Council adopts several small appropriations, schedules special meeting on Title 16 and appoints new council member

The Wasilla City Council on April 28 took several formal actions on ordinances and appointments, approved limited appropriations, accepted a donation for park improvements, scheduled a special meeting to continue Title 16 work and appointed a replacement councilor.

Key votes and actions

- Ordinance Serial Number 2512 (classification study appropriation): Council adopted an ordinance amending the FY2025 budget to appropriate $16,500 from the general fund fund balance to the Human Resources department professional services account for a classification study. The motion to adopt was made by Council Member Graham and seconded by Council Member Rubio and was adopted without recorded roll call.

- Ordinance Serial Number 2513 (donation for Nunley Park): Council adopted an ordinance accepting and appropriating donated funds from the Valley Board of Realtors in the amount of $7,500 for Nunley Park improvements. The ordinance was moved by Council Member Crafton and seconded by Council Member Graham and adopted. Staff clarified at the dais that the funds are a donation (not a grant) to be applied to park improvements.

- Ordinance Serial Number 2511 and AM 2520 (sewer pumper repairs): Council adopted Ordinance 2511 to appropriate $75,000 from the general fund fund balance to the sewer repair and maintenance fund for unanticipated equipment repairs and approved AM 2520, a contract award to RWC Group in the amount of $48,475.71 for a 2017 pumper truck engine repair. The ordinances and amendments were adopted; council discussion did not change the appropriation or contract award.

- Ordinance Serial Number 2514 (Title 16 land development code): The council opened the public hearing on a comprehensive rewrite of Wasilla’s land development code (Title 16), which would substantially change permitted uses, review and permitting procedures, PUD rules, landscaping, parking, conditional use and variance procedures, and design standards. Two members of the public testified during the hearing, raising concerns about downtown overlay restrictions and the practical effect on long-time businesses. Speaker Sam Goldman urged repeal of the downtown overlay district, and Karina Forrester said her family’s longtime downtown restaurant with a drive-through was forced to move and requested exceptions or relief. After council discussion and requests for further review, Council Member Crafton moved to schedule a special meeting on Title 16 for May 21; that motion passed. Later the council moved to postpone Ordinance 2514 to the next regular meeting (May 12) for further review; that postponement passed.

- Ordinance Serial Number 2525 (FY2026 budget): The council opened the first public hearing on the FY2026 budget (ordinance 2525) and continued the hearing to the April 29 special meeting for further public testimony.

- Appointment to Council Seat C: The council considered applicants to fill a vacant council seat. The council voted to appoint Mark Edward Schmidt to fill Council Seat C. The appointment motion was made by Council Member Graham and seconded by Council Member Rubio. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote with the outcome recorded as unanimous: Council Member Kaudel — Yes; Council Member Graham — Yes; Council Member Crafton — Yes; Council Member Wheelock — Yes; Council Member Rubio — Yes. Schmidt will take his oath and be seated at the May 12 regular meeting.

Ending: Several items were routine appropriations or contract awards; Title 16 will return for additional council review after a scheduled May 21 special meeting and formal postponement to May 12. The council also continues FY2026 budget hearings the following day.