The Tesche Report

Assembly Report for January 6, 2009

2009-01-05T19:26:00.012-09:00

CLAMAN’S FIRST STAFF APPOINTMENTS: After becoming Acting Mayor in a brief ceremony on Saturday, Matt Claman took little time before naming key executives to a new team at city hall.

Private public relations consultant Patty Ginsburg will be Claman’s chief of staff. Ginsburg, will oversee the operations of the mayor’s office, develop and communicate policy to departments and the public, and coordinate municipal agencies. Ginsburg started her career as a reporter for the Peninsula Times Tribune in California. Ginsburg previously worked as the marketing director for Municipal Light & Power, vice president of public relations for Northwest Strategies and public information director for Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council. She holds a bachelor’s in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley.

Former Alaska District Court Judge Nancy Nolan is Claman’s senior policy adviser. She has practiced both criminal and civil law, and worked as an assistant attorney general. She worked as an attorney in private practice and as a committing magistrate. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Colorado and holds a law degree from the University of California, Davis.

Marge Larsen, a former director of American Lung Association will be Claman’s special assistant. Larsen worked as director of communications for the Lung Association from 2001 – 2003 and later as executive director from 2005 – 2008. She is active in the Anchorage Downtown Rotary and serves on the Anchorage Air Quality Advisory Board. Larsen holds a bachelor’s of liberal arts from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

EAGLE RIVER GROUP WANTS TO WRENCH TAX CAP DOWN WITH A NEWINITIATIVE: 16 Eagle River residents on December 31, 2008 applied to the Municipal Clerk for an Initiative petition that would cut municipal spending by $16M in next year’s municipal budget. If approved at the April 4, 2009 election, the measure would further limit city property tax increases by changing the way earnings received from city utilities are considered in calculating revenues the city may collect under its Tax Cap which voters first enacted in 1983. Led by Eagle River residents Neil Nichols and Jay Gracey, petitioners are members of the Municipal Taxpayers’ League who want “to win back for taxpayers what was taken from us in 2003" by then Mayor Mark Begich. The group targets an ordinance sponsored by Begich and approved by the Assembly in 2003 which clarified municipal law by allowing the city to treat utility profits “outside” of the voter approved tax cap even though previous mayors had regarded utility payments under the cap, thereby limiting municipal spending. If approved by voters, the initiative would reduce property tax revenues available to the city in 2010 by $16M and require spending cuts, according to City Manager Mike Abbott.

When asked to identify budget cuts that he would support in order to meet the more stringent tax cap he has proposed, Nichols identified $30,000 he claims the City’s health department pays to distribute condoms “in the downtown”. Nichols would not identify other cuts he would make and instead expressed his “full confidence in Dan Sullivan to navigate those waters.” Sullivan is a former Assemblyman from West Anchorage and candidate for mayor in the April, 2009 election.

“Growth and diversity [in the city’s] revenue stream” and reduced labor costs through “managed competition” between workers providing city services are also goals of Nichols’ organization. The group’s website is http://www.mtlanc.org/

The Municipal Clerk and Municipal Attorney have ten days or until January 10, 2009 to check signatures and determine legal sufficiency of the petition. If approved, sponsors will have until the end of February to obtain some 8500 signatures from voters needed to place the measure before voters on April 7th.

MARK TO MATT: ENJOY! A first read of outgoing mayor Mark Begich’s Transition Report he left in acting Mayor Matt Claman’s in box only hints at some of the issues Claman and his ten Assembly colleges will wrestle over during coming months. Most of the 76 page report recounts the accomplishments of several dozen municipal agencies over the past six years in what most Anchorage residents regard as successful administration. And yet, curiously omitted from an otherwise upbeat assessment of the Begich years were any real discussion of the new Museum expansion, the Town Square makeover, the E St Corridor, the Mountain View revitalization, property tax relief for homeowners, streamlined procedures for property assessment appeals,creation of the Cooperative Services Authority.

Items Begich said were left on the table include: Title 21 Rewrite project. Originally scheduled for completion in 2004, Begich says the last portions of the new code will go to the Assembly in Spring, 2009. AWWU is anxiously waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court of Alaska on an appeal filed by the mayor from a decision of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) changing the method the city uses for collecting utility service assessments in lieu of property taxes. The city lost the case before the RCA and on appeal to the Superior court, if the City cannot win a reversal in the Supreme Court, the potential liability for the MOA is $26M. The ongoing problem of public inebriates remain a significant issue in Anchorage.

Just plain curious were several other entries in the Begich Report: In the coldest, darkest days of winter, and when mayoral candidate Shiela Sellkregg warns of a potentially disastrous natural gas shortage in Anchorage, ML&P’s Jim Posey cheerfully checks “N/A” for “Issues
Requiring Immediate Attention” in the Report. Very proud of the $700M hoard he has assembled for the Port of Anchorage expansion, Port Director Bill Sheffield needs some personnel changes there and instructs Claman that he “will need to be supportive of any staff/reclassification changes the Port makes” for the project to succeed. Emphasis added.. According to the City’s Emergency Services Director, Kevin Spillars, the single issue requiring his department’s “immediate attention” in his is a Charter amendment “with special emphasis on lines of succession.” City Attorney Jim Reeves boasts that “In the current administration, the Municipal Attorney has been treated (and . . . by Assembly members and the legal community) as a legal professional rather than as the Mayor’s political confidante or tactician..” Finally, virtually every department head argues for more money, personnel, equipment, and facilities. So it is no wonder the Report also notes the City has had six controllers in the past five years and six OMB directors since Begich took office.

To read the Begich Transition Report, go to the City’s website at http://www.muni.org and click on 2009 Begich Administration Transition Report.

HE’S BACK: DAN COFFEY IS THE NEW VICE CHAIR. Supported by a secret ballot of eight of his colleagues, Mid Town Assembly member Dan Coffey returned to a leadership position of the Anchorage Assembly Tuesday night as West Anchorage’s Harriet Drummond became Chair.

In his second term on the Assembly, Coffey brings considerable experience to his new position as vice chair. He held that position for two years previously in 2005-7 and served as chair from 2007-8. Coffey’s previous tenure in leadership positions was controversial: In September, 2005 he and then Assembly Chair Anna Fairclough closed the Assembly office and fired staffers Elvi Gray Jackson and Mike Guiterrez. Coffey almost lost his seat to Gray Jackson in 2007 amid charges of conflicts of interest. Both Grey Jackson and Gutierrez were elected to the Assembly in April, 2008 and are now in their first term on the body.

Coffey’s one year term as Chair between 2007-8 was marked by release of a tape recording he inadvertently made of a candid conversation with Eagle River Assembly member Bill Starr in which Coffey boasted of collecting and then “doling out” campaign contributions in the Spring, 2008 election. A complaint was filed by APOC staff against Coffey last spring and only recently dismissed by the full Commission.

Previously vice chair, Drummond became Chair once former Chair Matt Claman became Acting Mayor over the weekend.

ASSEMBLY CLARIFIES VOTING REQUIREMENTS FOR LEADERSHIP CHANGES: With little fanfare on Tuesday night, the Assembly clarified voting requirements for replacing its chair or vice chair as it was required to do once Assembly member Matt Claman became Acting Mayor. AO 2008-131 provides that six affirmative votes of Assembly members are required to replace the body’s chair or vice chair at mid term. Passage of the ordinance ends a controversy which surfaced last month when rumors circulated in Anchorage that some Assembly members wanted to replace West Anchorage’s Matt Claman as Assembly Chair before he became Acting Mayor following the election of Mark Begich to the U. S. Senate.

Mid-Town Assembly member Elvi Gray-Jackson did not vote on AO 2008- 131 as she was out of town.

Assembly Report for December 17, 2008

2008-12-17T17:17:00.002-09:00

ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP COUP IS AVOIDED, HARRIET DRUMMOND IS NEW VICE CHAIR BY A VOTE OF 6-5: Continuing the meeting of December 16, 2008, the Assembly one day later elected West Anchorage Assembly member Harriet Drummond the new vice chair of the Assembly. She replaces Sheila Selkregg who resigned her position earlier this week in order to devote more time to her campaign for mayor in the Spring, 2009 election. Selkregg remains a member of the Assembly. The Assembly split 6-5 along traditional idealogical lines.

Election of Drummond to the Assembly's second highest position is particularly relevant to the current changes sweeping through Alaska: When current mayor Mark Begich leaves Anchorage to assume his duties as a United States Senator in early January, 2009, the office of Acting Mayor immediately passes to the chair of the Anchorage Assembly, currently Mr Claman. Without further action by the Assembly, Ms. Drummond will then become Chair and serve in that capacity until after the April 4, 2009 election.

Election of progressive Harriet Drummond as the Assembly's vice chair may put to rest rumors that some assembly members, including progressives who regained control of the body in April, 2009 were planning to remove Claman from his position as chair. If taken before Begich leaves for Washington, that action would effectively hand the position of Acting Mayor to another member such as Dan Coffey who has led Assembly conservatives in the past. Because the Assembly took no action this week on AO 2008-131 which would reduce the number of members required to elect a new chair at mid term from 8 to 6, it now appears unlikely further changes in Assembly leadership will be made before Sen. elect Begich leaves for Washington in January.

Assembly Report for December 16, 2008

2008-12-15T04:48:00.003-09:00

DICK CHENEY LOOKING FOR WORK HERE? Eagle River Assemblyman Bill Starr has a new resolution before the Anchorage Assembly suggesting that the city manager to hire a bear hunter to protect Eagle River residents from bear attacks. Called a "wildlife safety specialist" the new hire would "manage nuisance and dangerous bears". As no real qualifications are set for the job, even vice president Dick Cheney could apply. The resolution does not say how much Cheney or a more qualified person would be paid.

Starr's Resolution also asks the State Board of Game to open up portions of the Hillside and Eagle River to seasonal bear hunting. Local gunshops who have already seen sales of firearms and ammunition skyrocket since the presidential election (Anchorage Daily News, November 10, 2008) can only rejoice Anchorage is opened up for bear hunting. A public hearing will be held on the resolution.

Although the Assembly on Tuesday night did not reach Starr;s resolution and it is still scheduled for a continuation meeting tomorrow night, Starr said late Tuesday he will move to postpone the matter until a meeting sometime in January, 2009.

The resolution is AR 2008-253 and can be found muni.org on the Assembly/Clerk portion of the City's web site. Written by Kyle Hopkins, an excellent article about the resolution appeared on page 1 of the December 16th edition of the Daily News.

SELKREGG RESIGNS AS VICE CHAIR; ASSEMBLY MAY FILL POSITION AT CONTINUATION MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT: Keeping a promise she says was made months ago to other assembly members who elected her Vice Chair last spring, Assembly member Sheila Selkregg last night resigned her position as Vice Chair in order to devote concentrate on her campaign for Mayor. Selkreggs’s action set off a brief firefight among assembly members over the timing of a decision by the body to fill that position. Ultimately, the body voted to take up her replacement at a continuation meeting to complete the December 16th agenda at 5:00 p.m.

POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS PACK THE HOUSE; ASSEMBLY APPROVES 5 YEAR POLICE CONTRACT : Hundreds of police officers and firefighters packed the Assembly Chambers on Tuesday night to urge the body to approve contracts with their unions for five years or until 2013. After waiting patiently for hours in a line which snaked to the rear entrance of the Assembly chambers, several dozen people were able to testify before the Assembly by vote of 6-4 approved the new contract. Assembly member Dan Coffey was absent due to an illness in his family.

Eagle River Assembly member Bill Starr, who led the opposition to the police contract with a barrage of legal objections, argument, and at times, thinly veiled hostility to the administration of Mayor Mark Begich, tried to abstain from voting on the entire contract. Assembly Chair Matt Claman simply overruled Starr and recorded his action as a “No” vote.

Public Hearing and action on the Firefighters’ contract was continued to a meeting beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17th in the Assembly chambers at the Loussac Library.

Negotiated with the municipal administration, the two contracts appear to follow inflation and provide a 3 percent wage increase in 2009 and annual inflation-related hikes ranging from a minimum of 2.9 percent to a 4.5 percent maximum from 2010 through 2013.

The unions and City negotiators overcame several hurdles in bringing these agreements forward: service retirements, dwindling retirement accounts for uniformed members and the need to maintain competitive wage sales to lure recruits to the City naturally fueled wage demands. A worsening national economy, the local tax cap, and perpetual concern over real property taxes presented their own challenges to negotiators.

According to the City, the new fire contract will increase the Fire Department budget from $22.7 million to $29.7 million during the five year term. The police contract would add $29.2 million to $38.2 million to the Department’s budget during the same five years. While much ballyhoo is made in the tabloids about the size of these contracts, the increased costs they represent is a relatively tiny percentage of the more that $2.6 Billion that will be spent for all general government operations during those same five years.

ASSEMBLY DEFERS ACTION ON PROPOSED FREEZE ON NEW MUNICIPAL HIRES, “NON CRITCICAL” CONTRACTS: The Assembly wisely deferred until January 20, 2009 action on a proposed wage freeze and embargo “non critical contracts” proposed on Tuesday night. Resolution AR 2008-333 would freeze all new hiring by the City until April, 2009 unless related to “community health and safety.” Similarly, all ”non critical contracts” of any amount would be embargoed for five months. Critical terms are not defined in the resolution, a process for determining if proposed exceptions apply and criteria for determining if “adequate funding” exists to support expenditures are not spelled out in the resolution. When members learned its sponsor had not first examined practical impacts with the municipal administration and had not reviewed the resolution with the Assembly’s own Budget and Finance committee, action on the matter was quickly postponed until January 20, 2009. The resolution is authored by sponsored by Assembly members Selkregg, Ossiander, and Drummond. A delay in action on the resolution and a referral to the Assembly’s own Budget and Audit Committee might give sponsor Sheila Selkregg a chance to better understand just how hiring and contract freezes imposed by a legislative body impact the day to day functions of city government. Selkregg is a candidate for Mayor in the April, 2009 municipal election.

Action on a related resolution also sponsored by Ms Selkregg was postponed until January, 2009. AR 2008 to give the Assembly’s budget Committee and the mayor a chance to review the matter. AR 2008-334 would require certain monthly financial reports be given to the Assembly. The month delay gives Ms. Selkregg time to review city financial reports already available through the Administration and the Assembly’s own budget committee.

NO ACTION ON ORDINANCE, RUMORED LEADERSHIP CHANGE; An agenda clogged with other matters and a room packed with persons testifying on union contracts prevented the Assembly from taking action on AO 2008-131. The ordinance would allow six members of the body to replace its Chair at any time. Under current law as understood by the municipal attorney, eight votes are required to make the change at mid term and some advance notice to the incumbent chair may be required.

The Assembly chair automatically becomes Acting Mayor if a vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor. That change will occur when current mayor Mark Begich leaves for Washington, D.C. t as Alaska’s newest U. S. Senator.

City Hall insiders report a bitter feud has erupted between East Anchorage Assembly member and mayoral candidate Sheila Sellkreg and Assembly Chair Matt Claman who is an undecided candidate in the same election. Selkregg says she and Claman both promised members who supported their election to leadership positions last April to resign as Chair or Vice Chair should they decide to seek the city’s highest office. The purpose of this agreement was to “level the playing field” between mayoral candidates, none of whom would have the advantage of running for that office while serving as Acting Mayor. Claman says he is not bound by the agreement because it was conditioned on him making a decision to run for Mayor by October of 2009. Because he has not yet decided to seek that office, Claman says he is no longer bound by that Agreement and intends to serve as Acting Mayor. He reserves the right to decide whether to announce his candidacy until late February, 2009.

Because the Assembly did not reach AO 2008-131 before its clock ran out on Tuesday night, conservative members who are rumored to favor removal of Matt Claman from his position as Chair took no action. The proposed ordinance will be among the last items taken up by the body tomorrow night at the Loussac Library at 5:00 pm to complete its December 16th agenda.

Assembly Report for April 15, 2008

2008-04-22T15:07:00.000-08:00

TESCHE MADE IT OUT OF ALASKA: “My work there is done” said former Assemblyman Allan Tesche who was recently spotted on a beach Outside. Neither Tesche nor his wife Pamela would say exactly where they were ended up after he left the Anchorage Assembly last week, except that the air is warm there and house plants are grown outdoors.

Tesche was elected three times to represent the downtown district on the Anchorage Assembly and served since April 1999. He was elected vice chair for two years and at various times headed the Assembly’s Finance, and Public Safety, and Elections Committees.

He wrote countless pieces of legislation addressing issues as varied as design standards for Big Box Stores, a ban on smoking in restaurants and public places, several Charter revisions dealing with elections and municipal budgets, dog parks, resolution of the Simonian Little League controversy, economic development and neighborhood planning, including a new Downtown Comprehensive plan.

Tesche introduced many new words and phrases into the Assembly’s lexicon, including the terms “bloviate”, “trifurcate” and most recently, “butt dialing”. He once used Assembly member Debbie Ossiander’s last name as a noun to describe a “sticky, gaseous swamp of questions asked only to confuse other assembly members and to stop good legislation.” He branded Assembly conservatives as “Troglidites” and dismissed their colleagues as “furry little friends.” In turn, he was vilified by the Wuerch Administration as a “Communist” and named by Assembly chair Dan Coffey as the “meanest, nastiest, most rotten Assembly member ever.” He was a gut fighter for the left.

Although he loved to talk to reporters, Tesche denied was a “media hog” or that on slow days he simply made up stuff for the evening news. He poked fun at former mayors by holding press conferences in a “media center” put together in the Assembly office festooned with its own blue curtain, an oval Assembly seal and flags. In 2005 he teamed up with Aaron Selbig for a weekly radio show on KUDO 1080 where he scorched Assembly conservatives and argued incessantly with callers. You can still call 569-1080 during Aarons’s show if you have something to say.

Tesche did not leave quietly as his term ended. In February, 2008 Assembly Chair Dan Coffey carelessly “butt dialed” a cell phone recording to the Tesche home of a saucy conversation between Coffey and Assemblyman Bill Starr. On tape, the pair bantered about Coffey’s role as a “bag man” for political contributions and Starr’s own attempt to shake down the Chief of Police for union endorsement in his re election. The recording became the focus of an APOC investigation after which Starr was fined for unlawful fundraising. The recording was also mentioned in a vigorous write-in campaign by Eagle River resident Janet Brand who came within a handful of votes of actually unhorsing Starr in the April 1, 2008 election. Also disclosed in the recording, Coffey’s questionable fundraising activities impacted election bids by long term Assemblyman Dick Traini in the midtown district and by Sherri Jackson in West Anchorage. Both lost their elections and were replaced by progressives who stripped Coffey of his chairmanship and restored a more progressive role for the Assembly in local politics.

The Tesche Report was posted promptly after Assembly meetings to 1,600 readers from May 31, 2005 to this final edition. Leaving the Assembly is probably the only thing Tesche did during the past three years which endeared him to the remaining conservatives on the Anchorage Assembly.

Assembly Report for March 25, 2008

2008-03-26T06:43:00.000-08:00

PARKS MAINTENANCE ORDINANCE KILLED: Voting along traditional party lines, Assembly conservatives tanked a proposal by Mayor Begich and Allan Tesche and Sheila Sellkregg to create parks “Legacy Fund” that would attract public and private contributions for parks maintenance in Anchorage. Only Matt Claman and Dick Traini joined the sponsors of AO 2008-39 which would have allowed the Anchorage Parks Foundation to receive donations from private and public sources for maintaining the approximately 15,000 acres of public parkland and over 300 miles of improved trails throughout Anchorage. South Anchorage conservative Chris Birch told assembly members there is no need for a special fund dedicated to parks maintenance, and others objected to creation of another private “bureaucracy” to maintain parks and trials. In a particularly mean spirited way, Eagle River’s two assembly members ganged up on the ordinance and urged fellow Republicans to kill the measure because it would somehow allow the Anchorage Parks Service area to better maintain its own parks and trails differently than those are maintained in Eagle River-Chugiak and that change is somehow offensive to the two Assembly members. Ignoring the recommendations of their own parks boards which had recommended approval of the Legacy Ordinance and of the City Attorney, these two shortsighted Eagle River representatives effectively denied Anchorage residents the use of a lucrative new way of maintaining parks and trails in this community.

$737M 2008-9 SCHOOL BUDGET APPROVED: With little fanfare, the Assembly unanimously approved a 2008-9 budget for the Anchorage School District totaling some $736,769,943 for the fiscal year beginning in midsummer, 2008. Of that amount, $217.6M will come from local property taxes, the rest from a combination of state and federal aid. The new budget is 5.46% higher than the prior years, representing a restrained increase in spending, largely due to state and federal mandates and special education.

DAN COFFEY’S DOG POOP LAWS IN THE TOILET: Dan Coffey attended his son’s Little League game one night last year. He stepped into some dog poop on a baseball field and got mad: there ought to be an ordinance against this outrage, he claimed. For almost one year, the assembly and the public struggled with a series of ordinances authored by Mr. Coffey and West Anchorage Assembly member Matt Clamnan. Over a year, the Assembly held about six public hearings, heard hundreds of citizens and debated the issue for hours. Four of the ordinances, AO 2007-106, 106(S) and AO 2007-143 and 143(S) were back again before the Assembly Tuesday night and several dozen people again showed up, ready to testify. Dan has apparently calmed down a bit and his once soiled Italian loafers have dried in the crisp winter air. He ordered his pals on the Assembly to postpone the ordinances indefinitely pending continued discussions between dog owners and parks users. The handle pulled, all four ordinances whooshed quietly to Pt. Woronzof.

LABOR RELATIONS ISSUES LOOM OVER NEW ASSEMBLY: A trio of measures introduced on Tuesday night suggest the Assembly will face several important labor issues shortly after the new Assembly is seated on April 15, 2008. Introduced last night and set for public hearing on April 15 is a one year wage and retirement opener with IBEW, and a similar contract with Operators' Local 302. Also introduced and set for public hearing on April 29 is AO2008-47 relating to service pay Mayor Begich has long targeted for elimination and which proved controversial last year.

“POCKET SHOTS” COMING TO ANCHORAGE? Tampa, Florida is the home of three well known professional sports teams: the Tampa Bay Bucs who play at Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays who play at Tropicana Field, and the Tampa Bay Lightning who skate at the Ice Palace. Tampa is also a party town known for a huge winter blowout parade known as Gasparellia which sort of resembles New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebration. It was only a matter of time before Tampa’s robust alcohol industry figured out a way to avoid stringent rules forbidding bottles or cans used to import beer and alcohol into these public events and sports venues with a new product sold in local faucets across the Tampa Bay: the Pocket Shot. This container is a small plastic pouch containing 50 ml of hard liquor, usually whisky, rum or vodka, about four inches high and town inches wide. Using flexible plastic, the pocket shot can be concealed on the person on a Tampa concert goer with ease and immune from metal detectors or body pat downs used to detect glass bottles. The “pocket shot” sells for about $1.99.

Assembly Report for March 18, 2008

2008-03-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

TRAIN WRECK IN MIDTOWN: Long term Assembly member Dick Traini's campaign for re election jumped the tracks yesterday afternoon when the superior court ruled he is ineligible to seek a fourth consecutive term under "term limits imposed by the Home Rule Charter. The Charter limits terms of assembly members to three consecutive terms but does not say whether the terms served must be full terms or, in Trani's case, include the remaining year of his predecessor's term Traini was elected to complete in 2001. The court's ruling effectively ends Traini's bid for re election at the April 1, 2008 municipal election, leaving only one qualified candidate, Elvi Grey-Jackson, on the ballot.

Central to arguments made in favor of Traini's candidacy were two prior instances in which candidates for municipal office were apparently allowed to run for a fourth consecutive term where each had completed only a portion of their predecessors' terms. The court apparently gave little weight to those actions because neither had been challenged or adjudicated in court, giving rise to some sort of precedent current officials could rely on.

