Episodes

VALDEZ – Amanda Hatton from Valdez Brewing Company attended the Valdez City Council meeting Tuesday, November 22^nd to seek approval for a brewery license. Hatton intends to open a very small tasting style brewery here in Valdez. “We are one of the only communities in the state that does not have a brewery at this point and we have some of the best components. We have some of the best water in the world and a community that could really benefit,” Hatton said.

Hatton plans to have a small brewery, about 190 square feet, including a serving area and portable production equipment. This brewery will not be considered a bar as beer will be sold for both tasting and taking home. Hatton said the license allows her business to produce 31 gallon batches and to make multiple batches at a time. They expect to be open three to four hours in the late afternoon and, if they do well, might consider a larger facility. Valdez Brewing Company plans to open up next door to the Masonic Lodge, across from Valdez Office Supply.

With license in hand, Hatton will seek approval from the State of Alaska and the City of Valdez will need to add verbiage to zoning codes to allow for breweries.

Tuesday, December 6 at 1:30 pm

This year, the HHES Winter Concert will be December 6 at 1:30 pm.  Immediately after the concert, another survey will be open to collect thoughts about concert scheduling.  Survey information will be used to help determine the timing of next year’s concert.

A memo from City Manager Dennis Ragsdale explaining the 2017 budget philosophy states the “city is now free to deploy these resources (TAPS Settlements funds) to productive use, and so the 2017 Budget contains funding of an ambitious two-year Capital Project and Major Maintenance Initiative. The funds will be appropriated directly from the General Fund balance, rather than from 2017 revenues. The memo states this Capital Project and Maintenance plan will be further developed into a five-year schedule early in 2017 and will be incorporated into the 2017 budget via puget revision, and updated annually thereafter.

CLICK HERE to read Budget Memo

CLICK HERE for 2017 Budget to be presented to Council Tuesday night

The initial City of Valdez budget was presented to Council October 19th, during the first of nine workshops. The 2017 Draft Budget to be submitted Tuesday incorporates all revisions requested by Council during the budget workshops. The 2017 budget includes 36 million in General Fund expenditures (not including Capital Improvement and Maintenance Projects – See separate story).

After budget revisions, the City budget includes six new positions and the elimination of four previously authorized positions. In addition to new staffing, Council directed staff to budget a one-time payment to all FTE (full time equivalent) staff reflecting a $2,000 disbursement per FTE. According to the memo from Ragsdale, “Staff estimates that an operating deficit may be reached as early as 2024, using status-quo staffing assumptions and historic rates of inflation.”

CLICK HERE to read Budget Memo

CLICK HERE for 2017 Budget to be presented to Council Tuesday night