Agenda
O'Malley Elementary School
Thursday, January 20, 2005
It's hard to argue with that statement. Anchorage's Community Councils are for everyone and anyone to share their views and gain some new ones. They provide a great forum to express an area's desires and to test ideas against inquiring minds. Community Councils can be a force for change and stability. Unless they adequately represent their area, they have no clout to wield.
Apparently, not everyone thinks Councils are doing this right. On February 15, the Assembly will have a public hearing on an ordinance 2005-1 that requires all CCs to have Bylaws meeting certain requirements. You can relax, the Bylaws of both the Mid-Hillside and Hillside East, though they are very different, probably meet the requirements. It can still make you cringe that we're being told how to behave. There are lots of ways to be representative and Councils should have the flexibility to choose their method.
The clever Mid-Hillsiders involved back then came up with a nice solution. The Bylaws were written so a resolution must be approved by both the majority of the council members present and by a majority of the Board members present. This keeps a Board from going wayward and also can prevent a meeting packed with friends from doing the same. It has worked well for the MHCC many years. The folks in Hillside East left their Bylaws with the Board making the Resolutions. It has worked for them for many years.
Ultimately, the package of proposed changes doesn't get to the core reason that CCs can be unrepresentative. That's lack of participation. The irony here is that the money the Assembly threatens to withhold would be used very efficiently to get more participation.
At our January meeting we will discuss, with all members having an equal voice, this proposed ordinance and our Councils' response.
There's a link to the full ordinance at the Newsletter page on the Council's website.
_________________________________
LARGE ANIMAL ORDINANCE PUBLIC MEETING On Thursday, January 13th at 7:00 pm, O'Malley's On The Green, The Huffman/O'Malley Community Council will be hosting a community meeting regarding the Large Animal Ordinance that is currently making its way back to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
_________________________________________
A property owner would like to combine two approximately ½ acre lots into one. These are located on the Southeast corner of Beverly and Birch. Apparently there are drainage issues that limit the room to build on either single lot.
This is an established neighborhood with nice homes and trees. The lots are generally about 1/2 acre so they are smaller than the 1.25 acres typically required for the R6 zoning. Many appear to have standing water (or ice!).
If you have comments on this replat, we can discuss them at our meeting. This is case S11335-1 for hearing at Planning & Zoning on Monday, February 14, 2005.
_____________________________________
Museum Expansion Moving Forward. Plans for a $100 million expansion of the Anchorage Museum of History and Art include $75 million in private donations, along with state and federal grants. Anchorage voters will get the chance to accept that money as a gift when they vote on a ballot measure in April. At the same time, voters will be asked to pay roughly five dollars a year on $100,000 of assessed property value to help pay the operating costs of the expanded museum.
If voters approve it, the measure will bring in $1.25 million a year, which would pay one-third of the museum's operations.
A representative for the Museum will be at our meeting to make a pitch for your vote!
_____________________________________
They run, but they Don't hide! Our representatives may be in Juneau, but they remain just a phone call away. We are fortunate that our reps are willing to keep in touch by joining us via a teleconference while they are busy in session. Join us at 7:15 to chat with them. It's always interesting.
_____________________________________
CHUGACH STATE PARK ADVISORY BOARD SEEKS CITIZEN COMMENT TO TRAILHEAD ISSUES at a special meeting on Tuesday, January 18th at the Atwood Building, 550 West 7th Avenue, Ste. 240 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Chugach State Park Citizens Advisory Board wants to hear from the public about management of the Park's trail heads.
The Prospect and Huffman Parking areas and some smaller railheads border the Hillside East CC. Tell them what's going on up there!
_________________________________________
THE PARKS PLAN UPDATE that was to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission on January 10 has been delayed. Some comments pertaining to our Councils are posted at the website. Got to www.weddleton.com/CC/
_________________________________________
The Assembly put about $100,000 in the budget for the Hillside District Plan. There is some debate over how the money will be spent, but it's a good sign. Under the umbrella of our area's Home and Land Owners Association (HALO) the Hillside Councils will start work on this. At January's meeting, we'll appoint a rep to HALO'S HDP Committee.
________________________________________
One of the observations in the Park Plan Update is that Parks and Recreation relies on property taxes for 88% of its budget. Nationally, that figure averages around 60%.
To bridge the gap between many desires and limited money, the Anchorage Park Foundation was created. The announcement was highlighted with the first gift to the foundation of $400,000 from the Rasmuson Foundation to be used for capital improvements for trails and parks.
The Anchorage Park Foundation is now able to accept tax deductible contributions. Its mission is to advance park and recreation opportunities, trail projects, and conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors to Anchorage.
Anchorage has over 14,000 acres of municipal parkland, 200 parks and over 400 kilometers of trails and greenbelts that link neighborhoods with surrounding natural open space and wildlife habitat.
In the coming months the community will have opportunities to get involved and help set goals and priorities for programs by district.
Possibilities for Community Giving Include:
Individuals can give for a project, or give in memorial of a loved one, in a wide variety of ways, including cash, securities, and all types of personal property.
Groups can raise funds for favorite parks or recreation projects and place those funds in the foundation.
Foundation staff will apply for state, federal and foundation grants.
_____________________________________________
GET PAID TO VOTE!? Well, not exactly, but this looks like almost as fun! The MOA is scrambling to find the nearly 600 election workers needed to work on Election Day. It looks like easy work and it pays from $9.50 to $12/hour!
Call Guadalupe Marroquin, Elections Coordinator at 343-4376.
Mid-HillsideBoard Members
John Weddleton -President 349-8370 john@weddleton.com
Brian Johnson -Vice President 345-5883 brian.johnson2@akanch.ang.af.mil
Tom O'Grady -Secretary 345-6948 ogrady@gci.net
Linda Perkins -Treasurer 346-2558 miniaturehorses@alaska.com
Kim Ross -Registrar 344-0333 kimross@alaska.com
John Jenkins 240-8609
Shirley McGrath 345-1606 smcgrath@alaska.net
Mark Miner 336-2383 akminers@alaska.net
Lance Powell 346-2327 lwpowell1@juno.com
Hillside East Board Members
Tom Newins, President 345-8881 newins@gci.net
Bjarne Holm, Vice President robinholm@ak.net
We meet at 7pm on the third Thursday of the month at O'Malley Elementary School on Rockridge off O'Malley. For more info see www.communitycouncils.org/hillmid.html