During the month of October, the planning team hosted 15 focus group meeting through Zoom to collect specific insight related to the focus groups area of expertise (healthcare, education, youth, etc.). Each focus group was asked to respond to the issues, opportunities and priorities related to the seven themes. A copy of the complete presentation is found in a previous posting.
Below is a highlight of what we heard from each focus group plus a link to the complete public input received by each group.
Community Members Focus Group
Highlights:
- Need to support and include the needs of the homeless and low income community members
- Daycare is a community wide issue that needs to be addressed especially for low income families
- Need to diversify economy; fisheries and year round tourism has the greatest opportunities
- Provide public transportation and locate housing near areas of employment to help low income community members
- Environmental stewardship needs to be part of the decision making process at the City level
- Celebrate and include Alaskan Natives in the planning process and meet their needs
- The City does not have a collaborative or transparent process
Education and Child Care Focus Group
Highlights:
- Community has a high turn-over of residents due to lack of housing, cost of health care, and schools
- Need to focus on education for the 0-3 year olds
- Need to expand the local workforce through education and training (career, technical center, trades, construction, culinary, health care, fisheries, etc.)
- Need centralized organization structure for business partnership in schools and community. No structure is currently in place (No chamber of commerce, etc)
- Inconsistent transportation and reduced service is impacting the community at all levels and resulting in economic impacts, and costs to individuals, schools and others.
- Community does a good job of taking care of each other and creating event opportunities
- Health care in Valdez is excellent and high quality, especially for a community of this size.
- Need to protect critical infrastructure from flooding and other impacts
Major Industries Focus Group
Highlights:
- Need to focus on downtown with vacant lots, foreclosed properties. Need a vibrant downtown core that is linked to the waterfront that balances the built environment with open space
- Valdez is a 'boom-or-bust' town; need to find long term stability with the needed infrastructure to support long-term businesses
- Maintain and focus on the core industries first, then when stable, focus on fostering new opportunities
- Upgrade the Richardson Highway to support the movement of heavy freight into the interior
- Need improved regional connectivity with Prince William Sound communities
- Maintain and expand outdoor access (trails) for all, all year round, including for a variety of users and locations
- Find balance between environmental stewardship and growing the community
- Communication at all levels is required for the community
Youth Focus Group
Highlights:
- Valdez is a recreation and outdoors based community that is friendly and walkable
- Employment and housing for post high school and college students is a challenge that needs to be addressed to keep youth in community
- Great local connectivity within town (trails, sidewalks, roads) but lacks regional connections
- Being small is a significant draw to attract new residents
- Valdez needs to provide full service recycling program
- Portions of the community are not attractive with vacant lots, industrial use downtown and lack of up-keep of buildings and properties. Need to improve the look of the community.
- Valdez is an adaptive and resilient community and rises to the challenges it faces.
Visitor and Tourism Focus Group
Highlights:
- Need to resolve housing shortage including short-term affordable housing for seasonal workers, tiny homes and cottages,
- Need to provide centralized community gathering areas linked to community attractions, destinations and recreation facilities. Get people out of their cars and walk the community
- City needs to make the development of housing simple and cost effective
- Zoning needs to be overhauled to be flexible, allows vision, and allow the development of multi-use facilities
- Bike paths and sidewalks are excellent downtown but need to link to all neighborhoods including remote subdivisions and Keystone Canyon
- Provide more recreation facilities especially during winter including ice rink, bowling alley, multi-use spaces, sculpture park and other community spaces for events
- Provide trails through sensitive landscapes to minimize environmental damage due to lacking facilities
- Recycling is ineffective, need to improve
Housing Focus Group
Highlights:
- Shortage of available property. The City owns too much property and needs to release to allow private development and building more housing
- Cost of construction is high due to limited available land, high water table, code impacts, limited sewer and water service and material costs
- Housing needs greatest for low and middle income housing and rentals
- Valdez is a recreation mecca, play off our strengths for attracting new people and businesses.
- Housing shortage is impacting the community at all levels and should be the number one priority
- City needs to divest in property or develop a department that focuses on housing and other development including incentives and programs to make affordable
- Ensure undeveloped properties and neighborhoods have easements in place to allow future trail connections
- A housing program for Valdez has to be executed, and has been talked about for a long time
Recreation Focus Group
Highlights:
- Future development needs to celebrate and reflect the community's identity and culture. Fishing (provide needed facilities and access), recreation (expand trails and access to public lands), winter activities (skiing, snow machining facilities), and showcase culture and history
- Valdez is a recreation destination. Make facilities world class for locals and to attract long term visitation, year round.