City Clerk Barbara Guenstein, who was named defendant in the lawsuit for technical reasons and who is represented by the Municipal Attorney, has announced she will file an immediate appeal with the Supreme Court of Alaska and ask for an expedited ruling before the April 1, 2008 municipal election. Details on the implementation of the court's order, should it be affirmed by the Supreme Court, are not yet known.

The news of the court's decision could not come at a worse time for the Traini campaign: Dick's re election bid got off to a slow start in Midtown, with his opponent, Elvi Grey Jackson raising ten times the money he received in campaign contributions reported as of January 1st. Moreover, Trani's name was mentioned as a recipient of campaign cash "doled out" by Assembly chair Dan Coffey who himself faces charges filed by the Alaska Public Officies Commission that the money was collected and distributed unlawfully.

DAN SULLIVAN'S VERSION OF CLEAN ELECTIONS: An ordinance proposed by departing West Anchorage Assemblyman Tuesday night would prohibit campaign contributions from individuals and business "engaged in ongoing business that requires ratification and approval by the Assembly and School Board". AO 2008-43 would effectively prevent virtually anybody associated with a labor union who represents municipal employees from contributing to candidates for the Assembly or school board. This ordinance effectively ends the role of organized labor in municipal and school board elections. Included also are owners and operators of businesses that sell goods and services to the municipality and businesses that are engaged in certain land transactions with the municipality.

Curiously, Sullivan's ordinance does not cover or restrict contributions from businessmen, whose daily activities are regulated by the municipality such as land developers, small business owners who are a frequent source of campaign contributions to municipal campaigns. The ordinance is also rather vague as to what constitutes "current municipal business" that would trigger its prohibitions.

Citing the Board's slow progress on a recent ethics ordinance, the Assembly voted 6-5 not to refer Sullivan's proposal to the city's Board of Ethics for review and comment before public hearing. Instead, AO 2008-43 will be reviewed by the Assembly's own "Ethics Committee" which is, of course, chaired by Dan Sullivan.

A public hearing on Mr. Sullivan's ordinance is scheduled for April 15, 2008, after Assembly members elected in the April 1, 2998 city election take office. Although he won't get to vote on the ordinance because he is leaving the Assembly, as an announced candidate for mayor, Sullivan will gain some advantage over other candidates who could no longer count on financial support from city unions in local elections.

CLEAN ELECTIONS RESOLUTION STALLS, AGAIN: Assembly members once again delayed action on AR 2007-300, a rather simple resolution that would support an initiative measure adopting a system of public funding for state elections. Seemingly unaffected by recent revelations that two or three of its own members are involved in various shenanigans with campaign donations to local races, Assembly voted 10-1 to delay action on the measure until April 15th. Only Allan Tesche dissented.

CATCH A FALLING STARR: Despite all of the media attention and controversy over disclosure of the infamous Coffey-Starr recording that was "butt dialed" by mistake to Allan Tesche on February 12, 2008, absolutely nothing public has been said by either Dan Coffey or Bill Starr about the substance of what the tape revealed. With their own words Coffey bragged about his success as a bag man rounding up campaign contributions to keep his conservative pals on the Assembly and "doling out" the money to ensure members voted his way. Starr, agreeing with Coffey's brand of city politics countered with his own astounding story: a recent effort to shake down the Chief of Police for an endorsement from the "rank and file" police officers for his campaign in exchanges for his continued support of the location of a police shooting range in an Eagle River neighborhood that is costing him support from within his district. Not one word. Not even a single letter of explanation, apology, or a mea culpa that Republicans are getting famous for has been offered by the pair to explain their actions to the public they are supposed to serve. If Richard Nixon could stonewall as well as Dan Coffey or Bill Starr, he'd still be president.

Begich announces and the taxis begin to roll in the television ad war

2008-02-28T09:59:00.000-09:00

SENATOR MARK BEGICH: GET USED TO IT: Surprising no one, Mayor Mark Begich yesterday annouced he is forming an "exploratory comittee" in what now appears to be an almost certain bid for the United States Senate later this year. Filed with the Federal Election's Commission, paperwork creating the creating the "Alaskans for Begich Exploratoy Committee which allows Begich to begin raising millions of dollars necessary to defeat incumbent Senator Ted Stevens, now 84 years old. To see the Committe's web site and preview what Mayor Begich will say duirng the next eight months, go to: http://www.begich.com/

COMING SOON ON YOUR TELEVISION: Go to the Utube link listed below for a sneak preview of a spicy ad which will run soon on local television in the 2008 version of the Taxicab Wars. Prepared by a goup of drivers, operators and holders of taxicab permits, the spot raises issues voters will hear lots about before voting on the April 1, 2008. The issue is whether to repeal municipal limits on the number of taxi cab permits available to operators and open the industry to semi regulated competition. Currently, the city limits the number of permits available to taxi cab operators; as a result, taxi permits are valuable investments and the means by which several hundred are employed are employed in the industry. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i-ogp_GS_I

Assembly Report for February 26, 2008

2008-02-27T00:41:00.000-09:00

SO WHAT’S HAPPENED TO OUR LITTLE TOWN: Broadcast earlier today on radio station KUDO 1080, a private backroom conversation between Assembly Chair Dan Coffey and Eagle River Assemblyman Bill Star rattled Anchorage with a rare earful of local politics at its very worst. On the recording, the two politicians are heard boasting, cursing their enemies, and cackling like roosters over their political victories. The recording lasts three and a half minutes, much of it laced with profanity. KUDO didn’t not say how it got the recording, but only that it was apparently left by Coffey or Starr by mistake on someone’s answering machine on February 12th by one of the two. Here’s what they said:

Seconds into the recording, Coffey brags about his success in collecting campaign contributions for candidates in the April assembly election. "Oh, we’re really cranking," he boasts to Starr, "I took $1500 in for Sherri Jackson" in her race for an open Assembly seat in West Anchorage, apparently giving the money to an intermediary "Sully" in order "to give it to her." Coffey then reveals how he took another $1250 to Assembly member Dick Traini, is also a candidate in the same city election. Under state law, limits on individual campaign contributions are $500 and it is unclear whether Coffey or Sullivan are registered with the Alaska Public Offices Commission to collect money for the Jackson or Traini. "Sully" is a nickname for West Anchorage Assemblyman Dan Sullivan who is retiring from the Assembly in April and a well known Jackson supporter.
Coffey reveals what could prove to be a troubling link between the money he is collecting for candidates and their votes on the Assembly: "I’m doling it out 250 at a crack," Coffey brags, and if "you didn’t vote right last week, you don’t get your second 250". To Starr, Coffey’s words were "Just what I want[ed] to hear". Starr reaffirms his personal creed to Coffey: "You go my way or the freeway, you know".

Starr then reports on his failure to win an endorsement from APDEA, a union that represents Anchorage’s police officers. After hearing that the union decided not to declare a position in Starr’s bid for re-election, Starr tells Coffey of his plans to tell "those sons-of bitches to XXXX themselves." Angrily, he says that " if you ain’t for me you must be against me" Starr explains how he then called Police Chief Rob Heun "right after that" to say that "if the rank and file thinks I’m not there for them, than you need to correct them.". Pressing his point, Starr tells Heun he will withdraw his support for the police department’s plan to build a police shooting park close to a Chugiak neighborhood. Starr’s threat to Chief Heun is clear: Get the "rank and file"of APD behind him in his bid for reelection or else APD’s new shooting range will go (in Coffey’s words "down in the mud flats and up your ass".

To hear the actual recording and read a transcript go to KUDO’s website at: http://www.kudo1080.com/ You will hear lots of "adult" language between the Coffey and Starr.

ASSEMBLY ORDERS FANTASIES TO OPEN NEW STRIP CLUB ON 5TH AVE, TAXPAYERS TO PAY MORE FOR POLICE PROTECTION: By a vote of 8-3, Assembly "conservatives" late Tuesday night overrode a mayoral veto and voted to allow a 5th Ave. strip club to sell alcohol in what is now Anchorage’s newest hot spot for adult entertainment.

Fantasies is located on Alaska’s busiest highway across from Merril Field. At downtown's doorstep, Fantasies is within easy walking distance of another bar, an adult toy store, a teen age strip club, two restaurants that serve beer and wine, and a even a busy motel. Thousands of visitors who see Anchorage for the first time as they drive into town on 5th Ave, will see that the "Big Wild Life" starts at Fantasies. The only adults who won't be served at Fantasies are military personnel at Elmendorf and Ft. Richardson whose base commanders have declared the Club "off limits" in order to protect their personal safety. While Mayor Begich built a new museum and a convention center downtown; the Anchorage Assembly voted itself a new red light district.

Voting to over ride the mayor’s veto and to permit Fantasies to expand its bar business were assembly members Dick Traini, Paul Bauer, Bill Starr, Chris Birch, Debbie Ossiander, Dan Sullivan, Jennifer Johnston, and Dan Coffey. Coffey is a former lobbyist for the liquor industry and in the past represented Fantasies in connection with modification of its liquor lisense at its 5th Ave. location. The assembly did not address any potential conflict of interest on his part in the present application by people he says are former clients.

Police Chief Rob Heun warned Assembly members of the obvious: add a new hard liquor bar to Anchorage’s newest hotspot and APD will be called to the building to handle an increasing number of crimes and calls for service. The chief’s warning went unheeded by eight assembly members, nearly all of them who have campaigned on “law and order” platforms and courted the support of police unions. These eight fiscal conservatives and “budget watchdogs” also disregarded date submitted by the City’s Chief Fiscal officer showing that police services provided to Fantasies currently cost taxpayers over $80,000 per year. With the expanded bar, however, the cost of additional police protection to taxpayers will rise to $169,000 per year.

Assembly “conservatives” also ignored a warning by Municipal Attorney Jim Reeves that the Assembly’s action not only allowed Fantasies to sell alcohol in its strip club, but because of a legal flaw in its wording actually requires Fantasies to operate a strip club on the site featuring adult entertainment. Rushing again to award a valuable city permit to the Hartmanns, Anchorage is now the only city in the United States to actually require a landowner as a matter of public policy to operate an adult strip club on her property. How assembly members Starr, Birch, Traini, and Bauer can explain their vote to require a strip club at this location and more cost to taxpayers is not known. All four of these assembly members are up for re election in the upcoming municipal election.

ASSEMBLY URGES STATE TO GET TOUGH ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, COMMERCIAL SEX EXPLOITATION: Only hours awarding a new liquor license to allow Ancchorage's hotest strip club to expand its bar operation, the Anchorage unaminoulsy passed AR 2008-31, supporting passage of Sentate Bill 157, "An Act Relating to Human Trafficking and prostitution" in the 25th Legislature of the State of Alaska."

So what's wrong with Fantasies?

2008-02-16T15:02:00.000-09:00

On Tuesday ten members of the Anchorage Assembly approved AR 2008-1 and a conditional use permit for Fantasies on 5th Ave. The resolution allowes the Cathy and Carol Hartman to sell alcoholic beverages in an expanded 83 seat bar which will feature "adult" entertainment. Before the Assembly voted on the new license, no member was permitted by the Chair to ask the city attorney or the Chief of Police about the resolution or criminal activiy in the area. The Assembly 'leadership" simply forced an immediate vote on the mater without debate. The vote looked like it had already been taken in advance, just like the way the Alaska Legislature conducted its own business in Juneau behind closed doors and over the telephone.

Fantasies is located on Alaska’s busiest highway across from Merril Field. At downtown's doorstep, Fantasies is within easy walking distance of another bar, an adult toy store, a teen age strip club, two restaurants that serve beer and wine, and a even a busy motel. Thousands of visitors who see Anchorage for the first time as they drive into town on 5th Ave, will see that the "Big Wild Life" starts at Fantasies. The only adults who won't be served at Fantasies are military personnel at Elmendorf and Ft. Richardson whose base commanders have declared the Club "off limits" in order to protect their personal safety. While Mayor Begich built a new museum and a convention center downtown; the Anchorage Assembly voted itself a new red light district.

Anchorage police were called 198 times to the Hartmans' clubs in 2006 to deal with drugs, disturbances, assaults and other offences. In 2007, police calls increased to 218. Had Chief Heun been allowed to discuss the relationship between those calls and the volume of alcohol sold in the area, he would have told Assembly members it was is a "no brainier": Add a fourth liquor license in the area and you’ll have more trouble and more police calls to pay for. Fantasies remains "off limits" to military personnel. Rushing to approve the license and adjourn, Assembly members refused to ask whether more alcohol in that area might be somehow be related to Alaska’s high rate of sexual assault or contribute to human trafficking. present in Anchorage.

Our leaders reallly let us all down by rushing to approve this license. Mayor Mark Begich has until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 18th to veto this action. If want to speak up, send him an email at BegichMP@ci.anchorage.ak.us

To e-mail Assembly members, go to: WWMAS@ci.anchorage.ak.us

For mailing addresses and telephone numbers for all assembly members click:
mailto:WWMAS@ci.anchorage.ak.usHttp://www.muni.org/iceimages/Assembly2/2007assemblycontactlist.pdf

Asembly Report for February 12, 2008

2008-02-10T10:39:00.000-09:00

CLIMBING THE GREASY POLE OF POWER: MIKE ABBOTT IS THE NEW MUNICIPAL MANAGER: After toiling five years in the Begich administration, Mike Abbott made it to the top of the greasy pole of power when he was recently selected to replace retiring municipal manager, Denis LeBlanc. Subject to Assembly confirmation on February 12, 2008, Abbott has already assumed his duities in the same office he has worked out of since 2003.

CLAMAN/SULLIVAN SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT PLAN SHOT DOWN; West Anchorage’s Matt Claman Tuesday night withdrew his quirky support for Dan Sullivan’s renewed effort to re write the Home Rule Charter by setting terms for Assembly members at three years, regardless of whether they are elected from single member or multi member districts. The Charter currently requires Assembly terms of three years unless all members represent single member districts, in which case terms of Assembly members are two years. Approval of charter amendment by the voters would have made it easier to convince the Assembly to later carve out eleven single member districts, an action that could take place as early as next year. Because the measure contains a charter amendment; eight votes were required for passage. The measure failed by a vote of 6-5 and will not appear on the spring ballot.

ASSEMBLY GOES WILD AND APPROVES A NEW STRIP BAR DOWNTOWN: By a lopsided vote of 10 - 1, the Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday night granted Carol and Kathy Hartman permission to open a new 83 seat strip bar right on the busiest highway at the doorstep of downtown Anchorage. Located across from Merril Field, the new adult strip club is ideally located for bush travelers passing through one of the country’s busiest commercial airports.

In addition to excellent access by highway and by air, Downtown’s newest watering hole offers patrons the convenience of two nearby restaurants that also serve and wine, an underage teen strip club known as the Showboat, an adult "toy" and bookstore, and even a busy motel. An existing Bar, Club Elixer, will remain open in the building occupied by Fantasies. Although present at Tuesday’s meeting, the president of the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau voiced no objection to the growing concentration of beverage dispensaries and adult uses only minutes away from the city’s new $100M Civic and Convention Center.

According to the Assembly’s resolution, the Hartmans must comply with the narrative and floor plan submitted with their application for a liquor permit. That narrative describes "a facility that will meet the definition of ‘indecent material’ or ‘adult entertainment’ . . or . . Adult Oriented Establishment.". The floor plans also show areas reserved for lap dances. While adult strip clubs are legal under state and local law, Sec.3 (2) of the Assembly resolution requires that all uses "shall conform to the plans and narrative submitted with [the] . . . application, including the first floor seating plan for eighty-three occupants." Does this Assembly resolution actually mean that the Hartmans are now legally required to operate a strip club at 1911 E 5th or face legal action by the city? Because the Assembly voted to prohibit any floor debate on the application, this question was never asked.

The Assembly even refused to allow Deputy Police Chief Ross Plummer speak about or answer questions about the 198 police calls to 1911 E.5th during 2006 or the 218 police calls to the building during 2007. APD was not allowed by assembly members to address the dozens of assaults, disturbances, drug and alcohol crimes reported in the Clubs during the past two years. Despite the Assembly’s action, however, Club Elixir and Fantasies remain "off limits" to military personnel from Elmendorf and Ft. Richardson because of what commanders characterize as "problems associated with firearms and gang violence" occurring there. Although the Army and Air Force send thousands of Alaskans to Iraq and Afganistan, but will prosecute the same servicemen under the Uniform Code of Military Justice if they are caught in Elixir or Fantasies!

Reaching a new low in its "deliberative process", Assembly members acted on the license without allowing any debate of the matter among themselves or discussion with staff. Voting in favor the new club were Assembly members Shiela Selkregg, Dick Traini, Matt Claaman, Dan Coffey, Dan Sullivan, Jennifer Johnston, Debbie Ossiander, Bill Starr, Paul Bauer, and Chris Birch.

CLEAN ELECTIONS VOTE POSTPONED: The Assembly on Tuesday agreed to postpone until February 26, 2008, action on AR 2007-300 which would support the Clean Elections initiative. That initiative is headed to the November, 2008 ballot. While no formal public hearing on the resolution will be held, the public may address the Assembly on February 26th by filing by calling the City Clerk at 343-4311 to file an "appearance request" in order to speak to the Assembly. The Clean Elections Initiative does not apply to elections for municipal offices, the question remains whether Anchorage residents or the municipal government itself have sufficient interest in clean government at the state level for the Assembly to express its opinion in the matter.

YOUR PAPERS PLEASE, ROUND 3: Paul Bauer finally won a minor victory Tuesday night in his crusade against illegal immigrants in Anchorage. By a vote of 8-2, the Assembly approved a resolution (AR 2008-20) to support SB 215 and HB 3, in the legislature which would require proof of US citizenship or lawful residency before state IDs or drivers licenses are issued.. Mr. Bauer was unable to explain how the State would administer the new law, particularly with respect to rural Alaskans who may not have traveled outside of the country or obtained US passports. Bauer could not explain what is "valid documentary evidence" sufficient to obtain an ID or driver’s licence. Eager to pass Mr. Bauer’s resolution, however, Assembly members refused to refer the matter to the Assembly’s public safety committee to answer these questions. Instead the Assembly voted to cut off further discussion of this State issue and to approve the Bauer resolution. Assembly member Matt Claman was absent; only Assembly members Selkregg and Tesche opposed.

THE WAL MART WALLOW: After the superior court recently tossed out its decision in October, 2006 to rezone 53.52 acres in Muldoon for a new Wal Mart, the Assembly hasn’t really decided what to do: A work session held on Friday, February 8 produced no real plan of action or direction. A motion made by Assembly member Dick Traini late Tuesday night to send the entire matter back to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission for further review stalled when the Assembly instead voted to postpone action on the matter until next month when it could first huddle with city lawyers in executive session to decide what to do next.

$100M BOND PACKAGE HEADS TO THE VOTERS: The Assembly approved a package of ballot propositions for the April 1, 2008 regular election totaling $100.6M. Included in the package are $34.3M for reconstruction of Chester Valley Elementary School, the Girdwood K-8 School and Sand Lake Elementary School. $9.4M is proposed for district wide facilities renovation, $$44.8M for roads, $6.9M for facilities renovation including the Sullivan Arena . $3.6M for Fire capital improvements, and $1.6M for public safety and transportation improvements is planned.

An interesting sideshow on Assembly member Dan Sullivan’s financial interest in the project distracted the Assembly for almost an hour on Tuesday night. After hearing a financial disclosure from Mr. Sullivan about the value of his investment in McGinley’s Irish Pub on G St, and several opinions from lawyers present, the Assembly voted 6-4 that Mr. Sullivan has a "substantial financial interest" in the matter and directed him not to vote on a proposition he offered to segregate bonds proposed for construction of the E St. Corridor. The Assembly elected to keep the E St. bond within the larger road bond package.

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WHOSE RUNNING IN THE SPRING ELECTIONS? At the close of business last Friday, the following candidates are running in the spring election for Assembly and school boarad:

Eagle River: Bill Starr (incumbent)
Anthony Lemons

West Anchorage: Harriet A. Drummond
Bert Hoak
Sherri R. Jackson

Midtown Anchorage: Dick Traini (incumbent)
Elvi Gray-Jackson

East Anchorage: Jeremy Baker
Paul Bauer (incumbent)
Mike Gutierrez

South Anchorage: Chris Birch (Incumbent)
Jesse Busick
Mike Kenny

School Board Seat C : Jim Bailey
David Boyle
David Dunsmore
Pat Higgins
Leigh Carrigan
Gilbert Sanchez
Steve Pratt
Kathleen Plunkett
Scott Pryde

School Board Seat D: Toni L. Truelove
John Steiner (Incumbent)
James LaBelle

Assembly Report for January 29, 2008

2008-01-29T21:51:00.000-09:00

ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF HITLER’S RISE TO POWER: Not satisfied with the Assembly’s 8-3 vote which killed a similar proposal he made on September 11, 2007, Assembly member Paul Bauer chose the date of the 75th anniversary of Adolph Hitler’s rise to power to introduce another measure that would draw Anchorage police (and local taxpayers) into a national war on illegal immigration. With the help of fellow conservative Dan Sullivan, Bauer sought to introduce AO 2008- 23 which would place an "advisory proposition" on illegal immigration before voters at the April 1, 2008 regular election. Bauer’s newest proposal would have asked voters to "advise" whether Anchorage police should "be empowered by [the] Anchorage municipal code to verify immigration status during routine traffic stops and criminal law detention". The ordinance also would have asked voters to advise on whether Anchorage shall "negotiate and enter into an agreement with federal Immigration Control Enforcement to train and deputize Anchorage police officers as agents in the enforcement of federal immigration laws". Bauer’s proposition would have effectively encouraged the Assembly to funding local enforcement of federal immigration at additional expense to local property owners.

Only Assembly member Dan Sullivan joined Mr. Bauer in introducing the new ballot proposition. Lacking a third sponsor, Bauer’s ordinance was declared dead (for now at least) under Assembly rules and no public hearing will be held.

REFUSE RATES REVISED: By a vote of 10-1, the Assembly approved a modified proposal made by the Solid Waste Services Department to raise commercial rates for refuse collection, leaving intact monthly rates for residential services. Set out in AO 2007-145S), the new rate schedule focuses on commercial rates and fees charged at the municipal landfill and transfer station. Fees charged for secured pickup loads will be raised from $10.00 to $15 at the transfer station and at the landfill from $10.00 to $15/load. A complex schedule of revised charges governing commercial containers is set out on pages 3-4 of AO 2008-146(S) as amended.

MAT CLAMAN AND DAN SULLIVAN OPENING THE DOOR ON SINGLE MEMBER ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS: Introduced Tuesday night by West Anchorage’s Matt Claman and Dan Sullivan, AO 2008-25 would ask voters in the April 1, 2008 election to re write the Home Rule Charter by providing that terms of Assembly members would be three years, regardless of whether they are elected from single member or multi member districts. The Charter currently requires terms of three years unless all members represent single member districts, in which case terms of Assembly members are two years. Approval of the Claman-Sullivan amendment would make it easier to convince the Assembly to later carve out eleven single member districts, an action that could take place as early as next year.

While Claman recognizes that the charter amendment he and Sullivan have offered would remove the major impediment to implementing single member districting, he adamantly denies he is not in favor of actually using single member districts. He is concerned that the current system of multi member districts might draw a legal challenge under federal election laws at some point in the future and apparently favors three rather than two year terms for Assembly members under any districting plan. Neither assemblyman has pointed to any real public enthusiasm for the measure, except Claman's spectulation over potential legal challegnes to the Assembly's current plan and orders from the Republican party whispered quietly to his new West Anchorage collegue.

Eight votes are required to send the issue to the voters. Only Assembly members Tesche, Traini, and Selkregg are known to oppose it, making its chances of passage in April excellent, once Republican money is brought to the table. A public hearing on the Claman-Sullivan proposition is scheduled for February 12, 2008.

