A Valdez radio station will get paid to broadcast city meetings and elections in the coming year, according to an agreement for services passed at the city level earlier this month.
KVAK Radio station will get paid $449 for 21 radio spots for each council meeting and work session announcement starting on Jan. 1, 2025. The city can also buy a 30-second spot for $17 or a 60-second spot for $20 for additional coverage, but the total is not to exceed $40,000 annually without proper authorization, according to the agreement. According to Valdez City Clerk Sheri Pierce, the agreement also includes broadcasting city meetings in full.
Valdez City Council members passed the new agreement on Dec. 17 – which was part of a full consent agenda – unanimously, 7-0.
City meeting announcements must include the meeting date, time, location and new business agenda content – both on the air and via the KVAK email newsletter the Monday before the meeting. The agreement states the spots will be broadcast on both 93.3 FM and 1230 AM in Valdez.
Pierce told The Cordova Times that the bill is important for accessibility.
“Our citizens who do not have internet access, or are not computer savvy, are able to listen to the meetings on their AM radio station,” she said via email.
Pierce also said broadcasting through KVAK also serves as a method of public notice, as required for municipalities by Alaska state law.
