Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils
Meeting Minutes
September 19, 2002

Call to order:

The meeting was called to order by President John Weddleton at 7 pm. Approximately 21 were in attendance. Board Members present were Jeff Clarke and John Weddleton and Hillside East President Tom Newins.

Introductions: Several candidates for the Alaska legislature or their representatives were present. They were each given a few minutes to introduce themselves. Present were Jim Crary and Bob Lynn for House seat 31, Kevin Meyer for House seat 30, Patti Higgins and Don Smith (representing John Cowdery) for Senate seat O, and Patti Swenson (representing Con Bunde) for Senate seat P.

President's Report: John Weddleton

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

Federation of Community Councils Report: John Weddleton reported on the FCC meeting of Sept. 18, 2002.

Anchorage Assembly Report:

Dick Tremaine

BUSINESS:

Boundaries

The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a hearing on the Community Council boundaries on October 7. Our Councils' input was requested on changes in our area. We looked at maps showing the recommendations for boundary changes the MOA Planning department has came up with. The draft report is online at www.muni.org/planning. Click "Community Council Redistricting. There were three key issues.

1) The area bounded by Ruth Arcand Park, Abbott, Birch Rd and O'Malley will go to the Mid Hillside CC with the following options:
Option A: Convey the entire area to Mid-Hillside, to adhere to identifiable boundaries and shared elementary school areas.
Option B: Convey the area north of 104th Avenue to Mid-Hillside CC and residences on and to the south of 104th to the Huffman/O'Malley CC, to adhere to a compromise negotiated between two councils, and supported by the Boundary Review Committee.

There was unanimous agreement that Option B is preferred.

2) Far North Bicentennial Park

Option A: We proposed to include part of Bicentennial Park as far north as Campbell Creek.

Option B: The MOA recommends the CC boundaries not extend into regional parks, but that the municipal code be changed to require that adjacent CC's be consulted when an issue arises in the park.

After some discussion, it was agreed that Option B is preferred, contingent on assurances that the MOA will change the notification requirement.

3) Hillside East expansion to the south

Option A: We recommended Hillside East boundaries to the south remain unchanged.

Option B: The MOA recommends that the boundary be moved south to encompass the Glen Alps Community Council Area and part of an area that is not currently in a community council.

It was agreed that while combining Hillside East with Glen Alps would provide residents of Glen Alps with an active Community Council forum, we felt that the request for a combination should come from residents of Glen Alps, not from Hillside East.

We agreed that the boundary should be extended south to encompass a small area that is not currently in a Community Council.

Neighborhood Nuisances

This is a case where neighbors acting together with persistence can solve a problem.

Huffman Road, downhill from Hillside Drive, ends at a protected wetland area. This road's end is undeveloped and makes an attractive spot for parties, bonfires and dumping of trash. A well for a nearby neighborhood is in this area and has been vandalized. There is a concern that batteries dumped there threaten the water quality.

The Anchorage Police Department said they didn't respond to illegal fires and referred all to the Anchorage Fire Department. AFD responded and put out the fires, but said it was APD's responsibility to take on the investigation. The area is in a state road right-of-way adding a jurisdictional complication. Apparently the fact that the section of road is passable in the winter by snowmachines and an occasional 4x4, makes it appear to be a true road. A neighborhood proposal to put a gate across the road to keep out trouble makers had been rejected by the state and city for many years.

The owner of the land at the end of the road, Yarro Mucha, gave a brief history of his experience since buying the land in 1966. Also in attendance were Bettie Williams and Casey Kellman who have tried to solve this problem for almost 2 decades. More recent efforts by Sara and Andrew LaForest, Joe Sullivan, Mark and Denise Hall and Mid Hillside CC V.P. Jeff Clarke may finally get the problem solved.

Their efforts prompted Municipal Manager Harry Kieling and Environmental Specialist Jeff Urbanus to take a look. They found trash, vandalism and a group of kids partying.

It appears at this point that there is support now from the city for a gate across the ROW. An e-mail offering support from Jeff Urbanus is attached to these minutes. The gate and fencing or concrete walls must span about 30'. Mr. Mucha is able to provide concrete and other neighbors are willing to pitch in work and materials for the gate.

