AARP’s role in Mat-Su highlighted at Palmer council meeting

PALMER — The Palmer City Council passed an ordinance adopting new regulations for the Warren "Bud" Woods Palmer Municipal Airport on Tuesday night at City Hall in Palmer.

The council also recognized community servants, established 'Education and Sharing Day' and heard a number of presentations, including one from Terry Snyder, president of the Alaska Chapter of AARP. Ken Osterkamp, the State Director for the AARP in Alaska presented with Snyder, an active member in the Palmer community on the AARP's Age-Friendly Communities program. AARP, the largest member organization in Alaska, has selected the Mat-Su Valley as its community of focus, and stated that Alaska is aging at the fastest rate in the country, twice the national rate. Alaska has the highest concentration of aging baby boomers in the nation, according to Osterkamp. The program outlines its process for attaining the Age-Friendly Communities designation, and the benefits of gaining the title.

"It seems like this program would have the mechanisms for that introspection and community involvement to make us a more livable community for all our members," said city councilman Pete LaFrance.

The presentation seemed to be well received by the board, who were interested in further communication with AARP on an evaluation of what steps would need to be taken to become the state’s first community with the Age-Friendly designation. Nearly every Council member mentioned their praise for the presentation during the closing comments at the end of the meeting.

"I think for us to be able to work with AARP and pose the question to folks within that group and bring back that data to us, that's going to educate us to what they believe their needs are," said City Councilman Richard Best.

The Mayor and City Council proclaimed 'Education and Sharing Day' as April 7, 2017 and "encouraged residents to reach out to young people and to work to create a brighter and more hopeful future for all."

The Mayor recognized two community servants who had dedicated time to improving the community after earning degrees. After learning of their plans to stay in Palmer following the end of their service, DeVries said, “We’re glad you love it here too.”

City Manager Nathan Wallace’s report included an update on the Palmer emergency dispatch, which will cease in July, but may face staffing problems ahead of that termination date. Wallace also updated the council on the ongoing contract negotiations with Palmer Fire Department and the Mat-Su Borough. Wallace stated the Palmer Fire Department has been protecting the Greater Palmer Service Area, which includes the entire Mat-Su Valley, and is not what had been agreed upon in the previous contract.

The board also heard public comment from Rachel Greenberg, head of the Mat-Su Senior Services in Palmer, who echoed many of the priorities of the aging community. She also invited the council to lunch with the seniors. Greenberg said that liver and onions day is the most popular day in the kitchen, and advised the council members to call ahead to find out what they were serving if they wanted to have lunch at the senior center.

Having previously tabled the council vote on adopting new airport regulations, new language was added in an attempt to create clarity of the legislation. The regulations were again discussed at length before the council took an at-ease to discuss with the City Attorney Michael Gatti how the ordinance may be interpreted and enforced. When the board returned from the at-ease, the board unanimously passed the ordinance.

"What we need to do is get it right, and this is right," said City Councilman Brad Hanson.

The language in question was concerning aircraft repair, stating that a mobile mechanic must have a current City of Palmer Business license with the approval of the Airport Superintendent Frank Kelly.

"We believe that we got it right," said Best. "If a layman reads it and says 'What's it take to do business here?' I think it didn't give enough information. Updated, it is more clear, but still allows administration to have policy issues within that."

Tim Rockey is a freelance writer from Palmer. Contact him at timothy.rockey@gmail.com.