Wasilla City Council handles a busy Monday agenda

WASILLA — Wasilla’s city council members tackled a busy agenda for its regular Sept. 26 meeting. Action items included adoption of several ordinances and going into closed session to discuss a possible sale of the Meta Rose Square building on Parks Highway.

Councilmembers unanimously approved Ordinance 16-21 allowing Mayor Bert Cottle to execute a one-year lease agreement with a business in Meta Rose Square; Ordinance 16-25, a zoning change to allow construction of a planned child care center; Ordinance 16-26 appropriating funds for cemetery markers; Ordinance 16-28 appropriating and redirecting funds for new software; and Ordinance 16-29 appropriating funds for the city’s new maintenance shop.

Ordinance 16-21 calls for a one-year agreement with Younique Boutique. The lease of approximately 2,000 square feet will be bring in more than $31,000 into the city’s coffers. The current lease expires Nov. 1, 2016.

Ordinance 16-25 allows for an approximate nine-acre parcel in the David Smith subdivision, currently split-zoned as commercial/rural-residential—to be rezoned as commercial. The parcel’s owners want to construct a daycare center on the land. A public hearing and mass-mailing to all landowners within 1,200 feet of the property brought no objection.

Ordinance 16-26 calls for the installation of up to 100 markers in the city cemetery for unmarked graves. The cemetery currently has approximately 100 unmarked graves. The ordinance calls for marking those sites with 16-inch by 8-inch engraved flat granite pavers names, date of birth and date of death. Each marker will cost $100.

Ordinance 16-27 calls for light installation at the Newcomb Park tunnel. Cottle noted the tunnel is 379 feet long, 14 feet wide and eight feet high. Concerns over past lighting vandalism at the site were brought up. Public Works Director Archie Giddings said the new system is almost indestructible and “bullet-proof”. Once approved, the project will be scheduled with the city’s electrician and should be installed in 6-8 weeks. Additionally, tunnel exit and entrance lighting will be installed.

Ordinance 16-29 deals with the city’s new maintenance shop. Giddings said he budgeted $50,000 for this fiscal year and $100,000 for next and he’s asking to take $10,000 out of the current fiscal year allocation and reduce next year’s by the same amount. In providing a project background, Giddings said the city couldn’t afford a large building without seeking a sales tax.

“We can’t afford big contracts…this has been piecemealed a long time,” Giddings said. “This winter, we’ll be able to work out of it.”

Giddings explained construction was done in phases—buying the shell, pouring the slab, erecting the building, and now—completing necessary offices.

The council also agreed to place Ordinance 16-22 up for an Oct. 10, public hearing. The ordinance amends the city code relating to the process for removing disciplinary actions from a personnel file.

Under comments, councilmembers expressed their approval of the new Wasilla Public Library which opened last week. Several trustees said they had received many positive comments on the new facility. In a related matter under public comment, audience member Kai West said although the new library is a great addition to the community, she would like to see the facility’s hours extended—especially evening hours for adults and middle-high school students

“With such a beautiful facility that we have now, it would be nice to extend the hours,” West told the council.”

Cottle explained that the issue was one brought up as a concern. He explained present hours were established in the city’s last budget cycle. At that time, the council felt it best to go with the status quo. He said if hour adjustments were necessary, they would fall under the next budget cycle. Work on that is expected to start in November.