$2M POOLS PACKAGE HEADED TO VOTERS: The Assembly on Tuesday approved a $2M ballot proposition it will send to voters at the April, 2008 election to finance needed repairs in five local swimming pools. Sale of $2M in local bonds is conditioned on receipt of a matching grant from the state of Alaska of an additional $2M, for a total package of$4M. To justify the required state match, sponsors point to the constitutional requirement that the State provide for a system of public education and that many pool users in Anchorage come from rural areas, particularly the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Pools included in the bond package include Bartlett, Dimond, East, Service, and West high schools. The pools package was authored by Dick Traini and Allan Tesche.

$100M BOND PACKAGE INTRODUCED: Contours of the 2008 bond package emerged Tuesday night as the Assembly introduced a package of ballot propositions asking voters to approve sale of $100.6M in general obligation bonds at the April 1, 2008 regular election. Included in the package are 34.3M for reconstruction of Chester Valley Elementary School, the Girdwood K-8 School and Sand Lake Elementary School. $9.4M is proposed for district wide facilities renovation, $$44.8M for roads, $6.9M for facilities renovation including the Sullivan Arena . . . $$3.6M for Fire capital improvements, and $1.6M for public safety and transportation improvements. Public hearings on the bond propositions are scheduled for February 12, 2008.

LOOSE DOG REPORTED AT 9TH AND E: Mayoral candidate Dan Sullivan touched off a new controversy with the Begich administration Tuesday night by proposing to sever $8.2M in road bonds for Mayor Begich’s E Street Corridor project from the city’s $100M road bond package. Sullivan would place those bonds in their own ballot measure to be voted on separately by voters. Sullivan would not answer questions about his action on Tuesday and instead promised to meet with interested groups such as the Anchorage Downtown Partnership before a public hearing on on February 12, 2008. Passage of Sullivan’s ordinance along with an amendment he offered to strip the E St. Bonds from the larger road bond package, would likely reduce the chance voters would approve the E St. bonds at the April 1, 2008 city wide election.

Assembly Report for January 22, 2008

2008-01-22T22:04:00.000-09:00

POOLS RELIEF PACKAGE MAKING PROGRESS: After hearing from pools users about the need to make major repairs to five local swimming pools, the Assembly on Tuesday worked on a $2M ballot proposition it intends to send to voters at the April, 2008 election to finance the repairs. Last minute tweaks to the ballot language with the help of bond counsel prevented the Assembly from approving the package on Tuesday night. Instead, bond counsel and city parks staff will spend another week preparing the proposition which the Assembly will act on in its meeting of January 29th.

The 2008 Pool Bond is unusual because sale of $2M in local bonds is expressly conditioned on receipt of a matching grant from the state of Alaska of an additional $2M for a total package of$4M. To justify the unusual funding arrangement, sponsors of the measure point to the constitutional requirement that the State provide for a system of public education and that many pool users in Anchorage come from rural areas, particularly the Matanuska-Susitna borough.
The Assembly had earlier approved measures drafted by Mr. Traini and Tesche appropriating additional funds in 2007 and 2008 to keep pools open and to require the Parks Department to propose a new management and operations plan for community pools. Pools included in the repair package include Bartlett, Dimond, East, Service, and West high schools.

CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS STALLS ON LANGUAGE PROBLEMS: Because of wording glitches in a proposed ordinance, the Assembly delayed for one week consideration of a charter amendment proposed by Dan Sullivan that would pave the way to creating eleven single member Assembly districts. Currently, the Assembly consists of eleven members who are paired in 5 two person districts and one ( the downtown area) single member district. Problems with the title of the ballot proposition and its wording prompted the Assembly to delay action on the measure for one week. Eight votes of the assembly are required to place the matter before the voters in the April, 2008 election.

The proposition would amend the Home Rule Charter by eliminating the current requirement that if single member districts are established, Assembly terms would be two rather than three years long. If voters agree to this change, according to Sullivan, it would make it easier to convince the Assembly to carve out eleven single member districts.

BUILDING, FIRE CODE REVISIONS POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY 29th: The Assembly on Tuesday postponed until January 29,2008 action on AO 2007-174 which would adopt the newest versions of the uniform building, fire, plumbing, electrical, and life safety codes along with local amendments to those codes.

Assembly Report for January 8, 2008

2008-01-08T23:24:00.000-09:00

NOW FANTASIES WANTS TO SERVE ALCOHOL AND RAISE MINIMUM AGE AT THEIR 5TH AVE STRIP CLUB: Carol and Cathy Hartman returned to the Assembly on Tuesday night asking for land use permit to turn an underage teen age strip club they run at 1911 E 5th Ave. into a full service adult bar featuring “adult entertainment.” The Hartman sisters also own a bar known as Club Elixer located on the second floor of the same building. They intend continue to operate Club Elixer after first floor is converted into an new adult strip club seating 83 patrons. The new club will keep its old name “Fantasies on 5th", and will continue to feature live nude entertainment, pole, pasties, and all.

The Hartmans recently lost a major federal court case challenging a city law which requires a four foot separation between dancers and patrons in teen strip clubs and closed a viewing window Fantasies was going to build between the adult club and the teen club, allowing other patrons to drool over the action in the adjoining teen club.

Fantasies will feature “Adult entertainment” and offer “indecent material” in the new club, according to its written application. When asked the “adult entertainment” or “indecent material” the club will offer, Fantasies vice president Armando Gonzales described a “strip pole” in the club and the “Lap Dance” area depicted on drawings given to the assembly. He confirmed that club entertainment will be provided in the nude “just like every other place in town”.

Under questions by Assembly member Dick Traini, Fantasies’ owners admitted on Tuesday that the Club is still “off limits” to military personnel assigned to Elemendorf and Ft. Richardson. Military personnel caught in the Club face discipline under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Traini said. Fantasies argued, however, it is confident the military will lift its ban and once again allow serviceman into the downtown bar.

Action on Fantasies’ conditional use permit was postponed until February 12, 2008; the public hearing is still open.

REFUSE RATES INCREASE POSTPONED: No action was taken on Tuesday night on a ordinance which will increase Solid Waste Services refuse collection and disposal rates charged within the SWS service area and at the city’s refuse transfer station. Deliberations on the increases recommended by the administration will resume on January 21, 2008.

NO ACTION ON POOLS RELIEF PACKAGE: The Assembly will wait until January 21st to decide whether to ask voters to approve a $2M bond package to repair several municipal swimming pools. Action on the matter was delayed pending receipt by Assembly members of the actual bond proposition to be presented to voters at the April 1, 2008 municipal election. As proponents Dick Traini and Allan Tesche have explained, issue of local bonds for pool repairs is contingent on appropriation of a matching grant of $2M from the Alaaska Legislature for that same purpose.

A Christmas story appears in the eastern sky

2007-12-23T12:37:00.000-09:00

And it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar that all within the city should be taxed even more. And all went to be taxed, every one for his real property and for his individual means of transport, however plain. And so George also went up from the bay of the Resurrection, out of the city of Seward and from the great river that since ancient times has been called the Tanana into Anchorage. He journeyed there with his wife and growing family that they could be counted and taxed. While they were there, the winter days grew cold and short and to them was delivered a third born son. They named him Dan, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because they were homeless and there was no room for them at the Inlet Inn.

When Dan had grown into a man and the elders allowed him to teach in the Temple, he told the faithful that the City of his father was in decay and no longer safe for them. It was not a city of growth or prosperity. The homeless are now begging for copper coins in the streets, carrying cardboard signs and violating the Law. Thousands of the faithful peered out warily from inside darkened tents pitched along Ship Creek or from their barricaded homes. They were afraid of the wandering bands of homeless people and of the crushing burden of real property taxes. Timidly they asked, Teacher, what are we to do? With confidence and clarity Dan replied: I shall first drive out the beggars from the streets of the City and make our streets safe again. I will ask our brother Paul to help us expel the foreigners from our midst unless their papers are in order. I will cut the wages paid to indolent city workers and I will levy a sales tax on goods and services in order to pay for new run off elections. We will spray pesticides on our gardens again and allow merchants to rebuild their pole signs over the marketplace.

And in the same country the men who produced the lamp and heating oil, the land barons, and the wealthy merchants were keeping watch over their holdings by night. And, lo in the empty regions of outer space, a trumpet sounded and the Archangel Ruderich came upon them in the night. Fearing a UFO filled with invading liberals, the men were at first afraid. But the Archangel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy: For this day is risen in the city of the great King George, a new champion and savior, he is Dan the Man. With him will come tax cuts for the wealthy, blue tickets for the foreigner, and a paddle for the little children. And after the trumpet sounded again, a multitude of the heavenly hosts including the Angels Ted, Ben, Don, Lisa, Dan, Chris, Jennifer, Paul, Bill, Debbie and the others not yet indicted sang Dan's praises, saying Glory in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward the party's chosen few.

Assembly Report for December 18, 2007

2007-12-19T00:22:00.000-09:00

ASSEMBLY CONSERVATIVES TAKE CITY UNIONS TO THE WOODSHED (AGAIN): A resolution passed Tuesday means more trouble ahead for city unions. Sponsored by Dan Coffey, AR 2007-283(S) requires freshman Bill Starr’s Budget and Finance Committee to explore the concept of "managed competition" with various departments of the municipality with "a view toward developing pilot programs to promote efficient and effective services." Explained by Jennifer Johnston and Dan Coffey, "managed competition"is a new buzzword popular with assembly conservatives for "privatization" or outsourcing jobs normally performed by public employees. Under "managed competition", city workers would compete with the private sector for their jobs. At a work session last Friday, Chris Birch chortled his approval of the concept and said his company would ship work normally done by Alaskans to India where wages are half of those paid in the United States. Coffey’s resolution also requires the Assembly to "review its policy with regard to labor agreements" by March 31, 2008 - an ominous signal to several unions scheduled to begin contract negotiations with the administration this year. Only assembly members Tesche and Traini opposed the resolution.

Passage of AR 2007-283(S) comes on the heals of the Assembly’s rejection on November 27, 2007 of a five year labor contract for 117 city transit and refuse workers negotiated by the mayor and Teamsters Local 959. The contract had drawn intense fire from Assembly conservatives Chris Birch, Dan Coffey, and Dan Sullivan for its modest wage increases, and arbitration provisions. Curiously, union leaders made no real effort to support these employees on November 27th before this merry band of assembly conservatives and their private consultant took turns in the woodshed on what had once been Alaska’s most powerful labor union.

Announcing his candidacy for mayor on December 19th, Dan Sullivan leads the pack of union bashers on the Assembly: Climbing on to the bandwagon of public safety which he labels "job 1" for the city, Sullivan promises a crackdown on panhandling and minor offenses. To cut city spending, Sullivan told the Daily News on December 20th "the place to start is personnel costs such as city labor contracts".

ONCE AGAIN, ASSEMBLY REJECTS CHARTER CHANGE TO REQUIRE A 50% VOTE IN MAYORAL ELECTIONS: Assembly members on Tuesday rejected a charter amendment proposed by Dan Sullivan to ask voters to require a run off in elections for the office of mayor if no candidate receives 50% of the vote. Although seven conservative assembly members voted in lockstep for AO 2007-152, the charter amendment fell short of the eight votes necessary to send the proposition to the voters next spring. Assembly members Traini, Tesche, Selkregg, and Claaman voted against the measure.

The Charter amendment proposed by Sullivan would have changed voting requirements for the April, 2009 mayoral election and, any special election taking place in 2008 if a vacancy in that office occurs before the regular mayoral election.. Mr. Sullivan recently filed a letter of intent with APOC to run for municipal office and is widely known to be running to replace mayor Mark Begich. Curiously, Sullivan’s apparent conflict of interest in the ballot proposition he sponsored was not disclosed to or addressed by the Assembly on Tuesday night. Sullivan chairs both the Assembly’s ethics and elections committees.

A CRACK IN THE WALL: ASSEMBLY CONSERVATIVES RESCIND PATRIOT ACT RESOLUTION, WHICH HAD SUPPORTED THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR, THE US CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS: Goosestepping behind West Anchorage’s Dan Sullivan, Assembly conservatives on Tuesday rescinded an assembly resolution approved four years ago (AR 2003-223) which had supported President Bush’s global war on terror and the US Constitution while objecting to provisions of the so called "Patriot Act" enacted by Congress. Now rescinded in its entirety, the 2003 resolution had condemned "all acts of terrorism wherever occurring" and reaffirmed the Assembly’s "support of the government of the United States in its campaign against terrorism" and affirmed the assembly’s commitment that the campaign "not be waged at the expense of essential civil rights and liberties of citizens of this country contained in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights". Voting to repeal the 2003 resolution were Dan Sullivan, Dan Coffey, Debbie Ossiander, Chris Birch, Paul Bauer, Bill Starr, and Dick Traini.

Repeal of AR 2003-223 may reflect some disillusionment by assembly conservatives with their President’s prolonged occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan under the guise of a world wide war on terror. What cannot be readily understood, however, is their apparent repudiation of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights in rescinding, but not amending AR 2003-223 Tuesday night. The oath of office each of these assembly members took required them to "support and defend" the Constitution of the United States.

ACTION ON SWS REFUSE RATE INCREASE POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY 8TH: By a vote of 6-5, Assembly members postponed for two months action on AO 2007-146 which would allow the City’s Solid Waste Services Utility to raise collection and landfill rates. Under the ordinance, single family residential rates of $16.35/month would increase to $18.00/month. So called "tipping fees" charged at the waste transfer or disposal facility would increase from $10.00 to $15.00/load.. Amendments proposed by the administration on Tuesday night included a requirement that an ordinance providing for curbside recycling be presented to the Assembly, a separate ordinance providing for variable rates, based on volumes, for residential customers served by SWS and third ordinance providing for an additional charge at the Central Transfer Facility by commercial customers. Before January 8th, Assembly chair Dan Coffey announced plans to hire a utility consultant to advise the Assembly on the rate increase recommended by the Mayor.

Assembly Report for December 11, 2007

2007-12-11T23:56:00.000-09:00

TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING, WE NOW HAVE A DOWNTOWN PLAN: The assembly amended and then unanimously approved on Tuesday night a new comprehensive plan (AO 2007-116) for the Downtown area of Anchorage, after two years of work by downtown groups, municipal staff, contract planners and the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. Replacing an earlier downtown plan adopted twenty years ago, the new plan sets out goals and development standards for new "mixed use" commercial and residential areas, downtown housing, and pedestrian amenities. Amendments adopted by Assembly members included one offered by Dan Coffey to "adjust" timing of traffic speeds on downtown streets to "approximately 25 mph". Another amendment offered by Dick Traini and Allan Tesche requires owners of downtown parking lots to maintain local offices for handling complaints and customer service and to improve sidewalk snow removal.

TRAINI’S FIREWORK’S ORDINANCE REJECTED: By a vote of 6-5, the Assembly rejected Assemblyman Dick Traini’s substitute version of an ordinance relaxing the city’s ban on fireworks for a limited time period on New Year’s eve. The modified version of Traini’s ordinance would have allowed "Class C" fireworks such as sparklers and Roman Candles, but not "mines, shells, and firecrackers" for a 6 hour period beginning at 7:00 p.m. on New Year’s eve and imposed geographic restrictions on those uses.

A NEW HOTEL AT ALASKA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY: A proposal backed by Mayor Begich to amend the zoning ordinance allow hotels in property zoned for "Public Lands and Institutions"(PLI) rolled through the Assemly Tuesday night. Although the ordinance would affect all property zoned PLI throughout Anchorage, the code change was requested by Alaska Pacific University in order to allow construction of a new three story hotel on property the university owns on its Anchorage campus in the summer of 2008. Under the ordinance proposed by the Mayor and recommended by the Planning and Zoning commission, hotels would be allowed in the PLI only as conditional uses and, if associated with a college or university, they must have a "permanent and significant programmatic affiliation with an academic use."

SULLIVAN TAKES A POWDER: ASSEMBLY DELAYS ACTION ON HIS VOTING AND PATRIOT ACT MEASURES: The public will have to wait another week for action on two proposals made by Assemblymember Dan Sullivan until he returns to Anchorage later this week. Sullivan’s proposal to ask voters once again to require expensive run off elections in the mayoral elections and a motion to repeal an old Assembly resolution opposing the notorious Patriot Act will be delayed until the meetings of December 18, 2007.

NEIGHBORHOOD PRISON ORDINANCE PASSED: To allow operation of a halfway house for drug abusers that is patterned after San Francisco’s Delancy St House, the Assembly by a vote of 10-1 voted to change provisions of the city’s zoning ordinance governing halfway houses in zoning districts throughout Anchorage. AO 2007-156 restricts halfway houses to 30 residents, drops prior restrictions which prohibited felons housed in certain business districts and reduced the one mile separation requirement to 1,250 ft for these facilities. By a vote of 6-5, the Assembly also prohibited sex offenders from living in those facilities.

CRITICAL TITLE 21 REWRITE ACTUALLY APPROVED: The Assembly hit a milestone in its never ending project to revise the city’s zoning laws by enacting a critical provisions of the new code dealing with "nonconformities" or grandfatthered uses. Unanimously passed with little debate was AO 2007- 116 which enacted a new Chapter 21.12 regulating the extent to which uses, lots, or structures rendered illegal under the new code will be allowed to continue if they are not expanded, enlarged, changed or abandoned. Particularly in a rapidly growing city such as Anchorage, where land use changes quicker than applicable zoning, how "grandfathered" uses are treated becomes a source of real controversy and litigation. As Title 21 moves slowly through the Assembly, the body is now ready to consider particular land use classifications and determine what is allowed and what is prohibited in those districts. The endgame in this process is, of course, the application of the new regulations to specific parcels of land, such as your home or the business next door.

A novice at the controls

2007-12-03T15:01:00.000-09:00

A NOVICE AT THE CONTROLS: BILL STARR'S FIRST BUDGET: Assembly conservatives handed over the Assembly's most powerful committee to Bill Starr after only three months he was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Assembly. The Eagle River freshman’s shaky tenure as Chair of the Assembly’s Budget and Finance Committee proves once again that experience counts, even on the Anchorage Assembly.

On September 11, 2007, Starr convinced the Assembly to pass AR 2007-125 and find that the "ability of this municipality’s residents to financially support government services is or at near its maximum capacity". His resolution asked the mayor to submit an operating budget for 2008-9 "reflecting no increase from the revised operating budget for 2007." (emphasis added) The impact of the Starr Resolution was not fully understood until October 9, 2007 when Mayor Begich released his proposed operating budget for 2008. The mayor’s budget called for spending of $429M, an increase of $29.8M, or 6.95% over the $399M spent in 2007. Although the mayor justified more than half of that increase as beyond his (and the Assembly’s) control by pointing to rising costs for fuel, employee health care, retirement contributions, and union contracts, that increase was targeted immediately by Starr and other Assembly conservatives as excessive and wasteful. When compared the 2008 budget to those of prior ears, the 2008 plan was decried as yet another example of runaway government spending. Bill Starr had drawn a line in the sand and dared the mayor to cross.

Because his "conservative" friends had fired the Assembly’s budget expert two years ago in order to buy a new stereo system for the Assembly, Starr turned to the private sector for help in cutting the mayor’s budget. There he found Cheryl Frasca, a former budget chief for ex-Gov. Frank Murkowski willing to help. Dan Coffey obliged and approved a sole source contract for $18,000 with Frasca without a formal vote of the Assembly. Frasca went to work and helped draft a resolution Coffey released "for discussion purposes" on November 9, 2007. The resolution called for reductions of $25M in the mayor’s budget. After reading the resolution, the town went bananas. Public safety groups protested cuts of $2.2M in the police and fire departments and the mayor took aim at $1.M in FY 2008 funding the resolution would strip from his departments for executive salary increases lawfully granted in 2007. The Resolution also proposed cuts of $3.21M set aside for 72 new positions, including Fire, Development Services, Employee Relations, and Project Management and Engineering. The resolution also targeted $13.5M the city expects to receive from the Alaska legislature in "general assistance" revenues that will be used for property tax relief. Elimination of that amount from the City’s budget many protested, would have sent the wrong signal state legislators eager to spend the money elsewhere.

A week later, the Starr budget committee released its "Final Report" and last recommendations to the Assembly. Starr admitted he had overlooked $7M in salary savings (vacancy factor) already applied by the Mayor in his original budget. But Starr’s Final Report nevertheless recommended cutting an additional $ .71M from the budget based on an alternate method of calculating vacancy factor cooked up by Ms. Frasca. In response to howls of protest coming from law enforcement, Starr abandoned his plan to cut police and fire budgets by $2.2M for funded, but vacant positions. Nevertheless, the November 16th report recommended elimination of some 74 funded but vacant municipal positions in 12 departments in order to reduce the city budget by $3.8M, regardless of program impacts. Again, without providing an explanation, the committee recommended elimination of new positions costing $976,000. Finally, Starr targeted reductions of $563,000 in 2008 to penalize departments who had raised executive salaries during 2007. In the words of one member of the city’s Budget Advisory Commission, the "entire budget [proposed by the Starr committee] is an assault on the level of service and the well being of this community."

After the Assembly closed public hearings and started deliberations on the budget, however, the grandiose cuts proposed by Bill Starr and his budget committee fared poorly when carefully examined. Some reductions in spending, for example, would not save taxpayer’s money because they would bring about less collected in user fees. The assembly learned that other reductions, including those originally proposed by Starr for vacancy factor, had already ben considered by the mayor's budget writers. Unable to complete its work on the budget by November 27th, the Assembly continued that meeting on November 29th and approved what the Mayor and Assembly leaders called a "compromise" budget for 2008-9. Peace in the valley broke out once again.

The 2008 budget actually approved by the Assembly on November 29th, however, has a clear winner: Mayor Mark Begich. In the end, the Assembly gave him virtually everything he asked for two months ago. As approved, FY 2008 spending will be $427.8M, or $28.49M more than last year, representing an increase of 6.64% The 2008 budget gives Mayor Begich the 20 additional police officers he requested and keeps legislators’ feet in the fire by referring to the $13.5M the city expects to receive in municipal assistance to reduce property taxes. The budget approved by the Assembly cut only $2M from the mayor’s budget, a far cry from the $30M in cuts Star first demanded. Assembly conservatives did, however, manage a few whacks at the mayor’s budget before hoisting up the white flag: They cut $75,000 from a much needed East Anchorage district plan. In a particularly mean spirited move, they de-funded Project Access which links the uninsured poor with doctors and other heath care professionals willing to volunteer their services for needed medical care. Led by Debbie Ossiander, these same conservatives also managed to delete about a half a dozen new positions in the Parks Department required to maintain new parks and recreation facilities approved last spring by voters.

The final result obtained by this novice Assemblyman in his first term as Assembly Budget Chair is modest indeed: Of the $30M he originally wanted to cut from the Mayor’s 2008 budget, only .31% or $2M was actually reduced. The $2M cut will save Anchorage property taxpayers only $1M, however, because about half of the city's budget come from sources other than property taxes. On a downtown home assessed for $250,000, for example, Starr will save its owner about $12.00 in property taxes next year, or just about the cost of a single 6 pack of beer.

One final note: Among assembly conservatives who will face the voters in coming months, Bill Starr is seeking his first full term on the Assembly in April, 2008; Chris Birch and Paul Bauer are up for re election at the same time. Dan Coffey and Dan Sullivan are both rumored to be candidates for mayor in 2009.

Assembly Report for November 27, 2007

2007-11-28T01:21:00.000-09:00

TRENCH WARFARE: ASSEMBLY AND THE MAYOR DIG IN ON 2008-9 OPERATING BUDGET: The administration of Mayor Mark Begich and assembly conservatives staked out their positions and then dug in on the 2008-8 general government operating budget Tuesday night. Almost two hours of frequently acrimonious debate yielded no budget deal and only resolved about six of almost three dozen amendments, mostly reductions, proposed by assembly members. The assembly voted to resume deliberations on the budget Thursday, November 29th starting at 6 p.m. but is not expected to reopen public hearings.

A handful of amendments the Assembly did pass reveal the deep divisions between assembly conservatives intent on budget cuts, any budget cuts, and Mayor Begich who has to make sense out of a confusing, and at times, contradictory legislative process. Several new positions in the Parks Department were eliminated along with some funding for youth employment in parks.

