Assembly Report for April 18, 2006

CALYPSO MARTINI BAR TANKS: Responding to concerns of residents over potential noise and parking problems the new bar might bring, the Assembly unanimously denied a conditional use permit to allow operation of a new martini bar at 7th and A St adjacent to the Anchorage Museum. The Assembly denied a conditional use permit for the bar and protested issue of the requested license to the ABC Board.

Owners of the Calypso learned last week a state law forbidding location of bars within 200 feet of churches prevents them from opening the bar at the 7th and A. A Russian Orthodox church holds regular services in a nearby building. Just before Easter Sunday, carpenters cut a new entry into the south side of the Calypso in what appeared to neighbors to be a stealthy effort to eliminate the church’s objection to the new club.

NEW ANCHORAGE BOWL PARKS PLAN PASSES: Rewarding months of work by citizens, members of the Parks and Recreation Commission and city staff, the Assembly finally acted on a new Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation Facility Plan. Passing unanimously, (AO 2005-122- S) sets policy for use and development of dozens of parks and recreation areas throughout the Anchorage bowl. The municipal park system consisting of 10,600 acres of parks, 200 parks, 75 playgrounds, 110 athletic fields, 240 miles of trails, 25 indoor facilities, and 8 public lakes.

ASSISTED LIVING ORDINANCE DONE: Ending months of delay, redrafts, floor amendments and several public hearings, assembly members on Tuesday passed a new ordinance governing assisted living facilities. The ordinance, AO 2005-124 (S-1A) sets occupancy limits for assisted living homes in residential neighborhoods. 5 residents are allowed by right in residential districts; an additional 3 are permitted in those districts by administrative variance, and any more than 9 are permitted only by conditional use after public hearing. With the support of many operators of assisted living facilities, the Administration had proposed, but a majority of assembly members rejected, a separate version of the ordinance which would have allowed up to 8 residents in certain facilities. The ordinance takes effect immediately.

CLIMBING THE GREASY POLE OF POLITICAL POWER; SULLIVAN, OSSIANDER MAKE IT TO THE TOP: Carrying out promises made to each other last year, Assembly conservatives on Tuesday picked Dan Sullivan as the new Assembly chair and Debbie Ossiander vice chair Tuesday for one year terms. They replace Anna Fairclough and Dan Coffey who took the Assembly to the right after conservatives gained power in April, 2005. Sullivan brings to his new position a legislative record consisting of occasional efforts to outlaw panhandlers and a current proposal to soften the city’s sign ordinance. With two years of experience on the Assembly, Ossiander points to her success in shepherding a large animal ordinance through the body earlier this year.