Former member addresses the council remotely on light night in Wasilla

WASILLA — Former Wasilla City Councilwoman and current state House rep Colleen Sullivan-Leonard provided those attending Monday evening's regular Wasilla city council meeting with an update on her efforts in Juneau to date. Sullivan-Leonard spoke via teleconference.

The representative said since arriving at the state capital Jan. 10, the pace has been fast and furious with many legislators working 6-7 days a week She said the Mat-Su delegation works well together and without a doubt, the state's budget crisis is the biggest issue in this session. Among the items up for debate are a proposed income tax, personal fund dividend related issues, the 2016 crime bill (SB91) and House Bill (HB) 60. If passed, HB 60 would raise the state's motor fuel tax by 200 percent, she said.

Sullivan-Leonard said she is following that bill closely as she feels it will hit Mat-Su residents quite hard. Both she and Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle feels that should the bill, or something similar to it be enacted, funds should be distributed back to the areas where it was collected. Sullivan-Leonard said she will be in Wasilla this Friday to take public comment on the bill. She has a 1:30 p.m. session planned at the Legislative Information Office (LIO), 600 East Railroad Street in Wasilla.

The council tackled a light agenda with public hearing on two resolutions and three resolutions on the consent agenda. The public hearing resolutions, both approved, allowed Cottle to begin contract negotiations with the city's two unions. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 includes all city union workers except five at the Curtis Menard Sports Center. That group is represented by Laborer's Union Local 341. Local 302 workers have a contract through the March 31, Local 341 through June 30.

The consent agenda resolutions allows Southcentral Foundation Project to issue and sell up to $55 million in revenue bonds under the city's umbrella, made an appointment to the parks and recreation commission, and allowed the purchase of two new police department patrol cars.

A second Southcentral Foundation Project resolution was tabled until the group's next meeting. Cottle explained the organization sought the city's approval to refinance an existing a $9.8 million bond issue. However, the mayor noted that the city is not benefiting from the process. Bonds are typically refinanced when a lower interest rate is available, thus saving the issuing body money. Cottle said the city has never asked for a percentage of the savings for any issued bond but feels given the city must spend time in the process, it should get an impact fee. He said it's nothing new.

"We should be receiving a benefit along with them," Cottle said."I don't feel we're being justly compensated for this."

Bob Bowers and his wife Judy, are long-time volunteers of the annual Christmas Dinner at the Menard Center and both are retiring from the event. The meeting began with Cottle giving the couple an honorary key to the city for their years of service to the cause. Bob attended Monday evening's session but Judy was not there due to illness.

Bowers noted more than 1,000 volunteers are involved with making the event a success. He shared some personal sentiments about the dinner and retiring from his involvement. He presented the city with a certificate of appreciation for its help in making it the such a noteworthy event in the community.

Under council comments, both Stuart Graham and Tim Burney reflected on the upcoming union contract negotiations. Burney said he hoped everyone would "sharpen their pencils" as the process began. Graham was a more direct in his comments.

He said economic times are tight and money isn't flowing like it has in the past. He said the idea of step and longevity increases are something to be looked at. Graham said he feels the city pays its employees a fair wage and provides outstanding benefits. The mayor said the city may need to start thinking of new ways of doing business and bring itself more in line with the private sector.