Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting

I will be chairing this meeting. Traveling. Let's go ahead and do introductions. We are scheduled today, Thursday, 5th, from 9:00 AM to 10:30.

Not many members faster than that. So let's do member introductions if there's— Okay, jump over.

Then you have them.

Kind of exciting. I think it really fills And, uh, I'd like Mr. Cole Hayes to my right.

Oh, you're sorry. Uh, Development Services. Great. Sorry, morning. Uh, Services updates.

We appear to be off to another robust start development this season. We got another 35 million— hopefully constructed this year. There are 36 lots so far. Development is also working with LB on some of the identified potential— what would be required in terms of utilities, drainage. So we will see some of those also turn into additional subdivisions which will implement.

I've been promising to have that, uh, to the assembly, um, January. However, we were waiting on some feedback from the state on our single stair, single, single exit. Right now, the code requires limit of 3 stories for a single exit. The amendment would allow us to go up to 6. The state is taking longer than they thought they would to give us feedback on this.

So we're going to go ahead and submit without state feedback. And what we'll be doing is basically Putting that into the code, sort of disclaimer that says, right now we can't use this section because we cannot be less restrictive than the state. And then when the state does come around, then hopefully we'll be able to actually use that, that code section. Last update I have is that we have gotten our software vendor under contract, both vendors, SmartGov and Bluebeam. We'll be having a project kickoff here pretty soon, and ideally, like, software fully implemented by the end of the year.

Um, implementation will be starting shortly, so we're pretty excited about that. Um, that's it from Mobile Services. Okay, uh, Planning. Good morning, Elisa Babb, Planning Director. Um, just to go through briefly, uh, Some of the projects that we're focusing on now include, um, we've been taking a comprehensive look at our neighborhood and district plans, um, the average cost and the numbers for the actions included in the plans.

Um, average cost right now, we're seeing it costs about $300,000 on average for a neighborhood or district plan and the average time spent on those plans count is about 5 years, but, um, there are some plans, um, we've also, um, started, like I said, the, the count of the implementation of the actions that we're seeing, um, implementation around 20%, um, with some plans, um, so pretty significant findings for We're going to put together a memo.

Um, the first rezoning will be set—. Quite a while.

Please let me know if anyone has any— or have you—.

Also—.

Highlight a couple of the ghost holes.

Several of those have already gone to the—.

Any members on the phone? I see Member Johnson joined us and Member Brawley joined us in person here. Have questions for— I forgot to ask for Mr. Dool or Melissa. Let me know. And if you are on the phone, just shoot me a text message.

Okay, we'll move on to Real Estate Department. Good morning, Tiffany Briggs, Real Estate Director. A couple updates, um, as Greg mentioned, based on, um, the parcels of opportunity that we had presented to the assembly during our work session, we've done some additional outreach with Development Services, um, just to talk some more about those parcels, what the The possibilities may be our plating actions that we have going on in Girdwood. The monuments are being set. We should be able to get those plots recorded next month, middle of next month, hopefully.

And we have our next batch of tax foreclosure properties. So we've taken clerk's deed to 20— 2 parcels currently. Also been working with Code Enforcement and Land Use Enforcement on parcels that overlap with their nuisance properties and seeing how we can get those taken care of while they're under DD ownership. And I think that's it for me unless there's any questions. Any questions for the Real Estate Department?

Okay, we're moving right along. Public Works. Take it away. Morning everyone, Ken Cole for Public Works. Uh, my report will sound similar to what I've offered in the past, just some updates on what's going on in the department's maintenance and operations.

Um, they're gearing up for construction like everybody, but, uh, uh, might be interested for— interesting for folks to know the statistics for the most recent snowfall that wrapped up 108 hours to I'm sorry, 99 hours to plow out 11 inches of snow. The plow plan would have that metric at 108 hours, so they're, they're meeting their metrics pretty consistently. And during that plow event, just for points of interest, um, along with the, the road plow out, they completed the trails in 56 calendar hours, 38 hours of actual runtime. We're working on evening shifts for for sidewalks as well, but 56 calendar hours to do the sidewalks that are in the plow plan. Uh, they hauled the Central Business District, took 2 days to haul that, 1,600 loads of snow hauled out of the Central Business District.