- Need to provide activities and destination for cruise ship passengers to stay in and spend money in Valdez. Many are being bussed out of town. Find ways to diversity economy through cruise ship industry
- Robe Lake is a hidden gem for the community. Develop as a recreation destination and float plane facility
- City needs to evaluate its land holdings and divest itself of lands and restructure as needed. Identify best use of its land
- Market Valdez to Anchorage (they are going to Homer). Valdez has more to offer
- Link community from Shoup Bay to Keystone Canyon linking neighborhoods between. Include both motorized and non-motorized trails for year round use
- Valdez has done a good job on community wellness programs
- Need large indoor recreation facility
Shipping and Transportation Focus Group
Highlights:
- Develop Sea Otter facilities and needed dock facilities for fish processors
- Improve Richardson Highway for improved access and hauling to other communities and interior
- Valdez is well positioned to service the interior, military, and Asian market. Ensure facilities are in place to allow these opportunities
- Huge demand for marine related trades in PWS and beyond. This demand is not being met and training and providing these services could happen in Valdez
- Need to improve transportation connections locally (roads) and regionally (ferries not meeting current needs - create a new partnership linking PWS communities by water)
- Improve walkability from Kelsey Dock to downtown. Create loops to destinations/attractions
- Plan for improving and expanding the Valdez Container Terminal to meet current, future and the possibility of rail link. Link VCT to Richardson Highway via existing right of way rather than on Mineral Creek Loop Road
- Valdez airport has potential that is not being capitalized on. Need hangars, airport service, competitions and connectivity to adjacent campgrounds. Make Valdez a small plane destination.
Utilities and Roads Focus Group
Highlights:
- Some roads are sub-standard and need to be brought up to City standards (Airport Industrial Subdivision, Corbin Creek, Homestead)
- Septic is a major issue in Valdez and is impacting neighborhoods, environment, and future development
- Expansion of sewer and water is needed to resolve septic problems, housing shortages and economic opportunities. Corbin Creek and Airport Industrial Subdivision are the highest priority areas needing extension
- Need to ensure existing infrastructure is maintained before expanding. Expansion needs to be strategic and funded. Infrastructure in community is nearing 20 years old and is getting critical
- City should provide roads, sewer and water in new areas to promote growth and development
- Loss of air service and very limited ferry service has a significant impact on the community. Need to prevent this from happening.
- Need to lower energy costs to promote growth and keep residents. Work with TAP to create partnerships where energy is generated from lost/surplus energy at the terminal and provided to the community
- Snow removal and storage is a huge use of land in the winter. Need to find better use of these lands during rest of year
- Investigate local generation of alternative power at the house and business level and sell back to community to reduce costs.
- Need better community prioritization of capital improvements. Need to better engagement and input.
Public Safety and Emergency Response Focus Group
Highlights:
- Neighborhoods that are sub-standard and do not meet code need to be improved. 6 mile neighborhood has bad access, no hydrants at Corbin Creek or Alpine Woods.
- Need to verify that when the occupancy of a building changes that the code requirements are met for the new use to reduce safety issues.
- Having mixed users on trails (motorized vs. non-motorized) and poor lighting creates safety issues on trails. Need to manage all appropriately and provide lighting on key trails. Safety concerns for trails that are managed by others than the City (they are not managed)
- Some streets are dark and need better illumination
- Dayville Road needs a multi-use trail along the road connecting the Richardson to the various recreation facilities along the road
- Need 'official' motorized trail along Richardson Highway and connecting to the glacier. Concern is crossing Valdez Glacier Stream and adding motorized recreation vehicle use to the existing highway bridge
- Preparedness for natural disasters is a priority and at the forefront of emergency management
- Critical City infrastructure must not be in hazard areas and needs to be moved out over time
- Radio communication is good but needs to be improved. Some neighborhoods have no coverage. System is aging and needs to be upgraded
- Climate change is resulting in longer dry periods in summer. Valdez is not set up to respond to wildland fire fighting
Economics Focus Group
Highlights:
- Valdez is a beautiful and walkable community with vibrant waterfront. We can do better through improved sidewalks, wayfinding, signs, and improved streetscape (gathering areas, interpretation, etc.)
- New growth is a challenge due to limited housing, daycare, and neighborhoods without sewer and water service. Need to extend sewer and water service and develop housing for seasonal workers and 1-2 bedrooms for low to middle income levels
- Valdez can capitalize on being a small town for remote working and living in a beautiful environment that is safe (remote) with great internet and recreation lifestyle. Promote this to 20-30 year olds
- Continue to market and develop facilities and services for recreation focused visitors (and locals)
- Need to diversify economy from oil-quickly. Focus on fishing, shipping (port and harbor), marine service, and tourism are important but won't replace oil revenue. Need year-round businesses that provide stable employment and incomes
- Valdez has significant sources of income and needs to plan for the future diversification now. We can chart our own course, determine our priorities and needs, and act appropriate to plan for our future and economic diversity
- Parks and Recreation is doing an amazing job with its facilities and programs
- Need to focus on the needs of young families and meet their needs to retain or attract new people
- Community communication is a challenge with the loss of the local newspaper.
- Alberta 2 Alaska Railroad and rail link to Valdez is an economic opportunity that we need to pursue. So is liquified natural gas facility
- Implement the waterfront master plan, parks and recreation master plan, and Meals Hill master plan (when complete)
Senior and Pioneers Focus Group
Highlights:
- Downtown core and its walkability, aesthetics, and small town feel are important to the quality of life for seniors
- Lack of senior housing is a need. Integrate into the community rather than a campus. Create diverse neighborhoods with a variety of community members, and age groups
- Restore the Egan Drive and other roads that have lost their original buildings, character, and sense of scale and aesthetics. Beautification process has lost the historic character and culture of Valdez. New buildings are not consistent with Valdez's character. Old Town had character.
