COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION We re not a community in the habit of pulling in the same direction. It s a bit of a selffulfilling prophesy we think we can t control the state, the borough, the Park Service, and so we rarely get organized and try. Overview This short chapter explores options for Trapper Creek to have more say in its future, and more control over issues affecting the community as a whole. The recent controversy over Susitna Valley High School shows how the community can rise up and be heard when the issues are clear. The challenge for Trapper Creek is to have similar influence over other decisions of equal importance, but where the issues are more complex, or the decisionmaking process is more drawn out. Spring 2005 Comp Plan Workshop at the Trapper Creek Elementary School Working on these issues is challenging because views about the future of the community are diverse, and because most local residents do not want rules and regulations controlling growth. But, as the process of preparing this plan has shown, there is substantial common ground in Trapper Creek, and there are ways for the community to influence its future without restricting use of private property. Current Leadership Structure Trapper Creek is an unincorporated community. Decision-making authority on most community issues rests with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough establishes the framework for an elected community council that advises the Borough on a range of issues. The bylaws of the Trapper Creek Community Council establish a five-person board of directors, elected by people whose primary residence is within community council boundaries. Council terms last 1 to 2 years. The council generally meets monthly. The other key local leadership entity is Trapper Creek Community Services, Inc. This is an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, guided by an informal board of directors. This organization seeks funds for and carries out a range of community projects, for example, improvements to the community center including the playground. This organization holds a permit for raffles, which raises money for the school. They traditionally work closely with the Community Council. In addition to these two entities, a number of other local groups work on specific community issues. For example, Curry Ridge Riders focus on snowmachining, and has been very successful in securing and maintaining trails in the area. The Trapper Creek Library Association is a long established group who work to support and guide the local library. Other groups include Alcoholics Anonymous, a local Red Hat Society and a number of churches. Deleted: Community Deleted: Center Deleted: community Deleted: council Trapper Creek Comprehensive Plan January 06 LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION 93
Community Leadership & Communication Goals 1. Complete and adopt a Trapper Creek Comprehensive Plan. 2. Maintain cooperation between the Community Council and the Trapper Creek Community Services organization. 3. Expand base of volunteers needed for community projects, community action. 4. Community communication. 5. Find partners. 6. North Borough Community Alliance Improve cooperation between the three active north Borough community councils, to work collectively and with the Borough, large landowners and businesses, and other agencies. 7. Be more aggressive in seeking funding for priority community projects. 8. Participation on Borough Boards and Commissions. GOAL 1. Complete and adopt a Trapper Creek Comprehensive Plan. The process of preparing a comprehensive plan gives the community a useful chance to talk and think about its future, and to set out community goals and priorities. The completed plan gives the community a much stronger foundation for working with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, with state and federal agencies, and with large landowners and businesses whose decisions affect the Trapper Creek area. The plan is a big step towards greater local influence on these decisions, and increasing funding opportunities for community priorities. GOAL 2. Maintain cooperation between the Community Council and the Trapper Creek Community Services organization. These two organizations have traditionally worked closely together and this should continue. Cooperation between these groups is simplified because the two groups share membership (which has the secondary benefit of reducing the number of required meetings!). Deleted: easier Deleted: to the extent GOAL 3. Expand base of volunteers needed for community projects, community action. It is hard to find a better example of easier said than done than this statement. Communities of all sizes struggle with the challenge of finding enough volunteers to serve on community councils and to carry out volunteer tasks that improve community life. In most communities, a very small percentage of residents work on community issues, and volunteer burnout is a real problem. Strategies to enlist more community involvement are listed below: Good information keep the community informed about meeting times and agendas, decisions impending and decisions made. Keep meetings short, focused and productive. Be firm about sticking to announced starting and ending times, and staying on the agenda. 94 LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION Trapper Creek Comprehensive Plan January 06
