Palmer again delays decision on joining transportation planning group with Wasilla, Mat-Su Borough

Palmer’s council has again delayed a decision on joining a planned Municipal Planning Organization, or MPO, that would coordinate federal and state transportation projects in a Wasilla-Palmer corridor.

The organization is made possible because of population growth in the area shown in the 2020 census. This has now led the federal government to recognize the area as urban rather than rural, allowing local municipalities to have a greater say on federal and state transportation decisions through an MPO.

No matter what Palmer does, however, the MPO will form anyway under federal and state guidelines. The rule is that the regional municipality, in this case the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the largest city in the borough, in this case Wasilla, must be members.

Both entities favor the MPO, which is enough for it to form. Palmer isn’t required to be a member, although there are advantages to being part of the organization since it will influence state and federal-funded projects in and near the city.

The MPO will make decisions on using an estimated $12 million year in transportation funding.

These decisions are now made by the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, but the local municipalities, at least those on the MPO board will have a big say in them through the new planning organization once it is formed.

Palmer’s council is essentially deadlocked on whether to join or not. The question had been postponed previously to the Aug. 7 council meeting but then postponed again after the body was split three to three on any pro or con action.

The concerns that have been voiced are mainly that that the concept of an MPO is new and what it does is not well understood.

Also, there could be unintended consequences with an entity that is not an arm of a municipality, although it is likely that elected municipal officials would sit on the MPO board. It also seems unusual that the MPO would legally exist as a nonprofit corporation, not an arm of municipal of state government.

Council member Richard Best said he is concerned with creating “another layer if government that could include unelected people, which would be slid between the city of Palmer and the state,” and which could in effect usurp the will of the people.”

Best said he is looking for answers to his questions about MPOS from the state, and “until I get them my vote is going to be no.”

Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington argues the other side of this, however.

“The MPO will be formed whether we’re part of it or not,” he said.

It would be better to be at the table when decisions are made, he said, “to prevent something we don’t know about being crammed down our throats.”

Tudor, another council member, said he has heard from more people in support of the idea than opposed to it. “We’re not going to stop an MPO from being formed,” he said.

One change in the MPO proposal that the council previously requested is the right to withdraw after joining the group.

Although MPOs are new in Alaska there are two that exist now, one in Anchorage and the second in Fairbanks. Mat-Su’s MPO would be the third.