North Slope's comprehensive plan informs its $1.5 billion capital plan, mayor says

North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Patkotak told the Borough Assembly on Oct. 13 that the borough's comprehensive plan, its long-range plan for the region's eight communities, informs a $1.5 billion six-year capital plan that the borough can now fund after voters approved all 11 bond propositions on the Oct. 6 ballot.

"The comprehensive plan, to your question, has never been fully executed because we couldn't fund a 6-year capital plan, and that's what we've done differently," Patkotak said in answer to an Assembly member's question.

In past years, the borough could fund only one year of capital projects at a time, he said. Those budgets have ranged from $75 million to $200 million, and last year's was $180 million, $150 million of it borrowed. With the voters' approval, the administration can now come to the Assembly by resolution to borrow for projects in the six-year plan instead of seeking voter approval each year, he said.

The borough's current comprehensive plan covers 2019 through 2039 and pairs a borough-wide plan with detailed plans for each community: Anaktuvuk Pass, Atqasuk, Utqiagvik, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, Point Hope, Point Lay and Wainwright. The plans are meant to lay out the region's anticipated capital needs over 20 years and serve as the foundation for land use rules and infrastructure investments. The borough adopted its first comprehensive plan in 1983.

Updated plans for Anaktuvuk Pass and Atqasuk are headed to the Planning Commission this month and the Assembly in December, according to the mayor's monthly report to the Assembly.

The planning department takes comments on any of the plans through an online form, by mail or in person. The form lists no deadline.