Borough Assembly - February 5, 2026

• Call to Order
• Roll Call
• Approval of Minutes: 
  • November 6, 2025 
• Approval of Agenda
• Reports of Officials and Committees: 
  • Mayor’s Report 
  • Assembly Committee Reports 
  • Treasurer’s Report 
  • Manager’s Report 
• Communications to the Assembly: 
  • Correspondence 
  • Hear Citizens Present
• Ordinances, Resolutions, & Proclamations:
  • Adoption of Resolution No. 25-29R: Approving “Concept 5” as the Preferred Concept for Development of the Main Street Rehabilitation Project (Public hearing previously held and closed on December 4, 2025) 
  • Adoption of Resolution No. 25-31R: Updating Accounting Policies and Procedures (Public hearing previously held and closed on December 18, 2025) 
  • Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution No. 26-06R: Amending the Municipality of Skagway Classification Review Ranking by Grade, to Add the Position of Solid Waste Operator at Grade 17 
  • Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution No. 26-07R: Setting the Priority List for Capital Improvement Projects
  • Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution No. 26-08R: Requesting Commercial Passenger Vessel (CPV) Excise Tax Funding for Capital Improvement Projects
  • Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution No. 26-09R: Approving the Skagway Tourism Best Management Practices Program
• Unfinished Business
• New Business:
  • Confirmation of Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees 
• Mayor and Assembly Discussion Items
• Executive Session: 
  • Matters, the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of the public entity, and matters which by law, municipal charter, or ordinance are required to be confidential: Discussion of Legal Issues re: ADEC Work Plan Request for Ore Terminal and Related Port Management Issues 
• Adjournment

Packet

Transcript

Mayor Hanson: [00:00:00] Call to order the assembly meeting for Thursday, February 5th, 2026. We recognize that we're conducting this meeting on the traditional lands of the Tlingit people. If you'd like, please rise and salute the flag,

Unidentified Speaker: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Mayor Hanson: Roll call, please.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry.

Assemblymember Henry: Here.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Here.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Here.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Mayor Hanson.

Mayor Hanson: Present.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Here.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis.

Assemblymember Hillis: Here.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell.

Assemblymember Weddell: Present.

Borough Clerk Burnham: All members present. Quorum's established.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. That brings us to approval of minutes.

Assemblymember Potter: [00:01:00] I move—

Mayor Hanson: For the, I don't think we have the minutes, actually. So, um, no minutes. Move for—

Assemblymember Henry: Move for approval of agenda.

Mayor Hanson: Move for approval of agenda, please.

Assemblymember Hillis: Second.

Mayor Hanson: Uh, we have a motion by Henry and a second by Hillis. Any discussion? Roll call.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell.

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry.

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis.

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. That moves us on to item five, reports of officials and committee committees, uh, for mayor's report. Uh, I was gonna briefly just address, uh, Mineral Roundup. Manager Deach and, uh, Vice Mayor Potter included memos in their packet about it. I [00:02:00] do, I did want to highlight a couple things that, uh, Deb did not touch on, but I thought were also important in tangent to the conference about mining.

We also met with Consul General Shawn Crowley. Um, Mr. Crowley is basically our ambassador to the United States Ambassador to BC and the Yukon, and he reached out to us mid-conference and we were able to meet with him in his office, which was pretty cool. Go up in a tower, get clearance, going to a secure location.

Um, and the thing that we did discuss that I think is of important, uh, importance to Skagway is trying to look at reopening the Klondike Highway to off-hours industrial traffic. That's something that not that long ago was allowed, and it hasn't been allowed in a while. Um, but with an increase, uh, congestion on the highway, uh, in our busy summer season, um, I think it would be, uh, greatly beneficial in trying to, um, [00:03:00] keep, you know, industry and tourism from colliding.

Um, we also met with the Port of Vancouver. The Port of Vancouver is, is basically located where the convention is. They are the landlords of Canada Place, and they're the home port of at least 40% of the ships that come to Skagway. So while it wasn't related to mining, it hap— they had their, their office happens to be exactly where the convention's held.

Um, and we had a lot of, you know, it's good to check notes. Fourth, fourth time I've been to Mineral Roundup, um, certainly talked about the challenges of a growing tourist industry. Uh, unique to the Port of Vancouver is this summer Vancouver is hosting, I think, 13 FIFA World Cup games. In conjunction with that, there are also games in Seattle, and so there's gonna be crazy amount of people traveling back and forth.

And the Port of Vancouver was discussing their logistical challenges with that, hotel problems, um, potential of [00:04:00] 300,000 Australians coming in just for the day of that game. Um, which, you know, something that pretty wild to consider. But, uh, always really, uh, interesting to compare notes with Port of Vancouver.

Uh, the mining conference I thought was the most frank I've seen. And, uh, coming up on the ports and harbors meeting for Tuesday, there is a letter of intent from Selkirk. Um, and that will be in the packet very soon for the public to review. Thank you.

Brings us onto assembly committee reports. Finance.

Assemblymember Potter: Thank you, your Honor. I move that we approve the check run in the total of $1,525,081 and 81 cents.

Assemblymember Henry: Second.

Mayor Hanson: I have a motion by Potter and a second by Henry to approve the check run in the amount of $1,525,081.84 [00:05:00] cents. Discussion?

Assemblymember Potter: Thank you, your Honor.

Um, just, uh, wanted to make a note of the couple, um, notable items in there, big-ticket items. There's, uh, three general obligation bond payments in there. One is the library and it's not that much. Um, but there is a payment in the amount of about $787,000 for the public safety building, as well as, um, about $488,000 for the, um, the ore dock.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Further discussion. Roll call, please.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry.

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis.

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell.

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes. [00:06:00]

Assemblymember Potter: I am gonna try to read my writing. I'm looking at this right now. Um, finance committee met last night. We reviewed a draft of amendments to Title IV that is not on the agenda for tonight.

Um, um, but that will be coming to the assembly at some point. Um, one of the, one of the main parts about it was kind of, uh, adjusting for inflation, re-looking at that, um, $5,000, $25,000 threshold amount that, um, requires assembly approval additionally, um, rather than just the manager being able to authorize it.

And we reviewed a draft ordinance, um, a repealing ordinance 2016-15. That was one that authorized the issuance of general obligation bonds to construct the senior center and apartments on the old clinic site. Finance committee [00:07:00] recommended assembly approval on that. We also reviewed a draft resolution, uh, committing and restricting matching funds for a US Department of Transportation BUILD grant.

