Budget, annexation on Palmer agenda

Nov. 28, 2006

By LEILA KHEIRY

Frontiersman

PALMER - The city of Palmer's 2007 budget is the big-ticket item on tonight's Palmer City Council meeting agenda.

A public hearing is scheduled to hear comments about the proposed $18, 621, 728 budget. The council will not vote on the budget until after tonight's public hearing and another hearing on Dec. 12, according to the budget resolution.

The resolution calls for a fixed 3-mill property tax for city property owners.

The most expensive sections of the budget include the general fund, about $7.6 million; capital projects, about $3.5 million; water and sewer improvements, about $3.1 million; and the water and sewer fund, about $1.2 million.

Also on tonight's agenda is a discussion of the city's proposed annexation of land surrounding city limits. The discussion is expected to center on a recent memo from the city manager regarding annexation.

According to the memo, the purpose of annexing more land into the city is:

€ To promote orderly growth and development. The city's use of zoning and stricter development requirements guides growth, the memo states. &#8220Land use regulations outside city boundaries are limited to conditional use permits for intense and noxious uses, which are required for only a small number of development projects. As areas outside the city are developed, it is in the community's interest to assure that growth is consistent with city standards. This is particularly important along major highway corridors serving Palmer, including the new Bogard Road extension, where vacant properties can be expected to develop commercially.”

€ To remedy inequalities faced by city taxpayers. &#8220City services and infrastructure benefit both residents of the city and the broader community of Palmer. This includes safe, well-lighted streets and subdivisions; library, parks and recreational facilities and police services. City police periodically provide police service outside the city boundaries. In some cases, city boundaries run down the middle of the road. The city maintains some of these roads, meaning that properties not in the city receive the benefit of city services without contributing to the cost of the service through property or sales tax. In ail of these instances, city taxpayers pay for such services in large part through property taxes. Non-residents users in the broader community do not directly pay for such services. With the extension of city utilities outside city boundaries, there is a strong probability of increased commercial development in areas close to, but not in the city. This has the potential for those developments to impact the city without contributing tax revenue.”

€ To provide services needed by outlying areas. &#8220The lack of basic land use, planning and police services in the area adjacent to Palmer has a direct effect on the quality of life in those areas as well as the existing city. The city can provide land use planning and police services to the entire area for a reasonable cost and in an efficient and effective manner.”

€ To enfranchise individuals. &#8220Residents of the outlying area are part of the broader community of Palmer. City policies and services directly affect their daily lives. Annexation will allow them to participate in city government. The suggested area for annexation reflects similar economic, sociological, physical and cultural characteristics of Palmer.”

€ To provide more orderly boundaries. &#8220The city's 2003 annexation eliminated several enclaves and areas of inefficient boundaries. However, areas along West Arctic Avenue, a portion of Scott Road, and the Glenn Highway that are outside the city still receive city police and road maintenance services. The development of more orderly boundaries will address these issues.”

€ To protect and enhance the city's tax base. &#8220Within the city, there is a lack of large undeveloped properties suitable for commercial or industrial use. Such activities next to the city's existing boundaries will not be subject city development standards and sales taxes, may contribute to increased traffic impacts, and may adversely affect existing business inside the city. As the area population spurs such growth, it is critical that the city include areas suitable for these types of development.”

€ To include areas undergoing growth and development. &#8220There are areas outside the city that are undergoing growth and development, or where growth may be reasonably predicted during the 10-year annexation planning period. Historically, commercial development takes place along major transportation routes. The expansion of city water and sewer utilities along the Glenn Highway allows for denser development on that transportation corridor. The extensions of Bogard Road to the Glenn Highway will likely transverse undeveloped properties which will also develop commercially. Bogard Road will be a major east-west connector running through the city of Palmer. It is important that city planning and land use standards apply to these areas of potential development.”

A special meeting will precede tonight's regular meeting. The special meeting is set to start at 6 p.m., and the council will discuss the Bogard Road project.

The regular meeting will start at 7 p.m. Both will take place at Palmer City Hall, 231 W. Evergreen Ave. in Palmer, and public comment periods are scheduled during both meetings.

For more information, visit the city of Palmer's Web site at www.cityofpalmer.org.