And then while they were plowing the mains, uh, hauling out the Central Business District and plowing the residential areas, they additionally hauled snow on several mains that were getting narrow Providence, Alaska Native Medical Center campus, some work on Diamond, on 88, some work on Northwood, Arlene, Strawberry. And at the same time, they hauled snow from 8 routes that lead to primarily elementary schools. So a lot of work that goes into a plowout that people may not know about is kind of happening behind the scenes.

In that entire event, 5,800 loads of snow hauled to snow dumps. So we did a calculation one time. I forget how many washing machines are in a dump truck load of snow, but it's a significant amount. So in that arena, there's a lot of coordination continuing between PM&E, the administration, maintenance and operations, and the school district to continue to support their efforts, and also ongoing coordination with DOT A lot of interest right now around transit stops, and there's been some outreach to some members, particularly Mr. Martinez, who I know is not online, but we're working to better coordinate those efforts. The PM&E world really is all right now all about gearing up for summer construction.

Some of the big projects that will be going out for bid soon: Quinnhack Drive out at Southeast Anchorage, 64th and Meadow off Dowling. The Winter Creek Bridge replacement in Girdwood, which I know will be exciting to anybody who spends time down there. This will replace the old hand tram that has been out of service. 42Nd Avenue Phase 2 will resume, and that'll finish up that project. Some work on the old Seward Highway, and then, uh, that will probably— Tasha, Tasha Road project will go to construction this summer as well.

And then in the traffic world, much like my previous report, last meeting, they're gearing up for summer work, ordering supplies, paint, signs, things like that. Um, I think that they continue to be challenged with the staffing. They have a couple of— 3 key positions staffed, one of which is the Vision Zero position. Advertised that several times. If it's not on the street again, it will be soon.

Doing significant outreach on that. Working closely with HR to make sure that we have announcements that are getting the most interest, but it's been a challenging position to fill. Um, outside of the 3 department reports, members may be aware that the mayor has convened for this afternoon a— I think it's called the Downtown Renaissance Meeting, and that's an opportunity for downtown business owners to It's at the Egan Center at 1:30 to see what's happening downtown. There's a bunch of work that's going to be happening. They can spend some time wandering around talking to project managers to see what impacts there might be to downtown traffic and downtown businesses.

And then related to that, Municipal Manager Wynn Pearson has convened a team that will be meeting here soon that will be comprised of the project managers of all of the projects that are happening downtown. To ensure that internally we are not stepping on each other's toes. You know, some of the big things that are going on downtown— Town Square Park, Rathdravid Park, some work at the old City Hall, the library project, plus some facility infrastructure upgrades there. There's a project to rebuild several sidewalks downtown. We anticipate that Block 41 will have some work occurring there, some work in the PAC for upgrading the elevator control systems, the fire systems.

Plant some trees downtown, and I'm aware— Bob made me aware that the Westmark is planning to do some work on the exterior of their building, which is right across the street from Block 41. So this effort will, will just be a chance to coordinate all of that, and as I said, make sure that we effectively stay out of each other's way and we're not closing, closing every street that accesses a building.

That's the report. Glad to answer any questions. Members we have. Yeah, one comment. I'm continuing to hear a lot of good feedback about plowings.

Thank you. Um, and so we know, uh, state roads are still problems. So, um, that's— and it's just to say, I think more of the public is, is understanding and acknowledging the difference between those. So that means, I think, the message is getting out to more and more people. Um, my question, um, more for offline follow-up.