Um, the— we recommended assembly approval at the 20% matching amount, which would equate to about $809,000. Um, that's also not in the agenda for tonight. We reviewed a draft resolution amending the community funding grant policy to create a process for extensions in cases of extraordinary circumstances, um, that might make it to the assembly the next meeting. We recommended approval on that. And then finally, we've granted the Elks Lodge an extension of their 2025 community funding grant that they got in the amount of $23,420 that they were not able to [00:08:00] spend last year due to some extenuating circumstances.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Public safety, Mr. Henry.

Assemblymember Henry: Sorry, Mr. Mayor. Uh, under public safety, um, nothing this past week. We have a meeting set for, um, Friday, uh, at five o'clock, a week from tomorrow. Um, I will not steal the sergeant's thunder. Um, we have some progress. Uh, and I'll leave it at that because, we'll, he and I and those that are at the committee meeting, we'll go into a little bit more detail, but we're seeing a wee bit of, uh, light at the end of the tunnel as far as staffing for the police department.

Um, and that'll be, again, a week from tomorrow at 5:00 PM in assembly chambers. Mr. Clerk, is that correct? Okay.

Mayor Hanson: That's all. Thank you very much. Uh, HEW.

Assemblymember Weddell: Nothing at this time. Thank you. [00:09:00]

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Parks and Rec.

Assemblymember Hillis: Thank you. Uh, Parks and Rec met a little bit ago, um, and, uh, reviewed the welcome garden, uh, recommended it without the water feature or the gravel pathway add-ons.

Uh, there was also discussion as future design comes to retain the welcome element. And that is it.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Public works.

Assemblymember Burnham: Thank you, your Honor. Uh, Public Works met January 29th at 6:00 PM. Um, we asked a lot from that meeting of information from the staff, and we are going to have another meeting on the week of the 16th.

I'm, I'm thinking probably the 18th, just before the, the assembly meeting. But, um, yeah, so I'll be scheduling that after this meeting. [00:10:00]

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Thank you. Uh, civic affairs.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Nothing at this time, your Honor.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Alright, moving on, uh, to Treasurer's report.

Borough Manager Deach: Uh, we do not have one in the packet this week, but we will next meeting.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Manager Deach, onto manager's report.

Borough Manager Deach: I have nothing to add to my written report unless you have some questions.

Mayor Hanson: Does anyone at the table have questions for Manager Deach? Assemblymember Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Thank you, your Honor. Um, in regards to the Welcome Garden recommendations that were put forward by the Parks and Recs committee, does that need to come to the assembly for approval?

Okay, great.

Borough Manager Deach: Yeah, I, I did make a note. Um, I don't wanna lose track of it, but it should be on your next agenda.

Assemblymember Weddell: Okay. Thank you so much.

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Moving along to 6A, correspondence. Clerk Burnham.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Um, your Honor, the correspondence has been provided in accordance with the rules of [00:11:00] procedure. Um, and in your packet, you have the letter from, um, Dahl Memorial Clinic President, uh, Bob Dietrich, and a memo from the clerk.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you very much. Moving on to 6B, citizens present, please come forward to the microphone, turn it on, state your name, and if you're representing someone other than yourself, please clarify that and try to keep your comments to five minutes. Uh, Sherry,

Sherry Corrington: Sherry Corrington, citizen. Um, I wanted to speak again regarding, uh, resolution 25-29R, uh, adopting concept five. I would like to recommend, uh, again, the amendment, uh, the amended concept 5B. Um. [00:12:00] 5B would take the 10-foot sidewalk, shrink it down to an eight-foot sidewalk, and have two feet where you would have curb and a green space.

So, um, I'm not gonna say exactly what I said last time, but I will read from the Environmental Protection Agency website, stormwater Best Management Practices. So that kinda keeps with tonight's meeting, um, vegetative filter strip, the effectiveness of this, um, filter strips can provide a small amount of groundwater recharge as stormwater flows over the vegetated surface and ponds at the toe of the slope, uh, through this infiltration or stormwater reduction. Filter strips can provide some pollutant removal. Based on a review of multiple studies, a report by the Center for Watershed Protection calculated an average [00:13:00] stormwater reduction of 51%, and average load reductions for total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total solids of 56, 66, and 86% respectively.

Reducing the amount of water that goes into the storm drain will add life to our infrastructure 51% longer if it's not being used as much. Um, filter strips also have the potential to reduce stormwater by 20 to 85% via infiltration by soil and plants. Filter strips are most effective during 80 to 95% of annual storm events.

However, effectiveness is less for very large storm events or when flow velocities exceed 1.3 feet per second. And in cold climates, again, this would give us a place to put the snow. Um, during snow removal, [00:14:00] I, I was curious what the State Street, the new sidewalk width was. So I measured it today. It was seven and a half feet.

So, you know, 10 feet is huge. That's almost a thoroughfare. So I know this is neither here nor there at this point in the conversation. To me it seems like overkill. People are still gonna be riding their bikes on the road. Um, and again, residents will maintain the grass or whatever green strip, uh, there is.

So thank you for that consideration again. And I wanted to bring up a concern, uh, from, uh, public posting from the CTFN, uh, organization in Carcross. There was a news release about, um, [00:15:00] warning their citizens about going over the border into the United States because in Haines there were tribal members that were, uh, detained and scrutinized, questioned.

It was a bit dramatic and I kind of thought the email was a bit overkill 'cause I know our border has been so great here, but that hasn't necessarily been communicated up there. And there's a lot of fear involved. We have a lot going on in our nation, and it is scary being a border community, being a person that makes their money up over the border. My ability to go over the border, um, it's big.

We have a lot of companies that rely on the flow going back and forth over the border. And [00:16:00] I, I went up to a, uh, a ceremony activity on Sunday, uh, with a tribal elder and it was her cousin who was the individual who was detained at the border and scrutinized, questioned, and kind of emotionally terrorized by our people.

And so it's personal up there to them, and it sucks that they can't come down here freely in their minds, hearts, and spirit, especially when they were here first. It was always about the flow back and forth. And the sentiment for a lot of the people up there is that we are all one and we should be able to go back and [00:17:00] forth in our home region with ease.

And so I know it's a complicated conversation. A lot of it is way beyond what we have control of, but I just, it's on everybody's mind in our community, what's going on in Minneapolis, what's going on in, in DC, and it, it hit home in a way just in Carcross. So thank you.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Uh, next to Sherry, I apologize. I don't know your name.

Brayden Harris: Brayden Harris. Um, I have no comments on any of the motions. I'm just here witnessing. Thank you.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Melinda, Rebecca, Officer Michels, [00:18:00] anyone on the phone? Okay, we will move along then. We are now onto ordinances, resolutions, and proclamations. 7A, adoption of resolution 25-29R approving concept five as a preferred concept for development of Main Street rehabilitation.

