At the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce meeting Tuesday, Rupright gave his annual "State of the City" address, and wrapped it up by reminding chamber members to "buy local."
"Urge your friends to buy in the city," he said.
Rupright touted a vision to create a walkable downtown area in Wasilla, something the city has lacked in recent years. He likened the idea to the downtown areas of older cities, which typically have two major anchor buildings linked by several smaller streets. The streets are typically lined with small shops and businesses that give each town its own flavor.
For now, the downtown changes are ideas drawn up by USKH Inc., an Anchorage engineering and architecture firm working on a project to update the city comprehensive plan. The plan will have more public review before it's adopted.
When he was elected in October 2008, Rupright said he wanted to update the city's comprehensive plan. The current plan is 13 years old -- out of date and out of touch. The new plan should be finished next year.
While that plan progresses, Rupright said, he has concrete plans for one section of downtown -- the city-owned lot on the corner of Boundary Street and Swanson Avenue that contains several historic city buildings.
The Wasilla Farmer's Market is held there in the summer. Rupright said several historic buildings need maintenance but he hopes to let businesses use the buildings in conjunction with the Wednesday market. He also plans to move the former city post office, which the city recently bought for $15,000, to the historic district and refurbish it.
In response to a question about the city's efforts to lure Anchorage businesses to the Valley, Rupright said revising city codes, such as eliminating the height restriction on city buildings, might entice high-rise development and lure Anchorage businesses.
"We're going to be very particular about where (a high-rise office building) goes, we don't want it to block views," he said.
He pointed to the area near Home Depot on the Palmer-Wasilla Extension as a likely spot for high-rise buildings.
Rupright also gave an overview of accomplishments so far in his year-and-a-half at the city's helm, including:
• Ending on July 1 a half-percent sales tax city voters passed to pay for the Menard Sports Center. The tax will end a year ahead of schedule.
• Cutting 8 percent from the city operating budget. City department heads have done this without laying off workers, cutting wages or imposing property taxes.
• Wrapping up two lawsuits that have sapped city money for years; one against resident Deborah Luper about running a kennel within the city and the second against landowner Gary Lundgren about the land the city sports complex was built on.
• Buying Meta Rose Square, a shopping center downtown.
• Cutting grass in Lake Lucille last year in an effort to increase oxygen and clear up the lake's water.
• Purchasing a former mechanic shop in downtown Wasilla and converting the site to a parking lot.
Find Rindi White online at adn.com/contact/rwhite or call 907-352-6709.
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