Assembly Report for November 22, 2005

MATTERS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN: South Addition resident Albert Swank Jr. wants to install a 30 ton medical cyclotron in his backyard at 318 West 10th Ave. Producing a proton beam of 16 MEV, his particle accelerator will manufacture Flourine 18, a radioactive isotope Swank wants to sell to Providence Hospital for medical diagnostics. Downtown Assemblyman Allan Tesche has introduced AO 2005-178 which confirms the Assembly's intent that under current residential zoning, including provisions governing home occupations, the manufacture of radioactive materials by high energy particle accelerators remains unlawful. Tesche's ordinance is set for public hearing on December 20, 2005.

COFFEY WITHDRAWS CONTROVERSIAL PLAN TO UNDO SIMONIAN/BICENTENNIAL PARK DEAL: Yielding to howls of protest lodged against his recent proposal to unwind a 2002 compromise which resolved the Simonian/Bicentennial Park controversy, Dan Coffey tabled his requet indefinitely Tuesday night. Coffey's proposal was discussed in the November 1, 2005 Tesche Report. Apologizing to assemblymembers, Coffey said he introduced his ordinance in anger after hearing a complaint directed against "industrial baseball" to be played by Little Leagues in Far North Bicentennial Park.

ASSEMBLY ACTS ON 2006-7 OPERATING, UTILITIES, AND CAPITAL BUDGETS: Reflecting public confidence in Mayor Begich's fiscal policies, a new two year general government operating budget setting expenditures of $363,045,810 and $377,248,410 in 2007 was approved by a lopsided vote of 9-2. Facing well organized public oppposition to early plans to slash funding for COPS in schools, city horticulture programs or to reallocate toursim dollars appropriated to the Anchorage Convention and Visitors' Bureau, Assembly leadership left the Mayor's two year fiscal plan completely unscathed. Complaining about inclusion of $6.4M in contributions from AWWU to general government in lieu of property taxes, however Assemblyman Dan Sullivan voted against the entire budget. Joined only by East Anchorage's Paul Bauer, Sullivan ofered no other specific recommendations for cost savings or new revenues to offset property taxes. The 2006 budget maintains existing municipal programs and activities at current levels. Cost increases driving the 2006 budget nclude S6.6M for debt service on voter approved projects, S1.5M for 16 new police officers, $1.2M in voter approved expenditures for the Museum expansion, and S.8M for increased fuel costs. Utilities operating and capital budgets passed unaminously and without comment. A 2006 Capital budget, with some last minute changes recommended by the mayor, passed unaminously without amendment. The capital budget is funded largely by voter approved bonds, state and federal grants.

LAND CLEARING, ROUND TWO: Prompted by renewed land clearing in Eagle River for more site condos, Janice Shamberg has drafted and introducted AO 2005-179 which would restrict unregulated land clearing to areas no greater than 2 acres in size, regardless of the number of lots involved. AO 2005-179 closes a loophole in existing law which forbids land clearing on areas greater than two acres on individual lots, thereby allowing clever woodsman to clear much greater areas if they are first subdivided. Eagle River Assemblywoman Debbie Ossiander is a co- sponsor; the ordinance will be heard on January 31, 2006.

LARGE DOMESTIC ANIMAL (HORSES, MAINLY) ORDINANCE POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY, 2006: After months of work involving community councils, residents of South Anchorage and Eagle River-Chugiak, a new version of the "Large Domestic Animals Facilities" ordinance is plodding forward. AO 2005-150(S) would amend several portions of the city's zoning ordinance and defines the extent to which horse barns, stables, arenas and related facilities are permitted in zoning districts, sets land use criteria such as size and number of animals allowed, and standards governing conditional use permits. A horse lover's delight, AO 2005-150(S)is set for public hearing on January 10, 2006.