Uh, we have a pending motion at the time as amended. Um, and if the clerk, Clerk Burnham, wouldn't mind, uh, it also— public hearing is closed. Uh, if the clerk wouldn't mind restating the motion so the table, uh, is refreshed.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Uh, your Honor, uh, the motion would be to adopt resolution number 25-29R as amended.

Mayor Hanson: Wait, and can you read the amendment please?

Borough Clerk Burnham: Um, the amendment is included in your packet [00:19:00] and it is to add the green strip to the, uh, sidewalk space.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Discussion. Assemblymember Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Thank you, your Honor. I'm the one that, um, moved to postpone it to, um, um, make sure we had a full assembly and had a little more time to think about it. And I have spent, um, this past week walking around and really kind of looking at, um, what our sidewalks, sidewalks look like, what, um, green strips, um, that exist look like, and, um, and talking a little bit with the Public Works director.

And I was initially in favor of this, um, but I am no longer in favor of it. I think, um, there are a few issues. I think a [00:20:00] filter strip or like a rain garden in theory, I think is really nice. Um, though it is important, it's not, it's not a rain garden. Um, I think in theory it's a really nice idea. I think in practice, just walking around and looking at, um, our community, I think we have to be mindful of the fact that, um, the maintenance of that green strip would be the onus of the property owner. And I, and I'm treading lightly here when I say there's not, I haven't seen a lot of examples in Skagway where people have done a good job of maintaining, um, their sidewalks or the, the, the ones that do have some, um, kind of green strip area there. [00:21:00]

So that is my, my first concern. My second concern is, um, the, the, um, the downsides of green strips, which would include, um, land heaves that occur from the cycle of freezing and thawing that can raise the land, which could damage the, um, pavement that would be there. Um, you have the risk of roots growing underneath.

Um, and then I dug up, and then for, for this also I want to mention the, uh, safety factor, especially, um, ADA issues that, um, was spoken about at the last meeting, um, during citizens present or the public hearing portion. Um. When I was down south, I also was very focused on noticing, um, [00:22:00] different sidewalks and pathways while I was walking around with my 84-year-old mom.

And down there there are a bunch of, um, um, sidewalks where you step up and there is like a little green strip that you encounter immediately off the street. And it's, it's a real challenge for an elderly person or anybody with mobility issues. Um, so that concerns me. Um, I think just aesthetically it's the green strip is gonna, it, it's just not gonna work out. Um, um, and I think finally I want to point out that this is not a sidewalk, it's a two-direction shared path, and that's why it's important that it has to be what is seemingly, um, excessively wide.

But I dug up from the, this is a, um, a, um, [00:23:00] what is this group, is the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials. Um, it's a national organization that develops transportation design standards that state and local agencies can use across the country. Um, and they recommend a 10-foot width for two-direction shared-use paths, um, with eight feet being considered a minimum only where physical constraints exist and you can't create a 10-foot wide path.

So that's an organization that this is what they look at. Um, and they, they recommend a 10-foot wide path, um, as the safest way to go forward that will accommodate bicycles and wheelchairs and, um, whatever else might be on there. Um, so I am no longer in support of the green [00:24:00] strip.

Mayor Hanson: Further discussion. Assemblymember Weddell.

Assemblymember Weddell: Thank you, your Honor. Um, I got some notes. Okay, so I wrote, let's start with the size, which matters in this case. Um, an eight-foot sidewalk is ADA compliant, um, from what I could find. ADA standards require a 36-inch clear width for pedestrian passage and 60 inches for two-way traffic. At eight feet, that's 96 inches and comfortably above the standard for a shared path. That would be one and a half of what we were just describing.

Um, and from what I just heard the other assembly member say, it sounds like it was a minimum recommendation. So that what still allows for tourists, strollers, mobility devices, and kids like my own, um, walking, [00:25:00] you know, from the school to the rec center to safely pass each other on bicycles.

Um, I read that there is a psychological effect on drivers in which green strips actually create a visual barrier between the sidewalk and the street, which naturally slows drivers. And this makes sense to me because when you're driving on State Street and there's no green strip there now, um, it does feel much more highway-like, um, which it is. It's a state highway. So, um, Main Street is residential street. So I would personally like to see it keep a residential feel.

Um, there are also environmental benefits which have been discussed, but, uh, mostly I personally like the idea of the green strip for its aesthetic qualities. Um, which I think are, are very important to, to maintain. Um, again, Main Street's a residential neighborhood. We're a cute little small town. It's full of charm, not a utilitarian thoroughfare. The [00:26:00] utilitarian thoroughfare would be State Street. Main Street is the cute little residential neighborhood where kids walk to the school, to the rec center. Um, a lot more people live there, zoned residential, and I think that a green strip is very distinctive and helps that.

Um, for, for the maintenance argument, you know, a plain painted wall with no art on it is gonna be much easier to clean. However, it's gonna be unappealing to look at. So sometimes it's worth hanging some art that you have to dust, you know, or put holes in your wall or whatever the analogy serves. But the point is sometimes it's worth it to do aesthetic beautification things to keep the charm and aesthetic appeal of our small town.

Um, I would also mention that, you know, with global warming concern, concrete is very hot, it holds heat. Um, grass does not. And I have seen, for the argument of utilitarian [00:27:00] purposes, easy maintenance, a lot of trees be removed. I've seen a lot of, um, green spaces be removed and I don't wanna see that trend continue.

I think that concrete is a very final thing, and having a green space is a flexible one, and flexibility is valuable because with the green strip option, um, we could potentially plant native plants or stones or, or flowers or things that would look nice. Um, and I don't think that I would agree with the statement that the residents on Main Street have done poor jobs, um, maintaining their green strips. I, I think right now it's, it's set a standard. That's nice.

I think it's a safety appeal, keeping a barrier between children and elderly people and ADA, um, you know, people with mobility devices and such. Having a barrier, having that feeling of a residential area and it's, you're not on a highway, it's gonna slow down cars. It's gonna be safer. [00:28:00] And I think that it's also a really nice combination of having an option that's both functionally compliant for the things that we want and environmental and has some curb appeal. Uh, um, so, so it seems like a very easy choice to me and I'm in support of keeping the green strip as we discussed at the December 4th meeting.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Clerk Burnham, your Honor, I would like to clarify my answer to you earlier. Um, and you are voting on the amendment. Um, I don't think that was clear in the answer. Um, your amendment is, um, to, uh, replace, uh, with 7A.3, which is in your packet, and that's what I meant. But just to be clear, that's what you're talking about.

Mayor Hanson: Yes. Thank you for that clarification. Further discussion. [00:29:00]

Let's see if there's any other comments before I call on you. Vice Mayor Potter, Assemblymember Hillis.

