Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils
Meeting Minutes
September 18, 2003
The meeting was called to order by President John Weddleton at 7 pm. Approximately 23 were in attendance.
Mid-Hillside Board Members present were Tom O'Grady and John Weddleton.
Hillside East Board Member present were Tom Newins and Bjarne Holm.
Minutes of the previous meeting: Summarized in Monthly Meeting Notice. Postponed.
Federation of Community Councils Report: John Weddleton reported that the Dick Traini, the Chair of the Assembly has proposed deleting the $108,000 budget for the Federation of Community Councils. Most of this budget pays for the printing and mailing of the Councils' newsletters.
New Business
Presentations: Hillside Haven
Chapel of the Cross has proposed to operate a before and after school care at the church located on Hillside Drive near Huffman. The need is seen because Bear valley has lost their Campfire program and there is a waiting list for the Community Schools program. This will require a Conditional Use Permit and the hearing is on October 13. The eventual size will be 44 children based on space, but the initial permit will be for 30 until some plumbing modifications are completed.
A motion to voice "No Objection" by the Mid-Hillside and Hillside east Community Councils was made a seconded and passed with one abstention and no negatives.
Legislative Report
None of the legislators were available but their representatives were.
Lauren Wickersham for Con Bunde:
* E-mail updates available
* Does not support a special session to approve a contract with Sempra for NGL sales. He sees the special session as having a political purpose, not a financial justification, and as a way to pressure for another $2,500,000 for the Gas Authority.
Suzanne Cunningham for Kevin Meyers
* Conversion of the Permanent Fund to an endowment-style payout
* Meeting from 8am to 6pm on 9/23 at the Anchorage Legislative Office.
Richard Vanderkork for Bob Lynn
* Fort Richardson fence proposal
Anchorage Assembly Report: Janice Shamberg spoke about the following issues:
* Wildfires
* Budget
* State cuts to infrastructure funding, including 17% on roads
* General favor of regulation of 'site condos' despite ad campaign.
* Accessory dwelling units
* Eagle River secession
New Business
Residential Care Facilities: Anchorage Ordinance 2003-143 would define limits and requirements for residential adult care facilities and child care facilities. This would require a Conditional Use permit and make provision for evaluating roads, emergency access, fire safety, and staffing. As drafted, it would apply only for six or more residents; it was suggested that the number be changed to 4 or more which would match the state licensing requirements.
It was moved and seconded to support this resolution. The motion passed 9 for and 1 against.
It was later noted that the revision to 21.45.310 calls for traffic access directly from a street constructed to urban standards, which generally means curbs and gutters, a rarity in Mid Hillside or Hillside east.
Bragaw Extension: Bob Kneiffel of DOWL Engineers gave a presentation on the engineering studies for an extension of Bragaw from Tudor to 64th at Abbot Loop. This is a $37.5MM project supported by the East Anchorage Traffic Study with engineering to be done by 2005 and the work completed in late-2007. Twelve environmental studies are ongoing. More information is available at www.abbottloop.com.
O'Malley Road Upgrade: Jim Sawhill of Lounsbury and Associates gave a presentation on the upgrade of O'Malley Road from the Seward Highway to Hillside Drive. As currently envisioned, this would have five lanes from the highway to Lake Otis and three lanes the rest of the way.
There is a hard paved trail on the south side. There is space for a soft (horse) trail on the north side, but it is not in the plans. Construction would start in 2006 and finish in 2007. More information will be available at www.hillsideroads.com.
Bylaws: The proposed revision of the bylaws was tabled due to a lack of time.
Meeting Adjourned at 9pm