HAINES BOROUGH 2025 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SEPTEMBER 2012 HAINES BOROUGH 2025 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN September 2012 Acknowledgements Planning and Zoning Commission Assembly Rob Goldberg, Chair Stephanie Scott, Mayor Andy Hedden Daymond Hoffman Don Turner III Debra Schnabel Roger Maynard Jerry Lapp Lee Heinmiller Joanne Waterman Robert Venables Norm Smith Danny Gonce Steve Vick Joanne Waterman, Assembly liaison Jan Hill (former mayor) Pete Lapham (former) Scott Rossman (former) Borough staff significantly contributed to this plan, they are: Project Manager: Mark Earnest, Borough Manager Al Badgley, Fireman Meredith Pochardt, Youth Development Coordinator Connie Staska, Admin Asst/Sales Tax Clerk Patricia Peters, Pool Manager Darsie Culbeck, Special Projects Patty Brown, Director, Public Library Dean Olsen, Assistant Assessor Phil Benner, Harbormaster Brian Lemcke, Director of Public Facilities Scott Bradford, Water/Sewer Plt Operator, Fire Chief Gary Lowe, Police Chief Steve Ritzinger, Planning Technician Jamie Heinz, Assistant Borough Clerk Tanya Carlson, Tourism Director Jerrie Clarke, Sheldon Museum Director Tina Olsen, Accounting Clerk Jila Stuart, Finance Director Former staff: Brad Maynard, Public Works Director; Julie Cozzi, Borough Clerk Ed Barrett, Harbormaster Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee members provided significant input and ran a public review of the draft maps, they are: Marnie Hartman, Chair Melany Zimmerman Daymond Hoffman, Assembly liaison Jennifer Talley Darsie Culbeck Logan Simpson Jessica Kayser Ron Jackson Others who provided information and assistance Over 100 residents attended one or more Community Meetings or work sessions or sent in comments. About 120 joined the project mailing list to track the process. This plan could not have been prepared without the information you provided. The 208 Haines households polled in the Community Opinion Survey also provided valuable information that supported this project. Thanks to the following individuals who provided time and expertise during interviews or submitted multiple comments and reviews, all of which contributed to plan development. Apologies to anyone inadvertently left off this list. Anne Gleason, ADEC; Anne Hanssen, Haines Senior Citizens Center; Beverly McLaughlin, Cornerstone Home Health; Bill Kurz; Bill Williamson, Community Waste Solutions; Brad Ryan, Takshanuk Watershed Council; Brenda Jones, Southeast Alaska Roadbuilders; Bruce Messerschimdt, AP&T; Burl Sheldon, Community Waste Solutions; Carol Goodman, AP&T; Carolyn Tuynman; Carolyn Weishahn; Danny Gonce, AP&T; Dave Nanney; Debbie Stanford, Haines Public Health; Deborah Vogt, Haines Senior Center Board; Dick Somerville, PND Engineers; Dr. Steve Saboudijan, ADOT&PF; Ed Lapiri; Eric Holle; George Figdor; Gina Daly, BLM; Greg Palmeri, ADNR; Iris Kemp, Chilkat Valley Preschool Administrator; Jack Wenner; Jim Dorn, Carson Dorn; Josh Bentz, Alaska State Troopers; Joy Lyon, Association for Early Learning, SE Alaska; Katey Palmer; Lynn Bartlett, Juneau Waste Management; Marcia Scott, SEARHC Haines Health Center Clinic; Mark Allen; Marsha Partlow, Southeast Senior Services; Melissa Aronson, Friends of Recycling; Michael Byer, Haines School District Superintendent; Lindsey Moore, Haines School counselor; Ned Rozbicki, Haines Chamber of Commerce; Neil Stichert, USFWS; Norm Hughes, Takshanuk Watershed Board; Pete Bibb, IPEC; Preston Kroes, ADNR; Rich Chapell, ADF&G; Rich Poor; Robert Clay, Klehini Fire Chief; Ron Jackson, Haines Senior Citizens Center Board; Roy Josephson, ADNR; Sara Chapell; Scott Hansen, Chilkoot Indian Association; Scott Rossman; Tari Esposito, Haines Public Health Nurse; Thom Ely; Vince Hansen, Haines Assisted Living PLANNING CONSULTANT AND PROJECT MANAGER Sheinberg Associates www.SheinbergAssociates.com 204 N. Franklin Street, Ste 1 Juneau, Alaska 99801 PLANNING TEAM Sheinberg Associates, www.SheinbergAssociates.com Barbara J. Sheinberg, AICP; Zoë Morrison, MCIP; Meilani Schijvens; Donovan Bell Alaska Map Company, Maps and GIS Services, Gary Greenberg, GISP; www.akmapco.com McDowell Group, Community Opinion Survey, www.mcdowellgroup.net Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION AND HOW TO USE THIS PLAN ................................................................ 1 1.1 PLAN PURPOSE AND USE .................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 PROCESS TO PREPARE THIS PLAN .......................................................................................................... 4 1.3 POPULATION AND HOUSING PROJECTION .............................................................................................. 6 1.4 ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS : GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS ...................................................... 8 2 THE PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT.................................................................................. 10 2.1 THE PEOPLE .................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 THE ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 Climate ................................................................................................................................ 15 2.2.2 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................ 16 2.2.3 Watersheds ......................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.4 Geohazards ......................................................................................................................... 20 2.2.5 Vegetation and Habitat ....................................................................................................... 21 2.2.6 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................ 22 2.2.7 Fish, Marine Mammals, Birds.............................................................................................. 23 3 QUALITY OF LIFE ........................................................................................................... 25 3.1 CURRENT CONDITIONS: EXCELLENT QUALITY OF LIFE ............................................................................. 25 3.1.1 The Outdoors and Small Town Atmosphere: Why People Like Living Here ....................... 27 3.1.2 Haines is a Good Place to Raise a Family ............................................................................ 28 3.1.3 Rate of Volunteerism is off the Chart ................................................................................. 28 3.1.4 The Economy and Lack of Jobs are Most Important Issues in Next Five Years................... 28 3.2 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ................................................................................................................... 29 4 HAINES BOROUGH GOVERNMENT ................................................................................ 30 4.1 HAINES GOVERNMENT HISTORY ......................................................................................................... 30 4.2 ENGAGEMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ............................................................................................... 32 4.3 BOROUGH ORGANIZATION, POWERS AND SERVICES .............................................................................. 32 4.4 HAINES BOROUGH FACILITIES ............................................................................................................ 34 4.5 MUNICIPAL BUDGET OVERVIEW AND TRENDS ...................................................................................... 44 4.5.1 Haines Borough Annual Operating Revenue ...................................................................... 44 4.5.2 Local Sales and Property Tax & Revenue Trends ................................................................ 47 4.5.3 Haines Borough Operating Expenses .................................................................................. 51 4.5.4 Haines Borough Capital Budget .......................................................................................... 52 4.5.5 Borough Enterprise Funds................................................................................................... 53 4.5.6 Borough Permanent Fund ................................................................................................... 54 4.5.7 Other Borough Fund Balances ............................................................................................ 54 4.6 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ................................................................................................................... 56 5 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................... 58 5.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 58 5.2 ECONOMIC INDICATORS: HAINES BY THE NUMBERS 2010 & 2003.......................................................... 60 5.3 ECONOMIC STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES .......................................................................................... 61 5.3.1 Strengths, Assets and Competitive Advantages ................................................................. 61 5.3.2 Weaknesses and Challenges ..............................................................................................