You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Feb 22, 2022 06:00 PM Alaska
Topic: February 22, 2022 Assembly Meeting
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Webinar ID: 886 2189 9125
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Any public testimony regarding Ordinance #2022-01 should be given during this public hearing. A copy of Ordinance #2022-01 may be found under agenda item 14A.
Utility Director Hagerman requests award to overhaul one of Power & Light's diesel generators to NC Machinery/NC Power Systems for an amount not to exceed $158,572.11.
Persons wishing to share their views on any item on today's agenda may do so at this time.
Persons with views on subjects not on today's agenda may share those views at this time.
Assembly Member Kensinger will provide a report of his attendance at the Southeast Conference Mid-Session Summit.
Assembly Member Meucci will provide a report on the recent Public Safety Advisory Board meeting.
If adopted, Ordinance #2022-01 will authorize the issuance of electric utility revenue bonds of Petersburg Borough Electric Utility (the "Electric Utility") in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $7,800,000, to finance: (i) improvements to the Electric Utility system's Blind Slough plant and the Scow Bay Standby Generation project, and to pay incidental costs incurred in connection with carrying out such improvements (the "Project"); and (ii) to pay the costs incident to financing the Project, including providing for a debt service reserve, if necessary, and paying the costs of issuance of the bonds, all as authorized by Ordinance #2021-12 of the Borough Assembly and ratified by the Borough's voters at an election held therein on October 5, 2021; authorizing the pledge of Net Revenue of the Electric Utility to pay debt service on the bonds; providing for the date, terms and covenants of the bonds; authorizing the sale of the bonds to the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank on the terms and conditions provided in this ordinance; and establishing an effective date. Ordinance #2022-01 was unanimously approved in its first reading.
If adopted, Ordinance #2022-02 will require an Assembly Member to resign their Assembly seat before filing a declaration of candidacy for the office of Mayor.
Adoption of Ordinance #2022-03 will increase harbor moorage and use fees effective May 1, 2022.
Manager Giesbrecht requests amendment and/or approval of Petersburg Borough's FY 2023 priority federal projects.
Petersburg has maintained a Clean Water Act secondary treatment 301h waiver through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 1988. During the current waiver renewal process, Petersburg learned the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) will require 301h waivered treatment plants to meet State water quality standards due to an EPA third party study that concluded existing mixing zones, which in the past allowed for adequate dilution of wastewater, no longer meet Alaska's water quality standards. ADEC will now require Petersburg, along with eight other Alaskan communities, to add treatment in the form of disinfection of our effluent to reduce fecal coliform concentrations at our discharge point, the cost of which will impact the operation and funding of our wastewater utility and our rate payers substantially.
Assembly Member Meucci wishes to schedule a work session, possibly on Wednesday, March 23, to discuss childcare issues and consider implementation of helpful suggestions such as:
A flexible spending account which allows Borough employees to set aside pre-tax earnings in a fund to be used for childcare expenses, with the option of employer contributions to such a fund.
A program to offer nonprofit childcare providers a utility reimbursement program. This would cover the childcare provider's place of operations.
A program to offer employees of nonprofit childcare providers discounts for residential heating assistance based on employment status.
A reimbursement program for nonprofit childcare providers to participate in quality improvement programs.
Assembly Member Meucci requested a discussion regarding what would need to change to allow Borough employees to serve on elected Borough boards.
Borough Charter Section 2.10(A) reads as follows:
A. Other Public Offices, Employment or Contracts. Except to the extent otherwise provided by state law, no borough assembly member or mayor shall hold any other elected borough office, any other compensated borough office or any borough employment during term of office. Other than membership on an appointed committee, board or commission, no borough assembly member or the mayor shall be hired or appointed to any compensated borough office or borough employment for a period of one year after vacating office.
Borough Charter Section 7.01(D), Section 8.02(C), and Section 9.02(C) state, "The provisions of this Charter applicable to the assembly members and mayor apply to (planning commission, school board, hospital board) members to the extent permitted by law.
Therefore, as written, members of the Borough Assembly, Planning Commission, School Board and Hospital Board may not be Borough employees. To change the Charter, a ballot measure must be passed by Petersburg Borough voters at a municipal election.
Assembly Member Meucci requested a discussion regarding a possible Community Clean Up Week and the current Baler voucher system.
Assembly Member Meucci requests a discussion regarding the status and content of the Police Department retention report being researched and drafted by Manager Giesbrecht.