Alaska Matters: Veterans Day!

Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

November 9, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, we give thanks to service members on Veterans Day, November 11, provide information on the recent report on psychiatric patient rights in Alaska, and report on the status of the proposed Fish Creek/Coastal Trail connector.

Veterans Day

November 11th is Veterans Day. This year, as always, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Americans who have served our country.

In Alaska, 10% of our population are veterans. That means one in ten people have served in any branch of the military, more per capita than any other state. Alaska has a history as a geographically strategic military outpost, and much of the state's population growth can be traced to military development during World War II. Additionally, recent military programs have advanced rural development across the state. For example, the Army National Guard mobilized to aid in rescue and recovery in the wake of Hurricane Merbok.

We recognize the important role that veterans play, both on a National and local level. To our service members, both past and present, thank you!

HB 172 Report on Psychiatric Patient Rights in Alaska

Last session, the legislature passed House Bill 172 to better address the needs of people experiencing behavioral health crises and to improve public safety. As we discussed in a previous e-newsletter, the bill established crisis residential centers capable of better serving Alaskans experiencing mental and behavioral health crises.

The legislation also required the state to publish a report on the status of psychiatric patient rights in Alaska. The report was due in October 2023, one year following HB 172's effective date. The Department of Health, the Department of Community and Family Services, and the Alaska Mental Health Trust recently provided their joint report to the legislature, detailing assessments of current policies and procedures, recommendations for changes in requirements, and stakeholder updates. To read more about the report, visit the State of Alaska's website here.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an informational meeting about this report at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 17th in the Anchorage Legislative Office Building, Denali Room.

Fish Creek to the Coastal Trail Connector

In August, a West Anchorage family applied to the Alaska Railroad to lease a plot of railroad land from the railroad for private use. Our office wrote a joint letter with Representative Armstrong raising questions about the proposal and urging the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) to either reject the proposal or modify the proposal to allow the public process to continue regarding development of a Fish Creek connection to the Coastal Trail. Two weeks ago, ARRC released an amended lease proposal. The new ground lease would have a term of up to twenty-five years that is subject to partial termination if:

(i) The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) and Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) select a route for the proposed Fish Creek Trail Extension Project that passes through the proposed lease parcel;

(ii) The ARRC Board approves the location of said trail within the lease parcel in conformance with AS 42.40.420 relating to Public Use of Railroad Land and issues a permit for such use.

The partial lease termination would accommodate the trail if, following the public process, it is approved by MOA and DOT&PF. If they partially terminate the lease, the ARRC would adjust the lease to reflect the partial termination. The proposed amended terms accommodate the access interests of the prospective lessees without prohibiting the continued advancement of the Fish Creek Trail Extension Project.

The ARRC Board will consider this issue and take a final vote on the revised lease on November 14th at the ARRC Board Meeting. Although the formal public comment period is closed, the public will be able to make comments during the meeting.

For more information about the upcoming ARRC Board Meeting, click here.

Community Information

→ Division of Agriculture Grant Application

The State of Alaska announced the availability of grant funds to individuals and organizations who raise livestock (both small and large animals) who have been impacted by the significant increase in livestock feed costs, including the reduced availability of local hay and grain.

More than $570,000 in funding is available through a special round of the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the State of Alaska’s Division of Agriculture.

Applications will be accepted through November 15 at 5:00 PM.

For more information, click here to visit the Division of Agriculture's website. To submit an electronic application, click here to access the Division of Agriculture's SmartSimple application portal.