Assembly Report for Tuesday, May 31, 2005

INTRODUCING THE TESCHE REPORT

The Tesche Report is an electronic newsletter prepared by Anchorage Assembly member Allan Tesche and e-mailed to local residents shortly after each regular Assembly meeting. The Report summarizes Assembly action of areawide interest and alerts readers to upcoming public hearings and Assembly activities planned in the next three months. The Report costs nothing to produce or distribute; readers get it for free. To be removed from the mailing list, please contact Gene Storm at at gsword@acsalaska.net.

ASSEMBLY TAKES UP SIGN CODE CHANGES

Introduction of a handful of modest changes to the City’s 2003 sign ordinance sparked a lively debate on signs on May 31, 2005 and prompted a flood of new assembly amendments to the law. As some members had not seen amendments drafted by Debbie Ossiander, action on the ordinance and proposed amendments is postponed to June 14, 2005.

Original changes proposed by the administration addressed luminance standards for illunimated signs, sign area calculations used in permitting, and changes in standards governing changable electronic copy. Newer amendments proposed by Debbie Ossiander, Ken Stout, and Dan Coffey address a wider range of issues including expanded amortization periods for illuminated signs, luminance standards for LED signs, permissible limits for changeable electronic copy on signs located in residential neighborhoods requested by the Anchorage Baptist Temple. An amendment drafted by Assembly member Dick Traini exempting political signs will also come before the Assembly.

Representing the Chamber of Commerce, George Vakalis stated the Chamber’s longstanding opposition to amoritization of non conforming signs, sparking comments from Assemblymember Dan Sullivan hinting he might bring forward his own amendments to roll back to eliminate amorization of non conforming signs.

By a vote of 7-4 (Assemblymembers Tesche, Traini, Jennings, and Shamberg voting "yes", the Assembly rejected a motion to delay action on the new sign code amendments until July 12, 2005 in order to obtain recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

OMNIBUS PARKS DEDICATION ORDINANCES STALL TEMPORARILLY)

Efforts by Mayor Mark Begich to formally dedicate161 acres of municipal park land to parks and recreation purposes were delayed on May 31, 2005 when Assembly member Debbie Ossiander objected to the lack of a summary of economic effects on the legislation. Required by law, a summary of economic effects must accompany certain ordinances approved by the Assembly. As the properties in question are already municipally owned and will not see a change in use, economic effects are viewed as extremely small. The ordinances will return to the Assembly for action on June 14. 2005.

Parks include Baxter Bog, San Antonio Park, Peratrovich Park, Tikishla Park, some 20 parks and parcels located in South Anchorage, Oceanview Bluff Park, and Far North Bicentennial Park.
Formal dedication of parkland by ordinance is significant because under the Charter, disposal of municipal land formally dedicated to permanent or long term park or recreation purposes cannot occur except with a vote of the people. Formal dedication of park lands, once approved by ordinance, prevents the Assembly form selling or giving away (disposal) of park lands without a vote of the people.

INTRODUCED: NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ORDINANCE

With support from the Planning and Zoning Commission, Mayor Begich introduced AO 2005-73 which would establish criteria and a process for adoption of neighborhood plans throughout Anchorage. A public hearing is scheduled for June 14, 2005.

The proposed ordinance describes who may sponsor a neighborhood or district plan, the process by which a plan will be drafted, reviewed, and approved, and the required form and content of neighborhood plans. Critical to implementation of the City’s 2020 Comprehensive plan, neighborhood or district plans will guide land use decisions in neighborhoods such as rezoning, issue of conditional use permits, roads and transportation, and siting of public facilities.

Areas where neighborhood groups, including community councils, have organized and are interested in neighborhood plans include: Fairview, West Anchorage, Mountain View, the Hillside area, and Government Hill.

DETAILS REVEALED ON CITY'S NEW CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS

Details on the city’s plans to reorganize code enforcement functions were revealed to the Assembly on May 31, 2005. To better handle zoning, land use, nuisance, and other neighborhood code violations, several changes are underway: a new hotline residents can use for zoning, noise, a junk car, trash, and public nuisance complaints is now in operation. Call 343-4141 during business hours to speak with a code enforcement officer who will figure which department(s) handle your complaint and actually get that department to start the process. A GIS system will track complaints and allow departments to share information on enforcement activities. We’ve been promised the Hotline won’t simply refer you to an answering machine but instead will contact the responsible department and track the process for you. An interagency team will review complaints and coordinate investigation and enforcement functions.

The City is still working on a way to update private citizens on the progress of their complaints and must deal with the fact that many neighborhood issues erupt at night or on weekends: noise, and illegal activities ranging from the perpetual weekend garage sale to the operation of crack house down the block aren’t limited to weekdays between 8 am to 5 p.m. For more information, call the Hotline at 343-4141.

COMING SOON:

The Assembly will soon consider a Code of Ethics rewrite. At the request of the City’s five member Board of Ethics, the Assembly recently introduced AO 2005- 69 Drafted by the Ethics Board over the past five years, the new ethics law reorganizes and restates current standards governing conflicts of interest, contracting public officials and the municipality, and public disclosure of private business inerests. A public hearing is set for June 28, 2005. Copies of the ordinace are available by calling the City Clerk at 343-4311 or on line at WWMASMC@ci.anchorage.ak.us

Proposed sales tax Set for public hearings before the Assembly in August, is Assemblyman Dan Coffey’s proposal to levy a new 3% sales tax throughout Anchorage. If the new sales tax"is approved by 60% of the voters next April, proceeds will be dedicated exclusively for property tax relief. For a copy of the ordinance call the City Clerk’s office at 343-4311 or on line at the address noted above.