Assemblymember Hillis: Thank you, your Honor. Um, still, still opposed to it. I, I don't think that it adds that much curb appeal to have a two-foot strip of grass or whatever. Um, my, my concern isn't so much the mowing of it, that that's maintenance that is not that hard to do, the twice a year that some of us mow our lawns.

Um, but right now there is piles of snow full of gravel melting into the green strips that exist. And you can go by and see 'em. They're sometimes ankle-deep piles of mud. If that was in front of my house, I don't know how to remove it. Go out with a shovel, I guess, and shovel it off once it settles in. I'm not, I'm not entirely sure.

Anyway, my point is, is that the, the work is a little bit more than just mowing this to maintain. [00:30:00] Um, that sand builds up really fast and it creates a hump. And then once the hump is there, it actually creates pooling, and you'll notice it in many places. That's where the big ice puddles stay on the sidewalk, um, because it holds water. Um, so still opposed to it.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Assemblymember Pomeroy.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Thank you, your Honor. Um, I feel, uh, a little weird about feeling opposed to a green space because Charity Pomeroy loves green spaces. I want more. I want, um, I want beauty. I want all of those things, but I, I really, I just, uh, I have watched my own mother faceplant because of green strip, uh, the [00:31:00] uneven nature of the green strip. The only times my mom broke a bone, it was because of that green strip.

Um, I know in a, a larger city, I feel like it's a little more important when you don't have as much greenery, but a lot of, we don't, we don't tend to use, um, pesticides here in our lawns. We don't tend to add things here that are added into other suburban areas that will go into the runoff. So it is not as big an issue. Uh, I feel like we are a community that is on the lower end of those average numbers of, of, uh, what is running off from [00:32:00] our sidewalks.

Um, but I have had folks reach out to me very nervous because of mobility issues. And I know at the last meeting, uh, one of the assembly members said, well, you know, you can just walk 19 steps down, uh, to get around that green strip. But I, I have a neighbor who even five extra steps for her is going to be an extraordinary feat. Um, and we all know somebody here in this community where their mobility is such that they, they're not mobile like everyone up here.

Um, and for another thing I will say, and, and this piggybacks on what Assemblymember Hillis said, so I have a green strip [00:33:00] around my house and I maintain it. And I also maintain the green strip of my neighbor's property, um, because it is connected, and the green strip itself is filled with the gravel from the winters, and it does freeze. It isn't— and there's no way to get the gravel out of that. And so, um, mowing that green strip is also terrifying. I have whacked my shin with rocks being kicked up from maintaining that very uneven, very humped now, uh, green space.

So as, as beautiful as they can be in some areas, I would never look at what— oh, don't tell my landlord I'm [00:34:00] saying this— I would never look at what is surrounding my house, uh, next to the sidewalk and say, oh, that's lovely. Um, in fact it looks diseased, it looks sad, uh, just because of the bombardment that it takes in the winter with the gravel, with the piled snow.

And I know, uh, an argument has been made, well, that gives you two extra feet, uh, for the snow to be piled. But that two extra feet's gonna be there no matter what, whether it is a green space or whether it is, um, concrete. And I will say as someone who is a weirdo and really enjoys shoveling, it is a lot easier to shovel concrete, um, in the winters [00:35:00] than it is to forge a path over that hump of rock-filled grass that I have.

Uh, I lived on Fifth Avenue before moving to where I am now, and there is no green space in front of those houses there on the south side of, of Fifth Avenue. And I, I have, uh, since the last assembly meeting, gone and looked at that block and stared at my own block because I feel so torn about, uh, this, but it has not, I have not reached a point of saying that I want to stand for this particular addition of a green strip, uh, because there were, there are advantages to not having it.

Um, uh, I don't think as well that the visual [00:36:00] barrier here on Main Street is as much of a deal as it is in a, a different suburban city in Alaska. I, I think it's just we are, we are a, a different community. Our nature is different. We, we are a little slower anyway. We don't have people— uh, we do have a highway and people are coming in off the highway, but we don't have, um, high-speed roads right next to, uh, residential roads.

We don't have those 35-mile-an-hour— I can't believe I just called that high speed— but we don't have the standard 35-mile-an-hour, uh, to 50-mile-an-hour roads going through our town that are right next to those residential streets where people really need that reminder, um, all the time to slow down. We, we have those. Um, well, I'm just gonna leave it at that [00:37:00] anyway. Thank you.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you.

Any further comments? Assemblymember Henry. Microphone please.

Assemblymember Henry: Uh, I asked the city manager a cost question. Um, Emily, the cost difference in the two, I'm struggling to, um, get clarification on the bottom line of that.

Borough Manager Deach: We did not get an updated cost assessment for this particular concept for 5B. Um,

Assemblymember Henry: So we're voting on something. We don't have an idea what the cost is.

Borough Manager Deach: It will cost less. It, I— the difference is very minimal in the bottom, negligible to the bottom line.

Assemblymember Henry: Between the two, if anything, less for the grass or more for the grass?

Borough Manager Deach: Well, we'll spend less on the concrete, but we will need, you know, fill and topsoil.

Assemblymember Henry: So the answer [00:38:00] would be it's negligible.

Borough Manager Deach: Okay. From my understanding, yeah.

Assemblymember Henry: And what does it do to the timing of the project? Slow it down by three years, three hours?

Borough Manager Deach: No, I don't think the time would be—

Assemblymember Henry: Nothing changes.

Borough Manager Deach: No.

Assemblymember Henry: Quite frankly, I've heard some amazing points, uh, so far about maintaining this, uh, strip of grass and the gravel and, I don't know. Um. I'll just leave it at amazing, some of these comments. The roots, uh, from grass won't, you won't get an upheaval in the sidewalk from that. You would from tree roots, but not, uh, Kentucky bluegrass or any other kind of grass that I'm aware of.

Um,

I agree with [00:39:00] Alex. Um, so I won't repeat everything. Just leave it at that.

Mayor Hanson: Anything?

Borough Manager Deach: Oh, we think you'd recognized—

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Assemblymember Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Thank you, your Honor. I spoke quite a bit at the last assembly meeting more than I normally do, um, defending this little strip of grass. Um, as far as the cost, I think it's gonna be much more than negligible. Concrete, as you pointed out, 500 bucks a yard, and this is gonna be a strip of concrete, six inches deep and a foot and a half wide and two miles long. So that's gonna be a chunk of money.

Um, as far as the top [00:40:00] soil, I think we're the only place in Southeast that makes our own topsoil, I'm just guessing. Um, but in other words, pretty much free. Another point, it doesn't need to be topsoil. It doesn't need to be grass. It could be a nice packed dirt so that everybody can run their mobility scooters and everything else.

