Reminder about Snow Removal, Towing and Ticketing in the Downtown Core. In order to improve winter maintenance, the Public Works Department has a weekly opportunity to “hit it” from 1-6 AM Monday mornings when it’s needed. These 52 scheduled maintenance opportunities have been signed and noticed that parkers will be ticketed even when snow plowing will not occur (during summer streets can be swept more easily), and that when the plows do come, parkers will be towed.
We continue to support this idea – to make the most of these weekly opportunities to clear snow and ice without impediment from parked vehicles; and the premise is that parkers who run afoul of the enforcement will learn to use overnight parking alternatives (if necessary, the Parking Authority provides temporary overnight parking). If you bridle at zealous and expensive parking enforcement, it’s hard to accept further ticket-able offenses, but we wanted to try this fine-tuning of the city’s efforts to maintain downtown streets and sidewalks. The Parking Authority is keeping track of these tickets and Public Works is counting their tows and their maintenance in the core for an end-of-year accounting of impacts and benefits.
Old but Good News Recapping the Winter Solstice Festival.
Downtown was busy all day at 5°F on Saturday, December 21. That’s what we were after; that’s why we and our partners had events happening all day for the Winter Solstice Festival:
10 – 8 PM Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center welcomed 1,500 visitors to their Holiday Bazaar. When shoppers learned what else there was to do that day, we figure that many stuck around . . . .
10 – 6 PM (and for the prior 2 days) FEDC’s Moose on the Loose scavenger hunt ‘caused’ 1,314 total visits among the 28 participating businesses.
10 – 8 PM FNSB’s Winter Lights Walk netted 234 votes for “best tree.”
Noon – 4 PM The Downtown Association and the Yukon Quest organized dog sled rides for 122 groups.5:30-7:50 PM The Downtown Association hosted 237 group and family photos with a Reindeer & Elf in Golden Heart Plaza
8 – 8:15 was the Festival’s finale – fireworks over the Chena River.
Special thanks to this year’s Title Sponsor: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. A big thank you to the following 2024 Winter Solstice Festival sponsors: Explore Fairbanks, Rylieh Bodyfelt, Big Ray’s, Alaska Aerofuel, Doyon, Ltd., Kinross Fort Knox, Tech Wise Systems, North Haven Communities, Borealis Basecamp, Advance Printing, and Bettisworth North. We’d also like to thank our Big Dipper sponsors: Denali Industrial Supply, Calista Brice, Foundation Health Partners, Walsh, Kelliher & Sharp CPA, and Robinson & Ward P.C.
Passing Along:
– You’re invited to the open house for Representative Begich’s Fairbanks office in the Nerland Building, 542 4th Avenue, Suite 210 on Monday, February 17th from 4-6 PM. See the full invitation here.
– Please take a survey for the FNSB’s Comprehensive Plan update and stay up to date with the project page.
– Ballot Measure 1 Implementation – an Invitation for all Businesses on February 4. Please see the invitation from the Alaska Chamber regarding implementation of 2024’s Ballot Measure 1. Be sure to register for this very informative webinar and take a look at the Ballot Measure 1 Implementation FAQ.
Presenting the Downtown Association’s 2024 Annual Report here.
Midnight Sun Festival sponsorship opportunities are available here.