ASSEMBLY TANKS UNION CONTRACT FOR 117 MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES: The Assembly on Tuesday night by a vote of 6-5 refused to ratify a five year labor contract negotiated by the municipal administration and Teamsters Local 959 for 117 municipal employees who work in the transit and refuse departments. The contract drew fire Tuesday night from Assembly conservatives led by Chris Birch, Dan Coffey, and Dan Sullivan for its wage increases, arbitration provisions.

Negotiated for 117 municipal employees who work in transit and the refuse departments, the new contract would have lasted for five years and raised wages 2.9% for each during the first two years, with a limited CPI adjustment in the third year and wage re openers in the final two yeas of the contract. Service recognition pay would have been limited to those currently receiving that benefits and ultimately eliminated through attrition. Wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment for these employees will likely remain unchanged from contract the new agreement was negotiated to replace.

LOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS KILLED: A growing community uproar over Assembly member Paul Bauer’s proposal to direct APD to enforce federal immigration laws ended last night with a quick vote of 8-3 to postpone action on the ordinance indefinitely. Bauer’s proposal had angered ethnic groups Anchorage, including even moderates in Bridgebuilders. Municipal Attorney Jim Reeves and Assembly counsel Julia Tucker have each raised constitutional concerns about the ordinance. The Bauer draft won a raspberry from the Assembly’s own Public Safety Committee with voted 3-0 on November 14th to recommend a DO NOT PASS on the measure, and was opposed by the municipality’s Health and Human Services Commission. Only Paul Bauer, Dan Coffey, and Dan Sullivan voted against indefinite postponement of the ordinance.

NEW HALFWAY HOUSE ORDINANCE DELAYED: Originally scheduled for Tuesday night, a public hearings on Dan Coffey’s proposal (AO 2007-139) to relax zoning requirements for "community correctional residential centers" (neighborhood prisons) was postponed until December 11, 2007. The ordinance would would drop current restrictions on housing felons in these facilities and would shorten required separation between new and existing halfway from 1 mile to 1,00 feet. The ordinance would limit new CCRCs to thirty inmates. .Although the ordinance would apply to all halfway houses in business districts throughout the city, it is supported by a group which wants to locate a new facility in (where else) Mountain View.

COFFEY SIDESTEPS HIS DOG POOP ORDINANCE (AGAIN): The Assembly never reached AO 2007-106 sponsored by Dan Coffey which would ban dogs from all enclosed baseball fields within the municipality. Carefully protecting his expensive Gucci loafers from a messy issue that has dogged him in recent weeks, Coffey announced before Tuesday’s meting, that he is again postponing action on his dog poop ordinance until March 25, 2008. Hundreds of dog owners have waited patiently since September only to learn that action on the controversial measure had been postponed once again. Under this law, dogs would be banned from enclosed baseball fields regardless of whether a baseball game is actually in progress. Coffey’s ordinance would not repeal or modify existing laws which allow dogs to run off leash under voice control. Now set for action less than one week before spring elections, the measure will doubtless attract the attention of several dozen candidates running for assembly seats next April.

NO ACTION ON CHARTER AMENDMENT FOR MAYORAL RUN OFF ELECTIONS: The Assembly took no action on a ballot measure sponsored by Assemblyman Dan Sullivan to restore expensive run off elections in the race for mayor. Public hearings on AO 2007-152 will be rolled over until the December 11 th meeting. Because a charter change is required, eight votes of the Assembly are necessary to put the measure on the spring ballot.

Fantasies hosed today in federal court

2007-11-15T17:12:00.000-09:00

FEDERAL COURT TO THE HARTMAN SISTERS: ITS ONLY A FANTASY ON 5TH:
In a lengthy decision handed down earlier today, US District Judge Tim Burgess upheld an ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly in 2005 restricting several business practices of cer "Adult Establishments" and dismissed claims by businesses that the ordinance violated state and federal constitutions. Kathy and Carol Hartman operate the 5th Ave. establishment and challenged the constitutionality of the municipality’s ordinance in federal court.

The 2005 amendments required that "a separation of a minimum of four (4) feet shall be maintained between entertainers, dancers and/or strippers and patrons," (a "No Touch"provision) and prohibited owners from "broadcasting" to sites outside the licensed adult establishment. At the heart of the controversy was a glass ceiling installed by Fantasies which separated nude dancers in a non alcoholic club below from bar patrons looking down from inside a bar above the strip club. Advertising for both clubs touted the "Fantasy" older bar patrons would enjoy while peering at nude dancing below. An attorney for the Club told the Assembly before the ordinance was passed in 2005 that the "viewing area . . . will be completely glassed in for safety and drool protection."

The municipality won summary judgement on claims made by business owners that the "four foot" rule unconstitutionally infringes on Free Speech, that the ordinance violates the equal protection doctrine, is unconstitutionally vague, and that the "broadcasting" provision violates the Commerce Clause. On provision of the ordinance relating to "simulated sex acts" was stricken, and a number of other claims made by plaintiffs were not addressed by the court. A second order issued by the court one day later resolved remaining claims in the litigation in favor of the municipality. Before the trial court, the case is now over.

Read the court's decision:
First Order
Second Order

Assembly Report for November 13, 2007

2007-11-14T01:42:00.000-09:00

THE ASSEMBLY GETS AN EARFUL AS THE PUBLIC WEIGHS IN (AGAIN) ON THE BUDGET: Buying more time to battle Mayor Mark Begich’s proposed operating budget for 2008-8, Assembly conservatives reopened public hearings Tuesday night. They got an earful but it was not exactly what they wanted to hear. Two dozen people testified generally in favor of retaining current municipal programs and services, and opposed an ongoing effort by Assembly member Dan Coffey to cut some $25M from the mayor’s budget. Public hearings have now concluded; the budget is now scheduled for action on November 27, 2007.

The centerpiece of Dan Coffey’s effort to field dress the Mayor’s budget remains a "draft" resolution he and a shadowy gang of assembly conservatives cooked up during a series of private meetings held recently in city hall. Assembly members Coffey and Starr paid Cheryl Frasca $18,000 to build a case, any case, against this mayor’s budget. In the process, Coffey has managed to shoot himself in both feet and final approval of the 2008 budget is still two weeks away.

Coffey first took his first shot by letting freshman Assemblyman Bill Starr of Eagle River to launch a bitter attack against salaries paid to city hall executives during a nasty work session held on November 2, 2007. Starr dutifully railed on what he considered excessive raises given by the mayor to his staff which had not been approved by the Assembly. Coffey’s resolution carried on that theme and would require prior assembly approval of all executive salaries. What Starr and Coffey overlooked, however, are city codes which give the mayor the right to adjust executive compensation without any assembly approval. Moreover, when full cost data for city wages paid to employees was released on November 9th, personnel costs hardly appeared "excessive" as claimed by Starr: total wages, including those represented by new positions, went up 1% in 2004, 7% in 2005, 7% in 2006, 2% in 2007, and are projected to rise 7% in 2008. The salary issue backfired when it was revealed that under "conservative" assembly leadership, City Clerk Barbara Gruenstein was given three raises and now receives $109,990/year. Her last raise in 2007 was a real whopper: $22,010, or 25%.

Now hobbling on one foot, Coffey took aim at his other foot by going after the mayor’s calculations of so called "vacancy factor" in the city’s budget. Coffey announced in his draft resolution plans to cut some $6M from personnel costs in 14 departments. That figure represents amounts the city would not spend due to absences of municipal employees as a result of normal attrition. Looks good on the surface, but what Coffey apparently failed to consider is that in projecting personnel costs in his 2008 budget, the mayor had already made a reduction of $7.3M for expected vacancies. As the mayor has patiently explained now several times, further reductions in "vacancy factor" made by the Assembly will turn full time employees into part time employees and reduce existing city services.

With two weeks remaining until final action is scheduled on the budget, Mr. Coffey decided to leave town. In Coffey’s absence, Mr. Starr in now back charge of Assembly deliberations on the budget.

Special Assembly Report for November 9. 2007

2007-11-09T17:18:00.000-09:00

TOOLS OF HIS TRADE: COFFEY GOES AFTER THE MAYOR'S BUDGET; Led by Dan Coffey, a shadowy gang of Assembly conservatives took a meat axe to Mayor Begich’s 2008-9 city budget in a wild work session in city hall on Friday afternoon. Only after the mayor and his staff presented a number of modest improvements in an "S" or substitute for the budget presented some six weeks ago, did Coffey present a draft resolution calling for more than $25M in cuts in programs and services in 2008-9. In lockstep, Coffey was joined by Debbie Ossiander, Chris Birch, Paul Bauer, and Jennifer Johnston in the resolution.

The resolution would strip $1.12M from budgets of 23 departments in 2008-9, representing wage increases approved for executives in 2007. From the language of the resolution, its not clear that actual salaries paid to executives would be reduced or that their raises would simply be taken "out of the hide" of their department’s budget. The resolution would also require that future raises given to city executives be approved by the Assembly even though current law gives that power to the mayor. Coffey’s group would also cut $3.21M set aside in the Mayor’s budget for 72 new positions, including Fire, Development Services, Employee Relations, and Project Management and Engineering. Coffey had no explanation for elimination of positions funded by voter approved projects nor would he provide reasons behind his action.

Most controversial is a proposed reduction of $6.0M in personnel costs Coffey says the city should absorb through normal vacancies in existing staff or the "vacancy factor". Mayor Begich corrected Coffey during the work session by patiently explaining that budgeted personnel costs for 2008-9 are already reduced to account for "vacancy factor" and that further reduction in personnel allocations would requite layoffs. In response, Coffey refused to promise that with the additional personnel cuts his group proposes, there would be no layoffs or reduction in city services. Finally, Coffey’s resolution would delete a reference to some $13.5M the city expects to receive from the Alaska legislature in "general assistance" revenues. Elimination of this amount from the City’s budget may signal state legislators that Anchorage really doesn’t need the money after all. Moreover, this reduction could affect ongoing plans to apply state aid to local property tax reduction as well.

Coffey also refused to say how individual departments, programs and services, would be affected by the broad cuts he proposes. Presumably, Mayor Mark Begich will shortly explain how the city would function within this resolution and the result won’t be pretty. Whether the draconian cuts presented by Coffey spell doom for the comparatively modest changes the mayor proposed on Friday in the "S" or substitute version of his budget is also very uncertain. All we know at this time is the public with have another chance to testify on the budget when the Assembly meets next Tuesday evening (November 13th) at 6:00 p.m. in the Loussac Library.

Assembly Report for November 6, 2007

2007-11-06T05:46:00.000-09:00

ASSEMBLY BUDGET HEARINGS: ROUND TWO: Fight fans from all over Anchorage mobbed the Loussac on Tuesday night to get their licks in on the 2008-9 operating budget. Standing in line for as long as an hour, dozens of people requested additional funds for after school programs, pools, busses, youth crime prevention, youth employment, medical care for the uninsured, domestic violence prevention, libraries, planning. After about three hours of public hearings, the assembly voted to continue public hearings until November 13, 2007 with action on the budget now scheduled for November 27th. Amendments coming from assembly members and th Adminstration have not yet been submitted.

Solely preoccupied with keeping "their" meeting running on time, Chairman Dan Coffey and Vice Chair Debbie Ossiander hit a new low in treatment of the public during what was supposed to be the public's turn to address the assembly on the budget. Coffey's constant reminders about the notorious three minute time limit, false praise showered on persons whose testimony did not generate questions from the Assembly, and forcing the public to stand in a long line for almost an hour before they were allowed to play "beat the clock", was simply humiliiating and degraging. One person described the entire process as "collective begging".

I/M PROGRAM REPEALED: By a vote of 8-2, (Coffey conflicted out of the vote) the Assembly repealed the city’s longstanding vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program. Passage of AO 2007-122 ends the city’s mandatory vehicle exhaust emission testing program in two years, pending federal approval. Under IM, Anchorage vehicles must undergo periodic emissions tests and owners must make required repairs before vehicles may be lawfully operated on city streets in order to reduce carbon dioxide air pollution. The principle argument for eliminating the program is the comparatively low number of "bad air" days Anchorage is now experiencing as a result of improved technology used in automobile engines and exhaust systems. The current IM program costs Anchorage residents some $8M in inspection in repair fees annually. A competing proposal to continue the IM program, with modifications recommended by a mayoral task force was introduced on Tuesday by Assembly member Selkregg and set for public hearing on November 27th.

ASSEMBLY CONSERVATIVES TARGET TEAMSTERS’ CONTRACT FOR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES: Approval of a five year collective bargaining agreement between the Municipality and a labor union (Teamsters 959) representing several groups of city employees drew fire Tuesday night when the proposed contract was presented by mayor Begich for ratification. Comments by Assembly members Chris Birch suggest serious opposition to the contract. Birch indicated his "grave concern" over the contract, objected to arbitration provisions in the contract and its costs. Jennifer Johnston wants to review the contract only after the assembly takes action on the budget. Bill Starr voiced concerns over budget considerations as well. Action on the contract was delayed until November 27th.

Negotiated for 117 municipal employees who work in the transit and refuse departments, the new contract would last for five years and would raise wages 2.9% for each during the first two years of the contract, with a limited CPI adjustment in the third year and wage re openers in the final two yeas of the contract. Service recognition pay would be limited to those currently receiving that benefits and ultimately eliminated through attrition.

Tuesday's dust up over the Teamsters' contract is a wake up call to represented municipal employees: This "conservative" assembly is strongly anti-labor and will now use its power to reject negotiated union contracts and over the budget to destroy thrity years of labor peace betwen the municipal administration and organized employees. Any influence that organized labor still enjoyes in this municipality comes from efforts of hard working men and women to unite and organize around traditional principles of fair play and fair wages. While openly anti union leaders like Chris Birch, Paul Bauer, and Bill Starr are all running for office this spring, the question is asked "how will labor respond to these members' efforts to undo what so many people over the years have worked so hard to acheive?"

ONCE AGAIN, SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS AND MAYORAL RUN OFF ELECTIONS, : Confidently looking backward once again, Assemblymember Dan Sullivan on Tuesday formally introduced ballot measures which would restore expensive run off elections in the race for mayor and resurect an old idea to carve out single member districts for assembly members. Little has changed in recent years since these proposals were rejected by previous assemblies and voters, but with a more conservative majority running the assembly, theses old dogs may get another chance before the voters. Public hearing on the run off measure is scheduled for November 27th; on singe member districts for January 22, 2008. Because a charter change is required, eight votes of the Assembly are necessary to put the measures on the spring ballot.

DOWNTOWN PLAN STALLED, ONCE AGAIN: Delayed for months by a backlog of Assembly business, a new downtown plan stalled again Tuesday night. Assembly members plowed through a number of floor amendments and then when pressed by other business, left the matter on the table for possible action at the next meeting. Years in the making and supported by the Administration and Planning and Zoning Commission, the new downtown plan establishes a strategy for downtown revitalization, new land use and economic development policies, transportation and circulation, design standards, and program strategies such as signage and wayfinding, safety and security, and event activity programming. The matter returns to the Assembly on December 14th.

"GRANDFATHER RIGHTS" ADDRESSED IN NEW TITLE 21 CHAPTER NOW BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY: The all important portion of the city’s new zoning code dealing with the thorny issue of "grandfather rights" or the rights of property owners to continue uses existing uses and structures made illegal under zoning changes is now before the Assembly. Chapter 21.12 of the new Title 21, was approved recently by the Planning and Zoning Commission with recommended amendments. Final action on the ordinance will not be taken until Debbie Ossiander presents her amendments to the assembly and responds to those proposed by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Its not entirely clear that public testimony on the chapter will be taken, nor is a date set for further action by the Assembly on the chapter.

CAUGHT IN THE LOGJAM, TRAINI’S FIREWORKS CAPER IS DELAYED: Other business forced the Assembly to delay action on a controversial ordinance proposed by Assembly member Dick Traini to relax the city’s ban on fireworks for a few hours after midnight on New Years’ day. Public hearings on the ordinance will be continued to November 13, 2007.

An apology to Assemblyman Bill Starr

2007-10-26T06:14:00.000-08:00

STARR OBTAINS APOLOGY FOR REPORTS LINKING HIM TO BAUER IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE: Eagle River Assemblyman Bill Starr gets a public apology from Assemblyman Allan Tesche for incorrectly listing him as one of two Assembly members who joined Assembly member Paul Bauer in introducing AO 2007-125. The controversial ordinance was introduced before the Assembly six weeks ago. Earlier this week City Clerk Barbara Guenstein confirmed that the ordinance was introduced by Paul Bauer, Dan Sullivan, and Chris Birch. Mr. Tesche regrets the error made in the September 11, 2007 Tesche Report and in a separate Compass article published in the Anchorage Daily News on October 11, 2007.

Bauer’s ordinance would require Anchorage police to verify the immigration status of any persons stopped for traffic violations. AO 2007-125 would also force APD to sign a "cooperative agreement" with the Homeland Security requiring Anchorage Police to enforce federal immigration laws and to hold illegal aliens in local facilities for delivery to federal authorities. Made yesterday afternoon, Starr’s demand for a public apology sheds new light on the growing controversy over Bauer’s "anti-sanctuary" ordinance. Proclaiming that Tesche’s ideals actually align with his own, Starr believes that by listing him as an initial sponsor of the ordinance, Tesche has "changed the publics [sic] perception" of . . . his value system". The Eagle River assemblyman is also offended by what he characterized as efforts to discredit his "integrity or human compassion". When approached by Bauer to be added as a cosponsor of the ordinance, Starr refused. With all of these statements, it appears that Starr will actually vote against the ordinance.

Points well taken by the Assemblyman. AO 2007- 125 should indeed offend persons of integrity or human compassion. Bill says theses are his values and I share them. I look forward to working together with him in convincing other members of the Assembly to defeat this unnecessary and expensive ordinance.

Assembly Report for October 23, 2007

2007-10-24T00:18:00.000-08:00

A POOL FIX IN THE WORKS? Midtown Assembly member Dick Traini and Allan Tesche want to take a $2M bond proposal to the voters to pay for much needed repairs in swimming pools within the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area. The proposed ballot proposition will be heard on January 8, 2008, and if approved by six members of the Assembly, will appear on the March, 2008 ballot. Issue of the bonds would be contingent on receipt of an equal contribution of $2M from the state legislature for the pools repairs. Trani is looking into ways of funding additional costs of keeping four of the pools open during the remainder of 2007 and has offered a resolution match surplus Assembly money with Administration funds for pool operations in the remainder of this year.

2008-9 BUDGET HEARINGS OPEN: A backlog of old business delayed the opening of public hearings on the 2008-9 annual operating budget for several hours on Tuesday night. Public testimony the Assembly did hear came largely from swimming pool proponents who wanted assurances that the Assembly would reject plans by mayor Mark Begich to cut back hours in four municipal swimming pools because of rising maintenance costs. Public hearings on the budget will resume again on November 6, 2007, with final action planned for November 13, 2007.

ONCE AGAIN, SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS AND MAYORAL RUN OFFS ELECTIONS: Assembly member Dan Sullivan announced on Tuesday night he will introduce ballot propositions that would restore a requirement that a special run off election be held in the mayor’s race if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. Since 2003, the current home rule charter has required a run off election in the mayor’s race only if the leading candidate does not receive 45% of the vote in the regular election. Sullivan is a downtown bar owner and long rumored to be a candidate for mayor in 2009. Easily able to extract significant campaign contributions from local businesses, Republicans and other conservatives, Sullivan would benefit by campaign laws that would require multiple elections in a mayor’s race. Mayoral run off elections each cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more progressive opponents traditionally have difficulty raising.

Sullivan intends to also bring back an old Republican favorite - single member districts for Assembly members - in a companion ballot proposition for introduction at the next Assembly meeting. 10 assembly seats are currently distributed among five double member districts and a single member district downtown. Under current rules, a change to single member districts with three year terms would require a charter amendment approved by the voters and if pased, would most likely require all eleven Assembly members to stand for election even though some have years remaining on current terms. Single member districting has been rejected several times before and has little popular support among voters except the far right, but like an old penny, the idea just keeps coming back.

COFFEY BOOTS TESCHE FROM ASSEMBLY ETHICS COMMITTEE; REFUSES PUBLIC EXPLANATION: Assembly chair Dan Coffey on Tuesday night announced he has removed downtown Assembly member Allan Tesche from the Assembly’s Ethics Committee. Coffey admitted he took this action without prior notice to Tesche or other members of the Assembly and refused Tuesday night to provide a public explanation for his action. The committee reviews and makes recommendations to the assembly on potential changes to the city’s ethics code.

ACTION ON DOGS DELAYED ONCE AGAIN: The Assembly never reached AO 2007-106 proposed by Assembly member Dan Coffey which would ban dogs from all enclosed baseball fields. Dozens of dog owners waited patiently in the Assembly chambers for four hours before being told they would have to return on November 27, 2007 for public testimony.. Under this law, dogs would be banned from enclosed baseball fields regardless of whether a baseball game is actually in progress. Coffey’s ordinance would not repeal or modify existing laws which allows dogs to run off leash under voice control.

NO ACTION ON I/M PROGRAM REPEAL: Other matters prevented the Assembly from taking action on AO 2007-122, to end the city’s mandatory vehicle exhaust emission program. Under IM, Anchorage vehicles must undergo periodic emissions tests and owners must make required repairs before vehicles may be lawfully operated on city streets in order to reduce carbon dioxide air pollution. The principle argument for eliminating the program is the comparatively low number of "bad air" days Anchorage is now experiencing as a result of improved technology used in automobile engines and exhaust systems. The current IM program costs Anchorage residents some $8M in inspection in repair fees annually.

NEW COFFEY ORDINANCE ENDS ASSEMBLY OVERSIGHT OF BEER AND WINE LIQUOR LICENSE ZONING: By a vote of 11-0, Assembly conservatives approved an ordinance authored by Assembly Chair Dan Coffey Action on AO 2007-121(S-1) which will allow an administrative official to issue zoning permits for restaurants to sell beer and wine. Currently, the Assembly makes those decisions only after public hearings and after receiving input from community councils. Coffey picked up support for his ordinance by stating his intent that the new law would not take away the Assembly’s role in setting land use standards for beer and wine establishments nor diminish access by the public and community councils to the Assembly on land use issues. With the backing of city attorney Jim Reeves, Coffey’s ordinance may simplify assembly debate and discussion on beer and wine applications, it may not provide relief to small business owners who would still be required to obtain approvals at both a staff level (zoning) and then at an assembly level (regulatory and zoning) before pouring the first glass of wine..

Assembly Report for October 9, 2007

2007-10-10T00:23:00.000-08:00

COMING TO YOUR BACKYARD THIS NEW YEARS: If midtown Assembly member Dick Trani has his way, fireworks will be lawful in some areas of Anchorage, at least for a few hours on New Year’s Eve. Tuesday night Traini introduced AO 2007-132 which would allow detonation of fireworks for a five hour period on New Years Eve. The ordinance would not allow News Year's fireworks in public parks, the downtown central business district or within 500 feet of certain noise sensitive facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, or libraries. A public hearing on Trani's ordinance is scheduled for November 6, 2007.