I talked with Nolan about this yesterday as well. Just curious to know what projects we have that have some state funding, you know, maybe from past years, right? But are not— maybe are obligated but not fully executed, or, you know, like where, where those are. Just wanting to make sure that we're tracking, and I'm thinking of state capital funding for, you know, road projects, drainage, things like that. I know there hasn't been as much, but just wanting to make sure we have accounting of those because I anticipate with the legislature, you know, they're, they're The money issues, right?

And so in the past, we know there's, there's been potential clawbacks or things like that, you know, but if we're truly using the money and it's moving along, we just want to make sure that we communicate that. So I may have seen some traffic about that this morning. We'll gather that information every year about this time. Every administration I've worked with has reached out to the state by the status report of the state grant funds that we have. Under contract and plans to spend them.

Sometimes there's discussions about reappropriating to other municipal needs. They've generally been receptive to that. Yeah, and I think we don't want to obviously like broadcast that, like, here's the menu of things that you could take back, right? But, uh, but wanting to make sure that we're tracking that because I just know if we're truly going to use the funding and project timelines are what they are, we want to make sure we're not saying, oh, that, that money is So thanks. Are there any questions from the members online?

Okay, uh, can't— would you mind sending an email to myself and George with just a brief update? I'm sure some of that you'll want to share at the next assembly meeting, mainly about the snow and the plowout times. I know that positive information always, always helps. Okay, ACDA, Mr. Robbins. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Uh, Mike Robbins, Executive Director for ACDA. I'll keep my update quick too, in the interest of our timeline going, huh? We're moving right along. So, so a couple of things. First of all, we did working with Real Estate Services Administration.

There is an AO coming for the transfer of the Nordstrom's building to ACDA so that we can begin the process of putting together a development plan for that building. Fireweed Flats RFI that's been out, that ends on the 19th. We've had a lot of interest on the housing project on Fireweed. The 30 Ingra RFI, that ends on the 26th. Also had a lot of interest for the RV resort downtown, which is what that is.

And then, you know, you'll see or notice that the micro units over here are going to get a little bit of a rebranding. They're going to be called Willow Commons. We've got some signage going up on the exterior. The contractor has been over there diligently working every day to get the punch list done so that the The health department has chosen their contractor to run the facility. And so our contractor is working diligently to get done and move out.

So those are the quick updates for us. Any questions for members? No members on the phone. Okay, we'll move on to unfinished business. Thank you, Mike.

Committee. Work plan review update for 2026. I don't know, Claire, are you taking lead on that, or do we want to wait until next month when George is back? Because I only have 2 meetings of this left after this one. Yeah, I worked with—.

This is Claire Ross.

I worked with George on that.

Yeah, I think it's worth looking through because I just see for— I'm going to put out one example under community development. Codify and confirm appointments for the new accountability board for the ACE Fund. That was done in 2025. So there's clearly some things that we just need to cross off the list. Unless there's some active project, because this just— this is such a long list that it looks like doing everything.

I'm seeing a bunch of— Home Initiative is also listed here that passed in 2024. So just, I know that's— for the chairs. What happened was about 3 or 4 years ago, we took the economic development section of the work plan and just put it.

Anything else you see on there, Anna, that you think we need to scratch? I mean, there's a number of— and some of these are very large, and actually I see under number 6D, it's actually the same language. And I mean, I know this is a work in progress. I guess the question really is, what is the committee— either what is the committee actively working on, or what do folks intend to bring to the committee versus things that we know are important and are happening, like monitoring code changes, right? But that's not a project.

So, yeah, I know, I know we're working on it, but I would just say, like, this list, I would rethink this list of kind of what is the committee going to do.

Okay, we will move on then to new business. Anchorage Park Foundation Challenge Grants. Hello, I'm Beth Nordlund, Executive Director of the Anchorage Park Foundation, and this is my first presentation.

I've been in this.

2021. So hello everyone, um, Anchorage Park Foundation people to work for us. I talk about building community through parks and trails. So our objective is not just to work on parks and trails, it's to build community. So, um, it feels like an apropos, um, meeting with you today.

