[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6161778,"mediaKeyId","5440903-49367e3fd738984331947a9f37ebf9a5","parentId",5440903,"title","Council approves land purchases for airport expansion and a $75,000 relocation reimbursement agreement","audioSeconds",2005,"startMs",1329000,"endMs",3334000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440903-49367e3fd738984331947a9f37ebf9a5&start=1329&end=3334","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440903-49367e3fd738984331947a9f37ebf9a5/thumbnail_1329000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6161778/Wasilla/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Council-approves-land-purchases-for-airport-expansion-and-a-75000-relocation-reimbursement-agreement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161778-9d2ac917d4736871f4552bbbf64fd498/orig.mp4?Expires=1770552810&Signature=HbvonRNh4JRS7ILtIr2j25J1Tbee-EL6Grv9iNcRD99AFEGFmNFhLWtMtNQc9vArblhqJ7nqe7GKLN~OXgHTBgeIdfYxR0LT-r8plK-~OLSsv-JqjB1aF9HLarqrUZ6FWfGg0I1kqmLgpYGjAtUKqgNsvx-66P3Dli3ZuLCBuhZojSgs9BMacXwNeK-n8jpfuZnTmDYPSk20KTzId77kJ0XStJvMmw94Ub6XFoCFnKSV3nzbBq9wmuXe0JpWJikdfCK3vhZy3UtiVGpPDgAwyey~Rj43Kl7xdIMhQB821d~07t2oKrDnXW38vb~RYoDca4IieQA1H7JAPLM33eVvmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wasilla","date","2025-07-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Wasilla City Council approved several purchase-authority resolutions for small parcels identified for runway expansion and runway protection zone purposes at the Wasilla Municipal Airport and voted to authorize reimbursement payments of up to $75,000 to Sam and Rebecca Gardner for relocation costs tied to the acquisition of 1815 South Foothills Boulevard.

During the consent agenda the council read several acquisition authorizations by title; the purchases were for parcels described by legal quarter-section descriptions and listed associated maximum purchase prices and customary closing-cost caps (up to 5% of purchase price) for the airport runway expansion and runway protection zone. Later in the meeting the council took a separate motion on Resolution Serial Number 2525 to authorize reimbursement payment to Sam and Rebecca Gardner \"in an amount not to exceed $75,000 for relocation costs associated with the purchase of property at 1815 South Foothills Boulevard,\" and the motion passed without recorded objection.

City CFO Leonard explained the $75,000 reimbursement was structured as a separate resolution because of title-company and escrow-handling requirements: the title company required a known, earmarked amount to be handled outside the sale escrow so the reimbursement could be processed as the gardener-owners submitted qualifying receipts. Public comment and council questions focused on clarity about why the reimbursement was handled separately from the purchase price; the finance and property-acquisition staff explained the administrative mechanics on the record.

Council also approved, without public objection, a separate consent-item resolution to waive protest and approve the relocation and transfer of Beverage Dispensary License No. 3888 to J and L Enterprises Inc., doing business as Senor Taco Mexican Grill, pending Alcoholic Beverage Control procedures.

The council recorded no dissent to the resolutions during the meeting; several council members asked procedural questions to ensure accounting and title procedures were correct before approving the reimbursement arrangement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular - 14 Jul 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved resolution actions to acquire parcels for runway expansion and passed a separate resolution authorizing reimbursement payments of up to $75,000 for relocation costs related to the purchase of 1815 South Foothills Boulevard.","taxTitle","Wasilla, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska","taxId",52178,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6161781,"City hears plan to expand Wasilla library staff space, add automated sorting machine; estimated cost about $2.5'2.6 million to $3 million",312,413000,725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440903-49367e3fd738984331947a9f37ebf9a5&start=413&end=725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440903-49367e3fd738984331947a9f37ebf9a5/thumbnail_413000.jpg","/articles/6161781/Wasilla/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/City-hears-plan-to-expand-Wasilla-library-staff-space-add-automated-sorting-machine-estimated-cost-about-2526-million-to-3-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161781-ac0ceb0584e1a80fcd1498ad4242bd57/orig.mp4?Expires=1770552810&Signature=ekyhRU~zHoe~7a7hk~nIGs5ElGAkhdqhXhz7KHB1oTbgU2yOpHhPrYfBtGQlQp9D1yxHOoe80A5mOqhcfBZpZhLtXD~0XQAjRtr2TROAiZkY9XDRGs3PTQx0fGLmszJ0BDgo2uceA2AHJlLIn-G~Hs2AUCRUf6f-spCFvMvMjoZFJmH1UIk34FiZ8-PJKlvJdLZ~cCKweA-EugUTd2jlTOrPxagg5ntEwUhn9TqiwTKA9Si799iSh6lbckhAkeAfFWSfIBs13905bu9hA4-SEBYrqWYJ6PWS89SQ2ZKtvuPDfTOgGiVAjaiooGy8jkuZqR9vdMVDKQmJiXkPnBd6zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An architect working with the city presented a plan to expand staff space at the Wasilla Public Library and to install an automated sorting machine to improve returns processing, telling the council the work would \"greatly improve staff efficiency.\" Brian Meisner of ECI said the expansion would push the existing exterior wall outward, keep the current canopy and sidewalks, and provide covered book returns that feed directly into a robot sorting system similar to equipment used in Anchorage.

Meisner said the project would \"about double the amount of staff space\" and create dedicated work areas for mending, sorting, mailing and interlibrary loan currently done in shared space. He described the expansion as roughly a pop-out of the existing wall by about 20 feet and said it would include about 2,100 square feet of minor interior renovation. He gave a conservative estimate of $3,000,000 today but said if bids were received now he would expect about $2.5 million to $2.6 million, noting tariff-driven material-price escalation as an upward pressure on cost.

