Family members want

lower rent at Manor

Robert Monteith

May 8 , 2008.

Rent increases at the city-run assisted living facility at Mountain View Manor was a topic of debate at Monday’s city council meeting as family members of the facility’s current residents testified before the city council. Both Barry Bracken and Kris Norris came before the council to request they take another look at the rent increases. Twelve assisted living units are currently offered at Mountain View Manor, but four of them must be used for low-income residents as part of the requirements for a grant the city received to pay for construction costs.

“Why should the eight self-paid units be responsible for paying the debt load for the entire facility?” Bracken asked the council. “I mean, if the city entered into a negotiation with Alaska Housing Finance to provide four low income units within that facility, why are we shifting the debt load to the eight that are able to pay?”

City Manager Rich Underkofler reminded Bracken that the increases wouldn’t cover the entire debt load of the facility. The City of Petersburg would also be subsidizing the facility from its general fund. “The taxpayers of Petersburg are kicking in another $200,000 to subsidize the place even with this rate increase,” he said,“for eight units.”

Several of the councilors were distressed by the new financial burden that could be placed on residents with a fixed income. To combat the facility’s deficit, rental fees are expected to jump 80% over the next two years. Councilor Mark Jensen lamented the difficulties that the new fees would cause and relayed a story of similar difficulties he had with his father’s assets. However, as a councilor he said he wanted to remain fiscally responsible. “In five years, it will be $1,000,000 out of the general fund,” he told Bracken. “That’s what I’m looking at. The bottom line.”

Kris Norris also approached the council and asked them to do a better job at keeping family members of residents in the loop. “I would implore to the council that in the future when you consider any changes, any rent increases to that facility, that you make sure there’s a public notice out there,” she said. “In particular, make sure that the children, the family members, and the custodians of those residents are notified because they are the advocates for the people up there. It’s important to have a full discussion so that people understand. Otherwise, there’s a lot of anger that comes up and a lot of emotions over the issue. It can easily be avoided by just trying to have some open communication.”

She related a story where she was told not to attend an informative meeting about the proposed rent increases. “There have been two meetings up at Mountain View Manor to discuss rate increases. The families were not notified, nor were the custodians of those people,” she said. “I, in fact was told by a staff member that it didn’t concern me and that I shouldn’t go.”

She also agreed with Bracken that eight residents shouldn’t be burdened with the costs for 12 people. “While I feel I can be responsible for the one parent I have up there, I don’t feel I should be responsible for one and a half parents,” she said.

The councilors ultimately decided to pass the first reading of the ordinance unanimously. They will most likely discuss the issue again at their next regularly scheduled meeting. The councilors also passed the first reading of an ordinance that would forgive $1,286,569 of debt owed by the Assisted Living Fund. The second reading and a public hearing will also most likely occur at the next city council meeting.