Uh, again, it's not Broadway. That's a big seven-foot sidewalk down there, and I think we dump about 10 or 15,000 people on it. I haven't seen that many wandering up and down Main Street. It's, it's a regular residential area, so you, you barely pass a person a block. So it, as far as it not being wide enough or it should be 10 feet solid concrete? I don't think so. Um, and [00:41:00] it's a grass strip. There's no problem with it.

And if all else fails in seven years, when this gets done and it's wrong, you know how easy it'd be to run a concrete truck right along that road and just build that back in. But you can't unfill it if you pour it concrete to start with. So it, I, I don't think it'd be a mistake to have a grass strip. That's what I gotta say.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Manager Deach, would you mind if I read your email that came from Director Ames?

Borough Manager Deach: No, go ahead.

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Last meeting, I asked some questions about what it actually would mean in terms of the abutment of the sidewalk to property owners, and I just wanna make that clear so we all understand what that is.

Uh, and this is answers from Director Ames who's helped [00:42:00] develop the, uh, concept with the engineers. Number one, with the retaining wall on the property owner side or the curbside, would the retaining wall be on the property owner side or the curbside? There's concern that the curb would need to be higher if it's on the sidewalk. I think that would never be on the curbside. Is that correct? Answer: correct. The wall would be on the property side where needed.

So the small retaining wall in this scenario would be sidewalk, property owner side. So if there's a hill like where I live on Main Street, that would have to be cut down and there would be a retaining wall.

Two. Is it correct that the situation be that the green space is sloped from the curb, then the sidewalk is at a higher elevation, reducing the height of the retaining wall on the property owner's side, or eliminating the need completely? Answer: correct. Something to [00:43:00] consider with this scenario is that if the sidewalk is raised and the grass is sloped to the curbside, it could be a steep angle in some locations because it's only a two-foot strip.

Question three, without the green strip, the sidewalk would be at the level of the curb. So then if the yard is a higher elevation, the retaining wall would be needed, correct? Correct.

So long story short, if you live in an area where it's mounted up from the road, um, myself and the half a block south to me, you, the, the sidewalk goes up and down like that, it would be cut down and then there would be a small retaining wall that abuts the property. Just to make that clear. Assemblymember Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Just to ask for clarification, the existing sidewalk is, is there, is going to be gone. [00:44:00] It's five feet of, of grass strip from my property line, or from a property line. It's five feet out and then the other sidewalk begins. You have five feet to drop slope as opposed to the three feet that you have now.

So it would, you would be sloping from, and you could probably get away with not even putting in retaining walls in quite a few areas because from the property line out, that existing sidewalk is dirt, then starts the sidewalk, eight feet, then two feet of grass strip, curb, and then 12 feet of road and then 12 feet of other roadway, then eight feet— I've forgotten an eight-foot section there. It, when you come off the curb, and then another five feet on the other side of the road. 'Cause we're gonna be cutting into the east side, at least as far as the plans look, [00:45:00] cutting into the east side to where there's a five-foot strip there before it gets to the property.

So it's, it's a two-lane road with dual parking and you're gonna have room to slope it down to where the sidewalks won't be a huge climb from the alleys out and everything. You should be able to engineer that. I mean, we are spending millions of dollars on it. I just wanna say stuff like, I could just fix it with a Bobcat.

Mayor Hanson: Any further comments on the amendment? Assemblymember Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Um, I'm just gonna, I think, kind of emphasize my points. Um, as far as the comment, um, regarding the grass strip, it's grass. There's no problem with it. There is a mobility problem with it, is the problem with it. Um, [00:46:00] I, I just, I can't think of an example in Skagway where there's a really well good-looking maintained grass green strip. And I think that probably serves as evidence to the difficulty in maintaining, um, such an area in a place like Skagway.

Um, I have seen some really well-maintained grass strips down south, and those were the ones that just are possibly deadly to people like my 84-year-old mom and other people with mobility issues.

Um,

I think I'll just leave it with that.

Mayor Hanson: It's a campaign year for you, isn't it, Deb?

Assemblymember Potter: Not really.

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Any further comment? Uh, Assemblymember Henry? [00:47:00] Yes.

Assemblymember Henry: Vote is a yes vote, gonna have grass, and a no vote's concrete. For clarification because I'm, I'm, I'm kind of getting at this point, the exhaustion of the, um, wood chips and the other thing that we—

Mayor Hanson: Understood, uh, for clarification, the amendment is to, uh, approve item 7A.3, which has the grass strip. Do I have this correct?

Am I incorrect? Go ahead.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Uh, I, I just wanna clarify. It does say green space, so it is not a grass strip that we're being limited to.

Mayor Hanson: Um, we are voting on 7A.3. At the bottom it says the, whereas in [00:48:00] red, whereas at its meeting of December 4th, 2025, the assembly voted to amend concept five to replace the 10-foot-wide shared use path with an eight-foot-wide path and a two-foot-wide curb and green space depicted in attachment A as concept 5B.

To summarize, yes is for green space and no is for cement.

Everybody clear on that? Assemblymember Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Uh, just to be more clear, it just fails this amendment. It doesn't make it concrete, it just reverts back to the original.

Mayor Hanson: You are correct.

Roll call on the amendment.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: No.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: No.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: No.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Um, three yes, three no, your Honor. Would you like to vote?

Mayor Hanson: Yes. I would like to vote.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Mayor Hanson?

Mayor Hanson: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Uh, four yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Back to the main motion, now amended. Any further discussion?

Roll call.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: [00:50:00] Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes.

Mayor Hanson: Motion passes. Thank you. Moving on to 7B. Sure. This is adoption of resolution 25-31R updating accounting policies and procedure. We previously had the public hearing and it was closed. There is no current motion, um, on the, on the table, so we need a new motion.

Assemblymember Potter: I move, we, uh, I move, we replace resolution 25-31R with the amended [00:51:00] version, uh, in the packet under item 7B.2.

Mayor Hanson: We have a motion by Potter and a second by Henry to replace, uh, what's in the packet with 7B.2. Discussion. Clerk Burnham.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Y— your Honor, would that be to approve the proposed amendment that's in the packet?

Mayor Hanson: Would the motion maker please restate the motion, um, to just state 7B.2 since we have no active motion? Do I have that correct? We don't have a motion.

Assemblymember Potter: I see, um, I move, we—

Assemblymember Burnham: Adopt.

Assemblymember Potter: I move for [00:52:00] adoption of resolution 25-31R as proposed in 7B.2 in our packet.

Mayor Hanson: Second. Motion by Potter, second by Henry to adopt 25-31R as stated in the packet under 7B.2. Discussion, Assemblymember Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Thank you, your Honor. We discussed this per, um, assembly direction. It went back to finance, not at last night's meeting, but a couple weeks ago. And Treasurer Rodig, um, at that meeting spoke that she had listened to, uh, that assembly meeting and had heard the concerns and questions, um, expressed and did in fact decide that the enterprise fund [00:53:00] net position policy did need some more work.