- Alaska and Valdez has an interesting environment. If you are not comfortable here (weather), you are not going to integrate or to stay no matter what's here.
- We have lost ground promoting Valdez to the tourism industry due to abusive attitudes about visitors in our town. Need to fix this but find balance for locals
- Loss of air service and reduced ferry, coupled with occasional road closures creates community vulnerability.
- Valdez as a whole provides a good quality of life for seniors with programs, access to recreation, services, and incredible health care.
- Some concerns for lower income seniors and substandard housing and access to services
- Need to preserve Old Town and its stories before it is lost. Develop recreation and interpretation in a sensitive manner. Sacred ground.
- What do we want our community to look like? Driven by history, culture, tourism or modernization? We have missed an opportunity with new town but need to figure this out.
Alaska Native Focus Group
Highlights:
- Need to be mindful of culturally significant lands and use areas and include Tribal discussion as part of all planning efforts. Include elders who have the knowledge. Develop management strategies for these lands.
- Communication needs to be improved between the Tribes, the City and the community.
- Need to make people and visitors feel welcome while minimizing impacts to the land. Provide sidewalks and wayfinding to control access
- Any development and planning needs to consider subsistence as a critical factor in considering future community development
- Reestablish the Russian Orthodox church that was part of Old Town
- Housing is a significant challenge that needs to be addressed
- Need to appropriately celebrate and preserve (educate) the local Native culture. Work with community college and those that travel to Valdez to capitalize on cultural opportunities. Provide community gathering and celebration spaces in community.
- Work with Tribe in environmental stewardship and their existing programs (ocean acidification, climate change impacts, invasives monitoring, recycling program) and development of new programs
- Need to be better stewards of our lands. Subsistence, clean air and water, flora and fauna, fisheries. Need to better deal with fish waste
- There is significant healing that is needed. The Tribe is not federally recognized, loss of subsistence rights, etc. Tribe is working to becoming federally recognized. There are seven tribes in PWS, only two are recognized.
- Lack of housing makes it difficult for visiting physicians and long term hires. Lack of daycare also makes this challenging. Create partnerships with college for housing for visiting physicians
- Existing education, recreation, community events, and small town feel is a draw to get people to move to Valdez
- To create economic diversity, need to consider the economies of scale that is appropriate for Valdez. Focus on core strengths (transportation/shipping, oil, fisheries (sport and commercial), recreation and tourism). Need to also capitalize on marine services.
- Retaining and attracting a younger population is critical to the growth and health of community
- Main street (downtown core), old buildings, and costs are daunting to develop new businesses. Need better properties and opportunities to start new businesses
- Digital connections are critical for a remote community to function and be successful. Valdez is doing well and as a result healthcare has expanded and better services provided. Need to ensure good connectivity at the individual house level as well
- Air travel is a major impact on the community. Even with loss of Ravn, weather is also a significant impact. Not having regular service (all forms) is stifling the economics of the community
- Excellent trails and snow clearing operations in Valdez. Need to also focus on providing better winter trail connections throughout community
- Access to recreation critical to mental and physical well being. Need to expand trail to Keystone Canyon, neighborhoods, waterfront, and other areas. Continue to grown community events and programs for mental health
- Community has a long story of resiliency and a legacy of overcoming natural disasters...all within one of the most beautiful locations with world class fishing and recreation
- Need better focus on our culture and stronger partnerships with the Alaska Native population and their elders
- Preserve, present and interpret our culture and history. Valdez is very utilitarian (snow removal a priority, functional unaesthetic 1960's buildings) and resulted in this loss of character and identity. Need to reestablish, this is the greatest challenge that faces Valdez.
- Valdez's transient population is a positive for the community but needs to be included
- Meals Hill has significance to the Alaska Native population. Work with them to ensure it is developed appropriately and the stories are told
- Old Town needs to have well developed trails, interpretation and provide education for local kids and visitors.
- Valdez is a gateway and needs to tell the stories of the area and community (Chugach mountains, Kelsey Dock, local place names (including traditional), glaciers, military, aviation, Alaska Native, natural environment, Keystone Canyon and Thompson Pass. Provide at community entry points and get people interested to stay longer
- Need diversification from oil industry. Arts, culture, history and tourism can help diversify and tell our stories and restore our identity.
- Strengthen our programs and community through partnerships
- Affordable housing is needed. We have the jobs and opportunities, not the housing.
- Internet connectivity is key to success of a remote community. Need access at the local (house) level and other areas of poor connectivity
- Work with local artists to improve existing eyesores in the community (employment and improving our community)
- Stewardship and self sustaining community is a priority (community gardens, recycling, renewable energy, famers market, and responding to climate change and planning a resilient community)
- Need to learn from our past and consult with our elders so we do not repeat mistakes and become more resilient
