Assembly adopts fees, land and service ordinances; approves community grants and multiple contract amendments

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly on Dec. 17 adopted a series of ordinances, resolutions and administrative actions. Most measures passed on voice vote or motion and were handled either individually or on the consent agenda.

At-a-glance outcomes (items debated or recorded in the transcript)

- Resolution 24-124 (FY2026 schedule of rates and fees, effective July 1, 2025): Adopted. The resolution updates user fees and will be used to calculate revenue projections for the borough’s FY2026 budget. The record shows staff incorporated the Big Lake Recreation Center fee structure in anticipation of the borough operating that facility. (Mover: Deputy Mayor; outcome: adopted.)

- Ordinance 24-096 (amending MSB 17.73 to clarify mobile home parks are not permitted in the borough): Adopted as amended. The Assembly approved an amendment to preserve the status of mobile homes on permanent foundations that complied with prior borough code, while continuing to prohibit new mobile home parks until a public-permit process is restored. (Mover: Assemblyperson Hous / Amendment: Assemblyperson Sumner; outcome: adopted as amended.)

- Ordinance 24-115 (subdivision and farm plan; agricultural covenants — Paul & Margaret Cook and Ben Rayevsky): Adopted. The Assembly approved a request to subdivide a 320-acre farm into two 40-acre parcels and one 240-acre parcel to allow one permanent and one temporary residence tied to farm operations; staff and the Ag Board recommended approval. (Mover: Deputy Mayor; outcome: adopted.)

- Ordinance 24-117 (amending Tuckettina Sewer & Water Service Area operating rules, rates and procedures): Adopted. The ordinance consolidates earlier operating policies, moves commercial and residential charges to a by-usage policy and implements commercial grease trap requirements; the service-area advisory board supports the change. (Mover: Deputy Mayor; outcome: adopted.)

- Ordinance 24-118 and Resolution 24-128 (accepting and appropriating $315,790 in FY2025 Community Assistance Program funding and approving scopes/budgets): Adopted. The appropriation will provide qualifying community organizations with allocations of $15,789 per approved community council; staff will issue agreements after the mayor signs the ordinance. (Mover: Deputy Mayor; outcome: adopted.)

- Resolution 24-126 (Academy Charter School: alternative delivery methods): Passed as amended. The original resolution directed use of the design-build delivery method for the Academy Charter School project; assemblymember Fonoff moved an amendment directing the manager to “consider an alternative delivery method” rather than mandating design-build. The Assembly adopted the amendment and then passed the resolution as amended, giving the manager latitude to evaluate alternatives before a final delivery-method decision. (Mover: Assemblymember Fonoff; amendment adopted; resolution adopted as amended.)

Consent agenda and administrative memoranda approved

The Assembly approved a consent agenda that included multiple change orders, contract extensions, and project budget approvals, among them: - AM24138: Change order #3 to Contract 22104 PA (Kinney Engineering) — add up to $50,730 for 49th State Street Pathway Project and extend completion to June 30, 2025. - AM24139: Change order #3 to Contract 22098 c (HDL Engineering Consultants) — extend Old Glenn Pathway Phase 2 completion to Dec. 31, 2025. - AM24140: Change order #3 to Contract 2290pa (CRW Engineering Group) — extend Texel Drive Extension Upgrade and Pathway Project to June 30, 2026. - AM24141: Change order to Contract 22-2239p (Architects Alaska) — add $35,946.80 for Palmer Emergency Services Facility and extend contract to Feb. 26, 2027. - AM24142: Authorization for destruction of ballots from the Nov. 5, 2024 regular borough election. - AM24143: Change order #3 to Contract 2290 PC (HDL Engineering Consultants) — add $164,134 for engineering services on the Inkston Road to Trunk Road Connector Project (extend to March 31, 2026).

Other consent and financial items included a resolution to finalize an American Rescue Plan spending plan (Resolution 24-129), transportation infrastructure appropriation authorizations (Resolution 24-125), and multiple bridge project scope/budget approvals (Resolution 24-130). The consent agenda was adopted without recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript.

How the Assembly handled the items

- Multiple items were introduced by the clerk and handled through a combination of public hearings (where applicable), staff reports, and motions from the Deputy Mayor or Assembly members. Several items had no public testimony or had brief staff presentations prior to adoption.

- Where specific ballot or public-notice actions were required—e.g., destruction of old ballots, or appropriations tied to external grants—staff indicated follow-up procedural steps to complete the transactions after passage.

What the record does not show

- The transcript does not include formal roll-call vote tallies (yes/no/abstain) for most items; adoptions are recorded as “passed” or “adopted” following motions and brief discussion. Where the transcript stated “hearing none” and declared the measure passed, no numeric vote counts were read into the record.

Ending

Assembly members asked staff for follow-up details on several measures (notably the Academy Charter delivery-method evaluation and community-assistance grant processes). For measures requiring contracts or grant administration, staff said they will finalize agreements and return with implementation steps and any required reporting.