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ASSEMBLY MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 7, 2000

  1. Call to Order: The regular Assembly Meeting of August 7, 2000 was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Edwin Anderson. The meeting was held in the Assembly Chambers in the Borough Building, Naknek, Alaska.

  2. Roll Call: Present: Assembly Members Gary Bradford, Mike Swain, Regina Williams, Carvil Zimin, Jr., and Mel Coghill, Jr.

    Also present: Mayor Edwin Anderson, Borough Manager Jeff Currier, Administrative Assistant Laura Labrecque, Police Chief Jerry Castleberry and Treasurer John McCracken. Also present, Area 40 Representative, Carl Moses, with numerous borough residents in the audience.

  3. Approval of Agenda: GARY BRADFORD MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. REGINA WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Mayor Anderson requested an addition to the agenda, with Assembly's concurrence would propose to add to the agenda under New Business, Item # M, Resolution 2000-09, A RESOLUTION OF THE BRISTOL BAY BOROUGH ASSEMBLY IN OPPOSTION TO "AN ACT PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX AND ASSESSMENT RELIEF" COMMONLY KNOW AS THE TAX CAP INITIATIVE. A MOTION WAS MADE AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY TO AMEND THE AGENDA.

  4. Approval of June 5, 2000 Regular Meeting Minutes: MIKE SWAIN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES ON THE JUNE 5, 2000, MEETING MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. REGINA WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

    5. Assembly Meeting Minutes    Page Two
    AUGUST 7, 2000

  5. Appearance Requests: Izetta Thompson, RE: Resolution in Support of Community Cooperative Processing Facility. Ms. Thompson would like the support of the Assembly to start a community wide initiative to move away from quantity-based fisheries to quality-based fisheries, and to embrace the idea of value added processing to keep the monies here in Bristol Bay. It is Ms. Thompson's hope that the Assembly adopts this resolution and perhaps contributes in a community wide effort by maybe involving a committee to further explore the options available.

    Dan O'Hara, RE: 10 mil Tax Cap. Mr. O'Hara addressed the Assembly regarding the statewide issue of a tax cap of 10 mils. This is a dangerous issue to come before the people of Alaska. With the urban power base being in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks, if additional monies are needed, urban areas will be taking monies from Rural Alaska. It will go before the voters this October. If additional funds are needed beyond the 10mil cap there is no way to go beyond it. The Borough should consider other means of taxation. Mr. Currier provided Resolution 2000-09 in opposition to the10 Mil Tax Cap for the Assembly's consideration.

    Fred Kraun, RE: Marine Mammal Harassing permit. Mr. Kraun has watched over the last eight years, the Beluga's eating smolt in the Kvichak River; he estimates 1.7 million smolt in the Kvichak this year alone. They are no longer coming in and out with the tides. The Belugas are staying in the river. He urges the Borough to get the permit. It wouldn't take much to scare them, maybe a few boats in the river at the crucial times, the last two weeks of May and up till the first week of June. Most effective ways to deter the belugas would be noisy diesels boats and banging on the side of the boats. Mr. Kraun has noticed increases, in the number of Beluga's in the river as far up as 15 miles.

    Randy Zimin, RE: Aircraft Tax, Mr. Zimin asked the Assembly to reconsider his assessment on his ultra light aircraft. His ultra light is not the same as the other aircraft and therefore should not be assessed as such.

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    AUGUST 7, 2000

    Erin Peters & Tanya Hansen, RE: Board of Fish. Fred Pike's Proposal #30 to pull back the lines in at Ugashik and Egegik and even in the Naknek River to try and get an adequate Kvichak River escapement. Ms. Hansen is asking the Assembly to sign up with the Naknek Village Council or to write a letter of support, to be presented at the Board of Fish meeting in January. Carvil Zimin Jr. asked how soon the letter of support needed to be submitted. Mrs. Peters stated the sooner the better. The Board of Fish Amendment would only change the dates from June 1st to July fifth, repositioning the lines until the escapement is met in the Kvichak River. Carvil Zimin Jr. asks this to be placed on the next agenda, also the Beluga permit.

    Ole A. Mathisen, RE: Kvichak salmon run. Mr. Mathisen gave a presentation to the Assembly showing the many areas in which the salmon can be affected: from loss of food source, to predation, to high seas intercept or just over fishing. Mr. Mathisen is asking the Assembly for $25,000 dollars to research Iliamna Lake in which, he believes, the Salmon are being effected. The funding could be spread over a 2 to 3 year period. There was a lengthy discussion. The Assembly thanked Mr. Mathisen for his presentation.

