meeting with all members in attendance.
Valdez Museum Executive Director Patricia Relay appeared for public comments. She thanked the city for the first quarter distribution of their 2023 grant to the museum, gave an update on programming (Please see valdezmuseum.org for up-coming events.), and invited the public to apply for open board positions and summer paid jobs.
Relay also warmly thanked Capital Facilities and City of Valdez Maintenance for “coming to the rescue” in late December after an ice dam caused a leak into the museum annex where archives and artifacts are stored. She said the issue was brought under control within two hours, and no artifacts were damaged. Many items were moved quickly when the leak was discovered.
Relay extended personal thanks to city staff Nathan Duval, Stan Porritt, Isaac Cain, and Mike Dunn and to museum staff Caren Ober, Emma Villareal, Danny Tapp, and Devon Lujan.
An ordinance making it legal for fireworks to be set off from 4:00 p.m. onwards on December 31 was approved unanimously. The existing legislation barred fireworks from being set off before 10:00 p.m., which forced the city display on New Year’s Eve to occur well after bedtime.
A resolution putting staff in place for the special municipal election on February 7 was passed unanimously. The special election will be on the question of increasing the local property tax exemption. Mayor Scheidt expressed gratitude to the city clerk’s office for finding the personnel to make the election possible and to election workers for their time.
Pierce responded credit for finding election workers is due to City Hall customer service representative Katie Carr. “Katie loves to do elections,” she said, adding that her mother Shannon ran elections for many years, “and before that, her grandmother... Dixie!”
A resolution amending the budget to accept $5 million from the state and authorizing $5 million in city matching funds towards the Valdez small boat harbor H-K major reconstruction project was unanimously approved.
The council reviewed changes to the property tax code. Some of this process included aligning city code with practices already in place, including exemptions for low-income and senior housing and clarification that notices are sent by the city and not the tax assessor. Considerable adjustment was done to streamline the appeals process. A final reading will be given at the next meeting.
Ports and Harbor Director Jeremy Talbott and Economic Development Director Martha Barberio gave a report on the mariculture meeting they attended in Anchorage on January 12- 13. The “Build Back Better” program included major funding for mariculture in Alaska.
Talbott shared a revolving loan fund is available for kelp or oyster farm startups. The Valdez Native Tribe currently has a research farm started in Gold Creek. Between nine and twelve new farms will start as soon as April. Prince William Sound College has received funding for consultants and will participate in additional research.
Talbott shared that local entities, including the college, the Tribe, local villages, and the city, will “get together and make one ask” for major grants related to equipment and facilities specific to oyster and kelp processing, perhaps even putting the long-empty grain silos to economic use. “There’s quite a bit of money,” said Talbott.
Barberio added one of the take-home messages of the meeting was, “If you think you’re behind in mariculture, you’re not.” She explained that although large amounts of money are available, many programs are still in the very early stages. She also added there is potential for local K-12 students to get involved in projects through SeaGrant.
All items on the consent agenda and new business were unanimously approved.
Consent agenda items were the appointment of Tim Bauer and Kate Dugan to the Providence Valdez Medical Center Community Advisory Council, approval of a federal lobbying contract with Capitol Hill Consulting Group, approval of a professional services agreement with Kim Hutchinson for state lobbyist services, approval to go into executive session for staff evaluations, and appointment of Kent Runion to the Valdez Consortium Library board.
New business was the approval of an $87,740 contract extension with Altman Rogers for the 2022 financial audit and approval of the City of Valdez state legislative priorities. The federal lobbying contract expenditure will be $36,750 and the priorities identified were “working with Senator Murkowski’s office on a sewer force main earmark, developing strategy to advocate for housing and childcare, and organizing a City of Valdez legislative trip to Washington, D.C. for council members and staff.”
The state lobbying expenditure approved was $50,000. The City of Valdez developed 2023 state legislative priorities which were presented to Hutchinson and Representative Rauscher.
City clerk Sheri Pierce and information officer Ana Hinkle prepared a document summarizing these priorities. It can be accessed through the January 17 meeting agenda on the City of Valdez website.
The city urges the state to support efforts towards improving education, childcare, and housing opportunities. The city document states, “lack of childcare of early education opportunities for younger children is one of the biggest challenges for working families in our community...” and “Housing is the top priority for the Valdez City Council.”
The city intends to lobby the state for “local authority in natural resource management,” especially as pertains to Lowe River permitting and trapping regulations.
The city also urged the state to maintain essential services and personnel. Additional priorities include fisheries and mariculture investment and maintenance of related facilities and personnel, and assistance with grant opportunities for infrastructure investment.
Additional reports included a contract amendment with PND Engineers, Inc. for the harbor reconstruction project amounting to $23,979 and a procurement report of $40,048 for a yearly financial software purchase.
The city clerk’s report highlighted upcoming events, including a January 31 joint work session with the school board regarding childcare and kindergarten readiness.
In her mayor’s report, Mayor Scheidt offered to keep the council advised on housing and economic development documents and survey results. She also expressed thanks to Ana Hinkle and the clerk’s office for providing public information on when the tax assessor will be in Valdez on social media and the city website.
Most council members had no additional business. Council member Devens encouraged members of the public to learn more about mariculture.
The next Valdez City Council regular meeting will be on Wednesday, February 8, at 7:00 p.m.
Disclosure: The City of Valdez is a Copper River Record advertiser.
More from Allison Sayer:
Valdez City Council January 3 Meeting
Reversal of Regulation Proposed for Bear Baiting and More
Two Ukrainian Couples Will Find Refuge in Glennallen
Changing Ice in the Copper Basin
More reporting from Valdez:
Stars Shine Bright at Valdez Community Christmas Show
Valdez History Through A Fabric Lens
Valdez Housing Incentives: “Nobody Gets Anything Unless A House Gets Built”
Valdez Hosts Its First Pride Parade
Pioneers Remember Valdez Earthquake