Palmer Council holds strategic planning session

PALMER — The Palmer City Council had a light agenda at their meeting Jan. 26 to enter into a committee on the whole for a strategic planning session with Evyette Flynn, the Principal Consultant at Legna Consulting Group LLC.

Flynn was raised in Anchorage and has helped with strategic planning and budget and economic analysis for over 35 years in Alaska. Flynn discussed how she became fascinated with policy regulation and asked each of the council members to check in with one another and describe their vision for the city within the next five to seven years.

“Strategic planning is nothing more than figuring out what direction you want to be going,” said Flynn. “This is another point in time for you to take a check where are we today in Palmer, where you would like to be five years from now and my hope would be that as you look at this and plan for the city you think about what imprint you want to have on the community and where you’d like to see Palmer go.”

Councilman Richard Best began the discussion, noting that he envisioned health in the economics of Palmer and the residents of the community. Best specifically noted that sidewalks should be held to a higher standard.

“Communicate better, I think all of the services that we have from water sewer to the police, I think each of those groups strive to do better so I don’t think we should ever stop asking them to better, at what at, I don’t think can always be defined,” said Best.

The current estimated population of Palmer is 5,997, significantly down from the 2017 estimation of 6,223. Palmer increased revenues over the last three years by 11 percent from $8.3 million in 2017 to $9.2 million for 2021. Sales tax makes up most of the general fund revenues at 84 percent with property taxes accounting for 16 percent of the general fund revenues. Councilwoman Julie Berberich agreed with much of what Best said and added that she wanted Palmer to be a destination.

“We talk about this a lot actually about, Palmer being a destination town, not a town that is a drive by town on your way,” said Berberich. “I think that there’s just so much opportunity and with that opportunity as a destination town, what comes with that is economic growth it’s people who want to invest in this town or people who would like to start businesses here and move here and be a part of the economy in Palmer and contribute to the economy in Palmer.”

The expenditures in Palmer have increased 1 percent over the last three years from $11.5 million in 2018 to $11.6 million in 2021. The fund balance currently sits at $3 million. Jill Valerius wondered how mixed use housing spaces could be introduced into Palmer.

“Our public works does a really nice job trying to clear things the best that they can, the other thing I think we need to think about is in creating more activity. What I see is that when we have a community that has a lot of green space, outdoor activity promotion, access to trails, we do have a healthier community because people get outside,” said Valerius.

With a young son who recently received his license to drive, Councilman Steve Carrington has become increasingly concerned about the state of winter roads. City Manager John Moosey noted that the airport in Palmer is running out of lease lots, but has seen increasing popularity despite the bankruptcy of RAVN last year. Moosey noted that the Alaska Airman’s Association is holding their 2021 Great Alaska Aviation gathering in Palmer at the airport and fairgrounds on May 8 and 9. Typically, the gathering would be held at Fed-Ex.

“We’re going to need more space and so I think focusing on responsible annexation is a huge priority for us right now,” said Deputy Mayor Sabrena Combs. “I don’t think there’s a lot of space left in Palmer without taking out more of our green space and maybe just changing buildings.”

Mayor Edna DeVries discussed the difficulty of trash pickup boundaries in Palmer and the desire to provide another industrial park for large businesses. The strategic planning session with Flynn will be continued at another meeting of the Palmer city Council.