All residents lose with smaller city planning commission

Despite being in the heart of the population hub of the fastest growing area in Alaska, the city of Wasilla can’t find enough qualified people to fill its seven-member planning commission.

The lack of interest in serving on the commission has become such a concern that Mayor Verne Rupright introduced an ordinance Monday asking the council to shrink the Wasilla Planning Commission from seven to five members. It’s a drastic move any time a public entity opts for less diversity and fewer viewpoints to make decisions that will shape a community for decades into the future.

Public apathy certainly plays a role in this paradox, because although the city and surrounding area have grown by leaps and bounds, it’s clear that many of those new residents don’t have enough of an emotional buy-in to volunteer for public service.

Besides, the amount of work involved with being on the planning commission can be daunting. It requires a personal commitment of time by people who see value in chipping in to help build this place.

In talking with Rupright and Wasilla City Councilman Brandon Wall for Sunday’s story on the proposal to reduce the commission, we learned there’s another hurdle that has ultimately kept qualified, willing volunteers from serving. It seems the depth and intrusive nature of Alaska Public Offices Commission reporting required for people designated “municipal officers” often is the deciding factor.

“On the one hand, I am surprised there’s a lack of interest. But when some people are affronted with the APOC requirement, forget it,” Rupright said. “They figure, ‘why is it any of your business how many kids I have, what I do for a living, etc.’ It’s an incredible intrusion, and Alaskans by nature are pretty independent.”

Rather than reduce the planning commission, the city voters have another option — exempt Wasilla municipal officers from such reporting (political candidates would still be subject to election reporting regulations). It’s an option a majority of municipalities in the state have chosen, said July Lam, a public official financial disclosure specialist with APOC.

In those cases, the municipality creates its own disclosure and conflict of interest process. In the Valley, Palmer became exempt in 1975 and Houston in 1976. Both Wasilla and the Mat-Su Borough require APOC reporting.

That exemption only comes at the ballot box, a question Wasilla voters rejected 519 to 370 in 2010, which brings the dilemma full-circle.

Wasilla cannot keep a full seven-member planning commission seated for any length of time, yet voters have decided one of the main obstacles in seating that body will remain in place. It’s time for citizens in this growing community to step up and either be willing to serve with the APOC reporting requirements or vote to exempt the city.

Either is a better option than reducing public representation and participation on the Wasilla Planning Commission.