Council members asked whether the expansion is intended to meet immediate demand or plan for long-term use; Meisner replied it is \"a bit of both\" and \"should give you the capacity for 10 to 20 more years,\" though he hedged that projection because past growth exceeded earlier forecasts. Acting city staff and public comment from the Friends of the Library supported the expansion: Jeannie Trishinski, president of Friends of West Lila Public Library, told the council that lack of staff space limits hours and programming and urged support for the project.

The presentation said the sorting machine would sit behind the book returns, routing returned items through a conveyor for initial sorting to improve staff throughput; renderings show a window into the sorting room so staff can monitor the device. Meisner said the expansion was contemplated in the library's original design and that the exterior would look similar to the current building. He described the Valley's construction market as competitive and said that while $3 million is a conservative estimate that includes an anticipated tariff increase, the local bid climate \"has the best bid climate in the entire state and potentially in the country right now.\"

No final funding or procurement action was taken at the meeting; Meisner concluded by inviting council questions and noting that the design aims to reuse existing casework and shelving where possible. The city noted the project will return for further discussion if the council wishes to pursue funding and procurement steps.","An architect presented a plan to expand staff work areas at the Wasilla Public Library, add an automated book sorting machine and modify the exterior wall to provide covered book returns; the conservative project estimate is about $3,000,000 but bidders may produce lower results.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6161788,"Wasilla council adopts rewritten Title 16 land-development code after months of amendments",3618,1606000,5224000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5440903-49367e3fd738984331947a9f37ebf9a5&start=1606&end=5224","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5440903-49367e3fd738984331947a9f37ebf9a5/thumbnail_1606000.jpg","/articles/6161788/Wasilla/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Wasilla-council-adopts-rewritten-Title-16-land-development-code-after-months-of-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161788-d2115de240a93734ee8a92c4262be06f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770552810&Signature=m2vQn5a0UWPO2GAmg~bMDODbPJK-JuGdehkC4BIqxR7BGU-W8XInxLBlEZwsr2bVcnpx5FumKKjO1Bx9OmhsMP0E2yXbebiqYnfrK~PXMuPOZXcuhptmk0Bq6Kqv8I8L1CPv8sPtSoAxlg~uXfCUeCdCDw-F9BGI6xo-LsP3wxrbaRntjspruF1y~OdXpqLc0qjg~UOdO4Asw0MxD5x68zz5a9~uPg-46PAP5Ojkw4PrjW8mIOTpNvvGGak2BabC7S~unzvMsYRZnx9RQNnRN80XkUzG8W8Gb7smYWP9bmG970PrA8iQ~CNvOP4houTp71GyPwG5oWqeTHPwp339HQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wasilla City Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance Serial Number 2514, repealing and reenacting Wasilla Municipal Code Title 16, after making multiple amendments to the draft code during a lengthy public meeting. The vote, taken by roll call, recorded yes votes from Council Members Crafton, Velock, Rubio, Cottle, Graham and Schmidt.

The ordinance replaces the existing land-development code to change permitted uses in zoning districts, review and permitting procedures, planned unit development rules, landscaping, parking, conditional use and variance procedures, and design standards citywide. Council members said the rewrite is intended as a phase 1 update, with additional refinements to come from the planning commission and staff.

Council discussion focused on a series of specific amendments recommended in the city attorney's memorandum and on council members' proposed edits. Major issues addressed on the floor included: removal or rewording of certain definitions (including changes to the definition of \"landscaping bed\" and adding \"or pet\" to the domestic-animal language); tree and landscaping minimums for residential lots; short-term rental provisions; and requirements that businesses pave the first portion of drive aisles and adjacent parking after a roadway is paved.

Council members debated the paving requirement at length. One amendment that failed would have removed the requirement entirely; instead council adopted a compromise amendment setting a limited paving obligation: \"After a roadway is paved, the first 40 feet of the aisles and driveways adjacent to the roadway shall be paved or have concrete or another durable surface approved by the planner applied within 12 months of the date of pavement,\" with residential uses of fewer than five units and temporary uses exempted. Public works staff explained the 40-foot metric was chosen as approximately twice the length of a typical vehicle and said paving reduces sediment tracking into storm drains and airborne dust.

Other contested changes included landscaping and tree requirements. Council considered but rejected motions to delete a section requiring minimum tree plantings along residential streets and debated how to credit native trees; some amendments to counting rules for native trees and how they may be credited were approved.

Multiple amendments that the council described as formatting, non-substantive or clarifying were also adopted to let the city attorney and clerk finalize consistent numbering and wording. Short-term rental rules were amended in line with an attorney-proposed exhibit, with several exceptions noted on the record. Council members and staff repeatedly said this rewrite is an intermediate step: the council approved the ordinance as a framework to be refined further by the planning commission and administration.

No members of the public testified during the official public hearing on Ordinance 2514; the hearing was opened and closed without public speakers. The mayor and multiple council members thanked staff and the planning commission for drafting and reviewing the code updates.

The ordinance as amended passed by roll call vote with all present council members recorded in favor. The council directed staff and the planning commission to continue follow-up work on detailed sections of the code and to bring back further refinements for public review and additional council action.","The Wasilla City Council voted unanimously to adopt a substantially rewritten Wasilla Municipal Code Title 16, approving Ordinance Serial No. 2514 with multiple amendments after extended debate over definitions, landscaping, paving and short-term rental rules.","actionData","errors"]

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Council approves land purchases for airport expansion and a $75,000 relocation reimbursement agreement

City hears plan to expand Wasilla library staff space, add automated sorting machine; estimated cost about $2.5'2.6 million to $3 million

Wasilla council adopts rewritten Title 16 land-development code after months of amendments