So, um, that has been removed from the overall accounting policy and procedure updates. And, um, that kind of just leaves the, the two new ones are the cash receipts deposits, the invoicing and accounts receivable deposits, which seemed pretty basic, but I'm sure Manager Deach can answer questions. Um, um, and she did mention there was a little bit of a, um, time importance on these.

Mayor Hanson: Any further discussion?

Roll call to adopt 7B.2.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: [00:54:00] Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Moving on to 7C, public hearing and adoption of resolution 26-06R amending the Municipality of Skagway classification review ranking by grade to add the position of solid waste operator at grade 17.

Assemblymember Henry: Move for adoption of resolution 26-06R.

Assemblymember Hillis: Second.

Mayor Hanson: We have a motion by Henry, a second by Hillis to adopt resolution 26-06R. Would anyone from the public like to address this resolution? Hearing none. Public hearing is closed. Discussion.

Manager Deach, would you like to brief us on [00:55:00] this very quickly?

Borough Manager Deach: Yes. Uh, this is a solid waste operator. It is at the grade that we have budgeted for in the FY26 budget for this position. Um. This position is different than the incinerator tech/refuse collector that we have, um, for that position because this person will be managing the facility, the solid waste compost, recycling facilities on site.

They would only be on the truck if they needed to be on the truck, but they would be more of an operational manager on the site. Um, and we're finding as we're shipping out more garbage, uh, we need someone who's helping to facilitate that specifically. Yeah.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Um, any further discussion? Assemblymember Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Thank you, your [00:56:00] Honor. Uh, just a quick question for the manager. Is this a position that would, um, probably be, I guess this is kind of a hypothetical, but would this be a position that you would start out somewhere in the wastewater facility plant and work yourself up to this kind of thing? Or is this just gonna be hired off the street and taught?

Borough Manager Deach: Um, so this is at the solid waste facility, not the wastewater treatment plant. Yeah. Um, and you know, we have our personnel policy, which directs how we solicit, um, for filling positions. So we would, the way that it works is we put out an internal posting first and solicit interest that way. After a certain amount of time, we then post it publicly, and so it would just be through the regular channels.

Um, you can see that the required knowledge, skills— they need to have a driver's license with, you know, a commercial [00:57:00] endorsement. They need to be able to lift heavy things, high school diploma. So anyone who, who meets these requirements, or even someone who doesn't meet the requirements, could still apply, um, once it becomes, you know, open for application.

Assemblymember Burnham: Thank you, your Honor. That was all. I was wondering if it was just something that could be attained through working here longer. Thanks.

Mayor Hanson: Alright. Any further discussion?

Roll call.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. On to 7D, public hearing and adoption of resolution 26-07R setting the priority list for capital improvement [00:58:00] projects.

Assemblymember Henry: Move for public hearing and adoption of resolution 26-07R.

Assemblymember Weddell: Second.

Mayor Hanson: We have a motion by Henry and a second by Weddell for adoption of resolution 26-07R. Would anyone from the public like to address this resolution?

Hearing none, the public hearing is now closed. Discussion.

Assemblymember Hillis.

Assemblymember Hillis: Your Honor, I just wanted to clarify. Um, in the past, I've always recused myself from any discussion regarding Garden City as I've held the contract there for a couple years. Um, this is the final year of my contract. We are operating, and I will not be recusing myself from further discussion of what happens with the property. Thank you.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you.

Assemblymember Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Thank you, your Honor. Finance [00:59:00] discussed this at our, um, meeting two weeks ago. This is a, um, this and the, the resolution that we're gonna discuss next are, um, resolutions that are used in the pursuit of state legislative grants. Um, so this one, um, finance looked at it. Um. Uh, we use this list to present, uh, funding requests to the, the legislator.

They have, um, another general fund. They have monies that they can use for, uh, capital projects. This year is, for those of you not following at home, it's pretty dire budget situation for the state. So it's not likely that we would get grant money for any of these. Um, um, the best case scenario, I think realistically we could get something for the, um, [01:00:00] Skagway School rehabilitation.

Um, that said, uh, we did take a look at it and we kind of reorganized the priorities, um, adjusted them just a little bit, um, keeping the Skagway School rehabilitation at the top. Um, and, and then I did wanna acknowledge, um, uh, your thoughts from finance last night where you, um, asked, uh, a consideration of changing ore terminal demolition to remediation of ore terminal and peninsula, I believe.

So I don't know if you wanted to maybe discuss that more or if anybody else wanted to discuss that.

Mayor Hanson: Assemblymember Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Uh, I thought that that was actually a good idea. And if possible, I would like to make a motion to amend [01:01:00] resolution 26-07R to have item number six read ore terminal remediation FY28.

Assemblymember Henry: Second.

Mayor Hanson: The motion, uh, by Burnham and second from Henry is to strike item six and replace language with ore terminal and peninsula remediation—

Assemblymember Burnham: I would agree to ore terminal peninsula remediation.

Mayor Hanson: Just ore terminal peninsula remediation.

Assemblymember Burnham: Mm-hmm.

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Uh, discussion? Assemblymember Weddell.

Assemblymember Weddell: Um, that to me, well, well, I don't have any, um, opposition to the spirit of it, but those sound like different projects to me. The, the demolition and the [01:02:00] remediation, and if we're trying to lump them together, maybe we need to have all of those words, like ore terminal demolition and remediation, not just remediation, because I think the demolition of the ore terminal is its own project, but I don't really know, and I would actually really appreciate, um, input from the manager on that verbiage if she has any to offer.

Mayor Hanson: Assemblymember Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Um, I, I understand what Assemblymember Weddell is saying. However, if, if we do remediate the ore terminal and say we start running freight or something, it might be handy to have that building still sitting there. So I would think that it would be a good idea to separate it and we can add demolition later, or, or we— if we find another use, if it's a perfectly building, maybe we could use it for something else, or we could tear it down. But I was just saying, I, I thought the remediation [01:03:00] idea was, was good.

Mayor Hanson: Manager Deach.

Borough Manager Deach: Um, so this has been on the list for several years, I think probably since we did the Port Master Plan in 20 or 21. Um, since that time and since we've been managing the port, the discussions have changed a little bit. Not necessarily that, you know, we, we're talking more about the potential use of that building if even for something like, um, there's an issue with ore freezing in the containers because it's being transported.

You know, I don't— it gets here and it's like 20 below zero, and just placing it inside that shed would help with that freezing. I mean this— and this is not like a specific direction, but these are the sorts of things that [01:04:00] we've been discussing. Regardless of what we do with the ore terminal building, the first thing that needs to happen to it is it needs to be cleaned out. No matter what we do with it, if we take it down, if we use it for some other way, it needs to be cleaned out.

