[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6617147,"mediaKeyId","2843233-a0948ec9f00851fb4589259688102286","parentId",2843233,"title","At a glance: key votes and contracts from the April 1 Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting","audioSeconds",4498,"startMs",4886000,"endMs",9384000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2843233-a0948ec9f00851fb4589259688102286&start=4886&end=9384","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2843233-a0948ec9f00851fb4589259688102286/thumbnail_4886000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6617147/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/At-a-glance-key-votes-and-contracts-from-the-April-1-Mat-Su-Borough-Assembly-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617147-bff7183d95008f594ef7836b00e0af3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770965931&Signature=cO6EhK0HJDibFfNUxYtXEyopABj5vc2Uig5qxrCA7rg08Twplz6tITI4CE4QRn2DjaVeryYLxcW3qJiexv5PGZCQcKruMW0t7-aEvsDZ0zRmtMmpjyvG6GIN9tMbZMAD43KUN~xAYNFkJG11UAABKeknTPIXrzYQm03pvqdVjkvv1TLsIpU4lMauDWG~~reRRviC97l6I8dVbAOC4Jjh0IubI3AcAnvgYqU7cCknmqYvRrnRtnW~u6iYLHgau0NyEsizSuA5~4N-5o4wn7CyTnVlTXon0M5cHmKJc7o8KsxW8DDxAoJwmzXoubtHqHbqaKBFs1-kIoTN~zJtovzAZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Matanuska-Susitna Borough","date","2025-04-02T05:29:05.22Z","article","The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly took multiple formal actions at its April 1 regular meeting. Items below summarize motions, contract awards and recorded votes as taken in public session. Where transcript evidence shows a roll-call, recorded opposition is listed. If a vote tally was not recorded in the transcript, outcome is summarized as recorded by the clerk.

• Ordinance 25-026 and Resolution 25-022: The assembly adopted an ordinance reappropriating $122,108.95 (approx.) from miscellaneous capital project funds into the roads and bridges capital projects fund to acquire right-of-way property, and an accompanying resolution amending fiscal-year project scopes and completion dates for right-of-way accounts. Staff described the action as a consolidation of leftover funds into a single right-of-way acquisition fund. The public hearing on the ordinance and resolution was opened and closed with no public comment, and the assembly adopted both measures.

• Ordinance 25-043 (Port Commission): The assembly adopted ordinance 25-043 to add one assembly seat as a nonvoting member of the Port Commission. The ordinance passed with recorded opposition from Assemblymembers Dimitri Bonoff (recorded earlier as Fonoff in the transcript) and Dee McKee; several assembly members debated whether a nonvoting seat would create a de facto influence on port decisions and clarified that any appointment would follow the normal vacancy/confirmation process.

• Ordinance 25-045 (Connect RSA): The assembly voted to revert Connect (Kinnick) Road Service Area to a three‑member board after the five‑member board became vacant and nonfunctional. The ordinance passed, with Assemblymember Ron Bernier recorded as opposed.

• Consent agenda and contract awards: The assembly approved the consent agenda after several items were pulled for discussion. Highlights from pulled items and awards:
- AM25-031: Awarded bid 25113B to BSI Equipment in the amount of $408,719.32 to purchase a front-loading compactor (for composting/solid-waste operations). That award passed with Assemblymembers Dimitri Bonoff, Ron Bernier and Dee McKee recorded as opposed.
- AM25-032: Awarded bid number 21126B to Pacific Power Group for annual generator testing and maintenance services (roughly $101,905 quoted in the agenda); members asked about hourly rates and parts; the award passed.
- AM25-033: Approved a change order to the Fugro contract to continue a pavement-assessment program ($150,000 annual cost noted in staff presentation) and extend the completion date to June 30, 2027; the assembly approved the change order to continue data collection across paved road miles.

• Other staff notifications and informational items: The clerk presented IM notices (bids awarded, grant submissions and contract conclusions), including a final contract with Orion Construction for an animal care exterior kennel project ($770,594.14 final amount) and a grant application to ICLEI USA for sustainability work with Alaska Sustainable Energy Corporation.

• Introductions for April 15 public hearings: The assembly introduced multiple ordinances (including ordinances listed on the April 15 agenda) and scheduled their public hearings for April 15, 2025.

