[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6258725,"mediaKeyId","3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad","parentId",3145825,"title","Assembly hears staff report on proposed changes to animal control code including microchipping, quarantine rules and fines","audioSeconds",91,"startMs",3677000,"endMs",3768000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad&start=3677&end=3768","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad/thumbnail_3677000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6258725/Alaska/Assembly-hears-staff-report-on-proposed-changes-to-animal-control-code-including-microchipping-quarantine-rules-and-fines","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258725-093745ce4b0a922cd58a9f44e7746a9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000470&Signature=XNYz3bPUG50f4QBM9V4Ob4Jurn1fT2WRPyQ733M22PCV-TJKvoX2j7eAvTl66PknjEAWMtUEgIqzvco~6QCkvSZalvE0M6zUaOenpyrvf8ZphyMME3N86jaZC7uX-log1YWVz7vtKypLjV0VofBwnya9eOiOs~waX8jhp1gPrk5PJgIkWhXDXTU4wWT5N-KsJGY21TrMkjU0ZyU1RWGqOpy1gSg28KByMErHzc8-9zX3XA4V8-WDaO8ADKCFQYLvEut3fG~CgjSuy66T8TPWglzVN5jisE5sIpJWPde86yzOjdPs66z08hvqWHhYgoqyt0sv6WLyNLCfDroaiZRXeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fairbanks North Star Borough","date","2025-01-02T00:00:00Z","article","Rhian Ross, lead animal control officer, presented a detailed staff report on proposed amendments to Fairbanks North Star Borough municipal animal-control code (Title 22) and the borough fine schedule. Assemblymember Leginas sponsored the ordinance.

Ross said the changes are not intended to introduce new prohibitions but to make code enforceable and proportional. She proposed removing a broad, subjective \"barking/noise\" provision because it \"is incredibly subjective, ends up not serving the public\" and is impractical to enforce without audiovisual proof. Instead, Ross said officers will handle prolonged-noise complaints in the humane-care enforcement framework when the animal may be in distress.

The draft ordinance would add a microchip requirement for animals placed in quarantine and allow officers discretion to permit home quarantine even when a rabies vaccine has lapsed for medical or welfare reasons (for example, a very old or postpartum animal). Ross said \"microchips are free\" and are needed to reliably identify animals if large-scale quarantine is required.

Staff proposed consolidating and revising fines to remove multi-stage graduated violative amounts that were ineffective in practice because court processing often prevents escalation. Examples in the presentation: quarantine for a biting animal would retain a 10-day quarantine period and a boarding cost of $20 per day (roughly $200), while failure to report an animal exhibiting signs of rabies or to surrender an animal for testing would carry higher fines (the staff recommendation cited sample amounts of $300 to $500 for more serious rabies-related failures). Ross emphasized that rabies is not currently endemic in interior Alaska but is present elsewhere in the state, so reporting and quarantine rules are important public-health tools.

Other proposed changes include expanding the rule about \"intact\" animals (applying confinement duties to intact males as well as females in heat), clarifying dangerous-animal procedures for animals labeled dangerous in other jurisdictions, and revising humane-care enforcement so that a required written warning is not an obstacle when an animal has already died or when enforcement targets organizations with rotating animals.

Assemblymembers asked for clarification about microchipping for animals that are disposed of under Department of Health directives and about how trap-line incidents and livestock-related releases are handled; Ross said disposal directives would follow DHSS instructions, and the code would require notification to animal control when domestic animals are injured or killed by third-party actions (for example, trapping). Ross said officers have worked with local trapping groups on education and suggested outreach to raise awareness of notification duties.

No vote was taken; staff said the changes are intended to improve practical enforcement and will proceed through the ordinance process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fairbanks North Star Borough Committee of the Whole - January 02, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Borough animal control staff presented ordinance changes aimed at making Title 22 more enforceable, including microchipping quarantined animals, officer discretion for home quarantine, revised fines and removal of a subjective barking/noise provision.","taxTitle","Fairbanks North Star (Borough), Alaska","taxId",5063,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6258730,"Assembly reviews substitute rezone near airport and Chena River; planning staff recommends 25-foot waterway setback",761,1261000,2022000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad&start=1261&end=2022","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad/thumbnail_1261000.jpg","/articles/6258730/Alaska/Assembly-reviews-substitute-rezone-near-airport-and-Chena-River-planning-staff-recommends-25-foot-waterway-setback","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258730-62642ef4a0a3034360c53b544be66c30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000470&Signature=VPtslVs4RuIfJdh4dUbBkJLUJUlYb2zXG7IxnfC1OPDx8TZgPISTKbb3Z00GQ03bKWqxiZ~p~kqhmoJqiVh5-2tGgPBaGLl6y6MHKUNpWz~jdokKxvFwx4g6k~aAjjO8~vmvb23xWEJmUp7flDhEiN7A7EJmmuv3BA7LLISE2vfxXCMH~61n4hCJBckaczN6ojORkIgCYU5n26NCJ1WpYoYek2rbMqZ~InA~fSPdlPLkxJW2qpFariEg8qzkXJrKu1JESW9rIA0tamqQTVOH5Ap~oiChPwdWgMuGKp5pGb3C4WHgH2fzXj4luyc71fn9ULA8MQCUtmOOXN77emQVJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assembly staff and planning officials presented a staff report and substitute ordinance for a property rezone identified as RZ2024-3, an applicant-initiated request to change about 17 acres west of Dale Road and north of Supply Road from light industrial to light commercial.

