A proposal from the U.S. Postal Service to buy land on Near Island for a new postal facility is postponed to give the Kodiak City Council more time to mull the project.

The council voted 3-2 with councilmen Charlie Davidson, Dennis McMurry and Tom Walters voting to delay the proposal until the next regular council meeting, June 28. Council members Gabriel Saravia and Josie Rosales voted for the proposal on its first reading.

The U.S. Postal Service submitted a proposal last week to City Manager Linda Freed in which three tracts of land and part of a fourth tract would be purchased at $5 a square foot.

Total acreage for the property is 146,655 square feet.

Previously, the city and postal service considered an exchange of the land where the current post office sits downtown for the Near Island property. However, the postal service by law must purchase and sell property rather than make an even or near-even swap.

The council is considering the current post office property for a possible future site of a new city library.

The new post office, estimated not to be under construction until at least approximately two years from now, would be on lots midway between the turnoff from Fred Zharoff Bridge and the boat docks off Dog Salmon Bay Road.

The new building would be about 20,000 square feet, provide counter service and 5,000 postal boxes, with more room for parking.

A number of citizens who have voiced opposition to the Near Island development, including a police station and jail, in the form of a petition and protest march, appeared again to make their case before the council at its regular Thursday meeting.

The citizens presented the council with a petition opposing the post office and police station development on Near Island. The petition with 594 signatures gathered within the last two weeks has no legal standing.

The citizens maintain the post office is too far away for those who do not have vehicles and have to walk, primarily senior citizens.

“The American Disabilities Act states that public facilities have to be accessible to those that are disabled,” said Kodiakan Don Roberts.

Postmaster William Kersch told the council earlier in the week that the Near Island location is easier to walk to for seniors because they don’t have to traverse up and down hills as they presently do to reach the Mill Bay Road post office.

Kersch also informed the council the postal service has taken a look at other locations, including a facility at the Kodiak State Airport, but decided Near Island is the best location.

“Our letters, petition and protest march indicate strong opposition to your Near Island planning,” retired businessman Jack Mann said.

“This will drive the final death knell into downtown development and also be a hindrance to public safety,” Mann said.

“I see no reason we can’t build where we are at downtown. I consider it a threat for the postal service to say it will go to the airport if it has to,” Mann said.

“I am sure the postal service can come up with different ideas so that there is a facility other than on Near Island,” councilman Charlie Davidson said. “I am not trying to tell them how to run their business. But we might be getting a pig in the poke with this as it now stands.”

McMurry said he is concerned over the pricing of the property.

McMurry questioned the postal service offer of $5 per square foot when Afognak and Koniag Native corporations are to pay $5.50 a square foot.

“I am not sure that is fair,” he said.

In addition, a tract being offered for sale to Dr. Paul Zimmer and Tia Leber is appraised currently at $4.25 a square foot.

“I appreciate that Afognak and Koniag are considering the property, to invest in Kodiak, building top facilities and creating jobs,” Walters said.

McMurry said the Zimmer proposal, adopted on a first reading 4-1 with McMurry opposing, is on a key corner that might be better used for boat trailers which already have to crowd the area to launch in the water.

“I don’t know that now is a good time for the sale,” McMurry said.

Budget

In other council action, the city’s $60.8 million budget was adopted on first reading.

The budget includes funding for the new police station and jail and a large boat travel lift, in addition to road improvements and other improvements, such as upgrades for Baronof Park.

Included in the budget, is a $175,000 authorization for a new city ambulance, settling an issue over whether the Kodiak Island Borough should share the cost of an ambulance. The borough, by state law, cannot purchase an ambulance for the city since it is not the primary emergency provider. In the past, the city and borough alternated the purchase of ambulances based on an unwritten agreement.

The city purchases an ambulance every five years. It has three ambulances with each having a road life of 15 years.

Freed said it is a maintenance budget with a general fund increase from last year of only $20,000.

She said, however, the city of Kodiak may soon reach a point where either revenues need to be increased or services need to be cut.

She pointed out the city has not increased sales taxes in 14 years and has not raised property taxes in more than 20 years.

Resolutions

The council also adopted a resolution to establish a joint Kodiak Fisheries Advisory Committee.

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly is to consider a similar resolution at its June 7 meeting. The council and borough will meet in a joint session June 19 to consider nominees. People interested in serving on the committee can submit applications to either the city or borough clerks.

A resolution was adopted lowering the delinquency water fee from $70 to $35. The council reduced the fee after local resident Jake Jacobson complained the service fee was too high.

The council also approved on final reading the sale of property to the River of Life Christian Fellowship adjacent to its church on Selief Lane for an assisted living facility for senior citizens. Appraised value of the property is $102,000 for Lot 6, Block 1 in the Lakeside subdivision.

The council approved a five-year lease with Brother Francis Shelter Kodiak Inc., for its building on Thorsheim Street and Cedar Street. The shelter recently reorganized locally after severing ties with Catholic Social Services Inc. of Anchorage.

The council approved a resolution adopting the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy plan completed in April and to be unveiled in a formal presentation at the council’s June 28 work session. The council also authorized a contract with the chamber for $43,000 to support a new economic specialist position and economic planning. The funding represents an increase from last year’s contract with the chamber of $33,000.

Mirror writer Bryan Martin can be reached via e-mail at bmartin@kodiakdailymirror.com.