Sue Rodman, a forester with AFD, said there are similar problems elsewhere in the city. Kris Spencer, with the APD Crime Watch program, related a similar story where active neighborhood involvement and a gate solved the problem at the Upper Huffman entrance to Chugach Park. Both emphasized that the main responsibility for safe homes and neighborhoods rests on our shoulders.

A Resolution was passed unanimously to encourage the Municipality to assist in building the gate across Huffman near Audobon Drive before snow falls.

3 Dwelling Units per Acre

A legend on a map in the Hillside Wastewater Management Plan has evolved into the standard for hooking up to the city water and sewer system. This legend recommends a minimum of three "dwelling units per acre" (DUA) for areas connected to AWWU.

This rule often does not make sense for our area. New developments may work better with city utilities and also the large lots we enjoy. The rule can be a stumbling block for areas that may want to hook up to city water but do not want to trade off for higher density.

Assemblyman Dick Tremaine has submitted Ordinance 2002-97 to eliminate the reference to dwelling density associated with sewer service in or area.

We passed a resolution in support of this Ordinance.

Announcement:

At this Meeting, Amy Johnson offered to track transportation issues for the Mid-Hillside Community Council. Amy lives near DeArmoun Rd where major road work is scheduled to begin in 2006.

The road design is not yet completed and there are many tradeoffs that will have to be contended with. Paved trails help some, but are not the best for horses. Trails require more clearing and may bring the road closer to some people's houses. Wider roads and shoulders for safety may result in faster car speeds which will make it more difficult to cross the road. Some people love the excitement of the hairpin turn, others prefer a calmer driving experience. Amy's work on that project will also help us as O'Malley and then Abbott are also rebuilt.

They say that the world is run by those who show up. It is nice to have someone from our area make the time to show up at the meetings that will decide which way the tradeoffs go.

Meeting Adjourned at 9:00 pm

From: Urbanus, Jeffrey D. [mailto:UrbanusJD@ci.anchorage.ak.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 5:41 PM
To: Jeff Clarke
Subject: ROW Problems on Audubon/Huffman
Jeff,

We spoke last week about my meeting with the Municipal Manager, Harry Kieling, in your neighborhood to discuss problems you and your neighbors have experienced with juvenile mischief, illegal dumping, unattended fires, etc. At that time you informed me of your Community Council meeting on Thursday the 19th. I offered to Cc. you a copy of the letter I will be sending to Harry Kieling outlining what I view to be the problems and possible solutions. I will not be able to complete that correspondence before tomorrow's meeting but thought I would offer this message, describing the meeting and present status of the case, in its place.

Last Thursday I met with Harry Kieling at the Huffman Right of Way in the vicinity of 6510 Huffman. Evidence of the problems we have discussed in the past was immediately apparent. Yard and household waste was scattered along the road. We observed damage to utility boxes, damage to the soil and vegetation from vehicle travel, and charcoal from past bonfires. Particularly offensive were the bones from fish carcasses that were dumped there in the past. Harry's reaction was, in short, disgust.

At the meeting the root of the problem was abundantly clear. The problems results from the present status of the Huffman Right of Way. If it were an improved roadway or had no access, it would not be an attractive location for illegal dumping or juveniles in search of a hang out spot. My suggestion to Harry will be that a gate is installed at the corner of Audubon and Huffman. Its seems easy enough to do this in such a way that utility companies, property owners, and the fire department can still can access the ROW when needed. To me, the interests and resources of you and neighbors, the owner of the vacant property, and the Municipality should allow for quick resolution of the problem with the Municipal Manager's involvement.

I have recently become aware of a possible solution in the interim before illegal access to the ROW can be blocked off. The Municipality has received grant money for blight removal in and along Public Right of Ways. The work is performed by Community Work Service volunteers. I would suggest you our any of your neighbors call Street Maintenance at 343-8277 to report the trash and request that it is removed as part of the blight removal grant.

I would be happy to continue to help in any way that I can.

Jeffrey D. Urbanus
Environmental Specialist
Environmental Quality Program
825 "L" Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(P) 343-4759 (F) 249-7875