Assembly’s Strategic Investment in the Private Property Cleanup Program
JASON ORTIZ | The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly has strategically invested in the community by launching the innovative Private Property Cleanup Program. This initiative, aimed at enhancing our neighborhoods’ aesthetic and environmental quality, focuses on cleaning up private properties with active code compliance cases.
To spearhead this effort, a new Program Coordinator was hired as a seasonal employee, starting on July 22, 2024, and continuing through December 31, 2024. The Program Coordinator oversees all aspects of the cleanup operations, including managing logistics, supervising volunteers, and ensuring that all activities comply with local codes.
The program operates through two primary approaches. The first involves partnering with local nonprofits to tackle cleanup cases. Every nonprofit was surveyed throughout the Borough and interested parties responded and have been employed and started undertaking these projects. The second is a collaborative effort between the Mat-Su Borough and the Department of Law, offering an alternative to traditional prosecution. Eligible defendants can report to the Program Coordinator, who organizes the cleanups and helps beautify the community.
This approach provides these individuals with a constructive way to serve their community and benefits property owners and the broader community by addressing code compliance issues and improving neighborhood aesthetics.
The initiative is making significant progress despite the challenges of managing such an ambitious program—including difficulties in contacting property owners and securing their participation. The cleanup team is about to complete its sixth property, marking a milestone in the program’s ongoing efforts to reach 20 properties before the end of the season.
As the program continues to evolve, it is a testament to the Assembly’s proactive approach to community improvement and civic engagement.
This investment enhances the visual appeal of our neighborhoods and fosters a stronger sense of community pride and responsibility.
For more information on the Private Property Cleanup Program or how to get involved, please contact Jason Ortiz, Development Services Manager.
RODNEY FODGE | The MSB Planning Department's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) FY26 nomination results are in! FY26 Nomination Results – Scroll through the story map to get a detailed look at the submitted nominations and the rank order in terms of priorities.
FY27 Nomination Handbook – Click for a quick look at the new handbook for FY27 nominations; a few changes should be noted, e.g., the cost max. Project nominations are accepted year-round. August 1 of every year is the last day projects can be submitted before they are validated and handed off to the Scoring Committee for scoring.FY26 CIP scored projects will be presented to the Planning Commission and
Assembly this fall.
Below are the upcoming meeting dates:
September 16 - Planning Commission Introduction
October 7 - Planning Commission Public Hearing
October 15 - Assembly Introduction
November 19 - Assembly Public
HearingFor more information, please visit the CIP website, or contact Long-Range Planner, Rodney Fodge: 907-861-8439.
The Borough’s Historic Preservation Plan update is getting ready to receive public comment!
Check out our website to review the report from Phase I of the project. Starting November 1st, you’ll be able to read and make comment on the draft plan! We can’t wait to hear what you think!
TAUNNIE BOOTHBY | An International Research group is studying the potential of permafrost-thaw-induced landslides in Alaska and the Arctic. The project is entitled, “Surviving the thaw of frozen mountains. ”
They will be holding a two-day workshop on mitigating the hazard of permafrost-thaw-induced landslides in Alaska and the Arctic, where we will bring together scientists from Alaska, Europe, and Iceland, rightsholders, and stakeholder communities, to discuss how to improve the co-production of knowledge between researchers and local communities on landslides in environments affected by permafrost degradation.
The workshop will focus on recommendations for co-creating an ongoing project with a focus on the research, monitoring, prevention, and mitigation of permafrost-thaw induced landslides hazard, gathering both Indigenous and local knowledge from three of the most affected countries in the Arctic, namely Alaska, Iceland, and Greenland. The workshop will collect researchers, Indigenous People, local residents, land managers, agencies, stakeholders and rightsholders’ experiences and skills to create broad and lively discussions leading towards useful recommendations to improve a successful co-created project.
Workshop results will be summarized in a report that will guide future actions to mitigate landslide hazards in degrading permafrost terrains in Southcentral Alaska and raise awareness of similar phenomena in other Arctic areas. This information will be included in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough All-Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, which will be updated in 2025.
An evening public meeting in the Glacier View Community on October 23, 2024, will provide a summary and opportunity to discuss the research findings. Additionally, a public meeting will be held within the core area between Palmer and Wasilla on October 24, 2024 at 6:30 pm; the location is to be announced.
For more information, please contact Taunnie Boothby, CFM (Certified Floodplain Manager), Current Planner: (907) 861-8526.
RODNEY FODGE | The MSB Planning Department has received a valid petition from the residents of Fuller Lake to start the Lake Management Plan (LMP) initiation process. On June 24, 2024, the petition was validated, and ballots were mailed to all shoreline parcels asking residents to provide their preference for or against an LMP. The ballot period closed on September 13, 2024, and the final ballot count came back with 54% of the residents wanting to move forward with the initiation of the LMP.
The next step in this process is to hold public meetings. This will give the residents of Fuller Lake and the Public a chance to meet and discuss current uses and issues on the lake and to learn about the menu of enforceable regulations (MSB Code 17.59) the Borough can include in the plan for the Assembly to vote on.
PUBLIC MEETINGS:
Thursday, October 10
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Wasilla Public Library
& via TEAMS
Thursday, October 17
5:00 - 7:00 pmWasilla Public Library
& via TEAMS
Additional information, meeting links, and project updates will be shared via the project website (link below).
Waterbody Setback Advisory Board
Tuesday, September 17 @ 5PM
Transportation Advisory Board
Friday, September 20 @ 11AM
MSB Fish & Wildlife Commission
Thursday, September 26 @ 4PM
Thursday, October 10 @ 4PM
MVP for Transportation MPO Policy Board
Tuesday, September 17 @ 2PM
Tuesday, October 15 @ 2PM
MVP for Transportation MPO Technical Committee
Tuesday, October 8 @ 2PM
Platting Board
Thursday, September 19 @ 1PM
Thursday, October 3 @ 1PM
Thursday, October 17 @ 1PM
Planning Commission
Monday, September 16@ 6PM
Monday, October 7 @ 6PM
Monday, October 21 @ 6PM
Assembly
Tuesday, October 1 @ 6PM
Tuesday, October 15 @ 6PM
Joint Assembly & Planning Commission:
Tuesday, October 8 @ 6PM
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