We do a lot of different things with most of the departments. We work most heavily, um, with the Parks and Recreation Department, but we have projects at PM&E. We've worked with the Health Department in the past, and we try to work in the space between community and local government. So, um, we are your nimble nonprofit partner that's here to help. Um, one of the things that's happening right now is we have a trails initiative And they are working on working closely with government, with, with business leaders.

And I think they'll want to come to you in the near future to talk about outdoor recreation economy. So, I think that will be of interest. But the— one of the first things the Anchorage Park Foundation started to do in this community is challenge grants. So I want to talk about those today. We have several other things we do, though, that I want to make sure you're all aware of.

We invest in U���ó��l��minen Parks. Those positions will be open. In the near future, and, um, we like to promote those far and wide. And they're really great jobs, and we come to the assembly every summer to tell you about our work product.

We promote the bonds, and what you might find is, um, for, for one thing, some of the challenge grants end up in the long run becoming projects that are supported by the bonds or other things. Um, but one of the things that we've been supporting for a long time now, I think maybe 6 years in a row, is the downtown trail connection, and that is going to be built this summer. And so speaking of projects that have state funding that want to make sure do not, um, find themselves up against some kind of terrible barrier that we wouldn't be aware of because we're just your nonprofit partner on the side. We are rooting for that downtown trail connection. It's going to connect Elderberry Park all the way to the Ship Creek Trail.

It's going to go by the Marathon Oil and the small boat launch. And It's just, it's, I think it's the most exciting thing that's happening in the downtown. So I think you should add that to your talking points because that trail connection is a really big deal. But that's an example of one of the bonds we just keep promoting. And so now, um, you know, we're going to make such a big deal of it that we're going to make up a groundbreaking and invite you.

Um, because it's a big deal. Um, the other thing we have supported that's going to be on the road bond is downtown pedestrian wayfinding, and we're just the nonprofit support partner to help get that. We've got some private funding that went into that, and, um, yeah, Monea is leading it with Um, tell me what that is, I'm not familiar. Yes, I can tell you. Um, Mike Robbins and I worked on this for, for a long time.

Um, so remember when Roger Brooks came to town and he did an assessment of whether, um, what visitors to Anchorage find when they hit the ground? He found that no that we really needed pedestrian wayfinding. That is a combination of things like maps, but it's also signs. And, um, and he found a lot of other findings, but one of the things that I as a community leader decided to latch on to is let's not let go of we need signs in the downtown for pedestrian. Now, naturally, Anchorage Park Foundation that is not a park or a trail.

It's downtown sidewalks. But you'll find that between the different owners of streets and the different, you know, the different, you know, you got different utility boxes. There's all kinds of infrastructure in your downtown street. It feels like Some of that's hard to coordinate. And so anyway, we just decided, okay, we'll be the nonprofit partner that helps invest private money into this.

And, you know, obviously government's the lead, but they're going in the ground this summer. So this is not nothing. It's been going on for years. It had the potential to be quick, but, um, it's going in the ground this summer. And road bond, we put $500,000 in bond for this, finish it off.

So if years, um, with funding [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] To come to us with their ideas for trail and public land projects. We will match their investment dollar for dollar with Rasmuson. So that's unique in some ways because it can be cash dollars, in-kind contributions, or volunteer hours that are calculated at a national, you know, rate. So, we love the Challenge Grants because it brings people out of every neighborhood for park and trail projects that we haven't even thought of. These are your community-driven projects, and we work very closely with the Parks Department to figure out which of these are doable, implementable, fundable.

Um, and the Parks and Recreation Department, you know, is— they have a lot on their plate, but their game for some of these small to large projects. The community investment over the years, we have all the numbers, but often people, they overmatch it 3 to 1. So, this, you know, this $300,000 investment in people's hopes and dreams or Neighborhood Parks and Trails, um, is just a really good opportunity to get community engagement. I'll be presenting to the Federation of Community Councils in a couple of weeks. I encourage you to let all your constituents know about this opportunity.