BAUER PUNISHED BY ASSEMBLY FOR ETHICS VIOLATION: Last night the Assembly voted 9 to 0 to punish Assemblyman Paul Bauer for violating the city’s new Code of Ethics. Receiving a rarely given "admonition" Bauer was also required by his colleagues to attend a special course in the municipal Code of Ethics. The sanctions were recommended by the city’s Board of Ethics while ruled on September 6, 2007 that Bauer broke the law by holding a press conference on March 20, 2007 to publicize a Notice of Possible [Ethics] Violation he had filed against Mayor Mark Begich. AMC 1.15.070(K) expressly forbids disclosure of ethics complaints before the Board has completed its investigation of the matter. Despite a warning by city clerk Barbara Gruenstein before his press conference began, the Board held Bauer "knowingly violated" three sections of the Code by holding the press conference and distributing copies of the Notice of Possible Violation he had filed with the Board. The Board’s decision can be found at
http://www.muni.org/Assembly2/ethicsviolationreports.cfm

SULLIVAN DROPS OBJECTION TO TOWN SQUARE RESOLUTION; COMPROMISE MEASURE APPROVED: The Assembly unanimously approved a compromise resolution AR 2007-206 which resolved the controversial issue of naming Town Square Park.. Prepared by the Begich administration, the compromise measure honor the three citizen activists (Shirely Brundage, Aves Couples, and Moulton) who battled City Hall for twenty five years by naming discrete portions of the Square for the women, but leaving intact Town Square as the name for the park. The compromise was intended to replace an earlier proposal to name the entire Square after late Ruth Moulton. The measure was delayed for several weeks after Assemblyman Dan Sullivan heard one of the families objected to the design proposed by Mayor Begich; after some conversations between the families, Mr. Sullivan, and the Mayor’s office consensus was reached on the compromise measure.

NEW PEDESTRIAN PLAN APPROVED: Incorporating a long list of sidewalk and crossing projects into the plan, Assembly members on Tuesday night enacted the Anchorage Pedestrian Plan as part of the city’s 2020 Comprehensive plan. The plan, with some amendments inserted by the Assembly previously, sets policies and lists over 200 pedestrian improvements to be constructed within the municipality. The goal of the plan is to reduce vehicle trips within Anchorage by improving the city’s sidewalk system. As adopted by the Assembly, the plan calls only for "review" of extending mandatory sidewalk snow removal throughout Anchorage, and does not extend that requirement beyond the central business district.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSES ON I/M PROGRAM REPEAL; ACTION DELAYED: A parade of witnesses ranging from environmentalists, a physician, a radio talk show host, and dozens of auto mechanics testified for more than two hours on an ordinance (AO 2007-122) which would end the city’s mandatory vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program. Public testimony was sharply divided between two groups: an unlikely coalition of auto mechanics who admittedly would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in business if the inspection and environmentalists who insisted that Assembly members keep the program in place to fight global warming and prevent any worsening of Anchorage air quality. Opponents of the program claimed recent advances in automobile emissions technology have dramatically reduced CO2 levels in Anchorage, making mandatory inspection and maintenance of vehicles for air quality purposes unnecessary.

The Assembly appears sharply divided on the issue. Although Dick Traini claims he has six votes to end the I/M, his margin is razor thin and already members are talking of compromise measures that would delay elimination of the program or bring it back after several years. The assembly will take up I/M, without further public testimony, on October23, 2007.

NEW RULES FOR "BEER AND WINE" ZONING PERMITS: Action on an ordinance that would allow an "administrative official" to issue zoning permits for restaurants to sell beer and wine was postponed until October 23, 2007. Currently, the Assembly makes those decisions only after public hearings and after receiving input from community councils. The ordinance is sponsored by Assembly Chair Dan Coffey.

CHANGES COMING FOR "NEIGHBORHOOD" PRISONS: Assemblyman Dan Coffey introduced an ordinance Tuesday night will make it easier to locate new "community correctional residential centers" (halfway houses) in business districts. AO 2007-139 would drop current restrictions on housing felons in these facilities and would shorten required separation between new and existing halfways from 1 mile to 1,00 feet. The ordinance would limit new CCRCs to thirty inmates. .Although the ordinance would apply to all halfway houses in business districts throughout the city, it is supported by a group which wants to locate a new facility in (where else) Mountain View. Public Hearing is set for November 11, 2007.

EAGLE RIVER ASSEMBLYMAN DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND WITH BUDGET RESOLUTION: With barely six months in office, freshman Eagle River assemblyman Bill Starr has drawn a line with two term Mayor Mark Begich in the the 2008-9 general government operating budget now before the Assembly. For each politician, the stakes are high: Starr is seeking is first full term on the Assembly next spring (he was appointed to complete Anna Fairclough’s term last January) and he is staking his political career on the success of a budget resolution his conservative pals passed on September 11, 2007, to cap all city spending for the next two years at current (2007) levels, without adjustments for inflation or voter approved measures. In the other corner is arguably the most popular mayor in Anchorage’s history and a master politician who has worked his way with the Assembly for almost five years without using a single veto. Begich is widely rumored to be a candidate for national office in next year’s congressional elections. If Begich runs, this will be his legacy budget.

Passed on September 11, 2007 the "Starr Resolution" boldly announces the Assembly’s intent to limit city spending for the next two years at current levels because local homeowners have re ached their "capacity" to pay for local government services. On the surface, this fiscal policy plays well in conservative Eagle River neighborhoods who have long enjoyed tax subsidies from the rest of Anchorage and who complain loudly of any taxes. Below, the surface, however, the resolution is an iceberg waiting quietly for the next passing ship. Starr makes no adjustment for inflation which even Assembly conservatives cannot outlaw: rising health care costs, fuel, and contributions the city must make to keep its retirement system solvent. Starr hasn’t noticed the effect his resolution will have on new state grants: by omitting grants from its calculation of just what constitutes baseline spending, the resolution essentially forbids the city from accepting new grants unless it is willing to reduce some other part of the budget to keep spending in line with the resolution. Unlike the citizens’ tax cap approved by the voters in 1983, the Starr Resolution make no allowance for voter approved measures such as roads and parks bonds approved only last spring. When asked why his resolution may no reference to the Anchorage School District (about half of your property tax bill now goes to schools) Starr lamely blamed Assembly Chairman Dan Coffey for not asking him to look into school district funding as well. Finally, Starr mistakenly used $399M to calculate his "baseline" for capping future expenditures the revised 2007 budget, together with supplemental appropriations of state grants actually totals $410M

If the Assembly passes a budget on Anchorage under the Starr Resolution, $25M in existing programs and services will be cut in order to keep municipal spending at Starr’s level of $399M. Already, many of his Eagle River constituents who use the Bartlett pool are now protesting in the streets the cuts this resolution will require. We can only some of his pals with more experience in municipal tax policy grab the tiller before we hit something waiting for us in the water. Public hearings on the General Government operating budget are set for October 23rd and November 6th.

Assembly Report for September 25, 2007

2007-09-25T23:40:00.000-08:00

COFFEY WIGGLES WITH DOG POOP ORDINANCES: Tuesday night’s long anticipated public hearings on Dan Coffey’s "poop laws" brought out a handful of dog owners, parks uses and little leaguers who showed up testify on ordinances he drafted to keep incontinent dogs out of little league fields. Public hearings have been closed and action has been postponed until November 23, 2007. Coffey's proposals have proven highly controversial in recent weeks, dividing angry local dog owners who enjoy public parks and always pick up after their dogs, against other Alaskans, (including Coffey himself) who are tired of dog poop left on trails or, worse still, in Little League fields.

Before the Assembly was Coffey’s AO 2007-100 which would have banned all dogs, even if leashed, from municipal ballfields and playing fields. The ordinance would have eliminated a long standing exemption for dogs under their owners’ "voice command" while on public property except for official "dog parks". After some discussion, this ordinance was postponed indefinitely.
A second ordinance sponsored by Coffey (AO 2007-106), would ban dogs from all enclosed baseball fields and would imposes fines of $75 for the first violation, $100 for the second violation, and $150 for the third violation of existing "leash laws". This ordinance would not repeal or modify existing law which allows dogs to run off leash under voice control. Under this law, dogs are banned from enclosed baseball fields regardless if a baseball game is actually in progress. Amendments are expected.

According to a reliable urban myth, Coffey introduced the ordinances after he stepped into a pile of dog poop while coaching his son’s Little League game on a municipal ballfield. He was joined by Eagle River’s Bill Starr and East Anchorage’s Sheila Selkregg as co sponsors of AO 2007-106.

SULLIVAN DERAILS TOWN SQUARE RESOLUTION: By a vote of 6-5, the Assembly derailed a compromise resolution AR 2007-206 which would have resolved the controversial issue of naming Town Square Park. Prepared by the Begich administration, the compromise would have honored the three citizen activists (Shirely Brundage, Aves Couples, and Moutlon) who battled City Hall for twenty five years by naming discrete portions of the Square for the women, but leaving intact Town Square as the name for the park. The compromise was intended to replace an earlier proposal to name the entire Square after late Ruth Moulton. Despite assurances from Mayor Begich that families and colleagues of all three women had agreed to the final design of the Square, Assembly member Dan Sullivan objected. He said he had heard that the Brundage family was not satisfied with the design worked out by city staff and that he wants the Park designed differently. Technically, the compromise resolution prepared by the parks department will return to the Assembly for further consideration on October 9, 2007. Voting with Sullivan to postpone action until October 9, 2007 were Assembly members Starr, Coffey, Johnston, Birch, and Bauer. As a practical matter, Sullivan has ripped old wounds open again in the downtown area.

PAUL BAUER SPANKED FOR ETHICS VIOLATION: In a written decision released last Friday, the city’s Board of Ethics ruled that East Anchorage Assemblyman Paul Bauer violated the city’s Code of Ethics by calling a press conference on March 20, 2007 to publicize a Notice of Possible [Ethics] Violation he had filed against Mayor Mark Begich. Anchorage Municipal Code Sec. 1.15.070(K) expressly forbids disclosure of ethics complaints before the Board has completed its investigation of the matter. Despite a warning by city clerk Barbara Gruenstein before his press conference began, Bauer "knowingly violated" three sections of the Code by holding the press conference and distributing copies of the Notice of Possible Violation he had filed with the Board.

The Board recommended that the Assembly "officially admonish Assembly Member . . . Bauer for these violations" and also recommended that he attend and complete an ethics training course within the next six months. Final action on theses recommendations is left to the Assembly following receipt of the board’s report. It is unclear whether Bauer will complete his ethics training before he is up for re election in his east Anchorage district on April 1, 2008.
The Assembly did not (in public, at least) address the issue Tuesday night nor did Chair Coffey announce how the Assembly will address the Board’s recommendations Bauer be admonished for his Ethics violation. The board’s decision was posted on the web by deputy clerk Linda Heim Friday afternoon and can be downloaded from: http://www.muni.org/Assembly2/ethicsviolationreports.cfm

IMMIGRATION SMACKDOWN ON NOVEMBER 14TH: Assembly member Matt Claman, announced on Tuesday that his Public Safety Committee will meet on Wednesday November 14, 2007 to review Paul Bauer’s Immigration Policy ordinance. (2007-175) The meeting will start at 12:00 noon in the assembly chambers at the Loussac Library. The meeting will last for 1.5 hours and public comment will be allowed.

ASSEMBLY TWEAKS STANDARDS GOVERNING ZONING VARIANCES: AO 2007-117 restates grounds the Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals follows in considering applications for variances from municipal zoning regulations. A private developer and the Board’s chair testified the ordinance gives the board "a little more latitude" in considering variances on existing structures, eliminating some of the "intellectual gymnastics" the Board sometimes follows in handling variances. A critical change allows the board to grant variances from parking requirements if the applicant shows spillover parking onto other properties will be avoided in the variance is granted. By a vote of 10-1, the ordinance was adopted.

DOWNTOWN PLAN STALLS: Requests by truckers for additional time to prepare potential amendments, public hearings on dog poop, dozens of potential floor amendments and the late hour forced the Assembly to delay final action on a new Downtown Comprehensive plan until October 9, 2007. Several years in the making and supported by the Administration and Planning and Zoning Commission, the new downtown plan establishes a strategy for downtown revitalization, new land use and economic development policies, transportation and circulation, design standards, and program strategies such as signage and wayfinding, safety and security, and event activity programming.

Assembly Report for September 11, 2007

2007-09-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

PAUL BAUER CELEBRATES DIVERSITY MONTH WITH NEW ORDINANCE TARGETING SUSPECTED ALIENS: East Anchorage Assembly member Paul Bauer selected 9/11/07 and the middle of Diversity Month to introduce AO 2007-125, a new ordinance that would require Anchorage police to enforce federal immigration laws by verifying the immigration status of persons detained for possible violations of municipal ordinances. Introduced Tuesday by Bauer, Sullivan, and Starr, AO 2007-125 would also require APD to sign a "cooperative agreement" with the Homeland Security giving Anchorage police officers the power to enforce federal immigration laws and to round up illegal aliens for delivery over to federal authorities.

Already controversial is Sec. 8.95.010(B) which would require that "incident to any lawful detention for violation of a . . municipal ordinance", Anchorage police would be required to have persons detained to declare their citizenship on the spot. If they detainee admits to being a foreigner, police are to detain him pending "verification" from U.S. immigration authorities that he lawfully in the United States. On request, APD would also be required to hold detainees wanted by U.S. Immigration until they are taken into federal custody and deported.
Bauer has no information suggesting that illegal immigration is actually a public safety problem in Anchorage, or how much more taxpayers will pay to use local police to hunt down illegal aliens. The ultra conservative Bauer, who is seeking reelection to the Assembly next year, has not addressed the potentially chilling effect his ordinance would have on race relations, or on efforts by APD to partner with ethnic and immigrant communities in order to curb gang violence. The ordinance was referred to the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee for review in November; a public hearing date before the Assembly has not been set.

IM PROGRAM HEADS TO THE JUNKYARD: On the eve of a long awaited report from a city task force over the future of the vehicle inspection and maintenance (IM) program, Assembly member Dick Trani and 5 co sponsors have introduced AO 2007-122, to end the city’s mandatory vehicle exhaust emission program. Under IM, Anchorage vehicles must undergo periodic emissions tests and make required repairs before they may be lawfully operated on city streets in order to reduce carbon dioxide air pollution. The principle argument for eliminating the program is the comparatively low number of "bad air" days Anchorage is now experiencing as a result of improved technology used in automobile engines and exhaust systems. The current IM program costs Anchorage residents some $8M in inspection in repair fees annually.

Public hearings on Traini’s ordinance will take place on September 25, 2007, after the mayor’s IM task force is scheduled on September 15th to release its final report and technical recommendations on whether the program should be continued, abandoned, or even expanded to cover some safety requirements. Passage of Traini’s ordinance won’t eliminate the IM program immediately; only with state and federal approvals could the Anchorage program be eliminated sometime in 2009.

BILL STARR TAKES ON THE CITY’S BUDGET: Rookie Assembly member Bill Starr touched off the 2007 budget season Tuesday night with a resolution setting Assembly policy on the upcoming general government operating budget. The city’s 2008-9 operating budget is expected from Mayor Begich early next month. Starr’s resolution, which attracted concurring votes of eight other assembly conservatives, sets levels for 2008-9 at existing 2007 levels and is not adjusted for inflation. Without consideration for expected inflationary increases due to raising fuel and health insurance costs, Starr’s resolution will necessary have the effect of forcing reductions in existing city programs and services. Tuesday night, Starr said under the city’s budget system as the freshman lawmaker understands, it is up to Mayor Mark Begich, and not the assembly, to identify specific reductions in city programs and services necessary to comply with the Asembly’s resolution. Mayor Begich, however, may have the next and the final say in the budget, however, because by law the budget which will initially come forward for Assembly consideration will be his, and not the Assembly’s. Moreover, the Mayor enjoys the line item veto power as well as a veto which extends to the entire municipal budget.

The resolution finds the ability of local residents to pay for government services "is at or near its maximum capacity" despite the fact that actual real property taxes paid by Anchorage homeowners have been reduced for each of the past two years and Anchorage continues to have the lowest burden on local residents in the country.

Only Assembly members Shiela Sellkregg and Allan Tesche voted against Starr’s resolution.

Starr told Assembly members on Tuesday night that Assembly Chair Dan Coffey had already signed a $20,000 sole source contract with former Murkowski administration budget chief Cheryl Frasca to help his committee during the city’s budget process. Coffey admitted he approved the sole source contract with Frasca without a formal vote of the Assembly, but only after he talked privately with ninel members of the Assembly, but not including downtown Assembly member Allan Tesche. Frasca will be paid $125.00/hour for her work; presumably she will be paid from personnel monies saved after the Assembly leadership fired previous Assembly budget staff.

MAKING SENSE OUT OF HOW TO NAME PUBLIC BUILDINGS: Still before the Assembly is Paul Bauer’s AO 2007-95 and now Matt Claman’s AO 2007-108(S) setting procedures for naming of municipal buildings and public places. After some procedural wrangling, the Assembly on Tuesday postponed action on both ordinances until September 25th.

Assembly Report for August 28, 2007

2007-08-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

DAN SULLIVAN LAYS AN EGG WITH PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS: At a recent Assembly elections committee meting, Dan Sullivan explained three charter amendments he’s cooked up for local elections: he wants to reinstate the old "50% rule" for mayoral elections; redraw Assembly district boundaries to give each member a separate district, and expand the school board to eleven members, again running from separate districts. Good government, Sullivan explains, requires primaries or run off elections to ensure our local officials are not, unlike Abraham Lincoln or even George Bush, elected by less than 50% of the voters. In Dan Sullivan’s parochial world, members of the school board and Assembly should champion neighborhood interests on their respective bodies, and not the interests of the municipality or school district as a whole. Sullivan’s attempt to breathe new life into old ideas that have been rejected before is ill considered for at least two reasons:

First, there is nothing wrong here that needs fixing. Voters are basically content with the current rule which requires expensive run off elections only where no mayoral candidate wins at least 45% of the vote. Similarly, there is no public clamor to carve 11 assembly districts out of the current 5, nor is the public demanding we hire 3 more school board members and require board members to represent neighborhood, rather than community interests on the school board. These issues are simply not on the public radar screen. To give Dan some idea what citizens in Anchorage are talking about, try gang violence, public corruption, property taxes, snow plowing, and the rising costs of health care.

Second, there is a lot of mishchef behind this election year caper: Run off elections typically involve low voter turnout and for the office of mayor, cost taxpayers in excess of $100,000 to hold. Combined with Sullivan’s scheme to pack the Anchorage school board, these changes will cost taxpayers a bundle. Moreover, if these amendments pass, every local elected office - all 23 of them- will be up for grabs in April, 2009, seriously jeopardizing any continuity in office among local elected officials. By the way, who gets to redraw these new Assembly districts? Why Dan Sullivan and his Assemly cronies, off course, with technical assistance from Randy Ruederich.

Sullivan has accomplished little on the Assembly for the past eight years: he claims he saved the local sign "industry" by resurrecting those obnoxious pole signs phased out by an earlier and more progressive assembly. He helped lead the disastrous effort last year to impose a sales tax that would have put millions of dollars back into the pockets of the wealthiest landowners in Anchorage. His latest fix for city elections is not a wise solution for some festering problem in Anchorage; instead it is a desperate, last ditch effort to brush up a failing legislative career before he runs for Mayor in 2009. If you don’t think this is all about politics, George Wuerch and Henry Springer will sell you a bridge.

DISASTER RELIEF APPROVED BY THE ASSEMBLY: The Assembly on Tuesday considered an ordinance that would provide immediate tax relief to owners of residential property partially destroyed by natural disaster, including earthquake and fire. Under AO 2007-109(S-1) the owner of residential property destroyed by fire or earthquake could apply to the city Assessor for revaluation of his residence in the same year the disaster occurred. Similar ordinances have been considered in neighboring local governments hit by recent wild fires. The ordinance was introduced by Mayor Begich and downtown Assembly member Allan Tesche.

Action on AO 2007-109(S) came after the assembly approved several amendments proposed by the administration. Mobile homes were added, earthquakes were deleted from the definition of "disaster" because of the far reaching impact of large earthquakes, and the ordinance was limited to losses comprising at least one half of the value of improvements. 7 members voted in favor of the ordinance; Shiela Sellkregg joined Dan Sullivan, Chris Birch, and Paul Bauer in voting against the measure.

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSESSMENTS APPROVED: After additional debate, the Assembly on Tuesday approved the annual assessment roll (AO 2007-174) for the downtown business improvement district. The issue became controversial after a handful of downtown property owners complained about the district’s boundaries. Objections included the lack of snow removal and security service on the east side of the district and the Assembly’s decision fifteen years ago to exclude commercial properties on the west side, most notably the Hotel Captain Cook.

A work session was held on August 24 to explore possible changes to the downtown BID before the Assembly considered approval of recommended assessments. Although he presented assembly members with detailed maps and lists of individual properties and their assmessments, Assembly member Sullivan, had no concrete changes ready for the Assembly to consider in addressing his objections. The Assembly voted 10-1 in favor of the resolution; with only Assembly member Dan Sullivan dissenting.

The Downtown Business Improvement District is administered by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership (ADP) which provides snow removal, security, and event services to downtown businesses.

Assembly Report for August 14, 2007

2007-08-14T22:09:00.000-08:00

ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS TAX RELIEF FOR FIRE, QUAKE VICTIMS: The Assembly on Tuesday considered an ordinance that would provide immediate tax relief to owners of residential property partially destroyed by natural disaster, including earthquake and fire. Under AO 2007- 109(S) the owner of residential property destroyed by fire or earthquake could apply to the city Assessor for revaluation of his residence in the same year the disaster occurred. Similar ordinances have been considered in neighboring local governments hit by recent wild fires. The ordinance was introduced by Mayor Begich and downtown Assembly member Allan Tesche.

Action on AO 2007-109(S) was postponed until August 28th, pending review of amendments proposed by the administration and assembly. Potential amendments include addition of mobile homes, deletion of earthquakes, technical changes to appeals procedures, and the question of whether residential property leased to tenants might qualify. Allan Tesche and Debbie Ossiander will meet with the administration to hammer out potential amendments.

DOWNTOWN PLAN INTRODUCED, SENT TO TITLE 21 COMMITTEE: Two years in the making, a new comprehensive plan for the downtown area (AO 2007-113) was introduced on Tuesday night and referred to the Assembly’s Title 21 committee for review. The work of many downtown residents and businesses as well as Outside consultants and the city’s planning department, the plan sets goals, strategies, and ways to develop downtown into a vibrant commercial, cultural, and residential center for Anchorage. Committee review of the downtown plan starts on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. in the City’s Permit Center and may take several weeks, before it returns to the Assembly on September 11, 2007 for a public hearing.

DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT ON THE ROPES: A routine request to approve the annual assessment roll (AO 2007-174) for the downtown business improvement district turned into a donneybrook Tuesday night after a handful of downtown property owners complained about the district’s boundaries. Objections included the lack of snow removal and security service on the east side of the district and the Assembly’s decision fifteen years ago to exclude commercial properties on the west side, most notably the Hotel Captain Cook from the district. Although these same objections have been raised every year since the downtown improvement district was formed, comments from every assembly indicated new enthusiasm for radically redrawing district boundaries to address these objections.

The assembly deferred until August 28th action on the assessment roll for 2007, despite warnings from the administration that substantial modifications to the district boundaries would require re balloting of the entire district or disrupt services currently being provided to downtown businesses. The assembly will hold a work session on August 24 to look into possible changes to the downtown BID in response to testimony given on Tuesday.

The Downtown Business Improvement District is administered by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership (ADP) which provides snow removal, security, and event services to downtown businesses.

NO NEWS ON 4TH AVE. THEATRE: Polite but persistant questions from Assemblyman Dick Traini of the administration regarding rumors of a new deal involving the 4th Ave. Theatre turned up nothing new on Tuesday night. In the absence of Mayor Begich, municipal officials confirmed ancient reports that the Rasmusson foundation had backed away from an earlier agreement negotiated with the Anchorage Downtown Partnership (ADP) and the municipality. Economic and Community Development Director Mary Jane Micheal repeatedly told Assembly members she was aware of no new deal in the works to purchase the downtown icon. Traini covered the waterfront so well with his questions, each of which was met by an unwaivering denial by Michael, leaving the aministration with a possible credibility gap if some sort of deal actually materializes in the coming weeks. In this town, no news is still news and Mary Jane Michael's answers to Dick Traini's question last night have already reignited the controversy over the 4th Ave. Theatre in the morning paper and will doubtless provide new feedstock for talk radio this afternoon. Meanwhile, in federal court today . . .

