Unalaska, AK – This Saturday, city council met to finalize the FY2012 budget.

During the unfinished business portion of the meeting, council unanimously adopted the Capital and Major Maintenance Plan, which sets the city's priorities for constructing and upgrading projects through FY 2016.

Council then moved on to discussion of the operational and capital budgets. The community support program, which funds Unalaska's non-profits, continued to be the primary subject of debate. Because funding for the community support program is formula-driven, council was expected to allot approximately $790,000 to the non-profits, a drop from $960,000. Further, Iliuliuk Family and Health Services' behavioral health services received additional scrutiny for management and financial reasons.

Frank Kelty, the vice president of the IFHS board, told council that a restaffing process is underway and work is being done to address council's concerns.

"We've had lots of public input at our meetings the past six months," said Kelty. "The board has taken what we've heard to heart, and we're going to work to make changes.

Additionally, IFHS reduced their grant request from $150,000 to $125,000.

During the debate over funding, Council Member Zac Schasteen introduced an amendment to the budget that would have required more oversight of clinic funding.

"We recognize that the clinic does have some issues that they are in the process of working out. What this motion does is gives the clinic an opportunity and mechanism - just like we gave the [Convention and Visitors Bureau] - to fix these problems and then come before council and get the full funding that they've requested."

Council Members Roger Rowland and Katherine McGlashan supported that amendment. However, the amendment failed 3-2 because it did not get the supermajority vote needed for amendments. Council Member Dennis Robinson argued that the measure was drastic.

"Our behavioral health program in the clinic has operated for roughly 18 years," said Robinson. "Yes, we had a little bump in the road here, but I don't think we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater."

Meanwhile, Council Member Dave Gregory said that the precedent that existed was overly burdensome for non-prohfits.

"I think we ran [the CVB] through the wringer much more than we should have," said Gregory. "These are important programs, and we need to make sure that they go forward without being hamstrung," he added.

Ultimately, all non-profits received their funding requests. The FY 2012 budget was ultimately adopted with a unanimous vote.

Additionally, a number of housekeeping amendments related to the painting of the Parks, Culture, and Recreation center and supplies for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential - or TWIC - office were considered. All of these amendments passed unanimously.

During the work session, Mike Hubbard gave a presentation on the electric rates. While the rates are expected to rise, they should only go up marginally.

"There will be a rate impact, but it's phenomenal as to how little it is," says Hubbard.

On a monthly basis, residents should not see their bill get substantially bigger. Hubbard says that residential bills should increase about a dollar per month, while small commercial outfit would see a bump of $2.81/month in their bills with the new powerhouse online.

One item that would allow the city manager to enter the Community Schools Agreement passed on the consent agenda.

All items of new business advanced unanimously. Ordinances that would amend the schedule of fees paid to the city - like building permits and PCR passes - and amend the tariff at the city dock both advanced to second reading. A resolution that would allow for the adoption of a best management practices plan for ports, along with resolutions that would adopt an operating plan and an oil spill response plans at the new Carl E. Moses small boat harbor.

During the discussion of harbor rates, some concern was expressed that the proposed rates for the Carl E. Moses small boat harbor are disproportionately low compared to the rates at the spit dock, even if those rates might be comparable to other ports across the states.

Council ultimately wrapped up in executive session to discuss the result of the negotiation with IBU ports employees. All council members were present, excluding Dick Peck.