Wasilla City Council approves purchase of land for future airport expansion

WASILLA — The Wasilla City Council voted unanimously to approve a $906,000 purchase of 70 acres adjacent to the Wasilla Airport for future airport expansion. The council also awarded prizes to the winners of the coloring contest and approved new members to the Parks and Recreation Commission along with other regularly scheduled business.

“We have uses for that space. Part of the space is wetlands and will never be developed but it’s an entire parcel there. We have uses for the space for aprons and hangers, places where it will generate revenue to help cover the operating costs of the airport, but more importantly make our airport more accessible to more persons and that’s certainly what we want,” Deputy Mayor Graham said concerning OR 18-25 to amend the budget to purchase 70 acres near the airport for future development.

“I think that the development of the airport is something that’s important in the 10-20 year range for this city. I think that as we grow as a community and, not just within the city, again, it just makes sense to me that that airport grows with us,” Councilman Tim Burney said.

Mayor Bert Cottle stated that he didn’t want to have to buy a number of houses that could be built on the area if left dormant until the seemingly inevitable expansion of the airport. Cottle also believed it would attract future funding and emergency preparedness of the city to fly C-130’s and helicopters.

The city of Wasilla hosted a coloring contest at their library and museum this summer and awarded winners in four age groups. Winners were presented with City of Wasilla gift bags. Cottle discussed that Planning and Zoning would be examining code pertaining to Air BnBs.

The Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 300 spoke before the Council to volunteer his service to the community alongside his Boy Scout Troop.

“I’d like to help the city out and in turn this would be helping out my guys. A lot of them need service hours.”

“If you come to my office any time you want to, we’ll set up whatever we need to,” Cottle said.

Deputy Mayor Stu Graham questioned the minutes from previous meetings, as he thought that a motion he had made was not reflected in the minutes.

“Should this packet reflect the amended agenda which was approved or should it affect an initial agenda which was proposed,” Graham questioned.

“They were requested to be moved after I read the consent agenda into the record,” City Clerk Jamie Newman responded.

Cottle detailed that Planning and Zoning would be examining the code that discusses Air BnB’s.

“When the code was written there was no such thing as air bnb’s if they’re going to be in town it might be to our advantage to regulate them,” Cottle said.

Councilwoman Gretchen O’Barr required an explanation from City Attorney Leslie Need, as she did not understand what an Air Bnb was.

“Typically short term rentals that that are done out of people’s homes. They’re either renting out a room in their house, their entire house or some other combination of that but it’s contemplated to be a sort of shorter term rental,” Need explained.

Cottle reminded that on, AUG. 15 at Menard Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stuff The Bus will be accepting school supplies donations, and Friday at 4 p.m. the city of Wasilla will break ground on the new veterans wall project.