So that remediation, for me, I see this as making it a priority to take the first step. It's one thing to say we're gonna take down the whole terminal, or the whole shed, you know, it's, I don't know, $5 million or something like that. And everyone's talking about doing maybe different things with it. So in my mind, we're focusing— what I wanna do is focus on getting the first step done, because that's how you get bigger projects done is you take— you have to start somewhere. So those are my thoughts on it.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Assemblymember Hillis.

Assemblymember Hillis: Thank you, your Honor. Uh, should there be an— it, it almost seems like there should be [01:05:00] an "and" in that motion, that it would be the ore terminal remediation and peninsula or whatever, something like that. Um, because the, it sounds like we're talking about cleaning up the building and maybe the area around it. I don't know, does that make sense or am I overthinking it?

Mayor Hanson: I might be speaking for Assemblymember Burnham, but I think his statement is that everything on the ore peninsula is involved, and that certainly ties into item 11 on our executive session. And so if you say everything on the peninsula that's contaminated, you're addressing the terminal as well. Am I summarizing that?

Assemblymember Henry: Mm-hmm.

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Yep.

Any further discussion on the amendment to replace item six with ore peninsula remediation? [01:06:00]

Uh, Assemblymember Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Did we, was there a second on that motion?

Mayor Hanson: Dan and Jay.

Assemblymember Potter: Okay.

Mayor Hanson: Roll call.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six.

Mayor Hanson: Yes. Motion passes. Now back to the main motion amended. Any further discussion?

Roll call, please.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you very much. Moving on to item E, public hearing and adoption of [01:07:00] resolution 26-08R requesting commercial passenger vessel excise tax funding for capital improvement projects.

Assemblymember Henry: Move for public hearing and adoption resolution 26-08R.

Assemblymember Hillis: Second.

Mayor Hanson: We have a motion by Henry and a second by Hillis to adopt resolution 26-08R. Would anyone from the public like to address this resolution?

Hearing none, public hearing is closed. Discussion.

Assemblymember Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Thank you, your Honor. We also discussed this, um, at the finance before last. Um, this is also, um, uh, for the purposes of, um, uh, state grant funding requests. Um, [01:08:00] uh, yourself, I know, and Manager Deach, I think had a, a discussion along with, um, lobbyist John Walsh, and I believe wisely just decided to focus on one issue to kind of up our chances of getting this money.

We did make a little amendment at finance when we discussed it, but, um, you'll see in 7E.2 that there's an attorney comment. So per the attorney's recommendation, I move to amend resolution 26-08R so that instead of reading rockslide mitigation for port safety, it reads rockslide mitigation, essential and necessary for port safety for ships and passengers.

Assemblymember Henry: Second.

Mayor Hanson: A motion by Potter and a second by Henry [01:09:00] to amend 26-08R with the language in 7E.2. Any further discussion?

Roll call on the amendment.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Um, as you mentioned just a moment ago, um, Assemblymember Potter, uh, I did have a meeting with Manager Deach and, uh, lobbyist Walsh and Port Director Jennings, and we kind of talked about strategies going forward. And the CPV fund has somewhere around $30 million of general funds available for [01:10:00] port-related projects that affect tourism.

And after attending Southeast Conference, I, my ears really perked up when I heard how much money Seward got, how much money Ketchikan has got. We're not getting it very often. I think to my knowledge, we got money for the bathrooms on Shoreline Park, uh, during COVID, and prior to that, I think it was all the way back to the Seawalk.

Um, and this has been around, what, 17 years, Dan? I mean, pretty long time. I think it's time we start, um, making our voice a little bit louder. Uh, and I think that the rockslide mitigation is, is a unique thing to Skagway that people are aware of. You know, in the past we had dredging in here, we had other things in here. Um, dredging doesn't pull the heartstrings quite the same way. Everybody needs to dredge if you have a port.

Um, the rockslide is a threat [01:11:00] to our economy, to our infrastructure, and to our town. Um, we are doing our best to mitigate it year after year, but, uh, it's going to be very expensive and I think that I'm, I'm definitely willing to go to Juneau and advocate, um, and, and Manager Deach will be doing that next week.

And, um, I think this, by, by shortening this to one item, I think our message is stronger.

Further discussion.

Roll call.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. That brings us to 7F, public hearing and adoption of resolution 26-09R approving Skagway Tourism best management practices programming.

Assemblymember Henry: Move for public [01:12:00] hearing and adoption of resolution 26-09R.

Assemblymember Hillis: Second.

Mayor Hanson: Motion by Henry, second by Hillis to adopt resolution 26-09R. Would anyone from the public like to address this resolution?

Hearing none. Public hearing is closed. Assemblymember Pomeroy.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Got really excited about this. Um, so this, uh, is the updated, um, tourism best management practices, um, program. And I, uh, I'm hoping everybody got a, a good chance to look at the updated language because it is fantastic. It deals with a lot of the issues that, uh, we have been seeing on the roads, uh, especially with, um, how people are acting and reacting to wildlife.

So I think this, uh, the, um, staff did an amazing job on this. I believe the [01:13:00] language came from Tourism Director Bricker.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Any further discussion?

Don't feed the bears. Roll call.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry.

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yep. Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Uh, we have no unfinished business. 9A, confirmation and appointments to boards, commissions, and committees.

Assemblymember Henry: To make a motion that we accept— excuse me— approve the list of mayoral appointments for boards, commissions, and committees dated February 5th, [01:14:00] 2026.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Second.

Mayor Hanson: We have a motion by Henry, a second by Pomeroy to confirm the list of mayoral appointments as listed in the packet. Discussion.

Assemblymember Henry.

Assemblymember Henry: Tabitha Ramirez, rec board, gonna be fantastic. Fantastic.

Mayor Hanson: I'll have to say that the rec board has been a challenge for me. Um, we have three very good people, um, a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge of Skagway, um, who applied for that. And I will frankly say I have avoided this one because I was torn, and sooner or later I had to, I had to just make a call and make a decision.

So this is not, um, a slight on the other two people. I have tons of respect for both of you. Um, and I just had to make, I had to make a [01:15:00] decision 'cause I wasn't gonna let it languish. So here we are.

Roll call.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Potter?

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Item 11, executive session. Take away, Assemblymember Potter.

Oh, that's right. We got number 10. That's right. My bad. Uh, anyone have a topic they would like to discuss out loud with all of us?

Assemblymember Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: I just wanted to say that everybody who steps up to be on a board or commission [01:16:00] committee are fantastic. Fantastic.

Mayor Hanson: You are absolutely correct in that, and I thank everyone for serving. Um, makes us a, a democracy that is responsive to the community. Uh, let's go to individual comments then real, real quick. Uh, Assemblymember Weddell.

