Agenda
O'Malley Elementary
Multipurpose Room
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Add this new debt to the current General Obligation Bond Debt of $936.8 Million and you have a NEW Municipal Debt of over $1.147 BILLION!
Principal and interest payments for the year 2003 will be:
Principal $ 58,575,000
Interest 47,188,085
TOTAL FOR 2003 $105,763,085
WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR ALL THAT? We'll find out this month! Marty McGee from the MOA Finance Department will explain the tax system and answer questions about this year's valuation. Since there is so much political rhetoric about taxation during an election year, he'll give a broader explanation about the City's fiscal situation and the role of the property tax.
He'll also explain the relationship of the estimation of value and the actual tax levied. We'll also learn about some changes coming from legal decisions and new legislation both locally and statewide.
Here's a Pop Quiz for you! Fax your answers to 349-8376 or e-mail john@weddleton.com
Do higher appraisals increase the amount of money the city has to spend?
oYES o NO
Do you feel the city appraises the value of you home accurately?
o Too High o Just Right o Too Low
Do you support mandatory reporting of the sales price of homes to help the assessor value property?
oYES o NO
Parks Plan Update Survey If you use our parks, they are probably important to you. If you don't use them, they are still important, if only because you help pay for them! Our Councils were sent a survey as part of the Parks, Natural Open Space, & Recreation Facilities Plan update. We are passing it on to you for your input.
If you get your newsletter by email, we'll email the survey. It is also posted at the council's website at www.weddleton.com/cc. There's a link on the homepage. There will be paper copies at our meeting.
On Monday the 7th there was a public meeting to identify citywide park issues. About 20 "citizens" and maybe 10 consultants and planners attended. Think about that. This is a huge plan that will define our city for perhaps 20 years and only 20 people showed up! And those 20 people will have a big impact on the end result.
If you trust the kind of people who go to those meetings, I thank you. If we make you nervous, then you should schedule a little time to show up at a few of these meetings. If you can't do that, at least answer the few questions on the survey.
You know your neighborhood! Don't expect a planner downtown to know what's going on in our area. Share what you know!
Capital Improvement Plan Last month we listed the projects on the MOA's list for Capital Improvements with a request for you to send your rankings and additions. The comments from our Councils get thrown into the pot with the rest of the city and some in our area may make it to the bond list. Our comments are due in mid May so there is still time to comment on the list and add projects. The more detailed the better.
A list with some recent additions is posted at the Councils' website at www.weddleton.com/cc and we'll have copies at this month's meeting.
You know your neighborhood! Don't expect a planner downtown to know what's going on in our area. Share what you know!
Bylaws changes Proposed Bylaws changes were tabled at our March meeting. The recommended changes are posted at the Councils' website www.weddleton.com/cc/bylaws.htm. Or call John Weddleton at 349-8370 and I can fax or mail the changes to you. We expect to vote on these changes at our April meeting.
Smaller lots in the area? A request for a lot size variance (Case number 2003-078) is scheduled for hearing on Thursday, May 8th. The variance would allow 4.5 acres to be divided into four lots. Two of the subsequent properties would be the R-6 required 1.25 acres, but two would only be 1.0 acre. The property is located just south of Birch Road on O'Malley.
This may seem like a small deal, but let's look at another recent 5 acre plat off Birch just north of Trapper's Trail road. The owners have platted that into the required 1.25 acre lots. If they were allowed to put in 5 homes on an acre each, I'd bet they'd do that.
The 1.25 acre requirement in R-6 areas is because that is considered the minimum acreage necessary to adequately maintain a septic system. Our lot sizes define our area. Where should we draw the line?
YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES SEND E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS, TOO and would like to add you to their list. E-Mail them your request.
Mike Hawker Representative_Mike_Hawker@Legis.state.ak.us
Bob Lynn Representative_Bob_Lynn@Legis.state.ak.us
Kevin Meyer Representative_Kevin_Meyer@legis.state.ak.us
Con Bunde Senator_Con_Bunde@Legis.state.ak.us
We are fortunate to have our representatives available via teleconference at our Spring meetings. The news from Juneau is more interesting straight from the people who make it.
Wells & Septics class If you missed our January meeting, you have another chance to hear Dan Roth tell you when & when not to have your system tested, what Health Authority Approval requirements are, what is meant by innovative systems & what municipal codes are. April 16, 7-9pm $8 Hanshew Community Schools. (Notice that you get a whole year of Community Council meetings for just $3!)
our trash collectors can't get enough! Waste Management is making a pitch to get all the garbage in the city! WM currently has 49% collection market share in the state, with a total of 30 collection operations. MOA serves about 20% of those in Anchorage with garbage collection service. The remaining +-30% of the market share subscribe to neither service. While WM would have exclusivity in residential services, there would still be four companies certified to provide commercial collection services.
The municipality and WM are negotiating a WM franchise where every homeowner would likely be required to pay even if they have no garbage. Waste Management is willing to send a representative to one of our future meetings.
Board Members
Mid-Hillside
John Weddleton, President 349-8370 john@weddleton.com
Jeff Clarke, Vice President 349-4892
jay_peak@hotmail.com
Tom O'Grady Secretary
349-6948 ogrady@gci.net
Amy Johnson - Transportation Committee 258-0168 ajohnson@ibissoftware.com
Hillside East
Tom Newins, President
345-8881 newins@gci.net
Bjarne Holm, Vice President
robinholm@gci.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
Get involved !
it's your neighborhood!