Our next meeting is Thursday May 20 at 7:00 pm at O'Malley Elementary School.
Agenda
HILLSIDE DISTRICT PLAN MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE MOA At the May HALO meeting, Ky Holland presented a draft Memorandum of Understanding he developed to create a framework for writing a Hillside District Land Use Plan. The general scheme has HALO as the umbrella organization that will coordinate the efforts of the Community Councils, government agencies, an advisory group and consultants.
All of the Hillside area Councils must sign off on this. We'll consider this at our May meeting.
More info is at http://www.kyholland.com/hdp
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Who decides what goes in these bond packages WE KEEP VOTING DOWN?
When you see the list of projects to be funded under each bond package, you might wonder who comes up with these list. Through your Community Council, you get a small role in creating the list!
The Capital Improvement Budget/Program (CIB/CIP) starts with a Community Council Survey. The primary goal of the survey is to have the Community Council provide an overall priority ranking of all capital projects in our area and suggest additional projects that are not listed.
The following are on the list we developed for 2003 for the Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils. Please rank these with "1" being the most important. You can add projects you think ought to be done or scratch anything off this list. "No bonds this year" could be an option. You can get more info at the Councils' website. Hit the ISSUES button and scroll down to the CIP section. Fax your responses to 349-8376 or email them to john@weddleton.com. In May we'll draw up a list to submit.
[ ] Hillside District Plan The cost has often been pegged at $2 million. If Hillside residents pitch in, it will cost much less.
[ ] Abbott Rd Reconstruction Our survey in 2003 ranked this higher than our other main road projects, but it is further down the list at DOT!
[ ] O'Malley Rd Reconstruction This project appears to be on track.
[ ] DeArmoun Rd Reconstruct 2 No dispute on this in 2003. Have things changed?
[ ] Trail up Abbott along Hillside to Rabbit Creek Rd. to Seward Highway A Council wide parks survey showed this to be one of the most desired facility improvements.
[ ]Safe trail from the North side of O'Malley to O'Malley Elementary Safe pedestrian access to schools is good for kids and results in less traffic. If this is desired, it should be part of the O'Malley Road Project.
[ ]Hillside/Hilltop Ski Area Parking paving Lots was paved by Hilltop last year. There's more to do.
[ ]Hillside LRSA's Rehab Appears to be always on the list.
[ ]Lower Hillside Storm Drains Appears to be always on the list.
[ ]Far North Bicentennial Park Trails and Trailhead improvements A council survey showed heavy use of these trails. Respondents typically noted that the trails are in generally good shape.
[ ]Horse Trail adjacent to the Homestead Trail in Bicentennial Park This might decrease trail conflicts.
[ ]Prospect Trailhead Overflow on busy snow machine days causes problems for riders and neighbors.
[ ]Pedestrian Overpass Rehab and Upgrades
[ ]Greenbelt Acquisition On the MOA list. Any details on what to get?
[ ]Gate across Huffman Road west of Hillside Drive Vandalism and dumping problems prompted this.
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IF THE SNOW'S GONE, IT MUST BE WILDFIRE SEASON AGAIN!
Last year's projects around Hill's Park and Forsythe Park were very productive in terms of getting rid of forest fuels contributing to wildfire and also to gain participation from surrounding neighbors. The Fire Department has more projects planned for the neighborhoods in that area this summer.
Sue Rodman with AFD would like to remind you:
Call 267-4902 or 317-7236. Sue is also happy to attend homeowner association and neighborhood meetings to plan projects and discuss wildfire preparedness.
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BUS BUSINESS People Mover will be trying a new service in our area. The most visible change is Dial-A-Ride-Transit (DART) which uses smaller buses. In the Bus Biz this is called a "deviated fixed route." The two South Anchorage DART routes will have a fixed component that serves specific scheduled stops, but the routes will have time built in to respond to pre-arranged calls for service.
People Mover developed DART service to enhance neighborhood service, to extend service to areas that cannot be served by the existing fleet of 40-foot buses, and to reduce the demand for the more costly AnchorRIDES service.
More bus riders mean less cars!
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PARKS PLAN UPDATE The Draft Plan was released in May 2004. Through surveys, focus groups and an advisory committee, the Plan consultants found broad support for wild open space, trails and undeveloped park land.
The study's heavy emphasis on comparisons with "benchmark" cities and their parks drags the report towards a bias for developed parks and recreational buildings and the huge costs that come with them.
In light of the recent failures of our Parks Bonds, the price tag for even a minimal "Level of Service" is staggering.
For a planning study, this Draft Plan is easy to read and interesting. Read it soon! The deadline for comments is Friday May 28. You can get a copy at the Planning Department at 4700 Bragaw or online at www.muni.org/planning/ParkPlanDraft.cfm .
If there is sufficient interest at our May 20 meeting, we can form a committee to prepare comments on parts of the plan that impact our area.
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OUT OF SERVICE AT SERVICE? Like dandelions, "relocatables" sprout with impunity at our schools. The ASD is requesting permission to add 10 more to the 14 now in use at Service. This is all related to kids getting moved outside due to remodeling.
Share your view on this at our meeting or you can go to the public hearing Monday, June 7, 2004 at the Assembly Chambers at the Loussac. It's case number 2004-089. or Contact Summer Suave sauve_summer@asdk12.org or call 348-5212.
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Grab your boots because trash pollutes! On Saturday, May 15 every major creek in the Municipality will get its yearly makeover as nearly 1,000 volunteers grab their boots and clean up area creeks.
This year, the Anchorage Waterways Council has 20 sites where folks will collect bags, gloves, and a map that directs them to the garbage. The cleanup is from 9:00 am to noon. After the cleanup, go to the Valley of the Moon Park from 1:00-3:00 pm for a huge party! Call Ilse at 277-9287 ext 4 or ilse@awcgroup.org for more information.
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
Amy Johnson 258-0168 ajohnson@gci.net
Shirley McGrath 345-1606 smcgrath@alaska.net
James Perkins 346-2558 miniaturehorses@alaska.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