The agenda for Tuesday night's meeting, as well as the packet of materials, is posted at the Haines Borough website. Click here.
The Agenda is lengthy; the packet is large. An Assembly, or any board for that matter, uses a consent agenda to free up anywhere from a few minutes to a half an hour for discussion of more substantial items. Consent agenda items are items that routine procedures and are adopted by unanimous consent. The Haines Borough uses a star (*) next to an item to show that it is on the consent agenda.
When the Assembly approves the full agenda, it also approves those items on the consent agenda all together without making individual motions for each item.
Nonetheless, all the items on the consent agenda are included in the Assembly's packet and in the packet available to you - the public.
This month's consent agenda includes minutes of past meetings, reports, resolutions, and two liquor license renewals.
Two resolutions pertain to change of signatories. The Assembly is required to adopt resolutions authorizing and designating persons to sign checks and as signatories for certain borough accounts. When elected officials change, new resolutions naming the newly elected officials, have to be adopted. The Clerk and I have put these "housekeeping" resolutions on the consent agenda (Resolutions 11-11-313; 11-11-314).
Another resolution, Resolution 11-11-315, is required by the state in order to receive fish tax revenue. The form is stipulated in state law (AS 29.60.450). This resolution is also on the consent agenda.
Two businesses are applying for the renewal of their existing liquor licenses: The Fireweed Restaurant and the Hotel Halsingland. The Alaska Alcohol Beverage Control Board notifies the Borough of pending liquor licenses renewals. The local government always has the option to make a statement. This item is on the consent agenda. By passing the consent agenda, the Borough indicates that it has no need to make a statement relative to these two licenses.
Staff and facility reports, including the Manager's report, are also on the consent agenda. The packet includes the Manager's report, the CFO's FY12 First Quarter General Fund Financial Report, the Public Library's Director's Report, and the Tourism Advisory Board minutes. Action items associated with any of these reports will always occur in the New Business section of the agenda and are not included in the consent agenda.
If any member of the Assembly asks for an item to be removed from the consent agenda, then it must be removed. The presiding officer will then assign the removed item to an appropriate section of the agenda.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Veterans' Day 2011
The veterans of the Chilkat Valley were on my mind as I, along with as many Alaskan Mayors, toured Eielson Air Force Base Tuesday. I loved seeing the planes, but most of all I loved being in the company of the Air Force and Army men and women. It was natural to say, “Thank you for your service,” and humbling to hear in return, “Thank you for your support.”
The Mayors went primarily to gain an understanding of JPARC (Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex) as well as an understanding of the impact of military spending on the Alaskan economy.
JPARC is recently in the news because the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze potential environmental consequences associated with the proposed modernization and enhancement of ranges, airspace and training areas in the existing JPARC. For details about the proposal and to learn how to get involved go to JPARC EIS.
What I did not realize was that defense spending in Alaska accounts for 60,500 of the 357,000 jobs in Alaska or 17%. That’s more than the 52,000 jobs related to petroleum production.You can find the Executive Summary and a power point of this information in the report What Drives Alaska's Economy? at the Institute of Social and Economic Research.
Quite a few of the officers who addressed us at Eielson Tuesday mentioned that they were near to retirement. Potential retirees said that they hoped to stay in Alaska because Alaska has come to feel like home.
Representative Bill Thomas heard this sentiment and so he went to work last legislative session. Representative Thomas, himself a Veteran, secured a $500,000 grant for a feasibility study to site a Veterans’ Home, especially for those who need assistance as they age, right here in Haines. Though we don’t need a veterans’ home to celebrate Veterans’ Day, I can imagine that the day we open the doors in Haines will be a grand celebration indeed.
Thank you for your service!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Another Way to Deal with Sludge
With Scott Bradford's experiments with our own sludge in mind, I arranged to tour the Fairbanks Wastewater Treatment plant just before dawn Wednesday. (That was 8 AM here!)
Sludge is what is left after as much water as possible has been extracted from sewage. It has value, if properly treated, as a soil amendment. Treatment requires combining it with sufficient carbon and air so that it heats up thus killing any pathogens. Scott has treated sludge on a small scale producing vital compost. He tests it every which way to confirm that it is free of toxins, and by the way, it smells great.
Fairbanks, according to the plant operator, has the only installation in the state, and maybe the country, that treats 100-foot long windrows of sludge. I had to see it.
Once sufficiently de-watered, the operators use front-end loaders to mix sludge with large wood chips. Next it is laid down in 5-foot high 100-ft. long piles. The pile is fed with as much air as required through a blower system. Temperature probes are inserted. The pile is "done" after it maintains 131-degrees F for 3 consecutive days. There is no external source of heat. Biology does the trick. The piles "work" year round, despite deeply cold Fairbanks winters.
