‘Safety and noise’

PALMER — In a controversial move, Palmer City Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday to postpone its vote on a noise permit for Valkyrie Security, which had planned to purchase the old Fred Meyer building for a gun range, store, and gunsmithing facility. Valkyrie proposed spending $10 million and nearly two years on further construction for the building to create their gun range, proposing that 70 jobs would be created by the facility. With the vote to postpone until the April 24 meeting, council members promoted the ability of the public to give their thoughts on the matter that had been introduced with little warning.

The fireworks began with the 13 public commenters, including Larry Clark of Valkyrie Security and Asset Protection. Ten public commenters opposed AM 18-048, ‘City Council Providing a Favorable Opinion, In Accordance with Palmer Municipal Code 9.74.010 Discharge of Firearms, to Allow the City Manager to Issue an Indoor Gun and Target Range Permit.’

The timeliness of the vote gave it controversy. The City of Palmer has nothing to do with the sale of the old Fred Meyer building, save for the noise permit. Kroger is in charge of sale of the building, and already has an offer on the table from U-Haul, whose 60-day window will expire before the April 24 meeting, thus forcing a make-or-break vote by the Council. Valkyrie’s offer is rumored to be substantially higher than that of U-Haul, as well as create more jobs, but Valkyrie is required to have the noise permit before submitting their offer.

“I feel like I have a duty to the constituents of the City of Palmer to ensure that they have had ample time, that they have had their voice heard on an issue that they may or may not be passionate about. And I feel something like this was inappropriate for us to put this on the agenda without it being a public hearing and I think having additional time for us as a community to digest this plan is good for you (Clark) and is good for the community,” said Councilman Pete LaFrance.

Overwhelming outcry from the public commenters was for further opportunity for more citizens and businesspeople to voice their concerns. Many complained that they had only heard of the ordinance within the last 24 hours. Some proposed that the industrial park would be a more appropriate place for the business. Few were philosophically opposed to the concept of a gun range on site. Lynn Fuller began by saying that she, herself, was a gun owner. Rob Sardasky claimed he worked at a gun store in college, but 10 of 13 speakers wanted more time for the public to gather information and communicate their desires to the Council.

“Our evaluation of this type of use is only based on noise and safety,” said Councilman Brad Hanson. “If we don’t make the decision, it’s a done deal. They can’t do it.”

Discussion from the council regarding AM 18-048 centered around three items. Possible noise and safety concerns posed by the gun range were mostly squashed. However, the amount of time allowed for the public to comment on the issue before passage of the noise permit persisted. In a letter to the Council, Clark lauded Valkyrie’s promise for creation of jobs and safety standards to be put in place that would be higher than the NRA standards required for gun ranges.

“Some of them have concerns that I feel have been addressed. My question to you, by postponing what is it more that we might be able to get.. Because you’ve heard from folks that had concerns, I’m sure we’ll have a bunch of folks show up that are in support, but how does that change the information that is provided before us tonight by postponing?” questioned Deputy Mayor Richard Best.

Council members brought up two nearby day care facilities and the Post Office as high traffic areas that would be adversely affected by firearm introduction. Councilman Pete LaFrance wondered if the nearby gunfire would be an issue for any Palmer residents suffering from PTSD. The Council voted to suspend the rules to question Clark on his company’s plans and if the noise or safety would be an issue. The facility would feature on site EMS in case of injury within the range, and would be located across the street from the Palmer Fire Department, who also evaluated the business plan brought forward by Valkyrie. The facility would be the first of it’s kind as a made in Alaska manufacturing facility with a Federal Firearms License and would build AR platform rifles, pistols, and other guns about 2 years after the facility finished construction.

“There’s two ways of doing something: right, and again. I’m not doing it again,” said Clark.

Noise would not pervade past the parking lot and would likely be drowned out by the adjacent highway, as repeatedly pointed out by Councilman David Fuller. The issue seemed to center around a standard of “disturbing the peace.”

The Council packet summary for the action memoranda reads “In accordance with Palmer Municipal Code (PMC) 9.74.010 Discharge of Firearms, a permit may be issued when, in the opinion of the city council, the same would not disturb the peace, and the facilities and procedures followed conform with the recommendations of the National Rifle Association (NRA) as to safety.”

“It’s hard for me to look the community in the face and say ‘I can guarantee this won’t disturb the peace,’” said LaFrance.

City Manager Nathan Wallace answered questions on how the City enforces noise complaints. The range likely would not reach a measurable decibel level of discomfort anywhere outside the building, but that complaints would be logged and counted as they were called in. The biennial permit that the Council will consider on April 24 could theoretically be denied in two years.

“My first reaction was, ‘hell no, not in my town.,” said Councilwoman Sabrena Combs. “I don’t want to see a Best Buy, a U-Haul, or a box store, and I don’t want to see a shooting range. But I also want to think about what’s best for our town as far as local businesses... I think our job as a council is to make sure that we’re also thinking best financially for our city. If it is as successful as you say it is — 60 to 80 jobs — that is something we need to consider. That’s a lot of jobs. Holding this up for allowing more public comment would be in my best interest as far as our constituents. I’m very torn. I’m not sure how I’m going to vote here in a second.”

Council members LaFrance, Combs, Steve Carrington, and Mayor Edna DeVries voted in favor of postponing the decision on the noise permit. The role of government weighing on free enterprise within the city, while at the same time looking to protect constituents from noise or danger weighed heavy on the council vote.

Councilmen David Fuller, Hanson, and Best voted against holding the vote that night. Best was visibly upset immediately following the vote and left the room.

“We have a code the businesses look at and try to adhere to and make their decision of investment — safety and noise,” Hanson said. “If they’re satisfied then I think we need to make a decision in the affirmative to issue a permit. If they’re not then the permit shouldn’t be issued, but we have a code that we put out to look at and read and adhere to, and we need to adhere to it.”

The Council also conducted their other regularly scheduled business, including awarding a $500 community grant to the Boy Scouts for their April 19 Pinewood Derby. The Council also heard communication from DOT Highway Design Chief James Amundsen on how to pursue further grants for a crosswalk at the intersection of S. Valley Way and Arctic, near the YAK. Mayor Edna DeVries detailed in her report that a developer plans to subdivide into half-acre lots the northern side of Cedar Hills, which is within City limits.