The meeting transcript shows fuller staff briefings and Q&A on several awards; for contract-specific procedural questions (for example, why only one vendor bid for certain specialized equipment), staff explained federal grant restrictions (Buy American/BABA requirements) and procurement outreach steps. Where vote tallies were recorded in the transcript, they are noted above; where only a unanimous consent or “no objection” was recorded, that method is indicated.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Regular Meeting - April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly adopted several ordinances, approved procurements and awarded contracts on April 1. This roundup lists each formal action captured on the meeting record and noted vote particulars when recorded.","taxTitle","Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska","taxId",14460,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617151,"Assembly narrows proposed RSA board expansion after months of public opposition",7930,3833000,11763000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2843233-a0948ec9f00851fb4589259688102286&start=3833&end=11763","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2843233-a0948ec9f00851fb4589259688102286/thumbnail_3833000.jpg","/articles/6617151/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-narrows-proposed-RSA-board-expansion-after-months-of-public-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617151-321c6c3b7421d612952e09562f614993/orig.mp4?Expires=1770965931&Signature=WdCXfEbT-fOpKm0FDdsvxHjI0Xevq2QreppPvmqDlyE7qK8m6M1jIWn8q81tfAUcvjoYf-~Of1Q7CenKgyCus0228OBVCP0IHbXdNTCMP~-ouPDOvD1CTAsUTQF~SA0I1UBD5yEfZlMM0oSve5C0t760XDQTmeYYdN-bXk65cQjM4o5NxuFkcSZJ-fTzuXE20w0exVDvwoDIewhvqcRrOse4riSm0xsHAdAYeA6BsNffNNAzfxtgs6DQP5NNMFUuyhR2MpYouvDWHK4LXaoiAHYPzMZKruGcmkei57V9rVLcrZ589i0UEBSfnCCPAN9yZEo7-ixRvgAMy9lZQLsKgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly on April 1 approved ordinance 25-017 as amended, restricting the expansion of certain road service area (RSA) boards from three members to five members to just two RSAs: Meadow Lakes and Gold Trail.

The ordinance prompted extensive public comment before the vote. Dozens of residents, RSA chairs and community council representatives from multiple northern-valley RSAs testified that their communities opposed increasing board size. Speakers said recruiting volunteers is difficult in sparsely populated RSAs, that the higher quorum requirement for five-member boards can render advisory boards unable to meet, and that there was no demonstrated demand in many RSAs for the change.

Assemblymember Dimitri Bonoff offered an amendment that removed Caswell Lakes, Greater Willow, Greater Talkeetna and Trapper Creek from the ordinance, narrowing the proposal so only Meadow Lakes and Gold Trail would move to five-member boards. The amendment passed on a recorded vote; the assembly then approved the ordinance as amended. Recorded opposition on the amendment included Assemblymember Tim Hale and Assemblymember Jeff Gamble. On the final, amended ordinance vote, recorded opposition included Hale, Gamble and Assemblymember Dee McKee.

Supporters of the narrowed approach argued that Meadow Lakes and Gold Trail had shown sufficient local interest and had multiple applicants willing to serve, and that a limited pilot would allow the borough to test whether larger boards increase civic engagement without imposing countywide changes. Opponents — including multiple RSA chairs and dozens of residents who called during audience participation — said the borough should respect the wishes of local advisory boards and not force larger boards where volunteer pools are small.

Public speakers representing RSAs and community councils told the assembly they had not been consulted adequately by the sponsor and that the change could impair local board function. Multiple callers said the only two five-member RSAs previously established elsewhere in the borough had become dysfunctional or had required subsequent fixes.

Assemblymembers debated whether the change would increase public participation or simply create more quorum and logistics problems for small-population RSAs. The mayor and clerk confirmed that mayoral appointments to fill RSA vacancies remain within the mayor’s appointment authority and that, if the assembly adopts board-size changes, the clerk’s office will handle vacancy processing and appointment confirmations as usual.