Assembly Report for July 24, 2007

2007-07-24T22:06:00.000-08:00

ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS TAX BREAKS TO REBUILD SHIP CREEK POWER PLANT: A derelict power plant built in Ship Creek some fifty years ago may see new life if a local developer wins a tax break from the Anchorage Assembly he claims is necessary to "jump start" renovation of the building. Marc Marlow, doing business as Kapp development, proposes to invest some $20M to rebuild the old power and steam plant located at Ship Creek , install new gas turbines to produce heat and electricity, and sell energy to all comers, including ML&P and Chugach Electric Association (CEA).

The Anchorage Assembly was asked on Tuesday night to consider a ten year tax exemption on the property together with an additional five year tax deferral, both of which Marlow says are necessary to make the project economically viable. From financial records he submitted to the City, Marlow says the city will ultimately recoup all of its original "investment" in tax breaks and then receive considerably more in higher tax revenues from the improved property than it would receive if the property were simply left in its current, deteriorated state. Chief Fiscal Officer Jeff Sinz told Assembly members Marlow had not supplied sufficient financial information about the project upon which he could make a recommendation on the tax relief requested.

After hearing from Marlow and a handful of people who testified on the matter, the Assembly .voted to allow any member to present a resolution addressing Marlow’s application and, on receipt of that resolution, schedule a further public hearing on the project.
The proposed plant will produce 120 MW of electrical power and steam using natural gas. By comparison, the city’s ML&P generates sone 330 MW within municipal boundaries.

NOISE ORDINANCE REVISIONS IN THE WORKS: Several months of work by the Department of Health and Human Services resulted in comprehensive revisions to the city’s noise ordinance proposed Tuesday night. AO 2007-105 as presented, would make a number of technical and substantive changes to the city’s noise ordinance, found at Chapter 15.70 of the Anchorage Municipal code. A public hearing is set for November 6, 2007.The ordinance will be referred to a special committee appointed by Dan Coffey and Debbie Ossiander for consideration before it goes before the Assembly for action. Noisemakers such as construction companies, rock concert promoters and those who complain about noise such as residents and pedistrians should contact the clerk’s office (343-4311) for copies of the ordinance and analyze potential impacts the new legislation might have on noise in Anchorage.

UPDATE ON ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS MAKEOVER: Apparently spurred into action by reports in the Tesche Report on July 17th and a lead story in the Daily News yesterday, Assembly "leaders" yesterday quickly transferred $125,000 from an obscure, unrestricted account in order to fund the first phase of a $450,000 makeover of the Assembly chambers.

Yesterday’s action by Assembly chair Dan Coffey and city clerk Barbara Gruenstein allows the pair to upgrade the Assembly chambers sound and lighting systems and computer equipment without Assembly discussion in public or its formal approval. Gruenstein was unable to point to any specific document or motion approved by a majority of the Assembly approving chambers upgrade.

Until yesterday, the $125,000 languished in account 3942, a highly unusual "unrestricted" account under the Assembly Department with no identified use or purpose. Apparently the fund has, from time to time, been used by the Assembly chair to pay unbudgeted projects expenses without oversight or approval by other members of the Assembly. According to Chief Fiscal Officer Jeff Sinz, comparable "unrestricted accounts" from which other municipal agency heads can pay unbudgeted expenses without oversight by the mayor or the Assembly, do not exist.
Transfer of the money out of Account 3942 may moot public discussion of alternative uses for the money. The money may now have been spent. During Assembly debate on October 31, 2006 before adoption of the 2007 general government budget, the majority rejected a motion by Assembly member Tesche to use funds that ultimately went into fund 0000 for Anchorage Police recruiting.

Assembly Report for July 17, 2007

2007-07-16T21:41:00.000-08:00

HIS LAST COFFEY BREAK IN A CITY PARK? A canine competitor in the 2004 Skyhoundz Canine Frisbee Championship on Delaney Park Strip in Anchorage.

Assembly member Dan Coffey wants to crack down on pet owners who don’t clean up after their dogs and to ban all dogs, even if leashed, from municipal ballfields and playing fields. Coffey introduced AO 2007-100 on Tuesday night which would tighten the city’s "leash law" by eliminating an existing exemption for dogs under their owners’ "voice command" while on public property not set aside as official "dog parks". Coffey’ould also ban dogs, even if leashed and muzzled, from all "municipal ballfields, playing fields, and outdoor courts enclosed or otherwise designated for sports, whether or not a sporting event is taking place". For owners who do not clean up after their dogs or for owners who bring their pet into a city ballfield or playing area, a new fine schedule is proposed, with increasing fines for repeat violations.

Coffey's original ordinance is already highly controversial, dividing angry local dog owners who enjoy public parks and always pick up after their dogs, against other Alaskans, (including Coffey) who are simply sick and tired of dog poop left on trails or, worse still, in Little League fields. As of late Tuesday night, hundreds of people posted comments on the Daily News political blog , pillorying elected officials and impuming their motives. As prime sponsor of last year's crackdown on smoking in public, Coiffey is again accused by some of furthering the collectivist goals of a "Nanny State" watching over people's private lives.

The issue became more complex on Tuesday when Coffey hastilly introduced another ordinance, AO 2007-106, also dealing with dogs and enclosed baseball fields. This ordinance would ban dogs from all enclosed baseball fields and would imposes fines of $75 for the first violation, $100 for the second violation, and $150 for the third violation of existing "leash laws". This ordinance would not repeal or modify existing law which allows dogs to run off leash under voice control. Under AO 2007-106,, dogs are banned from enclosed baseball fields regardless if a baseball game is actually in progress. Coffey provided no explanation as to why the second ordinance addresses only baseball and omits other softball, football, and soccer fields where presumably dogs may still roam, if under voice control.

Joined by Eagle River’s Bill Starr and East Anchorage’s Lydia Selkregg, Coffey asked that AO 2007-106 be referred to the city’s Animal Control Advisory Board and Parks and Recreation Commission. A hearing before the Assembly on the ordinances is scheduled for September 25, 2007.

COFFEY SEEKS A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS: A report distributed by Assembly Chair Dan Coffey on Tuesday night details an ambitious plan to upgrade assembly chambers with new computer hardware, software, and sound equipment. Taxpayers will pay $450,000 for the upgrades of which only $225,000 has been identified in the approved municipal budget.

The first phase (costing $200,000) implements a "total meeting management" solution for the Assembly Chambers, including automated agenda management, minutes creation and management, the recording of votes, web accessible auto/video streaming, indexing and archiving. Upgrades will provide an integrated, digitally searchable record of Assembly action – from introduction of items, through the agenda, minutes, and streaming video.. An improved voting system is included although some of the hardware (including voting buttons) could be funded through the second phase of the project. Costing $250,000, the second phase would replace the Assembly Chambers lighting and sound system and include an acoustic analysis, replacement of speakers, microphones, and amphlier, lighting upgrades, and a new control panel. According to Coffey’s memo, only $25,000 of the cost of this second phase is currently funded.

ART IN VERY PUBLIC PLACES? Even if Al Choy is ultimately allowed by the city to serve drinks in his Old Seward Highway railroad car, he may still have problems with the cute "hood ornament" perched on the nose of the car. See, Tesche Report for July 3, 2007. The ornament may violate a municipal setback requirement. Ever handy with a legislative fix for a former client, however, Assembly member Dan Coffey on Tuesday introduced AO 2007-101 which would exempt "incidental architectural features, public art" from municipal setback requirements in the zoning code. Coffey referred the proposed ordinance to his Title 21 Committee for a recommendation to the Assembly.

Assembly Report for July 3, 2007

2007-07-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

AL CHOY AND HIS RAILROAD TAKE ON CITY HALL: Hoping to lure a few more patrons into his south Anchorage watering hole, bar owner Al Choy hauled this old Alaska Railroad passenger car onto the property to expand the seating area inside of his bar. City code enforcement staff balked, saying his parking is inadequate. Neighbors and a community council are itching wildly. Choy called in his lawyer who filed suit in Anchorage superior court and noticed up some twenty depositions of municipal officials. Pending the outcome of the litigation, Choy won a tiny victory in court: an order from the superior court allowing him to place the former railroad car on piliings adjacent to the old Seward Highway. By stipulation of the parties, Choy may not serve liquor or operate a bar in the railroad car until further order of the court. You can judge for yourself whether the railroad car and its curious hood ornament add to or detract from the commercial landscape of the Old Seward Highway.

ASSEMBLY BACKTRACKS ON TOWN SQUARE; CONSIDERING AN "ANYBODY BUT RUTH" NAMING POLICY: Without taking any additional comment from the public, the Assembly amended and passed Dan Sullivan’s so called "compromise" Town Square naming resolution on June 26, 2007 declaring that the Square will not be named to honor any single person. Instead, the resolution sent the controversial issue back to the city’s Parks Department for a "conceptual design" of a garden area within the Square to honor Ruth Moulton, Shirely Brundage, and Avis Cupples, subject, of course, to final Assembly approval. AR 2007-159 is hardly a "compromise", however, because it effectively replaces an earlier directive of the Assembly given to the Public Facilities Advisory Commission and to the Parks and Recreation Commission to consider naming the entire Town Square or an integral part of the Square to honor neighborhood leader Ruth Moulton. She led led the successful campaign in the 1980s and 90s to create a downtown town square in its present location.

Only last winter, the Assembly found that because of Moulton's "special efforts, accomplishments and . . . many years working to make Town Square a reality, she has achieved public status worthy of long term recognition". The Assembly voted unanimously to honor Ruth by naming "the town square plaza or other integral town square area . . . to recognize this exceptional citizen." The Assembly submitted her name to the Public Facilities Advisory Commission for official action. On March 27, 2007, the Commission unanimously recommended the entire Park be named in her honor, following an identical action by the Parks and Recreation Commission. At the Assembly’s public hearing on June 12, 2007, 20 community councils urged the Assembly to follow the recommendations of the two commissions and name the park for Ruth Moulton; only one council was against. 20 persons spoke in favor of the action; only 5 spoke against. The message from the public was loud and clear: honor Ruth Moulton’s many contributions to Anchorage with her name on Town Square.

Assembly conservatives just didn’t like what they heard from the public. Debbie Ossiander "struggled" with the issue and South Anchorage's Jennifer Johnston addressed the Assembly for the first time in her career, announcing that she too opposed naming the park for Moulton. Speaking for the ruling conservatives, Paul Bauer claimed the public was "confused" about the Assembly’ naming process.; a process he himself had crafted only six months earlier. Bauer’s colleagues then asked Dan Sullivan to pick out something in Town Square to name after Ruth, leaving the curent name intact. The product of Sullivan's work was apparently AR 2007-159 which the Assembly passed on June 26th without further public comment public, sending the delicate issue of naming something in the park for three women back to park planners.

Paul Bauer is not content with keeping the name of the Square intact and letting park planners pick out a smaller feature of the park to honor Moulton, Brundage, and Cupples, however. A particularly mean spirited ordinance he introduced on June 26th would change the rules governing facility names (once again) by prohibiting the naming of a public place for an individual who has been dead for less than five years or, the case of an "internal attribute" of a public place, within one year of that person’s death. Cleverly drafted by attorney Julia Tucker for Bauer, the new ordinance would effectively prevent the Assembly from naming even a manhole in Town Square for Moulton if a final design for the Park is completed within one year of her death last fall. Public hearing on Bauer’s AO 2007-95 is set for August 14.

Assembly conservatives may not have the last word on Town Square, however: The same group that so effectively worked with Ruth Moulton in the 1980s and in the 90s to make the present Town Square a reality (Friends of Town Square) has initiatied a petition drive to implement the ealier recommendations of the Parks Board and the Public Facilities Advisory Commission to name Town Square for Moulton. The track record of Friends of Town Square in similar initiatives in the past should not be ignored as the Anchorage Assembly, once again, tramples over the public process. For details on the petition drive, go to Friends' new website at
http://www.friendsoftownsquare.com/

Assembly Report for Tuesday, June 12, 2007

2007-06-12T23:11:00.000-08:00

ASSEMBLY DELAYS ACTION ON A NEW NAME FOR TOWN SQUARE: Despite overwhelming public testimony favoring a n new name for Town Square to honor community leader Ruth Moulton, the Assembly on Tuesday postponed action on a decision until June 26, 2007. Making the motion was Assembly member Dan Sullivan who said he needed more time to fashion a "compromise" measure he says will pass the Assembly when written. The issue appears to be whether the Assembly will follow the recommendations of the two commissions whose advice it sought on the matter or decide for itself whether Ms Moulton will be honored by the naming on any portion of the Town Square in her memory.

About 26 persons testified before the Assembly, 20 in favor of naming the Town Square after Ruth Moulton; 6 had contrary suggestions, principally that a portion of the Square, but not the entire square be renamed. 20 community councils offered resolutions in favor; 2 councils were opposed. Recommendations of the Public Facilities Advisory Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission in favor of naming the entire Town Square for Ms. Moulton were unanimous.

Only Assembly members Traini, Selkregg, Claman, and Tesche, opposed postponement and asked for a final vote on the matter. Sullivan offered no details on the "compromise" measure he intends to present to the Assembly on June 26th nor did he indicate which Assembly members he has lined up to support his position.

EAGLE RIVER TOWN CENTER IN THE WORKS: Passage of AR 2007-41 signals new life for the long dormant Valley River Center as the location of a new Town Center for Eagle River. Passed unanimously, the resolution recognizes the Valley River Center as a preferred location for the Eagle River Branch library and potentially other municipal offices in an area that already is rapidly developing as a commercial center of Eagle River. By separate action, the Assembly introduced and set for public hearing on June 26, 2007 a companion ordinance that would authorize procurement for library space and other municipal office space to begin in the site of the new Town Center.

ML&P HEADQUARTERS PROPOSAL DIES QUIETLY PENDING EXAMINATION OF POTENTIAL UTILITY MERGER: Crafted by a three person Assembly committee headed by Assembly member Shelia Selkregg, AM 345-2007 set out a detailed competitive process for site selection, design, engineering, and construction of a new headquarters building for Municipal Light and Power (ML&P). Curiously, that resolution was postponed indefinitely Tuesday night as Assembly members announced they wanted additional time to explore potential consolidation of Chugach Electric Association (CEA) and ML&P. The resolution was originally written following the Assembly’s earlier rejection of proposal by the mayor to purchase space for a new ML&P headquarters building in Mountain View’s new Glenn Center mall. As matters now stand, ML&P’s headquarters staff will continue to work out of aging facilities in Ship Creek, and the administration remains free to return to the Assembly with on any new proposal for moving ML&P into more suitable office quarters at another location.

Details on the possible consolidation of the two utilities were not provided to the Assembly.

CODE AMENDMENT BARS FELONS FROM REGISTRATION AS MUNICIPAL LOBBYISTS: On reconsideration, the Assembly unanimously passed AO 2007-72(s) which bars persons convicted of a felony from registration as municipal lobbyists.

NEW ETHICS RULE TARGETS INFLUENCE PEDDLING : Unanimous passage of AO 2007-74(S) bars "influence peddling" by elected officials and employees of the municipality. The ordinance make it a violation of the city’s Code of Ethics to state or suggest that, as a condition of some sort of official action on a matter, a private party hire or fire a particular employee, consultant, or lobbyist. Passage of the ordinance would deter municipal officials from steering subcontracts among private vendors doing business with the municipality or persons seeking official action by the Assembly.

A Downtown Fire

2007-06-06T19:26:00.000-08:00

49 UNITS AT PARK PLACE ARE TOAST; CLEAN UP AND REBUILD WILL TAKE MONTHS: A huge fire apparently caused by a plumber’s torch inside a Park Place condominium took Anchorage firefighters several hours to bring under control Tuesday afternoon. There are no reports of injuries to residents of the building, although most of the 49 units were either destroyed by fire or heavily damaged by smoke and water. Dozens of residents of the Park Place condominiums are now homeless and the cost of rebuilding their units could easily exceed $10M.

Downtown residents quickly learned about 3:20 p.m. that something was terribly wrong in the neighborhood when dense clouds of black smoke poured out of the north building of the project and then, propelled by 45 mph winds, headed skyward, covering first the Pioneer’s home on 11th Ave. and then later, the entire downtown area from I St. to the inlet. Firefighters from several stations responded to the blaze as well as dozens of police for crowd and traffic control.

As of Wednesday afternoon, contractors were erecting a security fence around the charred building and residents were allowed to removed valuables from some of the units. Obviously, a large clean up job and the even larger task of rebuilding the units is now ahead.

TESCHE REPORT LIVE ON KUDO AM MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS AT 4:30 P.M: Monday, June 11, 2007 marks the first day an expanded radio version of the Tesche Report will be heard on Anchorage talk radio, KUDO 1080 AM. Broadcasting live on Mondays and Wednesdays, the show is intended to bracket Tuesday Assembly meetings, giving listeners an opportunity to preview the action at the Loussac the day before and to recap the action on the day after each Assembly meeting. The show is co hosted by progressive radio personality Aaron Selbig and gives listeners a chance to sound off on virtually anything to do with the Anchorage Assembly. To reach Allan Tesche during the radio show on Mondays and Wednesdays, call in at 569-1080. A live internet broadcast of the show is also available at KUDO1080.com

Assembly Report for May 22, 2007

2007-05-22T23:47:00.000-08:00

MAGGIE GETS A LIFT FROM THE ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY: Maggie, the ever controversial centerpiece of the Alaska Zoo, gained a powerful ally Tuesday night when the Anchorage Assembly voted to recommend that the Zoo decide quickly whether the African elephant should be relocated to a warmer climate. Echoing growing community concerns over housing the elephant in a small concrete and steel cage at the Alaska Zoo in South Anchorage, Assembly members passed a resolution Tuesday night urging Zoo directors to decide the animal’s fate quickly, rather than wait for a meeting originally scheduled for later this summer, Authored by East Anchorage’s Sheila Selkregg, the resolution notes the availability of several larger outdoor facilities in warmer climates which house African elephants with "year -round, free access to a spacious outdoors area".

Two recent episodes in which a sickened Maggie was unable to rise to a standing position and had to be raised with the help of Anchorage firefighters have heightened fears she might die if she remains in her confined Alaska quarters. The death of another African elephant, Annabelle, at the zoo several years ago was attributed by some to the harsh Alaskan winter and cramped living quarters at the zoo.

Only Midtown’s Dick Traini did not vote on the resolution: Traini says his cell phone rang during the meeting and he was absent from the Assembly chambers when the vote was taken

ASSEMBLY BARS CONVICTED FELONS FROM LOCAL LOBBYING: Reacting to the widening federal probe into pubic corruption at the state level, Assembly member Dan Sullivan led his Assembly colleagues into the action Tuesday night with his proposal to bar convicted felons from registration as municipal lobbyists. An amended version of AO 2007-72(S) was passed by the Assembly barring any person convicted of a felony within the past ten years from registration as a municipal lobbyist. Assembly members spent forty minutes debating with Assembly counsel over the meaning of the term "egregious criminal conduct", ultimately deciding to use a more simple definition of the of the offense which would prohibit a lobbyist from registering with the municipality. Members also approved an amendment which limited application of the new law to felonies committed within the past ten years.

A second ethics ordinance which would have barred a species of "influence peddling" at the local level, was grounded by a barrage of criticism from Assembly counsel, Julia Tucker during Assembly debate Tuesday evening. The ordinance, AO 2007- 72, would have barred municipal officials from conditioning official action, including voting on the Assembly, on the hiring or firing of particular contractors, consultants, or lobbyists by persons having business before the city administration or assembly. Ms. Tucker’s objections and the Assembly’s indefinite postponement of AO 2007-72 leaves Assembly members and city employees free under the city’s ethics code to direct the hiring or firing of lobbyists and other professionals by persons who seek official action from the muncipality.

THANKS TO STATE LEGISLATORS, YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING DOWN: Recent action by the Alaska legislature will drive down tax bills going out to Anchorage homeowners for 2007. Here are the numbers. SB 53 provides "general operational support" or revenue sharing of $13.6M and $15.3M to help defray the city’s unfunded pension costs, for a total of $28.9M. By Assembly resolution, these funds, together with monies appropriated last yar, total $37.1M which will be credited against 2007 property tax bills which in turn will be reduced by an amount equal to 1.27 mills. For the owner of an average single family home ($286,000) this equates to a 2007 tax bill which is lower by approximately $363.

Assembly Report for May 15, 2007

2007-05-15T22:22:00.000-08:00

THINGS ARE SLOWING DOWN, SO WHY NOT REVISIT THE SIGN ORDINANCE? A women bakes cookies in her home in rural Chugiak and advertises her home occupation with a sign painted on her automobile. She parks her car in her driveway. Along comes Zoning Enforcement who says the advertisement for her business on the family car is illegal because it constitutes a prohibited "sign" in a residential area. The neighbor goes to Chugiak’s Debbie Ossiander who has her attorney write an ordinance exempting signs on vehicles from residential zoning regulations governing signs. Enter the city’s planning staff who correctly note that under the Ossiander ordinance, signs or logos painted on vehicles could include huge advertisements that would resemble portable billboards. Inflammatory pictures showing Spam advertised on the sides of motor homes are presented to the Assembly. Worse still, staff argues, Debbie’s ordinance contains no limit as to the number of vehicles, each bearing commercial logos, which could be tucked away in residential cul de sacs and driveways. That’s fine with Debbie, but not other members of the Assembly who promptly began debating all of the fine points of sign painting on vehicles, permissible weights of vehicles allowed in residential neighborhoods, the number of axles allowed on vehicles, the First Amendment, and the changing nature of the rural economy where more people are turning to home occupations for a living.

After almost an hour of debate, the Assembly did what it does best: postpone action on the ordinance until June 12, pending further review of the ordinance by Ossiander and Dan Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan has plenty of experience in amending the city’s sign law: He led the efforts by Assembly conservatives in 2006 to roll back improvements made in the sign code by a previous Assembly and to save those large non conforming pole signs from city regulation.

ML&P: ROUND TWO: Apparently not satisfied with the sound thumping given the Administration at its last meeting over construction of a new headquarters building for Municipal Light and Power (ML&P), Assembly members pounded the mayor’s effort to go ahead with its plan to replace an aging utility building currently located atop contaminated soil in the Ship Creek Area. At issue Tuesday night was a memorandum presented by the City which outlined a new, competitive process for the project. Deputy city manager Mike Abbott argued the memo responded to all of the objections made by the Assembly when it rejected the mayor’s original proposal on May 1, 2007 to build the new facility in the new Glenn Square mall in Mountain View. After lengthy debate, the Assembly voted 9-2 to postpone action on the Administration’s newest proposal pending review of the entire package by an ad hoc committee consisted of Assembly members Shiela Sellkregg, Dan Sullivan, and Chris Birch.

Arguing that the mayor’s approach left too many questions unanswered, Assembly member Chris Birch raised an Ossiander of concerns ranging from the fundamental need to relocate the ML&P facility, the scoring to be used to determine winning proposals, space requirements, and argued the project should not be competitively bid until a site for the headquarters building were first selected. "Foul" cried the administration who correctly pointed to the Assembly’s earlier decision rejecting the Mountain View site, noting that the Administration had includedthe very competitive process the Assembly had earlier mandated. In any event, the Assembly is now in the business of setting detailed criteria for this project, promising many more weeks of controversy.

CHUGIAK-EAGLE RIVER ROAD PLAN APPROVED: With amendments offered by Chugiak’s Debbie Ossiander and Bill Starr, the Assembly on Tuesday passed a long range transportation plan (LRTP) for the Chugiak-Eagle River area. Under the plan as adopted, the highest priority project is a four mile strech of the Glenn Highway at Eagle River Road from Highland Drive to Artillery Road. With support from the municipal administration, different strategies for addressing congestion along the Glenn were prioritized, with "road improvements" awarded the top priority and "consideration of commuter rail" shoved down the bottom of the list. Again, with support from the city, a comment in the draft plan that building more roadway will only attract additional drivers and that the municipality "cannot build . . [its] way out of congestion" was stripped from the plan, revealing a policy preference for even wider roads and more private automobiles as the solution for highway congestion.

