Minutes
Gustavus Mental Health Lands Group
October 1, 1998
Meeting held at the Gustavus Library, 7:00 PM, approximately 16 people attending. Meadow Brook was elected chair. The task of keeping meeting minutes will be rotated.
Chris Rogers of the Trust for Public Lands conveyed information via Greg Streveler re the Mental Health Lands Trust (MHLT) procedure for land sales. Except for very small pieces of land, public notice is required in advance. Rogers learned that the Memorandum Of Understanding between MHLT and the Gustavus Community Association (GCA) has not yet been signed by GCA. Streveler informed GCA co-chair Bruce Page, who will follow up on getting the MOU signed. The Trust for Public Lands requested information on the number of tourists visiting Glacier Bay and Gustavus. Judy Brakel agreed to obtain available information from the Park Service and Gustavus Visitors Association.
Pitfalls the incorporation committee encountered were discussed. It was suggested that the subcommittees involve people who have not attended the meetings. Greg Streveler agreed to write a piece for the Icy Passages newspaper about the history of the Mental Health Trust. Means of outreach were considered. A mail-out providing some information about the specific MHLT land parcels was discussed, containing some information about the lands and asking people whether they have more information or opinions to provide, to be followed by public meetings. The point was made that although residents and tourists presently treat these as public lands, they are now private lands. The committee is trying to retain a portion of them for public use. Among these public uses, moose hunting is believed to be particularly important to many residents. Ways of soliciting the involvement of people who might oppose the project were discussed. Eric Syrene volunteered to call some people who might otherwise remain uninvolved, with assistance from Meadow and Paul Barnes.
Meadow will report committee progress at the next GCA meeting, Oct. 8. Judy Brakel will maintain a three-ring binder with Mental Health Lands and committee information at the library.
The potential for confusion in the community among the three entities, the "Mental Health Land Trust," the "Trust for Public Lands" and "SEALTrust" was discussed. The Mental Health Land Trust is a collection of former State lands administered by a board whose mandate is to produce revenue for mental health programs in Alaska. The Trust for Public Lands is a national non-profit organization that helps communities to negotiate and fund arrangements to acquire local lands and easements for public use. SEALTrust (Southeast Alaska land trust) is a regional non-profit organization that might serve as a third party to hold lands or administer easements instead of GCA.
Heidi Robichaud offered to make a big map of Gustavus over which the Mental Health Lands can be overlain and around which photos and other information can be placed. Greg Streveler showed what he has done for two of the pieces of land: a portfolio with photos and a short written description for each.
The proposed mail-out survey was discussed further. Information from the survey could be added into portfolios for each land parcel. People would be asked for information about the lands and what they use the lands for. It was suggested that the survey contain a summary of the situation, frequently asked questions, and inquiries about the lands in which individuals are interested. It was agreed that the survey be done early so that people will be involved initially. A subcommittee was formed to prepare and conduct the survey, consisting of Eric Syrene, Tanya Lewis, Seth Koch, and Liz Morantz (Falvey). Their survey draft will be reviewed by the whole committee at the next meeting, Oct. 15.
Subcommittees will work on portfolios for the blocks of MHLT lands:
| Area | People | |
|---|---|---|
| West of Good River | Tanya Lewis and Eric Syrene | |
| Salmon River | Meadow Brook | |
| East of Mountain View Road, | ||
| #925, 926 & 927 | Paul Barnes | |
| #1028, 1030, 1032 & 1037 | Kim Ney and Judy Brakel | |
| Rink Creek | Seth Koch | |
| N.E. of airport, #1026 | Meadow Brook | |
(The 2 blocks along the beach east of Good River and east of Glen's Ditch are already described in Greg's portfolios)
The next committee meeting was set for 7:00 PM on Thursday, Oct. 15th at the library.
(Minutes compiled by Judy Brakel)