Unalaska, AK – Last night, city council made a number of changes to its Fiscal Year 2011 budget.

Council approved an ordinance that would fund a variety of different items this fiscal year, as well as receive monies from a recent grant and settlement. This budget amendment ordinance allowed the city to accept a Rasmuson Foundation grant for the library collection, along with $2 million from the federal government for a settlement over PCB contamination. The ordinance also funds survey work connected to a tideland lease request made by OSI, authorizes the purchase of an asphalt reclaimer, increases the funding for capital projects and maintenance involving the power house and the cooling water intake pipe clean-out, and approves electrical upgrades to the Bering Fisheries plant. Additionally, the ordinance also permits some improvement to the employee 8-plex lot, allows for the replacement of light fixtures at the light cargo dock, and enables the city to go ahead with some improvements to the airport.

The measure passed unanimously, but Council member Dennis Robinson registered his continued concern over the city's involvement in providing housing for municipal employees.

"I agree with all the other items, but I don't think that the city should be in the business of housing," said Robinson. "Normally, if it was a situation where I would vote against it and this would fail, this would fail."

In addition to passing the budget ordinance, the city council also unanimously approved a resolution that accepts a grant of over $700,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency for construction on the water treatment plant. Council also unanimously approved a resolution that would allow the city to apply for a loan of up to $8.8 million from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for the landfill expansion project.

There were two resolutions that spurred some debate. Council approved a resolution that supports a House bill that would amend the Alaska Little David Bacon Act. That act requires strict regulation of construction and maintenance projects undertaken by municipalities where the cost exceeds $2,000. The bill's supporters argue that this is burdensome to rural communities, and that the threshold should be brought up to $50,000. Robinson voted against the resolution, but Mayor Shirley Marquardt and Council member Dave Gregory voiced support for it because of its impact in the bush.

"One of the main issues here is the amount of paperwork involved with these projects," said Gregory.

Council also voted on a resolution to express support for public broadcasting. Congress is currently debating whether or not to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides financial support to National Public Radio, PBS, and local public radio stations. KUCB is partially funded by CPB grants. While the resolution passed 5-1, Council Member Roger Rowland voted against the measure.

"Our country is in dire financial straits, and we can always rationalize whatever dollar we wants for us and do away with somebody else's somewhere else," said Rowland, adding, "At some point we need to draw the line."

Council also authorized the mayor to travel to Anchorage for the American Pilot's Association conference in April, where she has been invited to speak. In addition to legislative business, council also heard a number of presentations. Public Safety Director Jamie Sunderland talked about the upcoming tsunami warning exercise, which will take place on March 23. A brief presentation was given on the wastewater facilities plan, and Public Works Director Nancy Peterson and City Engineer Tyler Zimmerman updated the council on the status of various capital projects, including the Carl E. Moses Small Boat Harbor.

Alvin Osterback also spoke to council about the installation of a new fishermen's memorial in Unalaska. In December, council had directed Osterback to study the possibility of constructing a memorial at the new small boat harbor, but Osterback's research concluded that space there was limited and that new additions at Memorial Park might be more appropriate. Debate over the new memorial was spirited with sharp divides over placement and funding. Because of lack of consensus and because the item was introduced as a presentation, the issue will come up again at a later council meeting where the possibility of establishing a memorial committee will be discussed.

Council concluded the meeting in executive session, where they discussed a change order claims involving the contractor SKW and the status of an EPA permit.

All council members were present for the meeting.