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Petersburg assembly approves multiple ordinances, budget adjustments and land permits; several utility rate changes pass
Summary
At its June 16 meeting the Petersburg Borough Assembly approved several ordinances affecting utility rates, a sales-tax exemption change to be placed before voters, budget adjustments to the property development fund, and multiple land and permit measures; votes and roll-call results were recorded for each item.
The Petersburg Borough Assembly on June 16 approved a package of ordinances and motions that included changes to utility rates, a proposed sales-tax exemption amendment for seniors to go before voters, adjustments to the property development fund, and several land-use and permit decisions.
The assembly unanimously agreed to send Ordinance 2025-06 to voters; the measure would limit the borough's sales tax exemption for seniors to low-income seniors if approved in three readings and by qualified borough voters. The assembly also approved several utility-related ordinances on third and final reading: updates to the electric utility code (Ordinance 2025-07), the water rate schedule (Ordinance 2025-08), and sewer collection rates (Ordinance 2025-09). The assembly added a new fee category for sanitation services to marine passenger ships (Ordinance 2025-10). Several of those rate ordinances were presented as required by a recent rate-study analysis designed to keep borough utilities solvent and maintain infrastructure.
Other formal actions taken at the meeting included rezoning a parcel at 1016 Sandy Beach Road from rural residential to single-family residential ahead of a public auction (Ordinance 2025-11), a supplemental FY2026 budget adjustment for the property development fund that adds $50,000 for utility connection stubs and a $9,300 local match for a Safe Streets grant planning step while removing $15,000 in completed public-works survey expenses (Ordinance 2025-12), and a special-use permit authorizing about 650 square feet of Ramona Street right-of-way to be used as a driveway (Resolution 2025-12). The assembly approved the appointment of Aaron Morel as public works director beginning July 30, 2025, at an annual base salary of $103,000.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 2025-06 (limit sales-tax exemption for seniors to low-income seniors; submit amendment to qualified voters): motion by Member Stanton Greger; seconded by Member Bert Newman; roll-call returned five affirmative votes and the measure was approved to proceed to the voters. (Yes: Newman; Marsh; Valentine; Lynn; Stanton Greger.) - Ordinance 2025-07 (update electric utility code; increase customer charges and rates): motion by Member Lynn; seconded by Member Valentine; declared to pass with a 5–2–0 result as recorded by the clerk. - Ordinance 2025-08 (water rate schedule and fee updates): motion by Member Valentine; seconded by Member Lynn; declared to pass 5–0. - Ordinance 2025-09 (sewer collection rates, phased increases over five years): motion by Member Bert Newman; seconded by Member Valentine; declared to pass 5–0. - Ordinance 2025-10 (add marine passenger ship refuse fees): motion by Member Valentine; seconded by Member Lehi; declared to pass 5–0. - Ordinance 2025-11 (rezone Government Lot 12, Parcel 01-014-010 at 1016 Sandy Beach Road from rural residential to single-family residential to prepare for sale): motion by Member Stanton Greger; seconded by Member Bert Newman; declared to pass 5–0. - Ordinance 2025-12 (FY2026 supplemental budget adjustments to property development fund: +$50,000 utility connection stubs; -$15,000 completed survey; +$9,300 Safe Streets local match): motion by Member Valentine; seconded by Member Lynn; declared to pass 5–0. - Resolution 2025-12 (special-use permit for John and Miriam Swanson for ~650 sq ft of Ramona Street right-of-way for a driveway at 1400 North Nordic): motion by Member Valentine; seconded by Member Stanton Greger; declared to pass 5–0. - Appointment: Aaron Morel to public works director, effective 07/30/2025, base salary $103,000: motion by Member Lynn; seconded by Member Valentine; declared to pass 5–0. - Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department rental-agreement item: motion to set aside/table until the first assembly meeting in July; motion carried.
The assembly recorded roll calls for each ordinance where required. Several measures were described by staff as responses to recent rate studies and as housekeeping steps to make borough property more sale-ready. Where the assembly approved budget changes, staff said the $9,300 is a local match for a planning step under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program administered with the Alaska Municipal League; staff emphasized the match funds would pay for a plan, not guaranteed construction funds.
The passage of multiple utility ordinances and the FY2026 supplemental budget means the borough will proceed with the next administrative steps outlined in each ordinance and bring any necessary change orders or construction funding requests back to the assembly as details and costs are finalized.
Ending: The assembly adjourned after routine communications and scheduling; several items approved at the June 16 meeting will return to the assembly for implementation or follow-up, including the utility-rate ordinance implementations, property development tasks, and any future change orders tied to construction projects.
