Assembly backs off land buy

The Juneau Assembly flipped position Monday and took the first step toward de-appropriating funds to purchase land from Faith Lutheran Church for a library or other public purpose.

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In a 5-4 vote, the Assembly directed staff members to prepare an ordinance de-appropriating $430,000 for the Mendenhall Valley church property. The ordinance will be introduced at the Assembly's next regular meeting, on Nov. 19, and a public hearing will be scheduled for two weeks later.

Assembly members Dale Anderson, Don Etheridge, Jeannie Johnson, Randy Wanamaker and Ken Koelsch voted to prepare the de-appropriation ordinance. Frankie Pillifant, Jim Powell, Marc Wheeler and Mayor Sally Smith voted against it.

Last week, the Assembly decided to evaluate the Faith Lutheran property, the library's current Mendenhall Center location, Vintage Business Park, Dimond Park and Goldbelt land as possible sites for a new Mendenhall Valley library. A detailed analysis is expected in three to six months, and a preliminary report is due in a month.

Koelsch said the timing of the ordinance will give the Assembly a chance to review the city's options.

"I supported picking up the site because I thought it was the best and only site for a library. Since then, we've found other sites to explore," he said.

The money for the purchase would come from the city's land fund. If the Faith Lutheran purchase occurs, the land fund would have $804,000 on June 30, according to City Lands Manager Steve Gilbertson.

The city estimates it would cost roughly $900,000 to put in utilities at Lena Point, an area proposed for housing. As part of a tentative agreement with the city, the Alaska Mental Health Land Trust would pick up 25 percent of the development costs at Lena Point, he said.

If the city were to purchase the Faith Lutheran land, the development costs would not come from the land fund, Gilbertson said.

Anderson said he is concerned there won't be enough money to cover the development and disposal of property at Lena Point. The costs aren't clear yet, he said.

"I really don't see the vote last night as a step backward, but rather as a step forward, putting us back on course," he said today. "If you look at the costs of developing Lena Point ... I just can't see that they are properly planning for the financial aspects of the development out there."

Wheeler said the city has enough money in the lands fund to cover the Faith Lutheran purchase and development at Lena Point. He supports looking at alternative sites for a library, but the Faith Lutheran site could be for an ice rink or other activities, he said.

"I'm disappointed," Wheeler said. "I think the Assembly's decision to buy the land showed vision and planning for the future. Reopening this whole thing shows a nearsightedness and I think a little bit of dysfunction. On the Assembly, we need to make decisions and move on."

Powell said it likely would cost the city more to acquire land in the Valley in the future. He pointed to the challenges the city faced in finding land for the new police station.

"I just think it's good planning," he said. "I'm bullish on this community. It's going to grow and we're going to need that public land," he said.

Johnson said she was bullish on the community too, but added that it is important to look at other sites for a library.

"I'm not against libraries or recreation. I'm just concerned about the balance of the lands fund," she said.

Joanna Markell can be reached at joannam@juneauempire.com.