Unalaska, AK – Preliminary results from the city's Community Visions Project are now being used as the basis for a community-wide survey. The consulting firm HyettPalma was in Unalaska in late September to speak with various community groups, government agencies, businesses, and individuals about their criticisms of and visions for the future of Unalaska. Assistant City Manager John Fulton, who helped compile the survey, said one thing stuck out above all.

"Housing was the number one issue. That was heard from almost all groups. There's a desire for more housing opportunities within the community, stuff that young folks can purchase or move into, people that want to live here long term. There's just a real desire for employee-type housing."

However, Fulton said that the city can only do limited numbers of things to help with the problem. "In the comprehensive plan there's a housing component where you make sure your code and zoning is appropriate for the needs and the desires that are out there. So to that extent, that's where the city can be involved. Obviously it's really a private sector issue that the private sector can handle."

Fulton said that really, there's only so much the city can do to help with any of the suggestions put forth by the data gathering process, but developing a community vision puts the information out there and let's community organizations use it to guide them.

Other frequently mentioned topics during data collection included privacy and administrative issues at the health clinic, need for more recreational and community gathering facilities, need for improving the roads, sidewalks, and docks, and making the community more tourist-friendly. Fulton says that the consultants heard some suggestions from the community's youth that were surprising.

"In most communities, the kids want a new gym, a new swimming pool, a new something of that nature. But [here], they are more interested in more arts and culture, mentorship, the ability to play sports here in Unalaska rather than always being away so their parents and friends can see them play."

The preliminary data was used as the basis for a community-wide survey. The city will be putting a survey in every post office box as well as making them available at the PCR, the library, city hall, and other popular locations. The surveys are also available in Tagalog and Spanish. Community members are encouraged to fill them out and return them to city hall by November 20. The results will be compiled with other data to create the new Community Vision and comprehensive plan. The city previously created community visions in 1991 and 2001.