Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2003

The meeting was called to order by President John Weddleton at 7 pm. Approximately 32 were in attendance.

Mid-Hillside Board Members present were Jeff Clarke, Tom O'Grady and John Weddleton.

Hillside East Board Members Present were Bjarne Holm and Tom Newins.

Minutes of the previous meeting: Summarized in Monthly Meeting Notice. Approved.

Federation of Community Councils Report: Bjarne Holm: The FCC has decided not to hold a mayoral debate, but there will be a mayoral forum on 3/3/3, at O'Malley's on the Green. There is still concern about the LRSA funds which have been collected but are not being released because of the tax cap.

Legislative Report

None of the legislators were available but their representatives called.

Karen for Con Bunde:
There will be a survey in the mail next month.

State reimbursement for school capital expenditures is not guaranteed, but there is every reason to expect that the legislature will follow through with the stated levels of 70% for projects supported by the Department of Education and 60% for others.

Suzanne for Kevin Meyers
There will be a newsletter and survey in the mail soon.

An e-mail update will be available

Richard for John Cowdry
There appears to be a new working relationship with the administration

Michelle for Bob Lynn
Just getting settled in.

Anchorage Assembly Report: Assemblywoman Janice Shamberg attended the meeting, but did not make a presentation.

New Business

Bylaws
The proposed revision of the bylaws was introduced and discussed. There was some question over the number of votes that could be cast, i.e., could one person cast two votes, one for themselves as a person and one as a representative of a company? What about owners of multiple companies? This will be clarified.

PRESENTATION:

School Board Candidates:
The following Anchorage School Board candidates made brief presentations: Crystal Kennedy, Macon Roberts, Carl Loerbs, Jeff Friedman, Theresa Obermeyer, Thomas Lamb, Carolyn Gardner and Joe Wendel.

School Bonds:
School Board member John Steiner spoke about the school bonds,

Propositions 9 $41.79 million for major repairs
Proposition 10 $42 million for a new administration building
Proposition 11 $125.5 million for renovation and new construction Proposition 11 includes $51million of construction of a new high school in Eagle River.

These total roughly $209million. The large amount is prompted by low interst rates available now and the passing of Proposition C on the statewide ballot in November 2002 makes available roughly 60% funding from the state.

Kitte Miller, Hillside East CC member and member of the Anchorage School District Budget Advisory Commitee, also spoke in support of the bonds.

South Extension of the Coastal Trail:
A resolution regarding the route selection for the South Extension of the Coastal Trail, which was tabled at the January meeting, was introduced.

Resolution of the Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils Regarding a Southern Extension to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

The Mid-Hillside Community Council and the Hillside East Community Council advocate and support construction of the south Extension of the Coastal Trail in a location that is along the coast and is as similar in character to the existing trail as possible.

Of the routes currently being considered, the Original Orange or the Orange Modified routes come closest to the character of the existing trail.

The Environmental Impact Statement shows that the Orange Modified route has no significant impact on wildlife habitat in the Coastal Wildlife Refuge; and this route avoids crossing the refuge, as well as all hunting areas, the moto-cross area, and the Rifle Range.

The Orange Modified Route comes closer to homes than the Original Orange Route; therefore, the impacts to private property should be further evaluated and reduced where possible, through a fair balance between impacts to homeowners, habitat, and other users of the land, while retaining the coastal location and character of the new trail.

It was moved and seconded to amend the wording by adding the word "Draft" to the third sentence, making it

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement shows that the Orange Modified route has no significant impact on wildlife habitat in the Coastal Wildlife Refuge; and this route avoids crossing the refuge, as well as all hunting areas, the moto-cross area, and the Rifle Range.

This amendment passed by a vote of 10 to zero.

Since it was late in the meeting and there were a number of attendees who wanted to speak on the issue, the Councils' boards decided to allow five minutes for one representative from each Community Councils outside of our area to address the issue. Representatives from three Community Councils requested that we allow Jeff Parker, an attorney for South Anchorage Reasonable Trail Advocates (SARTA) to use their time to speaking against the resolution. Mr. Parker was given 15 minutes as well as additional time for questions and answers.

Art Copolous from Hillside East Community Council was given 5 minutes to speak for the resolution.

Members of Mid Hillside and Hillside East CC's debated the issue.

This resolution was approved by a vote of eight for, one against, and one abstain.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:35