Palmer eases restrictions on where some employees can live

PALMER — The city offices may be losing some of its local flavor as employees are now allowed more leeway to live outside of Palmer.

In the past, department directors were required to live within 10 miles of the city limits 180 days after employment. The public safety director, fire chief, police chief, police officers and dispatchers had to reside within 15 miles of city limits with the same 180-day time frame.

An ordinance passed the city council Tuesday struck down the residency requirement for department directors, police officers and dispatchers. The public safety director, police chief and fire chief still have the 15-mile requirement. Councilman Brad Hanson cast the only dissenting vote. Hanson was not available for comment.

Asked why the change, City Manager Bill Allen said the residency requirement tied his hands behind his back to hire the best and the brightest.

“I would like to force everybody who works for the city to live here,” Allen said, “but it would be counterproductive to our mission to achieve excellence in the service we provide to the people of the city.”

Allen said there are 7,000 jobs in Palmer and only 5,000 people living in the 5.2-square miles of Palmer, so it’s inherent some employees will not live in the city. If they are qualified, typically they are already working somewhere else, he continued.

“To force people to move here,” Allen said, “they’re just not going to do it.”

Councilman Michael Chmielewski asked what is magical about a particular number. On what basis is 10 miles the right number to limit people to, he asked. One spot 10 miles away could take twice as long to get to as another spot also 10 miles away.

“The mileage alone is an easy way to judge someone for employment,” Chmielewski said, “but it doesn’t really hold up under scrutiny. What makes sense is to have hiring practices that attracts good employees, treats them well and has reasonable requirements.”

John Owen, the director of public safety, does not foresee any problems with allowing police officers to live farther out. The change is in line with other neighboring police departments, Owen said, and officers with take-home cars are still required to live within 10 miles of city limits. The three people needed on the scene of an emergency immediately — himself, the police chief and the fire chief — are all still required to live in the area, Owen said.

Chmielewski sees the rule change as potential benefit to the city’s economy rather than hurting it. He said the economic development of Palmer is not dependent on just the people who live there but on everyone who comes to the city for jobs or any other reason. He does not see the rule taking jobs away from the citizens of Palmer, but rather it will bring more people to the city.

Allen said there is a terrific amount of disposable income leakage already, and there is not much the city can do except promote buying locally. While it may not be written into the new ordinance, it’s common sense that local candidates will get favorable consideration, he said.

“If you have two qualified people applying for a job, one from Palmer and one from Anchorage, guess who’s going to get the job,” Allen said.

The rule was changed to bring the code up to the current conditions of the economy, not because the new finance director is from Eagle River, Allen said. He said this has been in the queue for some time to make sure the city’s code is meaningful and effective.

Chmielewski agreed, saying, “Our intention is to get away from any need to micro-manage personnel issues and put in place policies employees can follow with some assurance.”