Assemblymember Weddell: Nothing at this time. Thank you.

Mayor Hanson: Assemblymember Hillis.

Assemblymember Hillis: Uh, what a privilege we have that there are extra people that you have to pick through signing up for the lovely, I mean, very needed job of, uh, being on these committees. So thank you.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Assemblymember Henry.

Assemblymember Henry: Where are we at with the dog park?

Borough Manager Deach: I, after some back and forth, we verified that it is on DNR land, so I am applying for a use permit.

Assemblymember Henry: Well, we knew that. [01:17:00]

Borough Manager Deach: Yeah.

Assemblymember Henry: Yeah. Okay.

Borough Manager Deach: I— if nothing since that time.

Assemblymember Burnham: Okay.

Borough Manager Deach: Yep.

Assemblymember Burnham: Alright. Thank you.

Mayor Hanson: Assemblymember Burnham.

Assemblymember Burnham: Regular guy who wants pool. Other than that, nothing else.

Mayor Hanson: Assemblymember Pomeroy.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Um, yeah, I just wanted to encourage anybody who has, um, opinions on the proposed statewide sales tax that, uh, the governor has put into his financial plan, that they, uh, whatever your feelings are, that you make them known to our representatives. There was, um, a chance for public comment today. Um, but that doesn't, if you missed it, that doesn't mean you, you can't speak up for it still.

Um, I think, uh, I personally am very concerned about having to have two [01:18:00] separate sales taxes, and I think it would, I, I have seen that in communities in the past, and it seems that the local, local sales tax is the one that they always give up on. There's never the ability to increase it because you have, um, uh, to consider that additional sales tax. Also, the governance of taxation would revert to the state, and I think that could pose some issues. So that's just my personal opinion. So I just encourage everyone to make your own opinion, but take a look at it and please voice your concerns if you have them.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Assemblymember Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Thank you. I, I wanna follow up on the, the dog park real quick, um, because shocking turn of events, Manager Deach is being low-key humble, um, about really the amount of work that I think she put into it. [01:19:00] It was quite a bit complicated. She had reached out to, um, it was not known whether it was FAA land, DOT land. Their Park Service was involved. So the— she really, um, did a great job of staying on top of that and determined that it was DNR land. Um, so I have thanked her before and I'm gonna continue to thank her for figuring that out.

There is the long-awaited, um, premiere of Last Call in the North, a film featuring our very own local journey. It was kind of, I think your story, Melinda Munson is who I'm referring to. Um, if it's true, it's Skagway story of, um, the, when the, the unthinkable happened and we lost our whole economy. It is showing Friday the 13th in Whitehorse and then here in Skagway, Sunday the [01:20:00] 15th at 5:00 PM, um, at the school. So I would encourage everybody to check that out.

Um, I have a little tidbit for Black History Month, but I think I'm gonna save it for the next meeting, so to kind of like wrap up Black History Month. But I, I guess I'll just say that last year I spoke about Bessie Couture, who was the first, um, business owner in Skagway during the Gold Rush, happened to be a woman, happened to be African American. Um, a great thing about Black History Month is that we get to hear stories from people that, um, history often, um, doesn't shine a light on. So stay tuned for the next assembly meeting to hear another Black History Month story.

And then I just wanna wrap up by— it's in my report, but, um, it really was my honor to be a part of a really solid [01:21:00] team of Mayor Hanson, Manager Deach, and Port Director Jennings, who went down in a very interesting time in the mining world and, um, Canadian-US relations to Mineral Roundup. And, um, every behavior that I witnessed was, um, just absolutely honorable and, um, um, that of which every community member in Skagway can be proud of.

Um, it was also notable that when you are just face-to-face with people, it doesn't really matter where they're from and it doesn't matter what is being said on a national level. We still maintain, um, friendships face-to-face. And that was my other big takeaway also. And the country of Qatar just bought a downtown high-rise building to house their soccer team. Um, that was my other takeaway. Um, but it, it really was my honor to be a part of [01:22:00] that, that group.

Mayor Hanson: Thank you. Um, we did send a very strong team to Mineral Roundup, um, for a little town. Um, and I was honored to be a part of that and felt that the conversations were, as I said before, the most frank that I've, I've experienced. Usually there's a lot of, I would say, posturing and I think— I would say that they was a little bit more deliberate this time. So I guess after time number four, maybe I just cut through the chase and got to the point, but maybe I just do that anyway sometimes.

Uh, to follow up on, uh, Black History Month, I was gonna bring up, uh, a couple quotes from one person I greatly admire, um, who was born in Cairo, Georgia, Jackie Robinson, who conducted himself with amazing grace and perseverance in a time of great prejudice in breaking through, um, you know, the barriers [01:23:00] of, uh, professional baseball. Um, and also served in the military and also was a four-year varsity letter winner, or, or, uh, at UCLA, um, basketball, baseball, football, and track.

Um, first quote, I don't think it matters what I believe, only what I do. It's very reminiscent of Yoda--for Clerk Burnham [unclear word/phrase] over there on the table. Um, and the second quote, a baseball box score is a democratic thing. I love that quote.

Um, and that's all I have. Um, I— so that now brings us onto item 11, executive session. Vice Mayor Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Thank you, your Honor. I move we enter executive session to discuss matters, the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of the public entity and matters [01:24:00] which by law, municipal charter, or ordinance are required to be confidential, discussion of legal issues regarding AIDEA, work plan, request for ore terminal and related port management issues…

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Second.

Assemblymember Potter: …and that this executive session admit Manager Deach, Deputy Manager Kameika, Clerk Burnham, Deputy Clerk Carr, and additionally, that Port Director Jennings, attorney Robin Brena and his staff may attend via Zoom.

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Second.

Mayor Hanson: Motion by Potter, second by Pomeroy to verbatim do what she just said. Roll call. Potter.

Assemblymember Potter: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Burnham?

Assemblymember Burnham: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Pomeroy?

Assemblymember Pomeroy: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Henry?

Assemblymember Henry: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Weddell?

Assemblymember Weddell: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Hillis?

Assemblymember Hillis: Yes.

Borough Clerk Burnham: Six yes. [01:25:00] Motion passes.

Mayor Hanson: Okay. Let's, uh, maybe reconvene at 8:35 so we can make sure we get the attorney on the phone and take a break and get the room ready.

We're back in regular session. That brings us to the last item on our agenda. Item 12, adjournment.

Assemblymember Weddell: Move that we adjourn.

Assemblymember Henry: Second.

Mayor Hanson: We have a motion by Weddell and second by Henry. Uh, all those in favor, please say aye.

Assemblymember Weddell: Aye.

Assemblymember Henry: Aye.

Mayor Hanson: Meeting adjourned.