mayor`s note - City of Fairbanks

MAYOR’S NOTE
August 2014
City of
Fairbanks
Visitors from Fanano, Italy, Our Sister City
Inside this issue:
Sister-City
1
Relations
Public Safety
2
Education
Boards, Commissions, and a Council
3
Contact Information
3
We welcome contact
from you!
Mayor’s Office:
907.459.6793
Website:
www.fairbanksalaska.us
Facebook:
Volume 1, Issue 7
If you have ever been to the Golden Days Parade, then you have seen ―Felix
Pedro‖ and his pack mule. Felix discovered gold in Fairbanks in 1902 and that
discovery caused the Fairbanks Gold Rush. Felix’s real name is Felice Pedroni,
and he was from Fanano, Italy.
In 2002, to mark the 100th anniversary of the discovery of gold, Fairbanks and
Fanano joined in a Sister-City relationship. Cities that become sister-cities have
cultural, educational, and often commercial ties. Visitors travel as emissaries between the two communities and help community leaders stay in touch. In 2013,
for example, the Fairbanks Youth Orchestra
toured Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, and they
stopped to play a very
special concert for the
citizens of Fanano.
Our communities have
been very active with
visitors travelling between the two cities, and
this year was exceptionally exciting! A contingent came in July from
Italy and amongst them
was Adriano Pedroni, the
great-grandson of Felice
Pedroni’s brother. Adriano helped rededicate
the Felix Pedro monument on Steese Highway.
―Felix Pedro‖ played by RC Rothermel (left)
with Adriano Pedroni (right).
Photo courtesy of Julie Engfer Jones, Festival Fairbanks
Adriano attended many
events while here in Fairbanks, including riding in a Pioneers of Alaska vehicle in
the Golden Days Parade, the monument rededication, and a dinner with Mayor
Eberhart, hosted by Festival Fairbanks.
Facebook.com/
fairbanksalaska.us
If you are travelling to Italy and want to visit Fanano, please contact Amber
Courtney, Communications Director/PIO for the City of Fairbanks at 459-6793,
or Julie Engfer Jones, Executive Director of Festival Fairbanks at 456-1984.
Twitter:
Our other active sister cities include Erdenet, Mongolia, and Tainan City, Taiwan.
@cityoffairbanks
Mayor’s Note
Page 2
Public Safety—Educational Opportunities and Events
A large part of what we do at
the City of Fairbanks is public
safety.
The Fairbanks Police Department and the Fairbanks Fire
Department both participate
or sponsor public safety events
throughout the year. These
events are opportunities to
learn about safety issues and
sometimes get free safety
equipment or inspections.
Some of the upcoming events
this Fall include:
Fairbanks Area Preparedness
EXPO— Saturday, October 4
from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
at the Carlson Center.
Come and learn about ways to
safely weather flood, fire,
earthquakes, and extreme
cold. Educational and vendor
booths will provide information
on what you can do now to
prepare for some of the challenges we can face here in Interior Alaska. This event is
sponsored by the Interior Fire
Chiefs Association. Call: 4880444 for more information.
Youth Safety Day— Saturday, August 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in
the Regal Cinemas parking lot.
This is a chance to participate in fun and educational activities, get a booster seat check-up, rides, a bouncy slide, and a bicycle rodeo for youth to
learn about bike safety with free youth bike helmets.
Operation Glow— Friday, October 31, Halloween 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Local law enforcement agencies hand out lanyards attached
to green colored glowsticks in busy neighborhoods. The lanyards help keep children safe
through increased visibility. Kids get to interact
with officers and see that police officers aren’t
scary! Officer B. Safe will be there too. Check
back closer to the event for more information, or
call 459-6500.
Social Media—Follow our social media sites to
learn more about these and other public safety
events and issues.
Facebook:
―Fairbanks Police Department‖
―City of Fairbanks Fire Department‖
―Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center‖
―City of Fairbanks‖
Twitter:
@FairbanksFire
@cityoffairbanks
Volume 1, Issue 7
Page 3
Boards, Commissions, and another Council!
The City of Fairbanks has 12 current
active boards or commissions, and
one new council in addition to the
City Council. These commissions,
boards, and council are extremely
important in getting public and subject matter experts involved in the
City of Fairbanks decision-making
processes.
Fact Finding Commission-7 mem- pointee members participate in 3bers participate in 2-year terms. year terms. Meets regularly.
Meets as warranted.
Landscape Review & Appeals
Fairbanks Diversity Council-18 Commission-6 members particimembers participate in 3-year pate in 3-year terms. Meets as warterms. Meetings will begin soon!
ranted.
Finance Committee-10 members Permanent Fund Advisory-Boardparticipate in 3-year terms. Meet- 5 members participate in 3 year
terms. Meets quarterly.
We invite you to apply to partici- ings occur twice monthly.
pate on these boards, (even if you
FNSB-Planning Commission (Joint Public Safety Commission-8 memdo not see a current vacancy) so
with City)-3 City appointee mem- bers participate in 3 year terms.
that we can give your application
bers participate in 3-year terms. Meets quarterly or as warranted.
consideration when a vacancy arisMeets regularly.
es.
Full descriptions of these commisHotel/Motel Discretionary Fund sions, boards, and council are listed
Board of Plumber Examiners–6
Committee-6 members participate on our website. We also have an
members participate in 3-year
in 3-year terms. Meets regularly in online application form to particiterms. Meets at least every quarter,
pate in one of these vital groups:
the Fall. Current vacancy!
and more often if needed.
Www.fairbanksalaska.us/boardsChena Riverfront Commission and-commissions/
Building Code Review & Appeals
(Joint with FNSB)-5 City appointee
Commission-12 members particimembers participate in 3 year Deputy City Clerk, Danyielle Snider,
pate in 5-year terms. Meets as
terms. Meets at least quarterly or is the contact for the groups and
warranted.
can answer any questions you might
more frequently.
have. She can be reached at
Clay Street Cemetery Commission
Commission on Historic Presev- 907.459.6771
or
ddsnid–8 members participate in 3-year
eration (Joint with FNSB)-2 City ap- er@ci.fairbanks.ak.us. Thank you!
terms. Meets regularly.
Ci t y o f Fa i r ba nk s
Patrick B. Cole City Hall
800 Cushman Street
Fairbanks AK 99701
Phone: 907.459.6793
Fax: 907.459.6787
Email: mayor@ci.fairbanks.ak.us
STRONGER TOGETHER
The City of Fairbanks is known as the “Golden Heart City.” If you have the
good fortune to visit or live here, you will soon discover why we have earned
that name. The people of Fairbanks are known for their generosity of spirit,
hospitality, and friendliness. Our city is vibrant with business and trade, outdoor and sports activities, and a dynamic arts community.
Departments: The City government provides essential police, fire, paramediclevel emergency medical and emergency dispatch service. In addition, Fairbanks provides garbage collection, street maintenance, building and fire code
enforcement and a variety of other municipal services designed to make our
city a great place to live, work and visit.
www.fairbanksalaska.us