Borough Assembly Regular Meeting Monday, April 07, 2025 12:00 PM Assembly Chambers

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When: April 7, 2025 12:00 PM Alaska
Topic:  April 7, 2025 Regular Assembly Meeting

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1.Call To Order/Roll Call

2.Voluntary Pledge of Allegiance

3.Oath of Office

Clerk Thompson will give the Oath of Office to Becky Regula, who is the new Petersburg Borough Clerk/Human Resources Director.  Clerk Thompson is retiring on April 30th.  Congratulations, Clerk Regula!

4.Board of Equalization

The Assembly, acting as the Board of Equalization, will hear 2025 property tax assessment appeals, if there are any unsettled appeals at the time of this meeting. A separate packet for the appeals to be considered will be provided to the Assembly prior to the start of the meeting. The Borough's Contract Assessors, Appraisal Company of Alaska, will provide information to the Board of Equalization regarding the property valuation process for Petersburg.

State Statute AS 29.45.210(b) - Appeal Hearing, mandates:

*The Appellant bears the burden of proof.

*A successful appeal must establish that valuation is UNEQUAL, EXCESSIVE, IMPROPER or UNDERVALUED based on facts stated in a valid written appeal or proven at the appeal hearing.

If there are appeals to consider, the Appeal Hearing Process is as follows:

(A-D are provided 3 minutes each to speak):

A. Appellant
B. Assessor
C. Appellant Rebuttal
D. Assessor Rebuttal
E. Questions from the Board of Equalization
F. Board of Equalization's Decision - Any changes to the Assessor's valuations must be based on facts presented at the BOE Hearing and the BOE must provide a reason for the changes. The Appellant bears the burden of proof based on salient facts.

  1. A.Guidelines for Board of Equalization

5.Approval of Minutes

  1. A.March 17, 2025 Assembly Meeting Minutes

6.Amendment and Approval of Meeting Agenda

7.Public Hearings

8.Bid Awards

9.Persons to be Heard Related to Agenda
Persons wishing to share their views on any item on today's agenda may do so at this time.

10.Persons to be Heard Unrelated to Agenda
Persons with views on subjects not on today's agenda may share those views at this time.

11.Boards, Commission and Committee Reports

12.Consent Agenda

  1. A.El Zarape Liquor License Renewal

    El Zarape LLC has applied to renew their restaurant liquor license.  The Assembly may support or protest the application within 60 days of the date of notice of the application filing.

13.Report of Other Officers

  1. A.Petersburg Medical Center

    PMC CEO Hofstetter will update the Assembly on Medical Center activities.

  2. B.US Forest Service

    District Ranger Case will provide an update on Forest Service activities.

  3. C.SEAPA Report 

    Assembly Member and SEAPA Board Chair Lynn will provide an update of the March 27, 2025 SEAPA Board meeting.

14.Mayor's Report

  1. A.April 7, 2025 Mayor's Report

15.Manager's Report

  1. A.April 7, 2025 Manager's Report

16.Unfinished Business

17.New Business

  1. A.Ordinance #2025-03:  An Ordinance Adjusting the FY 2025 Budget for Known Changes

    The FY25 budget policy document states that the Borough will designate 50% of the of the previous year's annual General Fund surplus into the Property Development Fund for the purpose of financing major capital maintenance and repairs in any year where the General Fund undesignated fund balance is within the target range of established policy levels.  This ordinance, if approved, will transfer $292,314 from the General Fund to the Property Development Fund.

  2. B.Ordinance #2025-04:  An Ordinance Amending Chapter 19, Zoning, of the Petersburg Municipal Code to Establish Overlay Zones within Municipal Zoning Regulations, and to Create a Marine Industrial Overlay Zone

    If approved in three readings, Ordinance #2025-04 will establish a new Marine Industrial Overlay Zone within the Industrial Zone of Service Area 1, applicable to certain tideland parcels as reflected in Exhibit A, attached.

  3. C.Resolution #2025-07:  A Resolution Requesting the Alaska Legislature Increase the Base Student Allocation and Provide a Sustainable Formula for Education Funding

    Resolution #2025-07 urges the Alaska Legislature to prioritize a long-term bipartisan solution for education funding by increasing the base student allocation and providing school districts with predictable funding levels.

  4. D.K9 Unit

    Vice Mayor Marsh requested that acquisition of a K9 Unit for our Police Department be re-visited. Chief Kerr has provided additional information regarding the K9 Unit. 

  5. E.Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority (THRHA) / Petersburg Borough Real Property Improvement and Conveyance Agreement Addendum No. 1

    On January 6, 2025, the Assembly approved Resolution #2025-01 which authorized Manager Giesbrecht to enter into a Real Property Improvement and Conveyance Agreement with THRHA, who will provide improvements (roads, electric, water, sewer and storm drainage utilities) to 11 lots in the Airport Addition Subdivision in return for ownership of 7 of the 11 lots.  THRHA now requests to provide improvements to an additional 11 lots, for a total of 22 lots, with 13 lots to be owned by THRHA, and 9 lots to be retained by the Borough.  Addendum No. 1 to the THRHA/Petersburg Borough Real Property Improvement and Conveyance Agreement is attached for Assembly approval.

18.Communications

  1. A.Correspondence Received Since March 13, 2025

19.Assembly Discussion Items

  1. A.Assembly Member Comments

  2. B.Recognitions

20.Adjourn