Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils
Meeting Minutes
November 20, 2003

Call to order:

The meeting was a joint meeting with the Huffman-O'Malley Community Council at the Anchorage Christian Church. Approximately 65 signed the sign in sheets, roughly 18 were from the MHCC or HECC.

Mid-Hillside Board Members present were Shirley McGrath, Linda Perkins, Brian Johnson, Amy Johnson and John Weddleton.

Hillside East Board Member present was Bjarne Holm.

At 7pm, John Weddleton called a meeting of the board members present to assign board positions for the coming year. At this part of the meeting, Amy Johnson was not present. The following positions were assigned:

John Weddleton - President
Brian Johnson - Vice President
Tom O'Grady - Secretary
Linda Perkins - Treasurer and Registrar
Jim Perkins - At large
Shirley McGrath - At large
Amy Johnson - At large

A petition signed by almost 200 individuals was presented to John Weddleton by a representative of "property owners, residents, and interested taxpayers affected by the proposed DeArmoun Road Phase 2 Project:"

We, the property owners, residents, and interested taxpayers affected by the proposed DeArmoun Road Phase 2 Project, are totally opposed to construction of this project AS DESIGNED, and protest the lack of public involvement in its design. We further ask that all work on this project be HALTED IMMEDIATELY and the project be re-scoped with the necessary environmental study and public involvement. We wish to ensure that DeArmoun Road is designed to satisfy the needs of the road's users and neighborhood, respect private property, and ensure wise use of scarce public funds.

Introductions:

President's Report: No report

Minutes of the previous meeting: Approval postponed until December meeting.

Federation of Community Councils Report: No report

Anchorage Assembly Report: No report

PRESENTATION:
DeArmoun Road Development Plans

At approximately 7:15, Mike Scott, from the Alaska DOT and Chair of AMATS introduced the project team and outlined the project.

Karen Heggleston with DOT described various alternatives studied. Karen showed a map of Hillside roads with posted speeds, '85 percentile" speeds and accident rates.

Vern Roelfs with DOT consultant VEI stated that the goal of the project is to "improve" the road to decrease the accident rate.

The three alternatives in the published Design Study Report were outlined. An additional alternative being considered, called "300R," differs from those by eliminating the clear zone, changing the slope off the shoulder from a "recoverable" 5:1 to a "transversable" 3:1 slope and changing the trail to a gravel or RAP surface for the entire length and putting it on top of the required utility easement. The design speed for alternative 300r is 30 mph. This alternative would avoid all houses.

According to VEI Consultant Keith Morberg, with the trail on top of the utility easement, it would not require increased use of ROW or purchase of property along the road.

MHCC resident Kevin Gray pointed out that the "85th percentile" speed statistic used heavily to determine the recommended design speed is a misleading number that can be skewed by a few drivers. Mr. Morberg said using it is the "state of the art."

The presentation and discussion was spirited and detailed.

MID HILLSIDE AND HILLSIDE EAST RESOLUTION ON THE DeARMOUN ROAD PROJECT.
At approximately 8:30 the presentation on the road project ended and the Mid Hillside and Hillside East CCs adjourned to classroom to develop a resolution to reflect the Councils' desires for the project. Thirteen council members were present for most of the meeting. Mid-Hillside CC had a quorum for the meeting. Hillside East CC was short of a quorum with only one board member present.

The discussion focused on a "Draft" of the resolutions that listed points relating to the issue. The points were primarily those prepared at our October meeting. Other points that were emailed to John Weddleton were also included. The "draft" was posted on the Councils' website prior to the meeting and was available at this meeting.

The group discussed each point and voted on whether or not to keep it in the final resolution. After completing that process, the final result was subject to a vote for approval. Eight voted to approve, one opposed and one was neutral.

The Resolution is attached as part of these minutes.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30pm.

