AIM - Hillside District Plan

AIM Regarding Hillside District Plan Page 2

Date: April 11, 2006

From: Assemblymembers janice shamberg and chris birch

Subject: HILLSIDE DISTRICT PLAN

The intent of the Hillside District Plan (HDP) is to prepare a plan that implements the goals of Anchorage 2020—Anchorage Bowl Comprehensive Plan and is inclusive of the Hillside Wastewater Management Plan. The HDP will cover the geographic area generally described as south of Abbott Road, east of the New Seward Highway, exclusive of Independence Park Subdivision, west and north of Chugach State Park and, possibly, Stuckagain Heights. The HDP is intended to address the following inter-related issues in a comprehensive district plan approach:

· Land use and residential density

· Management of wastewater disposal and public water supply

· Areawide drainage

· Roads and drainage maintenance

· Transportation

· Wildfire hazard and other natural hazard mitigation

· Public safety access

· Unique environmental issues and open space

· Access to Chugach State Park

· Resolve the need to: Identify Levels of Service for public facilities and services

· Resolve the need to: Delineate an Urban/Rural Services Boundary

Issues overlap several different departments and their respective functions, requiring a coordinated multi-agency process to address them. Once adopted, the HDP will be an element of the Comprehensive Plan and will serve as a policy to guide subsequent actions of the Municipality.

On March 16, 2006, the Municipality contracted with Lindsey Holmes of RISE Alaska, LLC, as Project Manager for the HDP. The Project Manager is responsible for writing the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Lead Consultant; serving as liaison between the Policy Committee, Oversight Committee and Lead Consultant; and managing work performed by the Lead Consultant to ensure the scope of work is completed in a timely manner and within budget.

The Project Organization chart (attached) shows the two committees that will provide direction to the Project Manager. The Policy Committee consists of the Mayor, Municipal Manager, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Community Development, Anchorage Water and Wastewater (AWWU) General Manger, and the Project Manager (ex officio). The Oversight Committee, which will also serve as the RFP review committee for selection of a Lead Consultant, is composed of representatives of the Administration, Planning, Traffic, Project Management and Engineering, Development Services, and AWWU, as well as three Community Representatives: John Weddleton, Chris Hamre, and Connie Yoshimura.

The Project Manager, in consultation with participating municipal departments, is currently preparing the RFP to hire a Lead Consultant for this project. The Lead Consultant will work closely with the Citizen Advisory Committee and the Technical Committee (see attached Project Organization chart), develop and direct the public participation program, coordinate the departmental data collection and consolidation, provide technical coordination and mapping support for the project, and prepare the Hillside District Plan. The RFP for the Lead Consultant is expected to be released by early May 2006.

We will also appoint the 10 to15 members of the Citizen Advisory Committee, which will work directly with the Lead Consultant. The due date for submitting recommendations for consideration for membership on this Committee is June 1, 2006.

Attachment: Project Organization Chart