2026-08-31 - Lands, Housing & Economic Development Committee

Summary

Built from the official committee minutes. No video is posted, so there is no transcript or timing.

Chair Hughes-Skandijs with Steininger, Hall and Kelly; staff included Lands Manager Bleidorn, Deputy City Manager Barr, Attorney Wright and Director Wheeler. Adjourned at 6:01 PM; next meeting moved to September 21.
Agenda and the May 4 and July 13 minutes approved as presented.
Parks e-bike ordinance amended (adaptive bicycles as Class 1, fine of $150, Class 1 only on Eaglecrest and Nordic trails) and forwarded to the full Assembly; the broader second ordinance stays in committee.
Mount Jumbo building: sealed competitive bid sale supported without objection.
Four lot disposals supported without objection.
Request to buy a North Franklin Street parcel postponed to the next meeting.

Steininger noted the advisory committee's $25 fine versus an existing $150 fine; Wheeler said the committee saw it as educational but agreed a higher fine would draw attention.
Hall asked about a driver's license for Class 2 and 3 riders; Barr said state law is ambiguous after a vetoed bill and suggested keeping the issue in committee.
Enforcement: class is hard to see; Wheeler called electric motorcycles the biggest problem, treated as gas powered by police. Class 1 is pedal assist to 20 mph, Class 2 has a throttle to 20 mph, Class 3 is pedal assist to 28 mph; Wheeler said 28 mph is too fast for city trails.
Steininger moved adaptive bicycles be treated as Class 1 (unanimous), moved the fine to $150, and moved to include Eaglecrest and Nordic trails as Class 1 only (passed). His amendment to allow Class 3 on trails was withdrawn after objections from Hughes-Skandijs and Kelly.
Steininger moved to forward the amended ordinance to the Assembly; passed. Kelly preferred introducing the second ordinance immediately; it remains in committee. Hall wants no driver's license required.

Hall moved to support a sealed competitive bid sale at 4th and D Street in Douglas, minimum bid set by appraisal, and to direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance. No objections.

Motions of support, all without objection: Kelly for an appraisal and forwarding of a Point Lena Loop Road lot; Steininger for an appraisal of USS 3545 Lot 212; Hall for Taku Valley Subdivision Lot 26; Steininger for Taku Valley Subdivision Lot 60.
Bleidorn explained the $6,000 minimum bid for the Taku Valley lots follows assessed values of neighboring parcels, and that an appraisal could cost about as much.

Hoke asked to buy city property at 223 North Franklin Street by negotiated sale. Bleidorn said a larger developer prefers no sale until its proposal advances and that Planning Commission review is underway; Hughes-Skandijs stressed keeping the parcel for housing.
Kelly moved to recommend denial; Hughes-Skandijs asked to hold it in committee, and Kelly withdrew and moved to postpone to the next meeting. Passed unanimously. Attorney Wright confirmed postponing keeps it in committee.