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At a glance: key Assembly actions Jan. 6 — alcohol ordinance, consent awards, and agenda removal

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly · January 7, 2026

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Summary

The Assembly voted to adopt Ordinance 25-133 to allow renters at the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center to serve and consume alcoholic beverages under rental terms, approved two school-related contract awards, and voted to remove the reconsideration of Ordinance 25-102 from tonight's agenda (the referral remains with the planning board).

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly took several formal actions on Jan. 6, 2026.

Ordinance 25-133 (Big Lake Lions Recreation Center alcohol at rentals) - Motion: Adopt Ordinance 25-133 permitting renters of the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center to serve and consume alcoholic beverages per rental agreement terms. (Reconsideration of the ordinance was moved and debated after being recalled to the floor.) - Key debate points: Supporters cited routine event experience, required liability insurance and TIPS/TAPS training for servers, and facility marketability; opponents raised community values and concerns about adult modeling and exposure of minors. Multiple public commenters, including event organizers and the Big Lake Chamber, argued rental marketability and local revenue would suffer if alcohol were prohibited. - Vote outcome: Ordinance 25-133 adopted. Clerk announced the ordinance passed with Assemblymembers Fonoff, Bernier and McKee opposed. (Clerk announced roll call and the result on the record.)

Removal of reconsideration for Ordinance 25-102 (referral to planning board) - Motion: Assemblymember Maxwell Sumner moved to remove from the agenda the motion to reconsider the referral of Ordinance 25-102. Sumner explained intent to allow planning‑board review with prompt return to the Assembly. - Vote outcome: Motion to remove the reconsideration passed; clerk announced it passed with Assemblymembers Fonoff and Bowles opposed. The referral to the planning board remains active and staff said the planning board hearing was scheduled for Jan. 15; if the planning board finishes then, the item could be returned to the next available Assembly agenda.

Consent agenda contract awards (pulled then approved) - AM26-001: Awarded bid 2684B to Samsung Electric in the amount of $217,182 to construct Palmer Junior Middle School upgrades; pulled for clarification and then approved. - AM26-002: Awarded bid 2685B to Gertz Construction in the amount of $208,844 to construct Palmer High School elevator upgrades; pulled for clarification and then approved. - Staff note: Clerk said bid analyses will be attached to future packet items; multiple bidders participated and the awardees were the lowest responsive and responsible bidders.

Other procedural actions - The Assembly introduced multiple ordinances and set public hearings for Jan. 20 for a set of new ordinances listed in the packet; vacancy appointments were confirmed as read into the record.

Documentation: All votes recorded on the audio transcript and announced aloud by the clerk. The Assembly packet and manager reports contain the formal texts and contract documents referenced.