City of Hoonah 12-8-2005

City of Hoonah
P.O. Box 360
Hoonah, AK 99829-0360
Phone: 907-945-3663
Fax: 907-945-3445
November 7, 2005
The Honorable Sandi Marchbanks
City of Gustavus
P0 Box 1
Gustavus, AK 99826
Dear Ms. Marchbanks:
For a number of years, the City of Hoonah has been considering the benefits to and effects on our community and others in the Glacier Bay area of forming a borough government. I am writing to let you know that the City of Hoonah is preparing an updated evaluation and fiscal analysis, with the intent of petitioning the Local Boundary Commission (LBC) for formation of the area’s “Model Borough, “which includes the communities of Elfin Cove, Gustavus, Hoonah, Pelican and Tenakee Springs (see attached map).
The City of Hoonah is very interested in working with the other communities in the region in considering borough formation for our Glacier Bay area.
We know there are mixed feelings among the communities about borough formation. However, the City of Hoonah feels strongly that it would be far better for our region to work together to pursue borough government on our own terms and timeframes, rather than having it forced upon us by the State of Alaska or the Legislature. We believe that it is in all of our best interests to gather and analyze accurate information about the effects of borough formation on our local governments, school districts and citizens. As significant support from the region’s residents will be required for a petition to be accepted by the LBC, it is important that all residents fully understand the pros and cons of borough formation.’
Once we gather enough data that can be presented, we would like to investigate the establishment of a steering committee comprised of all affected communities to further the borough formation discussion and potential formation.
1 In accordance with AS 29.05.060(7), a petition submitted to the LBC must be signed by a number of resident voters
of Hoonah and/or Pelican equal to 15% of the number who voted in the last general election in those first class cities, iin4 by a number of resident voters equal to 15% of the number who voted in the last general election from the other communities and remaining area.

The City of Hoonah has contracted with Sheinberg Associates of Juneau to prepare the updated analysis. They maybe contacting you to request information needed for their evaluation.
I am planning to follow-up this letter with a phone call, and will look forward to talking with you about this issue and hearing your thoughts about forming a steering committee to facilitate communication within the region. In the interim, please feel free to contact me with questions or comments at the City of Hoonah, (907) 945-3663.
Sincerely,
Dennis H. Gray, Jr.
Mayor, City of Hoonah
Enclosure: Model borough boundary