A solo rider crests the summit during the 2016 Kluane-Chilkat International Bike Relay. (Jillian Rogers)
A committee’s request to apply for ‘Bicycle Friendly Community’ status is on Tuesday’s Haines Assembly agenda.
The idea started with the parks and recreation advisory board. It involves submitting an application to the League of American Bicyclists, which may award a bike-friendly designation and offer suggestions for improvement. Juneau, Sitka and Anchorage participate in the program.
The bike-friendly program has caused significant debate at parks and rec meetings. Several residents spoke against it, saying it could cost the borough money, or that it might be helpful for bicyclists but detrimental for drivers.
The assembly will decide whether to endorse applying for bike-friendly status. Volunteers have offered to fill out the application so it does not take borough staff time.
The second hearing of the borough FY 18 budget is also slated for Tuesday. At the last meeting, Assemblyman Tom Morphet made a successful motion to add $17,000 to the pool budget for a Sunday afternoon swim from October to April.
“I think it’s not unreasonable to give people something that lifts them up,” Morphet said. “And I believe those swims would lift up people in the wintertime and give them something to do to make them feel good about themselves.”
The $17,000 would come out of areawide general fund savings.
The assembly learned at a recent committee meeting that borough employee insurance premiums are rising, which creates a more than $7,000 expense that was not included in the manager’s budget. The assembly will need to decide how to absorb that extra cost.
The budget could be adopted at Tuesday’s meeting, or the assembly could delay it a couple more weeks by scheduling a third public hearing.
On the consent agenda are contracts with the Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry, Alaska Fjordlines and Alaska Excursions to use a float at the Port Chilkoot Dock.
The meeting is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in assembly chambers.
