Our next meeting is Thursday September 16 at 7:00 pm
at O'Malley Elementary School.
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
Agenda
O'Malley Elementary School
Thursday, September 16, 2004
I know that got your attention! Everyone has an opinion on taxes. The whole Fiscal Gap/Tax situation will weigh in on many of our choices in the upcoming state elections.
Art Curtis, co-chair of "Alaskans for Fair Taxes" will come to educate us about the reasons for the state fiscal gap and the various ways the gap can be bridged. Three major ways are cutting PFD's, a sales tax and an income tax. They argue that an income tax is the best and fairest way and should be the largest source of new revenue. More information can be found on the AFFT website:http://www.akfairtax.org
Offering a counterpoint, we will have Eddie Burke from the organization "Just Say No." That group feels we do not need new taxes. The Just Say No website is: www.justsayno.info .
According to Mr. Curtis, AFFT's presentations are mainly educational, relying on research from the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska at Anchorage. They briefly explain how declining oil revenues have caused a fiscal gap, despite a decline in state spending per person over the last decade. They show that additional budget cuts and economic development cannot fill the gap. Then they compare the three major ways of filling it, presenting just enough figures and graphs to make the fiscal, economic and social effects clear.
AND MORE TAXES! After we file away the subject of state taxes, we hope to have an analysis of the Mayor's proposal to reallocate property taxes. Since our property assessments are simply a way of allocating the tax, any change in the way assessments are made just shifts the burden to another tax payer. Who are the winners and losers in the proposed plan?
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BRAGAW EXTENSION UPDATE The planning has moved far on this project so we'll see some plans that will probably be close to the final result. There has been a lot of public input on this project. Did they make everyone happy? Bob Kneiffel will let us know.
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CANDIDATES' FORUM October 7 from 7:00-9:00 pm. HALO and your local Community Councils will co-host another great Candidates' Forum at O'Malleys on the Green. The format will be similar to our other forums with questions from the audience coming after a few good starter questions prepared beforehand.
All the important people have been invited: U.S. Senate candidates, state legislative candidates for our area and YOU!
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O'Malley Road walk On August 19 about 20 neighbors walked O'Malley Road from Hillside to Lake Otis along with road planners Jim Sawhill and Loren Becia , DOT project manager Miriam Tanaka and public participation coordinator Kathy Burgess..
The comment period for the Environmental Assessment has ended. The "design stage" will give you lots more opportunity to have a say in the project. There are choices to be made. We will live with them for decades. Lots of info is at www.hillsideroads.com .
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CITY RESTRUCTURES PARKS & RECREATION The Parks & Recreation Department will create four neighborhood park districts in the Anchorage Bowl. Community Councils in each area will be asked for a representative to be on an advisory committee. We have lots of park lovers in this area. This is an opportunity for you!
Each park district will have its own staff. The plan is to create a more self-sustaining program through "The Anchorage Park Foundation", a 501 (c)(3), that will help harness private dollars. This kind of program has encouraged collaboration and public-private partnerships in other U.S. cities.
The first benefit for us is the establishment of a customer service staff that will handle all inquires into parks & recreation from facility rentals, park reservations, programs and complaints. Call them at 343-4474.
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DART (Dial-A-Ride Transit) Service in our area began July 26. DART is a flexible bus service designed to meet the needs of those who have difficulty getting to established bus stops.
DART operates like a regular bus route, always serving regular bus stops. Unlike a traditional bus route that operates only along designated lines, DART can also serve different locations "by request." Fares for DART service are the same as People Mover.
For up-to-date DART route and schedule information, to schedule a pick-up, or to request a bus stop closer to your neighborhood call 277-DART (277-3278) or visit www.peoplemover.org.
The Hillside gets a crazy deal with busses. We went from nothing for a year or so to this incredible service. And not only that, DART service is free through September 30!
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ASSEMBLY ORDINANCES ARE NOW ONLINE More than 300 ordinances and resolutions are now available on the Assembly's web site: http://www.muni.org/assembly2/index.cfm Choose Assembly Resolutions/Ordinances from the Quick Reference menu. Ordinances and resolutions may be searched using key words.
Currently, only documents from 2004 are available on-line. However, efforts are being made to provide an archive of previous year's documents on the web site.
This is a huge help to anyone who is trying to play a role in local government.
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Title 21 Large Domestic Animal Facilities This ordinance has been given a new number 2004-137. It is important to submit your written comments even if you attend the meetings. Lots of comments have already been submitted online. Go to http://munimaps.muni.org/planning/home3.htm and type in the ordinance number.
The new version of this ordinance affects every Large Animal operation in Anchorage, not just lots zoned R-6, R-7, R-8 & R-10 as the original version did. It replaces the existing definition of Equestrian Facilities. If you breed, board, train, teach lessons, keep your animals on small acreage or would like your children and future generations to have access to horses in Anchorage in the future you had better pay close attention.
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HILLSIDE DISTRICT PLAN At our May meeting, we discussed a Memorandum of Understanding with the MOA to allow folks like you to begin work on a Hillside District Plan. Some are frustrated with the MOA's lack of progress and the fear that in just a couple years, we'll be so far along in development that a plan will be too late.
At a meeting with the Director of Planning in June, the response could be summed up as "Don't call us, we'll call you."
Undaunted, a committee is moving forward. There are some aspects
of a plan that would be done no matter who does it. The first step is to develop
a bibliography of studies relevant to the Hillside. If you have any reports
or studies relating to building, environmental, geological or related issues,
send your list to Ky Holland at kyholland@gci.net .
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ConGratulations to the staff, students and parents
at O'Malley Elementary for attaining "Adequate Yearly Progress" under the No
Child Left Behind Act.
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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