Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning And Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning director asks for temporary staffing, flags Title 16 workload and AML planning contract
Summary
Planning director told council permit volume and Title 16 rewrite work are straining a two‑person staff; she requested temporary help and noted AML will provide planning‑services contract work under a memorandum of agreement.
The Wasilla planning department briefed council that permit volume has increased sharply and that ongoing Title 16 code work and public demand require temporary staffing while staff assess whether a permanent FTE is needed.
“On April 28, there were 39 permits last year. And today, we're at a hundred and 6,” Cindy, planning director, said when comparing this year's permit workload to the prior year. She described the department as operating in “triage mode” because conditional‑use permits, kennel permits, short‑term rental licensing and other requests have grown.
Cindy said she is requesting $10,000 in temporary‑help funding for FY26 to cover additional administrative support while she evaluates whether to seek a permanent position. She told council she prefers a conservative initial request until workload and the Title 16 rewrite outcomes are clearer.
Council members also discussed a professional‑services line listed in the planning budget: staff said the Alaska Municipal League (AML) issued a request for proposals for planning-service vendors and that AML will act under a memorandum of agreement to provide planning work‑orders to participating municipalities. A name that had appeared in an earlier draft—Stephanie Queen—will be removed and the work booked through AML, staff said. AML work orders will be invoiced through AML; any contract exceeding the city’s $30,000 threshold would come to council as required.
The planning director said Title 16 second‑phase revisions, the comprehensive plan, and spikes in planning commission and landscape‑review workload are driving the near‑term demand. Council members supported the temporary funding while monitoring whether Title 16 changes reduce administrative permit burdens.