    Representative Carl Moses, RE: Budget Cuts. Mr. Moses thanked Mayor Edwin Anderson for showing him around the area. Mr. Moses went on to talk about The Board of Fish being held in Anchorage this year and not in Dillingham due to budget cuts, and, about more budget cuts to be expected, with rural area funds the first to be cut or eliminated. Mr. Moses stated the State is going to need to "start taxing" via either an income tax or head tax. The Bridge to South Naknek will be his number one priority if re-elected. A brief public question/answer session was allowed for the public in attendance. The Mayor thanked Rep. Moses for coming and for addressing the Assembly.

  6. Executive Session: MEL COGHILL, JR. MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL MATTERS. REGINA WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The Assembly went into Executive Session at 8:42 p.m. and reconvened at 9:16 p.m. with the same members in attendance. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN

    7. Assembly Meeting Minutes    Page Four
    AUGUST 7, 2000

  7. Communications:

    1. Letter to Manager and Assembly from Josephine R. Savo, RE: Vehicle Accident.

    2. Letter to Mayor and Assembly from Barbara Larson, RE: Land for Orthodox Church. Mayor Anderson stated that the Russian Orthodox Church has land by the lake and by the cemetery. Carvil Zimin Jr. asked if the Borough gave land to the Catholic Church. Mayor stated that it was being leased to the Catholic Church. There was no further discussion.

    3. Notice of Tax Lien Against Alakayak, Louie et. Al: Certificate of Protest & Application to Assembly for Ruling of Non-Taxability Pursuant BBBC 3.16.120 & 3.16.180. Mr. Currier stated that at their attorney's request, the hearing and appeal is postponed until October. Mr. Currier will keep the Assembly updated.

    4. State of Alaska; Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Health; RE: Solid Waste Permit No. 9625-BA010. Regina Williams thought it was great to finally have the permit. Mr. Currier informed the Assembly that a representative of the Department of Environmental Conservation, Scott Lytle, was coming out this Friday and Saturday to conduct inspections of both landfills, South Naknek on Friday and King Salmon on Saturday. Mr. Currier stated that this was an annual inspection.

    5. State of Alaska; Department of Environmental Conservation, Facility Construction & Operation; RE: Alaska Clean Water Fund Project.

    6. Coalition for the Alaskan Way of Life; RE: Ballot Measure #1 & Senate Bill 267SB267). Carvil Zimin Jr. would like to discuss this item in more detail at the next assembly meeting.

      7. Assembly Meeting Minutes    Page Five
      AUGUST 7, 2000

    7. Letter to Jack Melton, Area Planner, State of Alaska, Department of Transportation/Public Facilities from Arne Erickson, Community Development Director, RE: Naknek Lake Access Road Improvements. Mel Coghill wanted to know how the Park Service's new launch facility is going. Is it being fast tracked? Mr. Currier stated Arne Erickson's letter in the packet should update that situation.

    8. Letter to Borough from Mr. Harsila, Manager of AIFMA, Thanking the Borough for use of the Assembly room.

    9. Letter to Platt Environmental granting permission to set up and operate a soils remediation unit at the Landfill.

    10. Naknek Native Village: Requesting letter of support and funding for Beach Access Road and 1.5 miles to Pederson Point Cannery.

  8. Old Business:

    1. Personal Property Tax Penalty Appeals from several tax payers.

      ASSEMBLYMAN MIKE SWAIN MADE A MOTION TO WAVE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX PENALTY THIS YEAR ONLY. CARVEL ZIMIN JR. SECONDED THE MOTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ASSEMBLY DISCUSSION. A DISCUSSION FOLLOWED WITH MR. SWAIN CHANGING HIS ORIGINAL MOTION WITH APPROVAL OF THE SECOND, TO SET THE PENALTY AT $50.00 FOR THIS YEAR ONLY. AFTER A LENGTHY DISCUSSION, CARVEL ZIMIN JR. OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO SET THE PENALTY AT $25.00, FOR THIS YEAR ONLY. MIKE SWAIN SECONDED THE MOTION TO AMEND.

      QUESTION WAS CALLED FOR AND THE AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION PASSED, 4-1, BY ROLL CALL VOTE: GARY BRADFORD - NAY; MIKE SWAIN - AYE; REGINA WILLIAMS - AYE; MEL COGHILL JR - AYE; CARVIL ZIMIN, JR - AYE.

