City Council Passes FY 2019 Budgets; Deficit is Projected at $1.6 Million
The six present councilmen voted unanimously last night to approve the amended general fund budget as well as the other six fiscal year 2019 City budgets. Those include funds to renovate the Anvil City Science Academy bathrooms, upgrade some of the City’s boilers, and adopt the Port of Nome’s $1,762,969.00 budget.
Nome City Budgets Not Yet Finalized; Resolution On Sexual Assault Postponed for Discussion
At Monday’s council meeting, City Manager Tom Moran said Nome is currently projected to be almost $2 million “in the hole” for FY ’19. Those numbers could change, as the City budgets are not finalized yet. Also on Monday, both council members and Nome citizens supported postponing a resolution on improving local responses to sexual assault, so that the wording of the resolution can be revised.
Council Unanimously in Favor of Port Tariffs and Regulations, Despite Debate Over Rate Effects on Users
Councilman Gerald Brown said that he understood why Sitnasuak would be in favor of this ordinance, and if passed without changes, it (the ordinance) could be seen as limiting other business in Nome’s waters. Ukallaysaaq Tom Okleasik said he wouldn’t characterize the situation like that and reiterated his view that this tariff ordinance would encourage investments in the local economy and boost onshore infrastructure.
Old Museum and Library Building to Be Sold, City Council Decides
Tom Moran explained that Mason Evans, the interested buyer, plans to turn the old museum and library building into a retail marijuana dispensary. Councilman Mark Johnson took issue with selling the historic building for the purposes of furthering the marijuana industry in Nome, but the rest of the Council voted in favor of selling the property.
City Decides To Give Nome Property Owners More Time Before Abatement Action Is Taken
The Council decided to give all four property owners until July 1st to make required changes to their buildings, and if they don’t, the City will step in. Other business the Council passed included an ordinance to extend the deadline for paying Nome property taxes by more than two weeks.
2017 NSEDC Community Benefit Share Funds Distributed During Nome City Council Meeting
The Nome Community Center got four separate awards, worth a total of $43,500, to use for the XYZ Senior Center, Camp Crave, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Food Bank. Each requesting entity walked away with at least $1,500, except for the Nome Public Schools’ Bridge Club, who received no funding.
In 3-2 Vote, City Council Declines to House Sex Offenders at Nome’s Halfway House
After more than an hour of discussion, the Nome City Council decided not to allow sex offenders who are actively receiving treatment to stay at the Seaside halfway house.
Zoning and Junk Motor Vehicle Ordinances Pass Following Thorough Amendments
With new members sworn in, the Nome City Council rezoned multiple blocks of property during Monday’s regular meeting — and refined the City’s definition of “junk motor vehicles” and the fines related to abandoning junked cars in particular zones.
Older Draft of Nome’s Junk Motor Vehicle Ordinance Fails — But Two Newer Ones Move On
The Nome City Council passed an ordinance to amend Title 5 and Title 18 with an updated definition of a junk motor vehicle. They also voted in favor of prohibiting the storage of junk motor vehicles in all zoning districts except the industrial one, and implementing fines for any violations. Both ordinances now go to the second reading phase.
For Now, Nome’s Junked Cars to Remain Where They Lay, City Council Decides
During last night’s City Council meeting, the one piece of unfinished business on the agenda was an ordinance to prohibit storing junk motor vehicles in any zoning district except for the Industrial District. After two separate votes to amend the ordinance, the motion was ultimately tabled until September 25th.