Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils

Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2004

Call to order:

The meeting was called to order by President John Weddleton at 7 pm. Approximately 12 were in attendance.

Mid Hillside Board Members present were John Jenkins, Brian Johnson, Shirley McGrath, Lance Powell, Kim Ross and John Weddleton.

Hillside East Board Member present was Bjarne Holm.

Introductions:

President's Report: John Weddleton gave copies of the Council's Bylaws to new Board members. Cautioned that Board Members must be careful that their comments at public meetings and to the media are not interpreted as the opinion of the Council unless they reflect a resolution that has been passed on the issue.

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

Federation of Community Councils Report: Bjarne Holm reported on the FCC meeting of November 17, 2004.

A Budget for the Councils Center for $108,000 was approved by the Assembly.
AMATS is developing new criteria to score road projects. Are looking for input from Community Councils on rescoring projects February through March of 2005.
The Anchorage Assembly has requested an annual summary of CC accomplishments.

Anchorage Assembly Report:

Janice Shamberg

State Legislative Report
Con Bunde
Gasline: He supports the Alaska Highway route. He'd like to get CC input.

New Capitol Building: Should we build one? In Juneau?

Capital Improvement Projects List: develop one and send to him.

Old and New Business

Kim Ross presented information on a grant request she helped prepare. The grant is to develop a handbook so homeowners can do the groundwork for a home soil conservation plan. The work would be done July -December 2005.

Prior to this meeting, the MHCC board voted via email to support the grant to be ratified at a later meeting after it had been properly noticed.

In response to Con Bunde's request for Capitol improvement projects, Kim Ross initiated a discussion of a possible traffic light at Birch and Abbott Roads. High school traffic makes it hard to get onto Abbott from Birch. The Bragaw Extension is expected to increase traffic on Abbott Rd.

PRESENTATION: Firewise and State Farm

Jim Fahey from State Farm Insurance spoke regarding the letter Sate Farm sent out to encourage their customers to be aware of fire danger on the Hillside. He said that the goals are to alert customers about the danger and to improve safety. The letter from State Farm included handouts prepared by the Anchorage Fire Department.

A question was raised regarding the trade off between less trees required for wildfire safety and the increased exposure to winds resulting in damaged roofs.

Apparently other insurers are not pursuing the wildfire issue this way.

Mr. Fahey worked with Sue Rodman and others at the Anchorage Fire Department. State Farm has a similar program in Colorado.

Ms. Rodman presented information on the AFD's wildfire assessment program. Funding should last through 2008.

Ms. Rodman showed a map of the Anchorage Bowl color coded to show the areas at the highest risk in the case of wildfire.

The overall message remains: "Be ready to take care of yourself."

Meeting Adjourned at 9:00 pm