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      AUGUST 7, 2000

      QUESTION WAS CALLED FOR ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED AND WAS PASSED, 4-1, BY ROLL CALL VOTE: GARY BRADFORD - NAY, MIKE SWAIN-AYE, REGINA WILLIAMS-AYE, MEL COGHILL JR - AYE, CARVIL ZIMIN JR - AYE.

    2. Ordinance No. 2000-03, Amending Chapter 3.08 Property Tax: Second Reading and Public Hearing. Mayor opened Ordinance No 2000-03 for second reading and public hearing. Jeff Currier stated the amended chapter is to include the trailers for pleasure boats less than 19 feet long with motors up to 50 hp. Hearing no other comments, the Public Hearing was closed. MEL COGHILL MOVED TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 2000-03 AND GARY BRADFORD SECONDED IT. MOTION PASSED BY ROLL CALL VOTE: GARY BRAFORD - AYE, MIKE SWAIN - NAY, REGINA WILLIAMS - AYE, MEL COGHILL JR. - AYE, CARVIL ZIMIN JR. - AYE. VOTE BEING 4-1 MOTION PASSED.

    3. Ordinance No. 2000-04, Amending the Fiscal Year 1999-2000 Budget as Adopted by Ordinance 99-4. Second Reading and Public Hearing. Mayor Anderson opened Ordinance No. 2000-04 for second reading and public hearing. Jeff Currier stated additional revenues as proposed by financial director total $100,000. Carvil Zimin Jr. asked the manager if we had received any disaster funds to date. Jeff Currier stated that we hadn't. Open for Public Comment: Izetta Thompson asked where the $50.000 came from. Mr. Currier stated that they were miscellaneous revenues to the general fund. Hearing no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed. MIKE SWAIN MOVED TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 2000- 04. MEL COGHILL SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

    Assembly Meeting Minutes    Page Seven
    AUGUST 7, 2000

  9. New Business:

    1. Kvichak River Sockeye Salmon Run Failure - Discussion. Jeff Currier sent a letter out to Governor Knowles and to Senator Stevens regarding inclusion into the Disaster Declaration. This year's failure of the Kvichak is much more serious. Borough will take a hit on the revenues, how bad depends upon fish prices. Next year fisheries pack tax will also be effected. Borough Administration will continue to be conservative. Carvil Zimin suggested sending a press release to the media regarding the sockeye disaster and pursue legislative procedures in aiding in the area disaster.

    2. Budget/Revenue - Update & Discussion. Jeff Currier recommended to the Assembly to hold off until next month regarding any budget changes. By then we will have a better idea of how much our "Pack Tax" will be.

    3. Resolution No. 2000-06: A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION OF OCTOBER 3, 2000 PRESCRIBING RULES FOR THE CONDICT THEREOF, APPOINTING AN ELECTION SUPERVISOR AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC NOTICE. MIKE SWAIN MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 200-06. GARY BRADFORD SECONDED THE MOTION AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

    4. Resolution No. 2000-07: ACCEPTING FY 2001 - CAPITAL MATCHING GRANT AWARD #01-MG-026, FISHERMAN'S DOCK. GARY BRADFORD MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2000-07. MEL COGHILL SECONDED THE MOTION AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

    5. Resolution No. 2000-08: SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE PROCESSING FACILITY. There was light discussion. MEL COGHILL MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2000-08. CARVIL ZIMIN JR. SECONDED AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

      6. Assembly Meeting Minutes    Page Eight
      AUGUST 7, 2000

    6. Renewal of King Salmon Dock Lease - Discussion Mr. Currier stated it's time to renew the King Salmon bulkhead dock lease. The lease expires 8- 31-00, and is $3711.00 annually. He wanted to give the Assembly a "heads-up" in case they might wish to re-consider the lease. The Assembly was advised no action was necessary if they wanted the lease renewed.

    7. USS 8-80 (Naknek Town Site) - Survey Discussion Mr. Erickson stated that USS 8-80 was last surveyed in 1957. It has never been recorded. There are 64 lots involved. Ralph Mancuso quoted a price of $8,400 to survey it and prepare a plat of record. Many lot owners are willing to share the burden of costs, estimated at $250.00 per lot.

    8. Zoning Map Update - Requesting Mayor's Signature Mr. Erickson request that we postpone item #H until next meeting when Borough Clerk is present and able to sign with Mayor. CARVIL ZIMIN JR MOTION TO POSTPONE ITEM #H UNDER NEW BUSINESS UNTIL NEXT ASSEMBLY MEETING. GARD BRADFORD SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

    9. ADF&G - Cost Recovery Discussion Mel Coghill stated this program is disasterous. We should go on record as opposing this, address the Governor's Office and also submit a proposal to the Board of Fish.

