The Government Affairs and Services (GAS) committee unanimously approved a draft ordinance placing a proposition on October’s ballot that would amend borough charter to allow police emergency response outside the townsite and use general fund money to reimburse the townsite for police response.
The charter change would add “including emergency police and fire response” to emergency dispatch under areawide powers charter section.
Additions to charter would also include the provision that emergency police response outside the townsite when either there is no Alaska State Trooper, not including a wildlife trooper, assigned to a Haines post and or pursuant to a mutual aid agreement with the state agency.
In December, the borough assembly approved a resolution to reinterpret charter to include police response in the definition of “emergency dispatch.” The definition formerly covered only medical and fire response.
GAS committee member Brenda Josephson said although she doesn’t think the charter change was necessary, the assembly in the past discussed putting forward a proposition to voters.
The assembly will consider the draft ordinance at its June 23 meeting.