Wasilla council hears police leaders on bargaining agreement, then postpones vote

The Wasilla City Council on Aug. 25 opened public comment and executive session on a proposed three‑year collective bargaining agreement between the City of Wasilla and the Wasilla Police Department Employees Association covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. Chief of Police discussed recruitment and retention pressures and told the council the agreement is intended to improve hiring and retention; the union president described member priorities and said negotiations were collaborative.

Chief of Police (identified in the record as the presenting chief) told the council the agreement supports hiring and retention for officers, dispatchers, call takers and support staff amid regional recruitment competition and post‑COVID staffing challenges. Officer Ryan Hellman, identified as association president, said the union and city negotiation team met multiple times and highlighted new provisions the association sought, including a wellness leave program and restructured longevity bonuses.

Council entered executive session to discuss bargaining matters “the immediate public knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of the city.” After approximately two hours in executive session the council returned to open session. Councilmember Crafton moved adoption of Resolution Serial No. 2529; another motion to postpone the resolution to the council’s next regular meeting was made and carried with no objection recorded. The council listed attendees who participated in executive session, including mayor, council, city clerk, city attorney, finance director, police chief, HR manager and MATCOM manager.

Council members said they wanted additional time to digest the agreement and its fiscal impacts before taking final action. No final vote on adopting the resolution was recorded; the formal motion recorded at the end of the meeting postponed the resolution to the next regular meeting.