On Tuesday, city council approved several measures related to zoning, budgetary, and travel issues.

The meeting started with a presentation from Evan Rose of the Alaska Permanent Capital Management Company. Rose focused on the current economic climate, and he explained how that affects Unalaska. According to Rose, the city of Unalaska had $83.6 million in bonds and securities as of July. The account saw an $8 million decline over last year, due to a major withdrawal for infrastructure.

During the new business portion of the meeting, council considered two ordinances and one resolution.

An ordinance rezoning a lot on Haystack Hill for public use was approved unanimously. Jim

Morris of Aleutian Chiropractic was given permission to operate a new clinic and construct employee housing on property that had previously been a part of a residential zone.

An ordinance that made a combination of minor and not-so-minor changes the budget will move to second reading. The measure allowed the Unalaska Public Library to accept $15,000 in grant monies from the Rasmuson foundation for the purpose of improving the book collection. It also directed $13,000 in forfeited assets to the Department of Public Safety. Lastly, the ordinance also increased the  budget for the Ballyhoo Road project by $750,000, because bids came higher than expected. The measure advanced on a vote of 5-1, with Council Member Dick Peck dissenting.

A resolution allowing the ramp at the boat launch at the new Carl E. Moses Small Boat Harbor to be expanded generated spirited debate. Due to an engineering decision, the launch can only accommodate boats that are 32-feet long or smaller. Council Members Roger Rowland and Dick Peck spoke in favor of expanding that launch, discussing their experience as boat owners.  Council members Katherine McGlashan and Dennis Robinson expressed concerns about how hardscaping would affect the project’s budget, voting in favor of a failed amendment that would have approved the hardscaping of the boat launch but removing the boat launch expansion plan from the resolution. Public Works Director Nancy Peterson explained that bids have been made in the $200,000 range, which she says is higher than expected.  The resolution ultimately passed unanimously.

Council approved a motion allowing McGlashan and Robinson to accompany Mayor Shirley Marquardt on an October lobbying trip to Washington, DC. The measure was approved 5-1, with Roger Rowland dissenting for reasons of cost and efficiency. Council also approved a motion that would send McGlashan and Peck to the Alaska Municipal League’s November conference in Fairbanks.

The meeting wrapped up with an update from Ray Gillespie, the city’s lobbyist in Juneau. Topics addressed included revenue-sharing, the debate over tax breaks for oil companies, next year’s capital budget, and redistricting.