Complete and publicize successful community projects. Make community participation fun and finite find ways for residents to help with community tasks that are enjoyable, and don t require an open-ended time commitment. Reward participants make sure people who do help are acknowledged and thanked. The problem is that we have temporary influence. People making decisions about our future wait for us to forget or miss a meeting, then do what they want. GOAL 4. Community communication. Find ways to improve the communication network in the community. Strategies include: Word of mouth The Community Council and Trapper Creek Community Services board members should continue to talk to friends and neighbors about what is going on in the community. Bulletin boards post a regular monthly list of Community Council business on the radio, in the newspaper and at accessible locations (e.g., stores, the community center, post office) where the community can get updates on meetings, plans, projects, etc. Newspaper work with the Talkeetna Good Times to establish a regular Trapper Creek Community News section that would keep the community informed about upcoming meetings, special events, etc. KTNA continue to work with the local radio station to communicate community events, issues and interests. At least once a year get Community Council members on a forum show so people can call in with questions. Email/list serve establish a collection of email addresses that would receive regular updates on community issues (perhaps a regular electronic newsletter). 1 An email distribution list was created through this comprehensive planning process and could be used as a starting point, as many participants have found this to be an efficient means to staying in touch with the community s issues, plans and gatherings. Newsletter circulate a newsletter (annually, quarterly?) providing a regular update on community life. Potential partners could include the Y Senior Center and Sunshine Health clinic. Website create a community website (see Gustavus as an example 2 ). This could take form as a Borough-hosted website that involves youth in developing and maintaining the website. Deleted: The GOAL 5. Find partners Small towns almost always have needs beyond what they are able to achieve on their own. Successful small towns find ways to work with deeper-pocketed partners, to carry out projects that 1 Information on creating a list serve can be found here: http://www.listserve.com/ 2 http://www.gustavus.com/ Trapper Creek Comprehensive Plan January 06 LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION 95
are beneficial to both parties. For most success, Trapper Creek needs to be proactive in working with National Park Service, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, State, University of Alaska, and larger tourism companies such as Princess Tours and Holland America. The goal below suggests one way to start this process. GOAL 6. North Borough Community Alliance Improve cooperation between the three active north Borough community councils, to work collectively and with the Borough, large landowners and businesses, and other agencies. The three active north Borough community councils should come together and explore options to collaborate on issues of common concern. Possible topics of common interest include: Establishing a shuttle van connecting residents to services such as the senior center and health clinic. Collaborate in seeking funding for services and facilities benefiting the entire north Borough such as better trails. Collaborate on marketing. Collaborate on efforts to shape tourism and recreation growth. Improve communication with large tourism companies, Alaska Railroad, Boy Scouts and other groups. This might be done through an annual meeting. Establish a north Borough satellite office in the north Borough area. GOAL 7. Be more aggressive in seeking funding for priority community projects. If it chooses, Trapper Creek could get more funding for a range of community projects. Options include: Borough bed tax and capital improvement budgets Borough bond measures State Legislature special appropriations, transportation projects, school projects Congress special appropriations Grants from State (e.g., annual DCCED mini-grant program. During this comprehensive planning process, Trapper Creek Community Services, Inc. applied and was awarded money from this program. Money will go towards planning the development of The Landing during the spring and summer of 2006. Grants from Denali Commission, USDA, EDA, Rasmussen, and other entities that commonly give money for community projects These sources can reliably be counted on to provide funding for local projects if community volunteers can take the time to prepare grant applications and administer the funds once received, if the projects are supported in the community plan and the projects are sustainable. Having at least some level of matching funds or other forms of local support is often also necessary. See Appendix A for potential funding and technical assistance resources. Deleted: the Deleted: the Deleted: and similar groups Deleted: strategy Deleted: for this Deleted: mini-grant Deleted: If awarded, m Deleted:.) 96 LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION Trapper Creek Comprehensive Plan January 06
The executive summary of this plan includes a listing of priority community projects for which funding is required. These include: A Trapper Creek website and brochure to help attract and guide tourism; The creation of several pull-outs along the Parks Highway, primarily to provide views of Denali, as well as a spot for resting and community information; Improved trail maintenance; Improvements to the community swimming hole; and Roadside signs welcoming drivers into Trapper Creek. GOAL 8. Participation on Borough Boards and Commissions. Local residents, particularly members who are on the Trapper Creek Community Council and/or regularly participate in Community Council issues, should seek out positions on Borough boards and commissions. For example, having a local resident on the Borough Planning Commission or the Parks, Recreation and Trails Advisory Board would be very helpful as the community works on land use and recreation issues. Participants of a September 2005 Planning Team meeting Trapper Creek Comprehensive Plan January 06 LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION 97