A resolution to require publicly noticing Polaris Working Group meetings died without a vote at a Fairbanks City Council meeting on Monday, though a desire to see increased council involvement in the process lives on.
Fairbanks City Mayor David Pruhs pulled the resolution from the consent agenda Monday, meaning it needed an up vote from the city council to pass instead of passing automatically along with their approval of the agenda.
Just before the time came to debate the measure, one of its cosponsors, Valerie Therrien, requested a brief recess to discuss some possible amendments with councilmember Crystal Tidwell, another cosponsor.
Pruhs allowed the break, but joined their tête-à-tête, asking them to meet in his office during the recess.
When they returned, no one brought the resolution to the floor for debate, and Therrien withdrew it, killing it without a final vote.
“I would like to withdraw Resolution 5182 and give it a little bit more thought so we could bring it up within the next four weeks,” she said.
That sequence of events marked a departure from routine. Typically, the council would discuss and debate a measure and cap that off by casting final yesses or nos, barring a motion to postpone, which would still require a vote.
The resolution had aimed to make all Polaris Working Group meetings publicly noticed and ensure that they’re open for anyone to attend. The informal working group formed in part to fundraise for the demolition of Polaris Building in downtown Fairbanks, and a group has continued in some fashion under Pruhs to help plan for the future of the city-owned site as contractors toppled the old building over the last couple years.
During the demolition project, the council and public got updates about the latest progress and ideas for the site mostly through occasional reports from Pruhs at regular council meetings.
Therrien and other members expressed discontent about the lack of access to the working group’s meetings during a city council work session last week, and although the resolution died Monday, that desire to promote transparency remained alive, albeit in a different form and through different rationale.
Councilmember Jerry Cleworth said that, in his view, the informal working group has pretty much run its course, meaning it’s time for the council to step in.
“To me, the working group now is the city council. Period,” he said. “And the staff is to be our aide in that process.”
Tidwell, one of the resolution’s cosponsors, agreed, saying the council should now be the venue for any further planning or decision-making.
“I think that, now, we’re at a point where everything that happens with – going forward in the Polaris building site – belongs with us,” she said.
Pruhs said he expects the existing group, which consists of some city staff, himself, council members John Ringstad and Sue Sprinkle and local architect CB Bettisworth, to finish drafting a letter of interest for the council to review as early as next Tuesday. And he said he’s planning to hold an open house to give a presentation on how the city is handling the process, though the date is to be determined.
Pruhs also said that, by code, the power to guide what happens next with the city-owned property rests with the city council no matter what.
“You get to determine how this is disposed of – and if you want to dispose of it. Simple as that,” he said.
In 2019, the council at the time passed a resolution that committed to redeveloping the site for public purposes. It also endorsed efforts to create a multi-use development plan with features like an arts and convention center and affordable senior housing.