Cordova’s new city manager, Alan Lanning, marked his official first day of work at City Hall Oct. 17, and two days later, attended his first city council meeting.
“Cordova is a wonderful place. Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming,” Lanning said. “I am settling in just fine.”
Councilman Tom Bailer chaired the meeting on Oct. 19 in place of Mayor Clay Koplin, who was out of town, and a quorum was established with the presence of councilmen David Allison, James Burton and Josh Hallquist.
Photo by Cinthia Gibbens-Stimson/The Cordova Times
Student council representative Corie Pegau, a junior at Cordova High School, addressed the council on her school’s anti-bullying campaign.
“Like in any school, there are issues that need to be addressed,” Pegau said. “Sitting back and accepting problems isn’t an option. Student council provides a way to help make positive changes to our school.”
In 2015, Pegau said CHS’s anti-bullying campaign received 420 pledges in support of stopping bullying in the schools. This year, she said the goal is 500 signatures.
Pegau serves on the student council’s anti-bullying committee and the Leukemia Committee. A penny drive will take place in February, to raise money for Leukemia patients, she said.
“City government is a window into how the town runs. We often take the things our city does for granted – such as having a police department or running water, or snow removal. Being in city government is a way to see how the proverbial sausage gets made,” Pegau said. “I think it’s important for students to feel they have a voice in their school, community and nation. Student council has been incredibly empowering to show how we can make change.”
Pegau began serving as a member of CHS’s student council midway through last year. Her interest in school government and city government led her to volunteer as the student representative to city council.
For community issues, such as the on-going anti-bullying campaign, she said she may ask for suggestions from council.
Sobriety Celebration publicly recognized by mayor
The 23rd Annual Native Village of Eyak Sobriety Celebration and Memorial Potlatch will take place in Cordova Nov. 11-13.
NVE’s Sobriety Celebration Coordinator, Belen Cook, thanked the council and mayor for the special proclamation the city presented to NVE.
The proclamation, signed by Mayor Clay Koplin, recognizes NVE’s dedication and efforts toward promoting sobriety through social gatherings and education.
“Now, therefore, let it be proclaimed that I, Mayor Clay Koplin, on behalf of the City Council and the community of Cordova, Alaska, do hereby proclaim the 23rd Annual Sobriety Celebration and Memorial Potlatch to be an inspiration of community commitment to aid and educate Cordovans and others about the abuse and misuse of alcohol and drugs, through the social events held during the celebration,” the official letter reads.
Photo by Cinthia Gibbens-Stimson/The Cordova Times
Updates in Ordinance 1147
The council discussed a memo from City Clerk Susan Bourgeois relating to amendments to Ordinance 1147, which will bring the city’s fines for minor offenses in line with state law.
“The city attorney has been working with the Alaska Court System based on the Alaska Legislature’s passage of Section 113 of SB 91,” Bourgeois said. “Our city code and, more specifically, our minor offense fine schedule, needed to be changed, in order to comply with the new state law. The attorney reviewed that portion of the city code and removed obsolete provisions. The chief of police has distributed this ordinance to his staff to ensure that they understand and agree with the changes being offered.”
The draft of the amended Ordinance 1147 was presented for a second reading and approved.
Changes to the ordinance will revise penalties for violations of city ordinances to not exceed penalties for comparable offenses under Alaska law. Copies of Ordinance 1147 are available online at the city’s website.
Boards and commission vacancies
The city council and Mayor Koplin are soliciting letters of interest through Nov. 8 to fill several board and commission vacancies through November of 2019. They include two seats on the City Harbor Commission, two seats on the Cordova Public Library Board, two seats on the Cordova Parks and Recreation Commission, and two seats on the Cordova Planning and Zoning Commission.
Those interested may submit a letter of interest addressed to Koplin at city hall or email to cityclerk@cityofcordova.net.
Appointments will be made at the Nov. 16 city council meeting.
City budget workshops
Council members and city officials held a work session on Oct. 26 to discuss the city budget.
“We are progressing in the budget cycle, preparing information for council and staff review after gathering information from individual departments,” Lanning said.
The purpose of the workshop was to examine revenue line items and attempt to solidify those numbers “so we can proceed forward with the remaining steps in the process,” Lanning said.
“We’d like to gain some clarity on a couple of important revenue line items which are the raw fish tax and timber receipts,” Lanning said. “As the process unfolds, I will provide input, but also examine the process and determine if there are adjustments that would improve the process if needed. I’m observing and learning at this point.”
Additional budget work session is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 2, prior to the regular city council meeting.
Cordova Conversations
The next Cordova Conversation meeting regarding the future of Nirvana Park and the Eyak Lake Spit will take place Nov. 2, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., in community room A at the Cordova Center. A regularly scheduled meeting of city council will follow at 7 p.m.
Contact your city government officials
Cordova City Council members are James Burton, seat A; Timothy Joyce, seat B; Tom Bailer, seat C; Robert Beedle, seat D; Josh Hallquist, seat E; David Allison, seat F; and James Wiese, seat G.
The public is invited to email city council members and the mayor with questions and comments. Contact information is at http://www.cityofcordova.net/government/mayor-council/city-council.
