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Fairbanks Economic Development Commission opens survey to reshape commissions, explores Fedco board seats and code changes
Summary
Borough Mayor and commission members rolled out a boards-and-commissions revitalization survey and discussed seeking two borough seats on Fedco’s board; commissioners raised workforce-development partnerships and a possible home-build project as priorities.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Economic Development Commission on Jan. 27 launched a borough-wide survey to reshape the role and operations of local boards and commissions and said it will explore seeking two seats on the Fedco board through bylaw changes.
Mayor Hopkins told commissioners the survey (covering 2024 materials and current practice) has been distributed via borough email and in local media and that he plans to visit most boards and commissions to gather input. “Many of our commissions have sort of lost their way and need a revitalization effort,” he said, asking commissioners to submit responses electronically rather than in handwritten form so staff can compile replies in a spreadsheet.
The mayor said Fedco has expressed interest in reserving two seats for the borough: one for the mayor or a designee and another for a representative tied to the borough’s ARTER committee or the Economic Development Commission. “We’re gonna work with them on, seeing if we can get that changed in their bylaws, and we'll report back to you at our next meeting,” he said.
Commissioners used the discussion to sketch possible priorities. Patrick Roach proposed a borough-maintained database of reputable contractors to ease access for residents undertaking housing rehabilitation. Paul Rasmussen suggested partnering with the school district, University of Alaska Fairbanks and labor unions on a home-build project that would both add housing stock and create workforce training opportunities. Kim McGinnis, newly elected vice chair and a professor of business administration, emphasized workforce development and public input as keys to fostering business formation and innovation.
Mayor Hopkins noted the borough is a "second-class borough" with limited statutory authority but said the local definition of economic development in statute gives the borough leeway to pursue creative tools and ordinances to support economic activity. He urged commissioners to submit ideas by borough email and said staff will synthesize suggestions and return options, including possible ordinance and code amendments, in about a month.
The commission did not take formal action on specific ordinances at the meeting. The group scheduled its next meeting for April 28.