Kellen Spielman, planning staff, told the Assembly the applicant (one owner of several parcels) wants the change to allow multifamily development. Spielman said the planning commission recommended a substitute ordinance that adds a 25-foot waterway setback adjacent to the Chena River; \"the additional restrictions would be that no structural development, with a couple of exceptions, are allowed within 25 feet of that waterway,\" he said. The exceptions he listed were docks, decks and boat launches or uses that would require a conditional-use review.

Spielman described the site as roughly 17 acres, largely in a special flood hazard area under current FEMA maps, with multiple parcel owners including parties affiliated with Everett's Air and the Riverboat Discovery. He said nearly all the parcels now carry an Airport Noise Sensitive Area (ANSA) overlay and that the planning commission and the Chena Riverfront Commission forwarded recommendations: the Chena Riverfront Commission favored a 25-foot waterway setback rather than the more restrictive Waterway Protection Area overlay.

Members of the public and property owners supplied testimony to the planning commission. Spielman said three residents across the river asked for larger setbacks (some asking for about 100 feet) and one property owner, Henry Dale, objected to the waterway setback. Spielman also told the Assembly that one parcel owner who is the applicant supported the 25-foot setback and provided preliminary plans showing building footprints set back well over 100 feet from the river.

Assemblymembers asked about impacts on individual owners, whether the setback would alter existing dwellings' legal status, and what state or federal permitting would still apply if development were proposed. Staff noted that floodplain controls, Alaska Department of Natural Resources and Army Corps permits could be required for riverbank work and that a no-rise analysis would be required for development in the floodway.

No final action or vote occurred in the work session; staff indicated the item would proceed to a public hearing next week and that affected owners will be notified. Planning staff said they do not classify the request as a spot zone and concluded the rezone conforms to the comprehensive plan, subject to the waterway setback overlay.","Staff presented a proposed substitute ordinance (RZ2024-3) that would rezone roughly 17 acres west of Dale Road from light industrial to light commercial and add a 25-foot waterway setback overlay adjacent to the Chena River; planning staff and the Chena Riverfront Commission recommend the setback, while several property owners object to it.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6258735,"Fairbanks parks office to launch interactive ‘Park Explorer’ map and Civic Rec site",578,194000,772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad&start=194&end=772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad/thumbnail_194000.jpg","/articles/6258735/Alaska/Fairbanks-parks-office-to-launch-interactive-Park-Explorer-map-and-Civic-Rec-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258735-b714efd004abfa4c9e1ad1cbf9301122/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000471&Signature=lNOaGWsVWZ8ncAazM-7jFHCup1gO5BTv-DLZsbknHhSKj30bvGVZYOIZIpmurwD8RgWaaIE6GnFwoV-4xOcD8n8MpB0Z6ws8T8a0s8Zt7YYgnu~fjvHAQW7cYaCN9MJzD6g0GLQjrnUY-VApWEwGjpxk2VjihGLeJvA-iYRAoDtYSfDgoERB--fS1JBeksZCZLA2aIkxUMYyzFwrUjamy71QHBlth5NZd357XI8uJCd4tl45VQVIq8uNEUwcdQRRaDSf80LQJHJGmrrIon~1q0kyoupWYnrek9~GBa7B5frCE83ETm~Qil9Xtp4dJ5t4dE7Z3Op5m1tm3OjI76q-VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Matt Boyer, director of Parks and Recreation for the Fairbanks North Star Borough, demonstrated a new Civic Rec portal and a Park Explorer interactive map the department plans to launch the week of Jan. 6.

Boyer told the Assembly the new site will replace the department’s current activity page and will bring listings for facilities, activities, drop-in programs, membership options and facility reservation links into one interface. \"The blue markers indicate amenities. There are over 600 amenities marked on this map,\" he said during the presentation.

