2020-01-06 Regular MeetingKODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
Consolidation Committee
January 6, 2020 Meeting Minutes
A Consolidation Committee meeting was held on January 6, 2020, in the Borough
Conference Room. The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Culbertson, Kavanaugh, Kewan via telephone, Kornelis, Thomas, Thran via
telephone, Van Dyke, ex-officio Tvenge
Abesnt: Griffin, Haines, alt Delgado, alt Turner, ex-officio Powers
PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to Three Minutes per Speaker)
There were no public comments
AGENDA ITEMS
MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 30, 2019 MEETING
The minutes were corrected to include documentation that the motion for provision of
road services originally included an exemption from property taxes to pay for road
services on property fronting state -maintained roadways but was amended to remove
the exemption.
THE CORRECTED MINUTES WERE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY VOICE VOTE
OLD BUSINESS
Revisit any past items?
NONE
DETERMINE ADOPTED POWERS AND SERVICES:
Health Powers
The Borough adopted areawide health powers, however those powers are currently
limited to ownership of the Hospital, Long Term Care Center, and Counseling Center
facilities which are leased to healthcare providers.
Discussion: Health care facilities are essential to a community; however the
committee favors operation and management by a non -government entity; and
should not be subsidized by our local community government. The buildings
that house our health care facilities are expensive to maintain and the operator
lease payment should cover the costs of maintenance. Committee members
favored status quo.
MOTION: Adopt areawide health powers
VOICE VOTE ON MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Kodiak Island Borough Consolidation Committee Minutes
January 6, 2020
Tourism
The Borough and City each maintain a tourism fund within a Special Revenue fund
where a tax collected from overnight lodging (bed tax/hotel tax/transient
accommodations tax) is spent to support and encourage tourism functions in the city
and borough.
Discussion: Most of tourism funds are currently spent contracting with Discover
Kodiak to provide marketing and tourism development. Discussion of various
tourism activities including cruise ship visits and cruise ship fees collected.
MOTION: Adopt tourism powers as an areawide service
VOICE VOTE ON MOTION CARRIED SIX TO ONE
Economic Development
At one time the Borough and City contracted with the Chamber of Commerce for
economic development services; the Chamber no longer offers those services but
each entity continues to maintain a budget within the General Fund for economic
development activities.
Discussion: economic development efforts have not been efficient or well
planned, however the function is important to this community. The simplest
contribution to economic development can be to remove or refrain from
regulations that impede small business growth and development, beyond that
it would be nice to have a more concerted effort in the consolidated
government.
MOTION: MAINTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS AN AREAWIDE SERVICE
VOICE VOTE ON MOTION CARRIED SIX TO ONE
Disaster Preparedness
The City Manager serves as the Emergency Services Director for the Kodiak Island
Borough for the Emergency Preparedness program and is responsible for the
management of the local emergency services organization and training of its members
for optimum response. The Emergency Preparedness program provides for the
direction, professional management, and general administration of the Kodiak
Emergency Services Organization and Emergency Services Council as well as the
Kodiak Island Borough's Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). The Borough
and City each also spend funds to maintain the tsunami sirens and produce outreach
to citizens about emergency preparedness.
Discussion: The village representative on the committee noted that the
villages are currently not served well with coordination for emergency
preparedness. It was acknowledged that the village communities are
responsible for themselves however, if this service is designated as areawide
then an effort better coordination or collaboration should be included.
MOTION: The consolidated government will provide disaster preparedness on an
areawide basis.
VOICE VOTE ON MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Kodiak Island Borough Consolidation Committee Minutes
January 6, 2020
Other?
None
NEXT STEPS
The Committee has reviewed and discussed the powers and services of the City of
Kodiak and Kodiak Island Borough; and made recommendations for the powers and
services of the new consolidated government. The next step in the work plan is to
begin looking at budgets which means learning to understand the current city and
borough budgets and begin developing the budget structure for the proposed
Municipality of Kodiak. Does the Committee want to follow the work plan or edit it to
address something else next?
Discussion about why and how to discuss a proposed budget for the new government.
Consensus to proceed as described in the work plan for now.
MEMBERS CLOSING COMMENTS
When discussing areawide powers and services, we should be mindful to be clear
about how village communities will participate or be affected.
SET NEXT MEETING DATE AND TIME
January 27, 2020, 6:30 pm
ADJOURNMENT
-8:45 pm
Approved
Kodiak Island Borough Consolidation Committee Minutes
January 6, 2020