The piles are built on asphalt pads designed to capture any leachate from the "cooking" sludge and direct it back into the plant for treatment. The Fairbanks plant is a secondary treatment plant and delivers its effluent back into the river.
In the spring, garden
ers and landscapers arrive with pickups and take away the sludge-turned-compost for $10 a pick-up load. And soon, after the cabbages, carrots and lettuce are harvested and consumed...the process begins all over again.When this innovation was introduced in the late 90s, Northland Lumber was looking for a way to dispose of its chips and was delighted to deliver chips for free. However, now that the value of the chips is apparent, and the need determined, Northland dedicated equipment and time to harvesting trees just for chips. The treatment plant now buys chips, but in the process a small local industry has been created.
The large chips are screened out of the compost and used by the plant over and over again.
As we examine our own wastewater treatment system, I think a road-trip to Fairbanks might be in order!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Alaska's EAS Test Cancelled Due to Storm in Western Alaska
According to David Lee, with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, officials have cancelled the November 9 EAS test Alaska due to the big storm bearing down on Western Alaska tonight.
Because Alaska is such a small "big" state we probably all know someone who is going to be affected by the storm. Right now I am thinking about the little town of Gambell whose newly elected Mayor is here in Fairbanks, cut off from her town and anxious, but hopeful that between the emergency preparedness meeting held before she left for Fairbanks and the leadership of the vice Mayor, all will be well.
Because Alaska is such a small "big" state we probably all know someone who is going to be affected by the storm. Right now I am thinking about the little town of Gambell whose newly elected Mayor is here in Fairbanks, cut off from her town and anxious, but hopeful that between the emergency preparedness meeting held before she left for Fairbanks and the leadership of the vice Mayor, all will be well.
EAS Test Wednesday, November 9
Tomorrow, at approximately 10 AM, there will be a first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The Borough received a letter explaining the test from the State of Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The November 1 letter explains that the test will last about 3 minutes and will involve "broadcast radio and TV stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wire line providers..."
The purpose of the test is to test a system that will "...enable the President of the United States to address the American public during extreme emergencies."
The public is encourage to provide feedback about the test through a web site that will be available tomorrow, November 9. The web address is http://ready.alaska.gov/test.
The Alaska Homeland Security and Emergency Management also wants to take advantage of this test event to remind us that everyone should have an emergency preparedness kit and plan. Ready Alaska has excellent lists for items to include in kits as well as checklists for plans and activities for adults and kids.
I really like the downloadable DHS & EM 7-Day Survival Kit Calendar. It lists items to gather a day at a time for a month. By the end of the month you have a survival kit that will allow you to survive for 7 days until help comes.
The Borough received a letter explaining the test from the State of Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The November 1 letter explains that the test will last about 3 minutes and will involve "broadcast radio and TV stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wire line providers..."
The purpose of the test is to test a system that will "...enable the President of the United States to address the American public during extreme emergencies."
The public is encourage to provide feedback about the test through a web site that will be available tomorrow, November 9. The web address is http://ready.alaska.gov/test.
The Alaska Homeland Security and Emergency Management also wants to take advantage of this test event to remind us that everyone should have an emergency preparedness kit and plan. Ready Alaska has excellent lists for items to include in kits as well as checklists for plans and activities for adults and kids.
I really like the downloadable DHS & EM 7-Day Survival Kit Calendar. It lists items to gather a day at a time for a month. By the end of the month you have a survival kit that will allow you to survive for 7 days until help comes.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Day 6: Traveling
I am headed up to Fairbanks today where I will join Assembly member Jerry Lapp, Manager Mark Earnest, and Clerk and Deputy Clerk Julie Cozzi and Jamie Heinz for the Alaska Municipal League's 61st Annual Local Government Conference. Click here for the agenda. And here for the workshops. I will be out of the office until Monday November 14. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Tuesday I will attend the day-long Mayor's meeting and then dive into workshops on Wednesday and Thursday. I am glad several of us are attending because ALL the workshops look compelling. Since the workshops run concurrently, in groups of 2, 3, or 4 any one attendee must make tough choices. Right now I am drawn to Wednesday's Determining Specific Leadership Behaviors, AML resolution and policy pertaining to public works & infrastructure; and Thursday's Disaster Management for Mayors and other Leaders; AIDEA; Lobby Basics.
Meanwhile I working with staff and residents on three resolutions and one ordinance for Assembly consideration at the up coming November 15 meeting. One resolution is in support of the Alcohol Task Force. Chief Lowe and Jan Hotze have contributed some language.
