Public Notice of Filing of Petition to Consolidate the City of Ketchikan and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough


Under the terms of an initiative approved by voters on October 7, 2003, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough (KGB) has filed a Petition with the Alaska Local Boundary Commission (LBC) seeking to consolidate the City of Ketchikan and KGB as a home-rule borough. Boundaries of the proposed consolidated borough are identical to those of the KGB (encompassing an estimated 1,743.6 square miles). The territory within the existing boundaries of the City of Ketchikan would become the Gateway Service Area of the consolidated borough. The City of Saxman would remain as a city government within the consolidated borough.

The Petition and related documents, including maps of the proposed consolidated borough and laws referenced below, are available for public review at the following three locations in Ketchikan (days and times during which the facilities are generally open are also listed):

BOROUGH CLERK'S OFFICE
344 Front Street - Street Level
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

KETCHIKAN CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
334 Front Street - Fourth Floor
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

KETCHIKAN PUBLIC LIBRARY
629 Dock Street
Monday - Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
Thursday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
and Sunday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Petition and related documents are also available for review on the Internet at: <http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/lbc/ketchikan3.htm>

Legal standards governing the proposed consolidation are set out in Article X, sections 1, 3, 5, and 12 of Alaska's Constitution, AS 29.06.130, AS 29.05.031, AS 29.05.100; 3 AAC 110.240 - 3 AAC 110.250, 3 AAC 110.045 - 3 AAC 110.065, and 3 AAC 110.900 - 3 AAC 110.990. Procedures applicable to the consolidation are set out in AS 29.06.090 - 29.06.170, AS 44.33.810 - 44.33.828, and 3 AAC 110.400 - 3 AAC 110.990.

Responsive briefs and written comments supporting or opposing the Petition may be filed in accordance with 3 AAC 110.480. The deadline for filing responsive briefs and written comments with the LBC is 4:30 p.m., Monday, December 27, 2004. Responsive briefs and written comments must be received in the office below by that deadline:

Local Boundary Commission Staff
550 West Seventh Avenue, Suite 1770
Anchorage, AK 99501-3510
Fax: 1-907-269-4539
Email: LBC@commerce.state.ak.us

Questions concerning the proposed consolidation may be directed to LBC staff at the mailing address, e-mail address, or facsimile number listed above. Additionally, inquiries may be directed to LBC staff by telephone at 1-907-269-4559.