Assembly report for May 1, 2007

2007-04-27T19:27:00.000-08:00

IN THE CROSS HAIRS: OSSIANDER, STARR TAKE AIM AT MAYOR’S PLAN FOR NEW SHOOTING RANGE IN BIRCHWOOD: What started as a low key as a briefing by Anchorage public safety agencies on plans to build an outdoor training facility at Beach Lake Park on Friday work session turned into a donneybrook between the administration and the two assembly members representing the Birchwood-Chugiak area. At issue is a tentative selection of some 54 acres of municipal land within Beach Lake Park for construction of three outdoor shooting ranges and an enclosed "shoot house" that will be used to provide Anchorage police tactical weapons training. The new shooting ranges, together with two other training facilities on Elemendorf Air Force Base and on east Tudor Road have been proposed by a coalition of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Voicing objections of several community councils and local residents, assembly members Debbie Ossiander and Bill Starr riddled the city’s proposal with questions and argument intended to bring out flaws in the public process and to underscore their objections to use of Beach Lake for this purpose. Ossiander questioned whether opposition to the new shooting ranges voiced by local community councils had been adequately considered. Starr, a commercial pilot, raised safety concerns for pilots using the nearby Birchwood airstrip. Police chief Rob Huen defended the city’s proposal by emphasizing the need for adequate live fire training facilities for law enforcement personnel and the lengthy public process the administration will follow, leading to a final site selection decision approved by the assembly.

Somewhat less controversial are related plans by the same agencies to locate another portion of joint training facility on Elemendorf Air force base including a emergency vehicle operator course and facilities for live-burn fire training, including aircraft. A third part of the facility will be located on municipal property at 3500 Tudor Road and will include a gun tower, cars, ships, a variety of buildings, a rubble pile, an outdoor strip mall, and trenches used to simulate urban conditions public safety personnel face.

ASSEMBLY TWEAKS 2007 OPERATING BUDGET, SETS MILL LEVIES AND REDUCES TAXES FOR MOST ANCHORAGE PROPERTY OWNERS: A flurry of action Tuesday night on Mayor Begich’s 2007 operating budget will reduce property taxes for most homeowners in Anchorage this year if promised state revenue sharing to municipalities is approved by the state legislature. On Tuesday night, the Assembly made a few minor revisions to the 2007 budget, set mill levies in the various service areas, and passed AR 2007-109 which will authorize an areawide tax credit to be applied against 2007 taxes if the legislature come through with an additional $22M in revenue sharing this year. To reduce property taxes for 2007, the mayor and assembly plan to apply some $22M Anchorage receive last year last year together with a like amount expected this year, rather than expand new municipal programs and activities. Here are the final numbers: The revised general government operating budget is $374M, an increase of some $5.1M. To support that budget, $218.7M will be collected in property taxes. Most residential property owners will see several hundred dollars of tax relief, depending on valuation.

Surprisingly, Dan Sullivan found a way to vote against AP 2007-109 and the mayor’s tax relief plan for 2007: arguing that the legislature has not yet acted on the 2007 budget, Sullivan urged Assembly members to defer any tax savings coming from revenue sharing approved this year until 2008. Voting with Sullivan was Paul Bauer.

ASSEMBLY HOSES MAYOR’S PLAN TO MOVE ML&P TO MOUNTAIN VIEW : After another week of furiously answering questions from assemblymembers, the administration watched helplessly as the assembly rejected a contract to construct a new headquarters for Municipal Light and Power (ML&P) in the new Glenn Square Mall in Mountain View. The vote was 9-2.

Assembly action came only after Chugiak’s Debbie Ossiander and Eagle River’s Bill Starr dogged the municipal administration during past weeks with dozens of technical questions about the project ranging from detailed cost analyses of alternate sites, square foot calculations, retail space allocations, labor contact issues, required ML&P rate increases to fund the project, and the needs assessments. Before the Assembly was AO 2007-58 which would have allowed ML&P to proceed with a "design-build" contract for construction of a new headquarters building with in the new Glenn Square development near the intersection of the Glenn Highway and Bragaw St in Mountain View. The project was to cost ML&P ratepayers $2M paid through a rate increase ML&P intends to seek from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. ML&P would own some 66,000 square feet of the top two floors of the three-story building, with a coffee stand, sandwich shop or an insurance agency on the first level.. A meeting space the community could use for evening meetings was planned. The mall's tenants will include Michael’s, Petco, Old Navy, Famous Footwear and Bed, Bath & Beyond, possibly. Best Buy with Target as an anchor store.

In an unsuccessful effort to win votes for the proposal, ML&P offered to reduce the overall size of the project by 11,320 sq. feet to 54,755, lower costs from $24M to $16,860,289 and reserve for future acquisition space for utility customer service. Instead, the Assembly voted down the mayor’s proposal and then unanimously passed a resolution offered by Dan Sullivan which requires competitive source selection on the land acquisition as well as construction of the new facility.

Voting to relocate ML&P to Glenn Square were assembly members Tesche, and Traini. Voting against the project were Assembly members Sullivan, Coffey, Selkregg, Bauer, Birch, Starr, and Ossiander.

ASSEMBLY ACTION BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO CREEKSIDE TOWN CENTER: Approval of Resolution No. AR 2007-104 by the Assembly on Tuesday night allows Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA) to develop some 7.8 acres in the old Alaska Village trailer park in Muldoon for 80 units of affordable housing. A complex financing package negotiated by CIHA with lenders and approved by the Assembly will exempt the project from local property taxes for ten years, with the understanding that after that time, taxes reflecting the enhanced value of the property will be paid, allowing the city to eventually recoup taxes would have otherwise paid during the exemption period. The overall cost of the project is $24.5M; the value of the ten year tax exemption is approximately $500,000. Assembly action follows an earlier declaration by the body that the larger, 60 acre tract which once housed a huge mobile home park is a "deteriorated area" under state law. That action qualified the property for temporary exemptions or deferrals from local property taxes where approved by the local governing body in connection with their redevelopment. Voting against the project was Chugiak’s Debbie Ossiander.

Assembly Report for April 17, 2007

2007-04-16T07:14:00.000-08:00

SULLIVAN IS OUT, DAN COFFEY IS IN AS NEW ASSEMBLY LEADER:

The Assembly replaced Dan Sullivan with Dan Coffey as Assembly Chair Tuesday night. Debbie Ossiander of Eagle River-Chugiak will remain as vice chair. Voting was unanimous. In addtion to presiding over meetings, the Chair appionts assembly committees, supervises paid assembly staff and acts as official spokesman for the body in public functions. Under the City's charter, the Assembly chair is also next in line to occupy the mayor's office in the event of a vacancy.

Coffey was elected chair after a tough contest for re election to his second three year term. Dan won the votes of 45.7% of midtown voters, edging out challenger Elvi Gray Jackson, who came within 366 votes of 9664 cast, for 41.95% of the vote. Rumored to be considering a run for Mayor in 2009, Coffey intends to polish his image as a moderate and consensus builder to get the job. In the meantime, outgoing Chair Dan Sullivan is also rumored to be considering a run for mayor in 2009. He will have a year to ponder the race as he looks after a downtown watering hole he opened up last year.

ASSEMBLY DELAYS ACTION ON NEW ML&P HEADQUARTERS : Assembly members to delayed action on a contract to construct a new headquarters building for Municipal Light and Power (ML&P) in the new Glenn Square Mall in Mountain View. Citing the need to review comparative costs of alternate sites, required ML&P rate increases to fund the project, the lack of needs assessment, and the need to involve new members to participate on matter was postponed two weeks or until May 1, 2007 upon the motion of Debbie Ossiander.

Before the Assembly was AO 2007-58 which would allow Municipal Light and Power to proceed with a "design-build" contract for construction of a new ML&P headquarters building in the new Glenn Square development in Mountain View. A headquarters building for the city’s electric utility would be built by contractors retained by developers of the new Glenn Square Mall, P.O'B Montgomery. The project will cost ML&P ratepayers $22.7M paid through a rate increase ML&P intends to seek from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. ML&P would own some 66,000 square feet of the top two floors of a three-story building, with a coffee stand, sandwich shop or an insurance agency on the first level.. A meeting space the community could use for evening meetings would be available. The mall's tenants will include Michaels, Petco, Old Navy, Famous Footwear and Bed, Bath & Beyond, possibly. Best Buy with Target as an anchor store.

LAKE OTIS AND TUDOR PROJECT IS BACK ON TRACK: A multimillion dollar project by Mayor Begich to relieve traffic congestion at the notorious Lake Otis & Tudor intersection was restored to a high priority status on the city’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Tuesday night. Satisfied that additional studies have now been completed and that the project can be completed by the end of 2007, Assembly member Dan Coffey joined Midtown colleague Dick Traini in urging passage of AR 2007-78 which put the project back on the priority list in the LRTP and back on schedule to complete by the end of 2008.

Only curmudgeons Dan Sullivan and Paul Bauer voted against the resolution. Bauer argued that somehow that over $10M in federal funds made available through the efforts of Congressman Young were not necessarily appropriated for the Lake Otis & Tudor project, but instead for "congestion relief". He also objected to use of transportation funds for pedestrian improvements and quibbled with estimates offered by traffic experts on reductions in delay - some 300,000 hours saved every year- as unsatisfactory. Both Sullivan and Bauer demanded even more studies of an intersection which has plagued Anchorage motorists for more than thirty years.

MONSTER MALL HEADED TO MULDOON: After a short public hearing Tuesday night, the Assembly approved on a new mall proposed by Cook Inlet Region Inc. and (CIRI) Bowman at the northwest corner of North Muldoon Road and the Glenn highway. Before the assembly was AO 2007-54 to rezone some 95.2 acres to B-3 (General Business). Rezoning of the property would allow construction of almost 1,000,000 square feet of new retail space which wiill dwarf the existing 5th Ave. Mall in the downtown. The new mall would be about three times the size of Alaska’s largest mall, the Diamond Center in south Anchorage.

Developers of the new mall propose a site plan which rings the perimeter with two long rows of big box stores anchored by a Target on the southwest and located within acres of parking spaces which appear to take up almost 70% of the entire 95 acre site. Lined with smaller stores and restaurants on both sides, an access road divides the large parking area into two sectors and is intended to serve a a "main street" of the development. Big box retailers on the perimeter of the development will be accessible only by car, and not by interior walkways or escalators as is common in older malls.

An amendment offered by Debbie Ossiander and accepted by the Assembly addressed potential traffic congestion on Oilwell road by requiring reconstruction of that road to a five lanc facility from the Glenn Highway to the Elemendorf gate, additional construction at the entrance to Bartlett High School and relocation of interior roads in the development.

Assembly Report for April 10, 2007

2007-04-10T23:44:00.000-08:00

ASSEMBLY TO ACVB: WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET? Passing AR 2006-290, the Assembly told the Anchorage Convention and Visitors’ Bureau to share a small amount of the Bureau’s portion of city bed tax revenues to support the annual Fur Rendezvous festival. The resolution states an annual contribution of $85,000 to the festival is "deemed appropriate" - a statement of the Assembly’s intent that ACVB support the festival financially, as part of its mission to promote tourism in Anchorage. The resolution also encourages Fur Rondy to review and update an annual operations and marketing plan with AWCB before receiving AWCB bed tax funds.

ELECTION PRODUCES NEW FACES ON THE ASSEMBLY: Following the April 3, 2007 municipal election, as four new faces will be seen at assembly meetings and two incumbents return for second terms. Elected to three year terms was Jennifer Johnston from South Anchorage, Matt Claman who will represent West Anchorage, and Sheila Sellktregg, representing East Anchorage. Midtown incumbent Dan Coffey and Eagle River-Chugiak’s Debbie Ossiander were each re elected to their second terms. Bill Starr, who had been appointed to fill the second Eagle River seat in February, was elected to serve for one year.

New members will be sworn in on April 17th during the dinner break in the meeting and will sit during the public hearings portion of the Agenda. The Assembly is expected to elect a new chair and vice-chair shortly after new members are seated. Dan Coffey has already announced he has six or seven votes in hand to replace Dan Sullivan as chair; neither Coffey nor his supporters will say who they will elect as vice-chair next week.

LABOR DEBATE DELAYS ACTION ON NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR ML& P: An Ossiander of questions about union jurisdiction on construction projects delayed action on a proposed new headquarters building for Municipal Light and Power (ML&P) Tuesday night. Before the Assembly was AO 2007-58 which would authorize Municipal Light and Power to proceed with a "design-build" contract for construction of a new ML&P headquarters building in the new Glenn Square development in Mountain View. A headquarters building for the city’s electric utility would be built by contractors retained by developers of the new Glenn Square Mall, POB-Montgomery. The project will cost ML&P ratepayers $24M paid through a rate increase ML&P intends to seek from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

Two local mechanical companies objected to the project, arguing it should have been formally bid and that provisions of the proposed contract governing use of union labor for certain crafts precluded competition from non union contractors. ML&P and Mayor Begich responded by detailing a comparative site analysis before selecting the Glenn Square location, and existing labor agreements binding on the municipality which must be followed in the project. Although the city’s agreement with IBEW gives the union full jurisdiction on property and buildings owned by the utility, the union claimed only electrical and mechanical work under the "design build" contract for the Glenn Square property Nevertheless, Assembly conservatives led by Debbie Ossiander and Bill Starr voiced opposition to the project and contact provisions protecting IBEW’s jurisdiction. The project and the debate will return to the Assembly on April 17th.

FIRST TITLE 21 CHAPTERS ENACTED BY THE ASSEMBLY: With minor amendments, the assembly unanimously enacted the first four chapters of the new Title 21 (chapters 21.01, 21.02, 21.08, and 21.13) Tuesday evening. The chapters deal with subdivision standards, general provisions, land use boards and commissions, enforcement. Almost without hesitation, Assembly members also passed an unusual resolution written by Dan Coffey and Debbie Ossiander which labeled all work done by the assembly on Title 21 to date as only "provisional" and not legally binding until the pair rewrites the remaining portions of the title. The effect of the resolution, passed minutes after the assembly first enacted the new chapters of 21, is unclear as resolutions are generally considered insufficient to change ordinances already enacted into law by the Assembly.

ANCHORAGE HOSPITALS FACE CHRONIC OVERCROWDING: Extolling the success of the annual Mayor’s Run to tourism in Anchorage, Pamela Jennings argued on Tuesday night that the popular event "fills hospital beds throughout Anchorage".

SOCFFLAW ORDINDNACE PASSED: The Assembly on Tuesday passed unanimously Janice Shamberg’s ordinance prohibiting an individual from driving any car on the public streets in Anchorage if he or she has accumulated $1,000 or more in delinquent traffic citations for moving violations. According to Shamberg, enforcement of the new law would begin only if the state legislature authorizes local enactment and it would be enforced by vehicle impoundment and possible forfeiture. APD is said to favor the new law as an additional means to separate gang members from their rides. The new law takes effect on November 1, 2007 and requires prior enactment of a state statute authorizing local enactments.

Assembly Report for March 27, 2007

2007-03-27T23:57:00.000-08:00

JANICE TO TRAFFIC SCOFFLAWS: THOSE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING: Introduced Tuesday night is departing Assembly member Janice Shamberg’s last piece of legislation: an ordinance which would prohibit an individual from driving any car on the public streets in Anchorage if he or she has accumulated $1,00 or more in delinquent traffic citations for moving violations. According to Shamberg, enforcement of the new law would begin only if the state legislature authorizes local enactment and it would be enforced by vehicle impoundment and possible forfeiture. APD is said to favor the new law as an additional means to separate gang members from their rides. Public hearing is set on the ordinance for April 10th.

ELECTION NOW ONE WEEK AWAY: If you don’t watch the news on television or listen to talk radio for the latest rant, you might not know we are only one week away from yet another city election. Voters on April 3rd will elect six Assembly members, two school board members, decide the fate of about $134.3M in roads, school, parks, and other bonds. Voters will also decide whether to repeal the city’s popular smoking ban which will extend to bars and bingo on October 1st as well as most other enclosed public spaces and workplaces. A companion state ballot will also give voters the chance to "advise" lawmakers to consider a constitutional amendment denying health benefits to same sex spouses or partners of state employees.

With only two notable dustups, election 2007 has been relatively quiet. Reported here last week, Assembly member Paul Bauer filed and promptly broadcast ethics charges against Mayor Mark Begich for the mayor’s alleged failure to disclose his interest in property his wife owns on E Street, downtown. According to Bauer, the mayor might indirectly benefit from the E St corridor project. Problems quickly arose with Bauer’s charges, however: The mayor’s interest in his wife’s business was properly disclosed on annual filings made with the city clerk. Unlike its role in deciding potential conflicts by assembly members, the assembly does not decide on potential conflicts by executive branch employees in matters coming before the assembly. By making his charges public, Bauer himself may have violated the same code’s confidentiality provisions. From his own press release, Bauer’s motive for taking on the mayor and first lady Deb Bonito is clear: He voted against the E St. Corridor Project, and disagrees with the mayor’s (and assembly’s) decision to include the $8M Strawberry road project in the April 3rd ballot.

Only one Assembly race has melted some snow: the midtown race between incumbent Dan Coffey and challenger Elvi Gray- Jackson. Although he is outspending Grey- Jackson and apparently holding on to a lead in the polls, Coffey is saddled with unusually high negative ratings among voters sampled. And then there is the web site: About a week ago, Grey- Jackson lit up a website, http://www.dancoffeyconflicts.com/ which focuses on Coffey’s record on the Assembly during the past three years. "Old news", Coffey bawled to a reporter, claiming the site was the work of pollster Ivan Moore and Assemblyman Allan Tesche who have him in their sights. Of Moore and Tesche, Coffey told Kyle Hopkins of the News on March 22nd, "you’ll never meet a nastier couple than those two." Midtown voters will have the final word on this one.

SULLIVAN APPOINTS HIMSELF TO AMATS POLICY COMMITTEE: Passed quietly on the Assembly’s consent agenda Tuesday night was an obscure memorandum (AM 200-2007) authored by Dan Sullivan appointing himself to one of the two Assembly seats on the five member AMATS policy committee. Under federal law, the committee consists of the mayor, two assembly members, and two state commissioners. AMATS is responsible for policy decisions on major road projects in the Anchorage area that are funded with federal dollars. Sullivan’s appointment is retroactive to January 1, 2007.

DAN COFFEY SPINS IN TRAFFIC AT LAKE OTIS AND TUDOR; WHERE HE WILL LAND, NOBODY KNOWS: Echoing his opponent Elvi Gray Jackson’s position in a hard fought bid for re-election, Dan Coffey said Lake Otis & Tudor "is one of the worst, if not the worst intersections in the Municipality of Anchorage in terms of traffic congestion" and urged members to pass a resolution restoring priority status to the project under the city’s transportation plan. Minutes later, however, Coffey urged members to postpone action on his resolution until April 17th in order for him to read yet another engineering study. Coffey had originally supported the project, and then later led fellow conservatives in removing the project’s priority under the plan. Two weeks ago, he announced that he now wants to proceed with the project. The resolution he offered on Tuesday confirmed a second change in his position. His surprising request to delay action on his resolution Tuesday night, however, suggests he may be changing his mind for the third time on this project. Only Allan Tesche voted against Coffey’s motion to delay action on his resolution.

ACTION ON PORTIONS OF TITLE 21 DELAYED UNTIL APRIL 10TH: Public hearings on four chapters of the new Title 21 (chapters 21.01, 21.02, 21.08, and 21.13) concluded Tuesday evening. The four chapters deal with subdivision standards, general provisions, land use boards and commissions, enforcement. Minutes before Tuesday’s meeting began, Assembly members were given complete revisions to these chapters prepared by Assembly members Debbie Ossiander and Dan Coffey intended to replace earlier versions of the same chapters prepared by the municipal administration and its consultants. The Assembly considered and approved a number of floor amendments before running out of time and continued action on these chapters to April 10, 2007.

A truly bizarre resolution written by Dan Coffey and Debbie Ossiander on Title 21 was left on the table for Assembly action on April 10th. The resolution would label all work done by the assembly on Title 21 to date as only "provisional" and not legally binding until the pair rewrites the remaining portions of the title.. Passage of this resolution would give Ossiander and Coffey the right to claim "progress" on a project they have talked to death for almost three years. The resolution would also shield them from any real damage they have managed to do to the city’s land use code so far by giving lawyers a chance to argue their work is not the "law of the land" until Ossiader and Coffey say so. Land use lawyers will love arguing this one before the city’s land use boards and in court.

Whose the heavywight in this match?

2007-03-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

ITS BAUER v. BEGICH OVER AN ETHICS CHARGE DIRECTED AT FIRST LADY DEBORAH BONITO'S BUSINESS: Itching for a fight with Mayor Mark Begich over road bonds, Assemblyman Paul Bauer took on the Mayor this afternoon by filing ethics charges against the popular incumbent with the city's Board of Ethics. Sprayed over the Anchorage media like a red pesticide on a windy day, Bauer's press release "contends the Mayor has been pushing the Downtown Improvement plan with the E Street project, a major portion and priority of the plan that runs right along his wife's gift shop business on 5th and E St." The mayor's wife, Deborah Bonito, operates the Kobuk gift shop at the corner of 5th and E streets in the downtown area.

Bauer's press release states he disagrees with an action earlier this year to include the Strawberry Road project in the road bond package, an action Bauer unsucessfully fought when the assembly approved the spring ballot proposals. Bauer also disagrees with spending road bond money for the E Street Corridor project and cites the need in another assembly district "for improvements for year-round residents". Bringing the mayor's wife, Deborah Bonito, into his tiff over road bonds, however, breaks new ground for Anchorage politics: never before has an assembly member targeted the mayor's wife in an ethics complaint two weeks before an election, with the apparent intent of killing the road bond package.

Mr. Bauer may have overlooked Anchorage Municpial Code section 1.15.070(K) which requires that complaints with the Board of Ethics remain confidential until the Board first reviews the charge to determine if further action is warrented. According to the code, "No person shall knowingly disclose to another person, or otherwise make public in violation of this chapter the contents of a notification of potential violation filed with the board . . . " Whether he consuted with a lawyer before distirbuting his release and an ethics charges against Begich is unknown.

According to Bauer's press release, his ethics complaint was filed with the Board of Ethics on Tuesday, and he has requested a "ruling" from the board. His complaint is now pending before the board.

Assembly Report for March 13, 2007

2007-03-13T00:22:00.000-08:00

CONSERVATIVES RAM KNIK ARM CROSSING THROUGH ASSEMBLY: After hearing another two hours of public testimony Tuesday night, assembly conservatives cut off further discussions and voted 8-2 to recommend that the Knik Arm Project be added to the city’s long range transportation plan. With Pamela Jennings absent, only Janice Shamberg and Allan Tesche voted against the $600M project proponents say will not burden local taxpayers and will open up the neighboring Matanuska Susitna Borough for residential and commercial development.

Although public testimony Tuesday night was again overwhelmingly against the project, KABATA’s staff touted a glossy opinion survey procured from pollster David Dittman which favored construction of the bridge. Staff also reported that two private firms have now offered to design, build, and operate the bridge. An evaluation of those proposals is currently underway to identify a single firm for the project.

Assembly action came almost immediately after members tinkered with details of the resolution, leaving no time for assembly discussion before Assembly chair Dan Sullivan shut off debate, forced a vote on the measure and abruptly ended the meeting. In sharp contrast to its brief discussion of this $600M bridge project, members earlier spent much more time picking through the financial details of buying several hundred folding chairs for the Sullivan Area.. Assembly conservatives who so bitterly fought extension of the coastal trail into south Anchorage and earlier railed on use of eminent domain (condemnation) for acquisition of land for residential facilities seemed indifferent to 15 families on Government Hill who will lose there homes to the project and see their neighborhood forever divided by a ribbon of concrete, steel, and commercial traffic.

