League of Women Voters of Tanana Valley Positions
GENERAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT - STATEMENT OF POSITION
The League of Women Voters of the Tanana Valley believes that local government is needed to protect the rights and needs of residents, and to provide services for the common good. A sample of services that local government delivers includes public education, public libraries, planning, platting and land use regulation, transportation systems, water and air pollution control, economic development, waste disposal, and animal regulation. Local government should be accountable to the people in the performance of functions, exercise of powers and use of resources.
ADOPTED 1968; REVISED 1987; REAFFIRMED 1988, 1991; REVIEWED 2015, REAFFIRMED 2016; 2017 REVISED 2018; ADOPTED NEW WORDING 2018; REAFFIRMED 2019, 2020; RECOMMENDED FOR REVIEW 2021, 2022 (MEMBERS NOTED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CITY AND BOROUGH POWERS).
PLANNING AND ZONING - STATEMENT OF POSITION
The League of Women Voters of the Tanana Valley believes that a comprehensive Land Use Plan is essential to ensure orderly development, save green spaces, plan for future public facilities and to encourage industrial and business growth in specifically designated areas. Regulatory measures to maintain the Plan must:
- Provide for periodic review of the Comprehensive Plan.
- Provide for citizen input before any changes to the Plan take effect.
- Ensure cooperative planning between the Planning and Zoning Commission and the School Board on future school needs and locations of schools.
- Provide for environmental review of any new facility which will draw heavy traffic or have a large parking area.
- Ensure that the integrity of the Plan will not be compromised by frequent small changes or variances.
ADOPTED 1969; REVISED 1979, 1987; REAFFIRMED 1988, 1991; REVIEWED 2015; REAFFIRMED
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES - STATEMENT OF POSITION
The League of Women Voters of the Tanana Valley believes in the participation of citizens in their government. Appointed boards, commissions and committees serve as liaisons between the community and their elected officials. As such, they should be reflective of the composition of the community with adequate representation from both urban and rural areas. Selection procedures for boards, commissions and committees should be standardized and advertised to encourage the widest possible citizen participation. The names of current board, commission and committee members should be published periodically.
ADOPTED 1979; REAFFIRMED 1986; REVISED 1988; REAFFIRMED 1988; REVIEWED 2015; REAFFIRMED 2016, 2017, 2018. REVISED 2019. REAFFIRMED 2020, 2021, 2022.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST - STATEMENT OF POSITION
The League of Women Voters of the Tanana Valley supports clear and concise conflict of interest legislation to govern all councils, assemblies, boards, commissions and committees. Such provisions should contain:
- A clear definition of what constitutes conflict of interest.
- A procedure for members to declare conflict of interest.
- A procedure by which the body decides if conflict of interest does exist and the extent of disqualification in each case.
- A provision that all declarations of conflict of interest and all pertinent discussion must be reflected in the minutes.
ADOPTED 1978; REVISED 1987; REAFFIRMED 1988, 1991; REVIEWED 2015; REAFFIRMED 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. 2022.
ROAD SERVICE AREA - STATEMENT OF POSITION
The League of Women Voters of the Tanana Valley supports the following policies regarding service areas:
- All citizens in the Borough should be able to form, or be included in, a road service area for their neighborhood.
- Borough costs for administration of road service areas should be borne by the residents/property owners within those areas.
- Each service area should pay a basic flat fee, plus an additional fee which would vary according to the amount of service required.
- To make consolidation of road service areas more attractive, differential tax rates within service areas should be considered when there are differences in population density, property valuation, lot size, soil conditions or service philosophy.
- To ensure that service areas will function in an efficient, responsive and accountable manner it is essential that procedures and regulations be enforced consistently.
ADOPTED 1986; REVISED 1987; REAFFIRMED 1988, 1991; REVISED 2000; REVIEWED 2015; REAFFIRMED 2016, 2017 – 2018 UNDER REVIEW FOR CLARIFICATION; 2019 RECOMMENDED FOR REVISION, 2020, 2021, 2022 CONTINUED REVIEW.
NONDISCRIMINATION - STATEMENT OF POSITION
The League of Women Voters of the Tanana Valley believes that equality of opportunity is foundational to the spirit of the Republic. We are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in principle and in practice. We oppose discrimination whether based on race, color, religion, sex, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military service, ethnicity or national origin. We support equal rights under federal, state and local laws. We endorse ordinances and legislation that guarantee equal justice under the law in employment, housing and realty, credit, public places and services, public accommodation and education. Such laws and ordinances promote social equity while rejecting prejudice, bigotry, and oppression. They strengthen our community and help society in creating a more perfect democracy.
ADOPTED 2020; REAFFIRMED 2021, 2022.
Click here to download a printable copy of the LWVTV Local Positions.
How is a League position developed?
The League's program consists of those governmental issues that the League has chosen for concerted study and action at the national, state or local level. The program process is specified in the bylaws and includes the following steps:
- Formal adoption (by members at an annual meeting or by state/national convention delegates) of an issue for study.
- Member study and agreement on broad concepts.
- Formulation of a position by the appropriate board of directors.
- Action as directed by the board of directors.
- Annual or biennial re-adoption of the position.
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