The Park Explorer view shows parks, amenities and vendors on an aerial map of the borough. Users can filter by facility (for example Pioneer Park), amenity type (playgrounds, ballfields, vendor booths) or season tags (summer, winter). Boyer demonstrated reserving an ice house and browsing the Big Dipper Arena calendar, and said links will be provided for vendors and groups that hold contracts with the borough.

Assemblymembers asked about account requirements, mobile accessibility and trail mapping. Boyer said no email-required account is necessary for simple drop-in use, but online reservations and family accounts will require login credentials; he described a tiered approach that allows casual visitors to pay in person. He confirmed Civic Rec is a responsive, mobile-friendly site and that trail mapping is a planned future addition; the current launch includes marked trailheads and winter motorized trails but not full trail polylines.

Boyer said the site is a \"constantly evolving\" resource and asked departments, user groups and contracted vendors to help keep content current. He and digital services plan staged rollouts for additional functions, including a summer campground reservation pilot for Chena Lake and expanded reservation loops if the pilot succeeds.

The demonstration prompted general assembly support and an invitation for user-group outreach; no formal action was taken. Staff said the existing activity page will be retired when Civic Rec goes live.","Parks and Recreation Director Matt Boyer demonstrated a new Civic Rec site and a Park Explorer interactive map that catalogs facilities and amenities in the Fairbanks North Star Borough; the tool will replace the department’s current activity page and launch next week.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6258720,"Borough to align farm-structure valuation rules with state law change (SB179); assessing staff seeks clarifications from state assessor",272,6490000,6762000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad&start=6490&end=6762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3145825-dfa225ae52732be016c0b4524fc230ad/thumbnail_6490000.jpg","/articles/6258720/Alaska/Borough-to-align-farm-structure-valuation-rules-with-state-law-change-SB179-assessing-staff-seeks-clarifications-from-state-assessor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6258720-9c41637ff5c8e3bccd7fd3e000c598fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771000471&Signature=i6RhJ1r4d~jIaYUR~WD9H6HH2YT~WJCqGU0kny9tVF85BqmMg5-VzVgnylmQmofJrWSfljVcbAOqSGcrjqbgVLJb-~Ym05E~8W3bwyXGlDQ2NrFyMmisg2NCoLQBKcu80Q5dD1fMvdq2JLnzi7yEyiJ9ezpCPnxRhE5pqxJBbRS0q9DoSR63lfzFlI7OJTjnANl5PL94l1ZWLfLiH8APKOyYCLLy~9rXkiBY9gnaG6RmTAXRkNrFCko7ZY3tlvoOZ~qWNTWWgE5mPBGFfGEORkAsuJ1mQ8-VuWcju4eK3sfcJCy~xesdpbDGuRK1UJ2trmFzNhtjtRM0JCssZdwkWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cecily Manning, director of Assessing, presented an ordinance to amend FNSBC 8.04.030 and consolidate the borough's preferential farm valuation rules to reflect 2024 state law changes.

Manning said the 2024 legislature passed SB179, which she said amended the state statute identified in the packet and requires a mandatory preferential valuation for farm and agricultural land and now for farm structures used in farm operations. \"The 2024 legislature passed SB179,\" Manning said, and the borough must amend its code so farm structures are included in the mandatory preferential valuation.

She said the statutory changes remove the previous 10% income requirement and replace it with a $2,500 threshold of agricultural products produced from the land in a tax year; the ordinance also sets the borough application deadline as May 15. Manning said the change converts a prior optional farm-structure exemption into the mandatory preferential assessment and that the change is intended to help increase farming activity by clarifying eligibility and easing administration.

Assemblymembers asked how the change would affect school funding calculations, whether IRS forms 1040 or 1065 would be acceptable supporting documentation and how many applications might change. Manning said the state assessor will provide direction on whether Form 1065 remains acceptable; staff typically require Schedule F documentation. She identified roughly 50 applicants on the farm-use assessment historically and said last year the optional structure exemption had four applicants. Manning said last year the preferential farm use assessment deferred about $2.8 million in valuation, equating to about $42,000 in tax deferral.

No vote was taken in the work session; staff said they will continue to coordinate with the state assessor and notify applicants about changes before the March 1 application window opens.","Assessing Director Cecily Manning presented an ordinance to amend borough code to incorporate state legislative changes (SB179) that make preferential farm assessment mandatory for farm structures as well as land; staff noted changes to qualifying documents and asked for state guidance on acceptable tax forms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly hears staff report on proposed changes to animal control code including microchipping, quarantine rules and fines

Assembly reviews substitute rezone near airport and Chena River; planning staff recommends 25-foot waterway setback

Fairbanks parks office to launch interactive ‘Park Explorer’ map and Civic Rec site

Borough to align farm-structure valuation rules with state law change (SB179); assessing staff seeks clarifications from state assessor