The ordinance takes effect as amended; administration and clerk’s staff will process vacancy notices and appointment procedures for the two RSAs specified in the amended ordinance.","After hours of public comment and debate, the assembly amended and passed ordinance 25-017 limiting increases in road service area (RSA) board size to Meadow Lakes and Gold Trail only; dozens of residents and multiple RSA boards testified in opposition to expanding 3‑member RSAs to five members across northern valley districts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6617156,"Mat-Su assembly briefed on federally backed Safe Streets plan as adoption approaches",680,1256000,1936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2843233-a0948ec9f00851fb4589259688102286&start=1256&end=1936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2843233-a0948ec9f00851fb4589259688102286/thumbnail_1256000.jpg","/articles/6617156/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Mat-Su-assembly-briefed-on-federally-backed-Safe-Streets-plan-as-adoption-approaches","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617156-ca428798769f055b4b5f6b9d9a69f9ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770965931&Signature=BU6OcW6SErGuZBnAVeN2LB-FWzAyRn82O4wsXUyG6iPHJi89NgmM3gA6HVXU4gsb7Z1zIZqBycthN17wTbMxFRYSfw0u0pXvqHYFEOZ612H1o87B9t9IhcWPcTp~wlcrV-zqnDlpMNDHf~WoLPUZQKNV4lajeUDpzj23H2eWzvWmfXHqKsapLPuz34xvwgtCn5WzDg-yQPaFsRrViHYRmjVpHYsxGLzKCDjO1SnVZ6P0q7OatD1lnMah1wsK6ECNr83i6auD5wfhxtr51QaZMoBJ2NEEu9Y5pJ3HWxfsZf31PGuH~J9yUMCwLaJvUkGIa23fg63VyoaI2DPHZsudEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly on April 1 received a detailed briefing on a draft comprehensive safety action plan developed with a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All (SS4A) planning grant and scheduled for public hearing on April 15.

Public Works Director Tom Adams told the assembly the borough won a roughly $650,000 SS4A planning grant in 2022 to develop the safety action plan, which identifies crash patterns and recommends countermeasures for the project’s expanded core area. Adams said more than 10,000 crashes occurred in the study area between 2013 and 2022, including 99 fatal crashes, 345 serious-injury crashes and 69 crashes involving bicyclists or pedestrians; he said 93 percent of bicycle and pedestrian crashes resulted in injury or death and that roughly 43 borough residents are seriously injured or killed each year within the study area.

Adams described the plan as a toolkit rather than a mandate, saying it provides “recommended mitigation measures” and a priority list of projects agencies can choose to implement. He said adoption of a borough plan will be required to make the borough eligible for the next round of SS4A implementation funding, with application deadlines in June; Adams said implementation grants from the program can be as much as $25 million and that the federal SS4A program is being funded at scale across fiscal year 2025 and expected to continue.

The presentation emphasized what the plan does not do as well as what it does. Adams said the plan is not a directive to change local boundaries, it does not ban or favor any mode of travel, and it does not require implementation of any particular countermeasure. He also said the plan does not set climate- or emissions-related goals. Adams urged assembly members to read the draft, ask questions before the April 15 public hearing and to use the next two weeks to submit suggested edits or clarifying questions to staff.

Assembly members asked about specific countermeasures and whether lighting or other locally favored measures were captured. Adams said lighting had not ranked among the proven countermeasures that rose to the top in the data analysis, but he acknowledged lighting can be an important safety element. He also described an extensive public involvement process: 912 survey responses, more than 800 attendees to a virtual workshop and about 16 stakeholder meetings with local advisory boards, commissions and community councils. Adams said the draft includes 74 public comments that will be considered in the final plan.

The plan will be introduced for formal consideration and a public hearing on April 15; Adams told the assembly he expects staff to seek adoption prior to June in order to meet the grant application eligibility requirement.

Assembly members and staff framed the plan as a tool to drive data-informed pavement and safety investments rather than a prescriptive regulation, and Adams said the borough is not required to use any particular countermeasure in the plan’s toolkit. The assembly did not vote on the plan at the April 1 meeting; staff asked members to review the draft and bring questions to staff in advance of the April 15 public hearing.","Public Works Director Tom Adams told the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly that a draft comprehensive safety action plan developed with a USDOT Safe Streets for All grant will be before the assembly for adoption and a planned April 15 public hearing; adoption is required to compete for up to $25 million in implementation grants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

At a glance: key votes and contracts from the April 1 Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting

Assembly narrows proposed RSA board expansion after months of public opposition

Mat-Su assembly briefed on federally backed Safe Streets plan as adoption approaches