At tonight's meeting, city council will consider two proposals to rezone commercial land for residential use -- possibly setting the stage for the construction of more than 50 new apartments in Unalaska.

The landowners are Coe and Phyllis Whittern and the Ounalashka Corporation. The corporation wants to rezone a lot on Biorka Drive, across from Sitka Spruce Park, for high-density residential use.

This would allow them to convert the shop building that sits on the property into an 8-plex apartment. According to a memo by city planning director Erin Reinders, the corporation has plans to eventually build anywhere from 36 to 48 additional apartment units on that land down the road.

The Whitterns, on the other hand, have been trying to rezone land they own in the Hillside Estates subdivision on Broadway since 2011. They recently finished the platting process, and got approval from the city planning commission.

Now, the Whitterns are asking council to give the final go-ahead on a plan to create three single family and duplex residential lots, and rezone a fourth lot for high-density residential use. The high-density lot could accommodate up to nine housing units.

In other business, council will review several contracts. The largest is a $1.3 million contract with City Electric, Inc. to install three-phase power for the new water treatment plant in Pyramid Valley.

The city is proposing to spend $156,000 in the next fiscal year to retain federal lobbyist Brad Gilman of Virginia and state lobbyist Ray Gillespie. Council will consider a $158,000 contract with R&M Consultants of Anchorage for inspection services on this summer's repaving projects.

Council also review a new three-year contract with city employees in Local 302, of the International Union of Operating Engineers, along with an updated schedule of fees for city services in 2014.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in city hall.