The most beautiful thing is when you are in regular communication with someone that's a little bit cranky about what's happening in a park or on a trail, and to find that they have something they can contribute, even.

It's just their volunteer time, um, is really empowering.

And it, it, I have seen it multiple times transform a group of neighbors who don't know one another are working towards the same thing. I've had multiple neighborhoods, um, basically tell me that they were a divided community, and now they have something to work on together. Uh, so it introduces people to one another, it gives them a shared purpose, and it actually gets the improvement done that they want to see. The Anchorage Park Foundation can make a grant to a nonprofit applying for this. But a lot of times we're working with, you know, an Eagle Scout or some entity that doesn't have nonprofit status.

So just a group of neighbors, and then they, they end up kind of using us as their bank account or their fiscal sponsor, and we pay their bills directly. So we work very closely to make it easy for your constituents to get these things around. And this, um, the information you— trails, we have done, um, soft surface trails that connect to a school. —Band trail.

So over the year Uh, if you get access to a professional, it helps you shape what you're asking for. Um, we find you're much more likely to get this grant if you talk to somebody, um, and get some advice. So we will invite you to know more about this all along the way, and we will, um, do a grantee kickoff on May the 15th. Um, we have not decided where we're going to do that. We often do it at Town Square Park, but that's not going to be available this year.

I do want to tell you, um, on a separate note, we are the entity that's helping run a Rasmussen grant for the Town Square Park.

So, um, we got a $500,000 matching grant opportunity from the Rasmussen Foundation. We are, um, working with the mayor so that she can get corporate sponsor— corporate investment, um, and the Rasmussen Foundation will pay us up to $500,000 to match those dollars. We also got a contribution from Widener for $250,000, and that's above the challenge grant match. So we do a lot of challenge grants. This one is unique, and I will see you all at the Downtown Expo today.

Um, okay.

Are there any questions for Ms. Nordlund?

And for Broad? Um, well, first I'll say I was just glancing through the list and it's fun to see how many of these actually were challenge grants. Like, I was vaguely aware of a number of them, but not necessarily how they got funded. So it's great. Um, I've also worked on a challenge grant and yeah, I definitely can say, um, it brings people together and it gives them something to, um, a goal to achieve together.

Uh, so That's all awesome. My question is just thinking about general guidance for this year's cycle. Like, you know, I've heard, you know, community councils, folks are getting the word out. Is there a set number of awards? Are there kind of things that you're looking for?

Are there things that are maybe out of scope? And then I'll just mention one example that I have already shared information in Sand Lake Community Council. There was a discussion, a guy had an idea. It's not my idea, but I will share. To basically put a big, um, uh, troll sculpture.

Like, there's a place— folks who have done that in other places. I know there's one in Seattle, but he was giving examples more in the woods where you kind of don't know it's there, and then you come upon it and it's, um, like a fun thing for the kids. So, so that's the kind of thing where I don't know what that would cost. I don't know if the artist, you know, what that would look like, but that seems like something a Challenge Grant could pursue. Um, but just curious, just in general, kind of the guidance you give to folks thinking about what projects might fit.

Yeah, and I love that idea. I have always wanted a troll under a bridge. Um, I would say that, okay, so this year we're increasing the amount— make sure you 2 years to get it done. Um, I personally love the idea of art. There isn't— I don't see why that wouldn't be an amazing project.

Sometimes with art, it's, um, you want to pay artists, but you're looking for a way for the community to come up with match. And so volunteer time is not— that's not— got to figure out how to pay an artist. What I think would be cool, and has never really happened yet, is if we could find, um, you know, some kind of corporate sponsor or some benefactor that wanted to pay an artist and provide the match for a cash match, that would be awesome. Yeah, we love— I will say this, this year, if you look closely at the application, you will notice it doesn't just Save our public lands. And there are a lot of people out there that want to see something happen on land that's adjacent.

And so I feel like we've opened up a little access to this grant that We will find that probably— and you know, our original intent was to improve parks and trails, but there's a, there's a lot of land out there.