Assembly report for July 26, 2005

BICYCLE SAFETY LAW The Assembly heard, but took no action on, Janice Shamberg’s proposal to require bicycle helmets for minors. Her Bicycle Safety Law would also repeal bicycle registration requirements, impose new standards of parental responsibility, and apply traffic laws to bicyclists. The measure will return (once again) to the Assembly for action on August 23, 2005. A fusillade of floor amendments is expected from members who still oppose the measure. No further public testimony will be taken.

LAST CALL FOR THE WILD After hearing repeated noise and safety complaints from neighbors of the Call of the Wild Bar and listening to owner Curt Nading, the Assembly urged the State ABC Board to impose seven strict operating restrictions on the bar. Conditions include sound barriers, noise testing, additional security personnel, and outdoor surveillance cameras. By a vote of 8-2, the Assembly rejected a substitute resolution offered earlier by Anna Fairclough which would have removed several operating conditions recommended by neighbors and watered down the measure. Coffey and Sullivan voted in favor of the substitute version; Fairclough was absent.

The Assembly allowed Dan Coffey to chair the debate on the Call of the Wild in Anna Fairclough’s absence, even though he represented the bar in the past, actively participated in recent negotiations between a community council and neighbors, and stated his law firm is available to assist the bar in future liquor matters.

RAILBELT ENERGY AUTHORITY The Assembly passed AR 2005-166 which allows ML&P to participate in a "joint action agency" of other railbelt utilities to build future generation and transmission facilities in south central Alaska. Depending on the outcome of pending federal legislation, the agency may also provide an additional source of tax exempt financing for energy projects. Voting against was Ken Stout.

METHAMPHETAMINE PRECURSOR DRUGS Allan Tesche and Dick Traini introduced AO 2005-98 which would limit bulk sales of popular cold remedies, such as Sudafed which are commonly used to "cook" illegal methamphetamine in clandestine laboratories. Set for public hearing on August 9, 2005, the measure is identical to one now before the Mat Su Borough Assembly. Mayor Begich, Janice Shamberg, and Pam Jennings are co- sponsors.

ETHICS CODE REWRITE A committee headed by Ken Stout met on July 22nd to review a new Ethics Code written by the Board of Ethics. Stout has promised a "slow" process on the ordinance and scheduled a 2 hour work session on September 9, 2005 to review the new Code and possible amendments. A public hearing on the new Code, previously scheduled for August 23, 2005, will likely be continued until after the work session in September.