    10. Reschedule September Assembly Meeting Date Due to Labor Day Holiday. No objections. Next meeting of the Bristol Bay Borough Assembly shall be Tuesday, September 5, 2000 at 7:30 pm at the Bristol Bay Borough Assembly Chambers, Naknek.

    11. Camai Clinic Contract - Discussion. Mr. Currier has discussed the contract with Dr. Weaver. Dr. Weaver has proposed to renew the contract "as is" for the next two years, with no increases. Dr. Weaver does have some concerns with the declining revenues and with families moving out of the area. Another option is to do a Request for Proposals (RFP) to see if there is anyone out there interested. Mike Swain asked when the contract expires. Jeff stated end of September. Assembly discussed RFP's briefly. Mr. Currier wants the Assembly to meet with Dr. Weaver and will schedule a work-session. No objections from the Assembly

      12. Assembly Meeting Minutes    Page Nine
      AUGUST 7, 2000

    12. October Election - Discussion: Mayor Anderson has a list of people up for re-election, IE, the Mayor's seat, as well as Mr. Zimin's and Mr. Swain's. It's that time. Carvil Zimin Jr. announced he plans to run again. Mayor Anderson is not running again. Mr. Swain was non-committal.

    13. RESOLUTION 2000-09: A RESOLUTION OF THE BRISTOL BAY BOROUGH ASSEMBLY IN OPPOSITION TO "AN ACT PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX AND ASSESSMENT RELIEF" COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE 10 MIL CAP INITIATIVE. MIKE SWAIN MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2000-09. REGINA WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED UNANMIOUSLY. Light discussion about educating the public. Regina suggested putting information on the "reader board".

  10. Reports:

    1. Mayor: Has been busy this summer. Fishing season has been bad. Assembly needs to find another Mayor.

    2. Manager: Two things, Department heads are invited to a technical assistance workshop. NPS will host one Tuesday, August 16 in King Salmon at the Lake and Peninsula Assembly Chambers from Noon to 4:pm. Topic will be a briefing on the Federal Fisheries Monitoring Program and also how to prepare a pre-proposal. Item #2 the baler conveyer at the landfill is down. There is a new conveyer being built in Seattle, which is in the budget. The landfill is direct burying refuse in the landfill without baling it. There's a lot of work to do to clean up after this summer's season IE, used oil, vehicles and misc. debris.

    3. Police Department - Written Report in Packet
    4. Fire Chief/EMS Coordinator - Written Report in Packet
    5. Financial Director - Written Report in Packet
    6. Community Development Director - Written Report in Packet
    7. Library - Written Report in Packet
    8. Port of Bristol Bay - Written Report in Packet

    Assembly Meeting Minutes    Page Ten
    AUGUST 7, 2000

  11. Persons to be Heard:

    Alan Aseplund, would like to see Resolution 2000-08 be put back in the agenda for the next meeting. We need to get the public involved. Also consider approaching BBEDC for grant monies.

    Fred Pike, Does Quinnat Landing have a special deal with the Borough on the dock up at Lake Camp? Quinnat has a boat tied up there all the time. They have taken up the dock. Mr. Currier will check into it and thanked Fred Pike for letting us know. The other item is broadening our tax base. The borough needs to develop a "users tax"; services to be taxed might include the landfill, docks in King Salmon and Naknek and the dock at Lake Camp; snow removal in the wintertime, septic pumping and sewer usage. We need a tax applied to every home in the borough. The Borough needs to find out what would be a fair and equitable amount to apply to every household. Also Mr. Pike stated that he thought the Police Department was over zealous this summer in stopping 3-wheelers and 4-wheelers. There is a fine line between protection and harassment. Mr. Pike also wanted to know who was riding with the Police Officers this summer, do we have insurance to cover this individual if something happens. The last item is use of Borough vehicles after hours. Employees should drive their own vehicles after hours.

    Dan O'Hara - Restated he is opposed to cost recovery by Fish & Game as it is now being conducted.

    Randy Zimin - User fees or taxes are a good idea.

    Bill Henderson - Need to find a way to keep the money in the community.

  12. ASSEMBLY MEMBERS COMMENTS: NONE
  13. CHECK REGISTER - June 2000. MEL COGHILL JR MOVED TO APPROVE THE JUNE 2000 CHECK REGISTER. GARY BRADFORD SECONDED THE MOTION AND IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
  14. ADJOURNMENT: By general consensus of the Assembly, the meeting was adjourned at 11:02 p.m.
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