Assembly Report for November 8, 2005

ASSEMBLY LEADERS DELAY ANCHORAGE PARKS PLAN: Originally scheduled for November 8, 2005, a public hearing on a new Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation Facility Plan (AO 2005-122) has been postponed by Assembly Chair Anna Fairclough until December 13, 2005. Representing months of work by citizens, members of the Parks and Recreation Commission and city staff, the plan sets policy for use and development of dozens of parks and recreation areas throughout the Anchorage bowl. After the Assembly "Leadership" mauled the Long Range Transportation Plan last week, (see posting for November 1, 2005 meeting) parks people may want to attend the rescheduled public hearing.
ASSEMBLY HOLDS SECOND HEARING ON THE 2006-7 BUDGET: Public testimony on the mayor's proposed 2006-7 general government operating budget on Tuesday night focused on maintainng funding for the COPS in schools program and continuing the City's horticulture program. Public outcry over potential cuts to the horticulture program and the COPS in schools heightened after Aseembly Chair Anna Fairclough and Vice Chair Dan Sullivan issued a lengthy written budget statement last Friday questioning continued funding for those programs and hinting at possible cuts. Mid town Assemblyman Dick Traini has made no secret of his continued opposition to the city's horticulture program and Dan Sullivan would like to see the school district rather than general government pay for the COPS program. Several Assembly conservatives want the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau to contritute to downtown amenities, such as beautification, from its "share" of the city's hotel tax. A separate battle between those same Assembly conservatives and Mayor Begich is brewing over the mayor's plan to use a portion of AWWU earnings to compensate the city for some $5M in property tax the city does not receive from the Utility. Assembly members also heard from representatives of various little leagues who protested increases in parks fees charged the leagues for use of the public fields.
ASSISTED LIVING ORDINANCE HEARD AND THEN POSTPONED: A public hearing on proposed changes to city zoning ordinances govering "assisted living" facilities located in residential neigborhoods concluded on Tuesday night without action by the Assembly. After hearing from about twenty residents and operators of assisted living homes located in residential neighborhoods, the Assembly closed the public hearing and postponed action to December 20, 2005. The ordinance sets land use standards for assisted living facilities and, in residential districts, allows assisted living facilties for up to eight adults. Assembly action on the new ordinance is now scheduled for December 20, 2005.
CALLING OUT THE PARKING FAIRIES: Dan Coffey wants voters to repeal a Charter provision which requires the city to use sworn police officers to issue parking tickets, vehicle impounds, or right of way violations. If approved by the Assembly, Coffey's AO 2005-170 would allow voters in April, 2006 to decide whether to repeal the charter provision which was enacted by initiative in 1997 after a community revolt over zealous parking enforcement and photo radar. Locals will remember swarms of tutu clad "parking fairies" cruising metered areas downtown in pink three wheeled scooters, plugging parking meters in defiance of the "brown shirts" of the old Anchorage Parking Authority. The rationale behind Coffey's proposal is to reduce the costs of parking enforcement, vehicle impounds, and right of way enforcement by allowing non sworn personnel to handle these functions.
ONCE AGAIN, EMINENT DOMAIN: Taking another step to restrict use of eminent domain (condemnation) to acquire private property for public projects, Assembly member Chris Birch wants to forbid the city from using this power to acquire property for so-called "leisure amenities". Under AO 2005-171, eminent domain could not be used to acquire trails, bike paths, indoor sports facilities, picnic areas, or property needed for "sports activites of any kind." A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for December 20, 2005.
COMING UP SOONER THAN YOU THINK:
November 22, 2005
- Assembly vote on 2006-7 operating, capital, and utility budgets
- Public hearing on Large Domestic Animal ordinance
December 13, 2005
- Public hearing on Dan Coffey's repeal of Bicentennial Park deal
- Public hearing on new Anchorage Bowl Parks Plan
December 20, 2005
- Public hearing on Chris Birch's ordinance limiting condemnation
- Assembly vote on proposed Assisted Living ordinance
- Public hearing on Dan Coffey's parking enforcement charter amendment
January 10, 2006
- Public hearing on Dan Sullivan's proposed sign ordinance rollbacks
January 24, 2006
- Public hearing on Dan Coffey's 3% sales tax proposition