A Joint Resolution
Regarding DeArmoun Road Phase 2: E 140th Ave to Hillside
ADOT Project STP-0001(257) 55663

November 20, 2003

1 WHEREAS the Mid-Hillside Community Council is characterized by its rural features: home sites are typically over an acre, road maintenance is managed by neighborhoods, water and septic facilities are on-site, there is minimal commercial development and the area is designated Rural in the Comprehensive Plan;

2 WHEREAS residents of the area choose to live here largely for its rural characteristics, particularly large lots with trees, quiet and isolation;

3 WHEREAS the accident rate per mile driven may be higher than expected, given the low traffic, there are actually few accidents related to the current road design;

4 WHEREAS the road project as proposed will dramatically change the characteristics of the neighborhood by creating a feature that dominates the landscape as well as increasing traffic, increasing speed, decreasing trees and decreasing lot sizes;

5 WHEREAS a DOT goal of creating "route continuity" has lead to designs that exceed requirements. The Design Study Report states "the primary objective of a 3R project is to restore the structural integrity of the existing roadway... uses elements of the existing roadway and makes cost effective improvements ..";

6 WHEREAS the design for "route continuity" works against "traffic calming" that could meet neighborhood needs;

7 WHEREAS the Categorical Exclusion for the Phase II project was granted under the National Environmental Protection Act based on conditions of alignment, speed and noise impact which are not reflected in the current, CHANGED design;

8 WHEREAS we are living in a time of fiscal shortages, increased demands and continuing needs at the local, state and federal levels;

9 WHEREAS winter conditions affect DeArmoun Road from E.140th Avenue to Hillside Drive for 5 to 6 months annually, and no traffic studies were conducted in inclement weather, and further that no studies were conducted on the volume of pedestrian, bicycle or equestrian traffic along DeArmoun Road at any time of the year;

10 WHEREAS the classification of DeArmoun Road as an "urban collector in rolling, mountainous terrain" requires a design speed of only 30-40 mph;

11 WHEREAS future safety on DeArmoun Road will be an effect of winter maintenance provided as well as the level of vehicular speed;

12 WHEREAS, the area is rural by choice, and that sidewalks, gutters, sewers, and streetlights are rejected in favor of trees, natural fauna, large lots separated from neighbors and streets;

13 WHEREAS, the Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils are opposed to the taking of private property through the use of eminent domain except where absolutely required and where no other feasible alternative exists;

14 WHEREAS, the Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils are concerned with the observed results of construction, right-of-way acquisition, and destruction of natural and rural features in DeArmoun Road Phase I;

1 WE REQUEST that the Alaska Department of Transportation reconsider the design for the project.

2 WE REQUEST that an environmental reevaluation be conducted.

3 WE REQUEST that the DOT reject the notion of "route continuity" for the DeArmoun Phase 2 project and instead design for neighborhood consistency. This area is not continuous with Phase 1. The road design should change driver expectations to match the character of the neighborhood, rather than change the neighborhood to meet "route continuity."

4 WE REQUEST that DOT incorporate the following into the project design:

1. The installation of a warning beacon at the corner of Hillside and DeArmoun Roads.
2. A road designed and posted to encourage speeds of less than 50 mph, with features that will change driver expectations to a slower speed and a design that meets safety requirements through traffic calming rather than road widening.

3. A pathway surface made with RAP and with a width including shoulders not to exceed 8 feet.

4. A total paved road surface width including shoulders not to exceed 34 feet.
5. Fore slope ratios of 5:1 be changed to 3:1 to reduce overall width.
6. Design recommendations, particularly with regard to speed, be sought from the Traffic Division of the Anchorage Police Department.
7. A road design that will allow the project to fit within the current ROW to the maximum extent possible.

8. A design that provides for noise mitigation for homes impacted by the increased traffic and speed.

5 WE REQUEST that the trail be considered a necessary part of the project. (This Request was passed by a majority of the Hillside East CC members in attendance, but failed to pass with a tied vote among the Mid Hillside CC members present.)

6 WE REQUEST that in the course of reevaluating the project, the DOT reinvigorate its Citizens Advisory Committee to allow ongoing input from the community.

7 We request that if natural vegetation, trees, and other natural sound and visual buffers are removed in the process of building the designed road, they be replaced and a physical separation such as a swale, fence or retaining wall be built to segregate pedestrian and trail traffic at the option of the affected land owners.