Another resolution is in support of improved access to the upper Lynn Canal via ferries. It follows the recommendations of the Marine Transportation Advisory Board's October 27 comment on the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan Scoping Report, the Haines Chamber of Commerce's November 4 comment, as well as previous resolutions adopted by previous Haines Borough Assemblys. Though the comment period closed Nov. 4, Andy Hughes, Southeast Regional Planning Chief, emailed yesterday that the Borough's comment would be welcomed and appropriate.
The third resolution pertains to the newly formed Haines Port Steering Committee (HPSC). The purpose of the resolution is to conform the HPSC to Haines Borough Code 2.60, Committees, Boards, and Commissions. The Manager, Darsie Culbeck, and I are collaborating.
The ordinance to be introduced covers the changes to Assembly procedures I presented at the Nov. 3 work session: an additional agenda category to provide for Assembly motions to designate topics for the next meeting's agenda (2.10.020); removal of the limit on the number of opportunities for a member of the Assembly to speak (2.10.060(D)); removal of the requirement for the Assembly to review invoices before payments are made (3.04.050), and the removal of the requirement for all Resolutions to be read out loud before the Assembly votes (2.12.110).
Materials are due to the Clerk by tomorrow at 8 AM! I better get busy. I am grateful for today's electronic communication. Hopefully I'll be able to press "send" to Julie Cozzi's inbox before I board my flight to Fairbanks at 1 this afternoon.
Tuesday I will attend the day-long Mayor's meeting and then dive into workshops on Wednesday and Thursday. I am glad several of us are attending because ALL the workshops look compelling. Since the workshops run concurrently, in groups of 2, 3, or 4 any one attendee must make tough choices. Right now I am drawn to Wednesday's Determining Specific Leadership Behaviors, AML resolution and policy pertaining to public works & infrastructure; and Thursday's Disaster Management for Mayors and other Leaders; AIDEA; Lobby Basics.
Meanwhile I working with staff and residents on three resolutions and one ordinance for Assembly consideration at the up coming November 15 meeting. One resolution is in support of the Alcohol Task Force. Chief Lowe and Jan Hotze have contributed some language.
Another resolution is in support of improved access to the upper Lynn Canal via ferries. It follows the recommendations of the Marine Transportation Advisory Board's October 27 comment on the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan Scoping Report, the Haines Chamber of Commerce's November 4 comment, as well as previous resolutions adopted by previous Haines Borough Assemblys. Though the comment period closed Nov. 4, Andy Hughes, Southeast Regional Planning Chief, emailed yesterday that the Borough's comment would be welcomed and appropriate.
The third resolution pertains to the newly formed Haines Port Steering Committee (HPSC). The purpose of the resolution is to conform the HPSC to Haines Borough Code 2.60, Committees, Boards, and Commissions. The Manager, Darsie Culbeck, and I are collaborating.
The ordinance to be introduced covers the changes to Assembly procedures I presented at the Nov. 3 work session: an additional agenda category to provide for Assembly motions to designate topics for the next meeting's agenda (2.10.020); removal of the limit on the number of opportunities for a member of the Assembly to speak (2.10.060(D)); removal of the requirement for the Assembly to review invoices before payments are made (3.04.050), and the removal of the requirement for all Resolutions to be read out loud before the Assembly votes (2.12.110).
Materials are due to the Clerk by tomorrow at 8 AM! I better get busy. I am grateful for today's electronic communication. Hopefully I'll be able to press "send" to Julie Cozzi's inbox before I board my flight to Fairbanks at 1 this afternoon.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Day 5: Sorting out FERC
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) made a mistake. As a result, the period to comment on the AP&T and Goat Lake Hydro application for a FERC permit for the Connelly Lake project (P-14229-000) in the Haines Borough has been extended to January 3, 2012.
Our contact at FERC is:
Filing comments is relatively straight forward using FERC's elibrary. Click on the "eComment" link on the left side of the page. If you get stuck, there is online support. The key piece of information you need is the docket number: P-14229-000.
I will ask the Haines Borough Assembly if it would like to comment on behalf of the Borough. If so, I expect that a draft of an Assembly comment will be taken up at the December 13 meeting.
Our contact at FERC is:
Brooks CarterOnce notified of the oversight, Mr. Carter moved quickly to correct it. Mr. Carter explained that there were errors in the addresses for four entities including the Municipality of Skagway and the Haines Borough.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First St NE, Rm 1A-1
Washington, DC 20426
202-502-8145
brooks.carter@ferc.gov
Filing comments is relatively straight forward using FERC's elibrary. Click on the "eComment" link on the left side of the page. If you get stuck, there is online support. The key piece of information you need is the docket number: P-14229-000.
I will ask the Haines Borough Assembly if it would like to comment on behalf of the Borough. If so, I expect that a draft of an Assembly comment will be taken up at the December 13 meeting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)