Unalaska, AK – On Tuesday night, City Council received a comprehensive update on the state of capital projects - along with their costs.

The first major item of business was a proclamation that recognized Domestic Violence Awareness month. USAFV representatives Kiels Kitchen and Lynne Crane addressed the council and spoke about the work that the organization has done in the past year.

Council also certified the results of the municipal election and announced that all of the absentee votes were counted and that the questioned ballots were tossed out due to registration problems.

Zoya Johnson, the executive director of the Museum of the Aleutians, delivered a presentation on exhibit updates and petitioned for a $75,000 grant outside the normal grant cycle that would be used to complete the project. The resolution that would allow for this funding was removed from the agenda, but her presentation stirred some debate concerning the current grant calendar and whether capital costs should be treated differently than operational costs. Sonia Handforth-Kome, who directs the clinic and who had gone through a similar process when the clinic made a funding request for an X-ray machine, says that more flexibility would help the town's non-profits.

"You shouldn't have to wait for the regular grant cycle for something that is capital," says Handforth-Kome. "We don't have a good mechanism in place. Maybe we should think about getting a mechanism in place to address capital concerns. The city council itself back then said this should be in the grant-and-aid cycle - it is not the same thing."

Following Johnson's presentation, council heard updates on the progress of the Carl E. Moses small boat harbor along with capital projects like the powerhouse expansion project and the Iliuliuk Creek boat launch.

The Council will then get an update on capital projects, and discuss the status of unreserved funds - like the rainy day fund - as part of the budget.

Two items on the consent agenda were approved. Donna Detweiler was appointed to the Museum of the Aleutians Board of Directors, and city manager Chris Hladick was given the authority to dispose of the city's surplus personal property.

Council also unanimously advanced three items of new business, which will receive more debate at the following meeting. The council discussed transferring $1.2 million from the sales tax special revenue fund to the general fund for the completion of the Carl E. Moses boat harbor, and they considered a resolution addressing the status of the unreserved funds.

Additionally, council also discussed travel to the Alaska Municipal League meeting in November. Mayor Shirley Marquardt, and council members Katherine McGlashan and Dennis Robinson have expressed interest in attending.

City Council wrapped up its meeting by moving into executive session to discuss the preferential use agreement with Horizon Lines.

Council members Dennis Robinson, Zac Schasteen, Dick Peck, and Roger Rowland were present at the meeting, with Rowland serving as mayor pro tem in Marquardt's absence.