Conditions recommended by Mayor Begich and brokered with assembly members by Dan Coffey include completion of all studies required for the project including air quality, a financial analysis, final EIS; prohibition on use of further state or local funds on the project; mitigation measures for affected neighborhoods including Government Hill, completion of project funding; compliance with local planning ordinances; and expedited work on the Gambell-Ingra highway connection to mitigate downtown traffic impacts.

The Assembly’s recommendation goes now to the five member Anchorage metropolitan area transportation planning organization which is expected to give its final approval to the project.

UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR GOV. PALIN’S GASLINE PROPOSAL: All members voted Tuesday to support legislation proposed by Gov. Sarah Palin to induce qualified firms to build an Alaska gas line. The Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AIGA) would authorize contribution of up to $500M by the state Alaska toward the cost of obtaining necessary permits and regulatory approvals, promulgation of regulations that provide predictability in royalty value and the exercise of the state’s right to receive its royalty share in kind or in cash, production tax incentives, and appointment of state pipeline coordinator to facilitate prompt state permitting are likely to induce qualified firms to build an Alaska Gas Pipeline. In return, the firm selected would provide a clear and definite timetable for construction of a gas pipeline, multiple take points in Alaska to assure the availability of natural gas for meet Alaska’s needs and for the state’s future development, and "distance-sensitive" rates" for in state delivery of gas. in Alaska ;and establishment of a local project headquarters and hiring offices in Alaska to hire qualified Alaskans to construct the gas pipeline and related facilities. AIGA is now before the legislature for action.

COFFEY OUT CAMPAIGNING; ASSEMBLY DELAYS ACTION ON TUDOR ROAD TRAFFIC STUDY TO LET HIM READ HIS PACKET: Assembly action on a Tudor Road Corridor Study, including notorious Lake Otis & Tudor intersection (was delayed until April 10th to accommodate Midtown Assembly member Dan Coffey who told members he was out campaigning for re election and hasn’t had time to read the study. The Lake Otis & Tudor bottleneck is located in his Midtown Assembly district; and at Coffey’s urging last year, was dumped from the priority list of the city’s long range transportation plan.

PROPOSAL TO REPEAL THE 20TH CENTURY SENT TO TITLE 21 COMMITTEE: Without comment on its merits, Assembly members sent Ken Stout’s bizarre "Residential Land Use Policy Resolution" (AR 2007-48) to its Title 21 Committee for further study and modification. The Stout resolution would require that zoning ordinances in urban areas to encourage single family ownership on single family lots with densities of no more than 5-7 units per acre. In rural areas, zoning ordinances should allow only larger lots for what Stout calls "the rural lifestyle." Higher densities or multifamily structures such as duplexes, fourplexes, or apartment buildings would be allowed only by neighborhood vote.

The resolution would effectively reverse the evolution of land use planning over the past century and the Anchorage 2020 Plan by ignoring the traditional use of urban lands for multifamily dwellings and the growing scarcity of land in the Anchorage bowl. The goal of the lifestyle of a gentlemen-farmer is realistic only in the wealthiest and most exclusive suburban areas of the country. If this bucolic dream was ever realistic for people of lesser means, it disappeared almost a century ago along with the availability of relatively cheap large lots in urban areas.

Assembly Report for February 27, 2007

2007-02-28T00:40:00.000-09:00

PUBLIC PANS KNIK ARM CROSSING IN LENGTHY PUBLIC HEARING: At a rare public hearing held on Tuesday night, the Assembly received testimony on amendments to the city’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) required by the Kink Arm Crossing project. Dozens of local residents expressed concerns ranging from traffic congestion, the impact of the $600M project on the availability of funding for other, needed road projects, to the effects the bridge would have on the Anchorage economy and property values. Favorable testimony was largely limited to comments from KABATA’s staff and Roger Jenkins. After taking three hours of public testimony, the Assembly continued public hearings on the matter until March 13th. In the meantime, the Assembly will receive written recommendations from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and AMATS technical committee.

Tuesday night’s public hearing came after the Planning and Zoning Commission (acting as a Citizens’ Advisory Committee to the local transportation planning organization) became the first major government body to flatly oppose construction of the Knik Arm Crossing. Last week, the Commission unanimously recommended that the LRTP not be amended to accommodate the project, an action which would effectively prevent use of some $96M in federal transportation funds for the project.

Before the hearing began, the Assembly rejected a challenge to participation by South Anchorage’s Chris Birch in the matter because he had attended at least one meeting of KABATA as a representative of a private company (his employer) who may bid on contracts let by KABATA for construction of the crossing. Following legal advice on the issue, the Assembly rejected an effort by Assembly Chair Dan Sullivan to prevent Planning and Zoning Commission Toni Jones from testifying unless she were "invited" to do so by a majority of the Assembly.

The Assembly may only make recommendations to the five member Local Transportation Planning Organization which in turn will decide if the LRPT will be amended to include the Project. In the meantime, the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) is rapidly moving ahead: A draft Environmental Impact Statement has been written and circulated for public comment; a preliminary economic feasibility study completed, and the Authority has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to private firms and investors to determine their willingness to fund and complete the project. Responses are due on March 13th: KABATA will select a single firm in early 2008 to finance, design, build, and operate the bridge for 55 years in exchange for the tolls it could collect from motorists using the span during that time.

According to KABATA’s Henry Springer, some 15 homes will be demolished on Government Hill order to accommodate the "cut and cover" route from the bridge through the neighborhood and connecting with the A/C couplet. Springer confirmed that KABATA is not looking for any more federal, state, or local funds for the project, beyond the approximately $90M already appropriated by the State from federal highway funds. For additional information on the projet, go to:
http://www.tesche.us/docs/Knik_Arm_Bridge_Fact.doc

Knik Arm Bridge Hearing Tonight at 7 p.m.

2007-02-27T09:22:00.000-09:00

GOVERNMENT BULLDOZERS READY TO BUILD THE KNIK ARM CROSSING: Starting at 7:00 p.m. this evening, the Assembly will hold a rare public hearing on amendments to the city’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) required by the Kink Arm Crossing project. Because this $600M project will have long term consequences for south central Alaska ranging from property values in Anchorage, economic development, the Cook Inlet environment, future funding for transportation improvements in this region, and downtown traffic, public input on this project is essential. The hearing will take place at the Assembly chambers of the Loussac Library, 3600 Denali St., and probably last until 11:p.m.

Tuesday’s public hearing comes only after the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission became the first major government body to flatly oppose construction of the Knik Arm Crossing. Last week, the Commission unanimously recommended that the LRTP not be amended to accommodate the project, effectively preventing use of some $90M in federal transportation funds already set aside by the state legislature to build the bridge if its recommendation is followed by transportation administrators. The Commission listed nineteen reasons why the project should not proceed.

The Assembly may only make recommendations to the five member Local Transportation Planning Organization which in turn decides whether the LRPT will be amended to include the Project. In the meantime, the Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) is rapidly moving ahead with the project: A draft Environmental Impact Statement has been written and circulated for public comment; a preliminary economic feasibility study completed, and the Authority has issued a Request for Qualifications to private firms and investors to determine their willingness to fund and complete the project. Responses are due on March 13th: KABATA will select a single firm by the end of the year to finance, design, build, and operate the bridge for 55 years in exchange for the tolls it could collect from motorists using the span during that time.

For more information about this project, go to http://www.tesche.us/docs/Knik_Arm_Bridge_Fact.doc

Assembly Report for February 13, 2007

2007-02-05T12:07:00.000-09:00

FOR NORWAY RATS, ANCHORAGE IS A BIG WILD LIE: State biologist Rick Sinnet popped two Norway rats at the airport last week to keep the town free of the large rodents. Apparently the new “Big Wild Life” brand doesn’t extend to Norway Rats because it is illegal for any person to “import, buy, sell or breed any member of the genus Rattus” within the municipality under section 16.90.030(A) of the Anchorage Municipal Code.

BOND PROPOSITIONS HEAD TO THE APRIL, 2007 BALLOT: Schools: $65M to rebuild Clark Middle School and $20M for repairs and maintenance for other facilities in the district. Roads: $35.55M, Parks $4.9M, $5.7M for Public Safety and Transportation, and $3.1M for Fire Service. Only Paul Bauer voted NO on the Clark bond, arguing that Muldoon residents do not understand how or why that bond was proposed by the school board.

ASSEMBLY SOUNDLY THUMPS THE TRAINI-COFFEY YOUTH EXCLUSION ACT
Introduced by midtown assemblymembers Dick Traini and Dan Coffey, AO 2007-24 would have banned any young person under the age of 18 from serving on a municipal board or commission. Reacting to howls of protest from youth and parent organizations at Tuesday night’s Assembly meeting, Dan Coffey and Dick Trani beat a hasty retreat from their original proposal, offered a substitute, and then saw both ordinances ashcanned by a lopsided vote of 10-1. For the moment, the issue is dead.

In a sharply worded delivered to the assembly last week, Mayor Begich announced he would “vigorously oppose” assembly efforts to prohibit youth from serving on Anchorage’s advisory boards and commissions”. Active participation by youth in government activities, according to the mayor, increases future voter turnout, trains new leaders, and deters crime. Other than youth members of the Youth Advisory Commission, only one youth is currently serving on a municipal board.. Despite his promotion of “Wild Anchorage” in recent days, Mayor Begich is unaware that any youth member has embarrassed or detracted from the work of a municipal board or commission. Obviously, the mayor was ready to veto the measure.

One this one, Dick Traini was simply being hard headed. By getting in on this caper during an election year, however, his midtown colleague Dan Coffey managed to alienate hundreds of young voters who don’t agree with the exclusionary message the proposal sent to youth.

19 FILE FOR 6 ASSEMBLY SEATS IN SPRING ELECTION: When the dust settled last Friday, 19 persons had filed with the municipal clerk to run for 6 seats on the Anchorage Assembly on April 3rd. Here’s the final list:

West Anchorage: Running for the open seat is lawyer Matt Clamon, community activist Sherri Jackson, and retired West High principal Jim Bailey is running with Republican party support. Zarina Clendaniel will run for the seat. She is a 1990s West High graduate and works at ISER. Political unknown David Fair has also filed for the seat.

South Anchorage: Small business owner and consultant Val Baffone is running, along with Ryan Stencel, president of the Huffman-O’Malley community council. A neighborhood activist and conservative. Jennifer Johnston, a political unknown in the area will also run; she is reportedly the favorite of Assemblyman Chris Birch. Retired former MOA buidling safety employee Gary Hovenec has decided to run. He is a retired city employee who worked in Building Safety, lived several years in the Mat Su Borough where he ran twice for the legislature, and before that time, lived in Kodiak where he was borough manager.

Mid town: Assemblyman Dan Coffey is seeking a second term. He is retired lawyer who represents businesses, bars, and liquor stores in Anchorage. Former Assembly budget analyst and current ML&P executive Elvi Grey-Jackson is also running for the midtown seat. Jason Dowell identifies himself as the president of the Libertarian Party of Alaska and is also running for the seat.

East Anchorage: Incumbent Ken Stout is seeking a second term; Ken is the former head of the state Republican party and is the father of musher Deedee Jonrow. Former city planning Director Shiela Selkregg is also running; she is the daughter of the late Lydia Selkregg who held a Muldoon seat on the Assembly seat several years ago.

Eagle River: Chugiak resident and incumbent Debbie Ossiander is running for a second term on the Assembly. Jim Byrnes, an unknown resident of Eagle River is running for the seat. Byrnes has some sort of claim against the municipality.

Eagle River II: Former community council president and Eagle River businessman Bill Starr along with Long time Eagle River parks activist Janet Brand has filed a letter of intent to run. Bob Lupo has also filed for this seat; he is the chaplain of the Alaska Vietmam Veterans Motorcycle Club and rides under the name of “Joker.”

BIRCH SHOWS THE URBAN DESIGN COMMISSION THE DOOR: South Anchorage Assembly member Chris Birch on Tuesday introduced AO 2007-37 which would eliminate the Urban Design Commission. The nine member group reviews and approves highway landscaping, public facility project site plans and landscaping and other “urban design matters.”S. The ordinance will be reviewed first by the Planning and Zoning Commission and by the UDC before its public hearing on April 10th.

FOR THOSE WHO CAN STILL AFFORD IT, A RURAL LIFESTYLE AND A SINGLE FAMILY HOME: Taking direct aim at the 2020 Comprehensive Plan which recommends higher density development in some areas to address a growing shortage of residential lots in Anchorage, Assemblyman Ken Stout on Tuesday introduced a resolution to mandate single family ownership on single family lots in the range of 5-7 dwelling units per acre. Stout’s resolution would require local zoning and land use laws to support existing “rural lifestyles” in Anchorage, allowing higher densities only in those neighborhoods where a clear preference for such densities has been demonstrated by those residents. The resolution will be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and heard by the Assembly on April, 13, 2007.

FEBRUARY 27TH PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED ON KNIK ARM CROSSING: The public will have a rare opportunity to address the Assembly on construction of the $600M Knik Arm crossing linking downtown Anchorage with the Matanuska Susitna Borough. Before the Assembly on February 27 is an amendment to the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRPT) the assembly may recommend to state and local road planners. While the amendment under consideration do no reach the ultimate “build or no build” issue, three issues will be addressed: Whether state funds or local funds, such as general obligation bonds, will be used to help finance construction of the crossing. The second issue is the timing: millions of dollars of additional improvements are needed in Ship Creek to permit bridge traffic to use Gambell-Ingra rather than the C St. corridor, thereby relieving downtown of direct traffic impacts. The question is when should these improvements be built, allowing use of the “highway - highway” connection through Gambell-Ingra. Amendments to the plan may also include measure to protect the historic Government Hill neighborhood, including its impacts on air quality, noise, and neighborhood cohesion through placement of a “cut and cover” freeway in the middle of the neighborhood with daily traffic counts comparable to those of the Glen Highway. A fact sheet by residents of Government Hill can be found at:
http://www.tesche.us/docs/Knik_Arm_Bridge_Fact.doc

Assembly Report for January 30, 2007

2007-01-30T08:29:00.000-09:00

APRIL 3RD BALLOT LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE A TWO HEADED COW: Straight from the large animal clinic comes the April 3, 2007 municipal ballot. What voters will see is something like a two headed cow. Here are details.

Smoking ban referendum - Referendum petitions passed around in a few local watering holes actually contained enough signatures to put the question of repeal of the city’s popular indoor workplace smoking ban on the April 3, 2007 ballot. If the health of innocent third parties such as co workers and customers weren’t involved here, the strident "right to die" arguments made by CHARR extremists might have more traction with Anchorage voters.

Taxicab regulation referendum - With an assist from the state supreme court (see the Tesche Report of 01/03/07 for details) a referendum on proposed repeal of local limits on issue of new taxi cab permits in Anchorage goes to the voters on April 3rd. Devastating news for holders of current permits which are easily worth over $100,000 and a boon to local media who will sell hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising placed by worried investors in these cab permits. Plug your ears.

Same sex benefits "advisory" vote: Ex-Governor Murkowski and his Republican pals in the Alaska legislature are asking Alaska voters for "advice" on what to do about court mandated health plans for same sex partners of state employees. This special statewide vote will cost taxpayers $1,000,000 at the same time Gov. Sarah Palin has plans to cut the state’s operating budget by $150M. This costly "advisory" vote on whether to defy the supreme court and deny health coverage to a handful of Alaskans is a misuse of the ballot and sets a new low for tolerance in Alaska.

Six assembly seats: are also up for grabs on April 3rd; so far fourteen persons are running. For a recap on assembly races, see this Report for January 23, 2007. Since then, community activist David Dunsmore has filed for the South Anchorage seat; political unknown Gary Hovenac has signed up to run somewhere; the filing deadline is February 9, 2007.

School bonds: The Anchorage School District will ask voters to borrow $65M in new school bonds to rebuild an aging Clark Middle School and additional $20M for repairs to other schools in the district. With state reimbursement of 60% of the cost of these bonds, they are an extraordinary good investments in our future, but are Anchorage voters buying?

Other issues headed to voters include $35.5M for road bonds, $4.9M in parks bonds; $5.7M for public safety and transportation improvements, $3.1M for fire protection capital improvements, several small land transactions, a long list of limited road service area propositions, and a technical charter amendment relating to the timing of Assembly reapportiomment following the federal census.

"BIG WILD LIFE" IS NEW BRAND ON ANCHORGE: To a capacity lunch crowd at the Egan, the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) unveiled its new "brand" for Anchorage on Wednesday, emphasizing the city's attractions to residents, visitors, and to businesses. A stunning 5 minute video accompanied the announcement, largely emphasing outdoor recreation, wildlife, the community's more distinctive buildings. Mr. Whitekeys did not play the event.

After lunch, guests were invited to walk over to Town Square and scoop up samples of merchandise ranging from T-shirts hanging from trees to water bottles sporting the new town logo. Trading on E-Bay for the new paraphenalia was light during the afternoon, but picking up. "Big Wild Life" is intended to replace earlier brands given to Anchorage including "Air Crossroads of the World", "Wild About Anchorage", and even "the Outlet on the Inlet".

Assembly Report for January 23, 2007

2007-01-22T21:58:00.000-09:00

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? ASSEMBLY TRIO SOUGHT REFUNDS FOR DEVELOPERS ON OLD BUILDING PERMITS, THEN YANKED PROPOSAL: Dan Coffey, Dan Sullivan, and Paul Bauer teamed up to limit the city’s power to require builders to grant public use easements and or make other necessary public improvements needed in private projects requiring land use or building permits. Originally introduced by this trio last Friday afternoon, AO 2007-25 would prohibit the municipality from requiring the public improvements unless the municipal engineer documents "a legitimate need for the easement or improvement" and that the project generates the need for the easement or improvement. The ordinance would make per se unreasonable any improvement valued at more than 10% of the project cost, shifting the cost of many of these improvements onto taxpayers.

An bizarre section of the original proposal would have required staff to pour through hundreds of old building permits to determine the extent to which public use easements and improvements were required of builders, their "impact" on now completed projects, and "corrective action" that might be required. Were the sponsors going to ask taxpayers to repay builders for the costs of easements or public improvements already in place, effectively making the new law retroactive? Or were they going to just raise permit fees for new building permits to pay back builders? We will never know because quite mysteriously, a substitute version of the ordinance, AO 2007-25(S), surfaced on Tuesday afternoon and was introduced without these provisions. Instead, the newer version tinkers with appeals from decisions of the municipality on easements and public improvements required of developers. No explanation was given by the three assembly members for this sudden change in direction.

AO 2007-25(S) has been sent to the Planning and Zoning Commission for comment.

THE MUSIC YOU HEARD LAST NIGHT WAS THE FAT LADY SINGING IN THE 4TH AVE. THEATRE : After an intense week of public debate, e-mails, last minute negotiations, and screeching from trash radio, the Assembly approved Mayor Begich’s plan to save the historic 4th Ave. Theater on Tuesday night. 9 Assembly members voted to approve funding for the purchase of the theatre by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership; only Dan Sullivan and Paul Bauer voted against the project. Mayor Begich presented the Assembly with a modified package of private loans, federal tax credits, a contribution from the current owner of the building and $250,00 in state grant monies for historic preservation. Anchorage taxpayers, according to the mayor, will make no contribution toward the purchase of the building nor will local funds be used for its operation and maintenance. A private group, formed through the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, and not the city, will actually own the theatre. In a memorandum to the Assembly the Mayor detailed the final package:

The MOA will not act as managing member of the 4th Avenue Theater, LC, or assume ownership of the Theater after the financing period as originally anticipated in item 3. In addition, the MOA will not be a party to the Purchase and Sale Agreement as originally anticipated . . . The role previously envisioned for the MOA will be assumed instead by the Anchorage Downtown Partnership (ADP). Since the MOA will not be a party to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, Assembly approval of [the Agreement] . . . is no longer necessary. On Friday, January 19, 2007, the Board of Directors of the ADP passed a resolution authorizing the organization to become the managing member of the 4th Avenue Theater, LLC, and to enter into the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Theater and thereafter assign rights and obligations under this agreement to the LLC. The ADP has an operational track record and resources consistent with the requirements of the National Development Council (NDC), which is allocating tax credits in the financing structure. The organization’s mission includes enhancing downtown vitality. ADP will be the majority owner and managing member of the 4th Avenue Theater, LLC. The remaining fractional ownership will reside with the NDC.

The Anchorage Downtown Partnership is willing to proceed with the transaction knowing the property remains on the tax rolls. Any future effort to obtain an exemption would, according to Chief Fiscal Officer Jeff Sinz, have to be handled in accordance with state law.

FOURTEEN PEOPLE ARE NOW RUNNING FOR THE ASSEMBLY: Here’s the latest list of candidates for six open seats on the Anchorage Assembly in the April 3, 2007 city election:

West Anchorage: Incumbent Pamela Jennings is not seeking a second term. Running for the open seat is lawyer Matt Clamon, community activist Sherri Jackson, and retired West High principal Jim Bailey.

South Anchorage: Incumbent Janice Shamberg too has decided against another term. Former union leader and labor consultant Val Baffone is running, along with Ryan Stencel a president of the Huffman-O’Malley community council, and Jennifer Johnston, a political unknown in the area. Former Fire Chief John Fullenwider also filed with APOC, but is rumored to have decided against running in April.

Mid town Assemblyman Dan Coffey is seeking a second term. He is retired lawyer who represented businesses, bars, and liquor stores in Anchorage. Former Assembly budget analyst and current ML&P executive Elvi Grey-Jackson is also running for the midtown seat.

East Anchorage: Incumbent Ken Stout is seeking a second term; Ken is the former head of the state Republican party and is the father of musher Deedee Jonrow. Former city planning Director Shiela Selkregg is also running; she is the daughter of the late Lydia Selkregg who held the same Assembly seat several years ago.

Eagle River: Chugiak resident and incumbent Debbie Ossiander is running unopposed for a second term on the Assembly.

Eagle River II: Former community council president and Eagle River businessman Bill Starr along with Jim Byrnes, an unknown resident of Eagle River. are running for the remainder of Anna Fairclough’s term. Long time Eagle River parks activist Janet Brand has filed a letter of intent to run. Art Ishan, who initially registered with APOC, has decided not to run
The deadline for filing is February 9, 2007.

ASSEMBLY HOLDS FIRST PUBLIC HEARINGS ON NEW TITLE 21: The Assembly heard public testimony on the first four chapters in the new Title 21 ( AO 2006-172 ) Tuesday night and then continued the public hearing until March 13th when final action is anticipated after submission of floor amendments. The ordinance now before the Assembly includes chapter 21.01 General Provisions; chapter 21.02 Boards, Commissions, and Municipal Administration; chapter 21.08 Subdivision Standards; and chapter 21.13 of the new title relating to enforcement. According to the Administration’s memo to assembly members, passage of these four chapters of Title 21 will have "little to no economic effect" on the revised code. Floor amendments from Debbie Ossiander and Dan Coffey are expected to favor developers by relaxing subdivision standards and administrative requirements of zoning regulations.

Later this year, the Assembly will receive the more controversial portions of Title 21 including chapters revising specific zoning districts, use regulations, dimensional standards and measurements, development and design standards, non conformities ("grandfather" rights) and definitions.

Assembly Report for January 9, 2007

2007-01-09T14:41:00.000-09:00

4th AVE. THEATRE REDUX: ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS NEW PRIVATE SECTOR PLAN TO SAVE A DOWNTOWN LANDMARK: Begich administration officials announced recently they are putting the finishing touches on a private sector deal that will save the historic 4th Ave. Theatre from demolition and allow the downtown landmark to be used for meetings, banquets and public performances. A collection of private sector organizations including the Rasmuson Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, current theatre owner Robert Gottstein, the Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association, the Anchorage Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, and Seattle Northeast Securities will handle the $5.4 M deal along with a newly created 4th Avenue Theater LLC.

Introduced at Tuesday night’s meeting was a resolution appropriating $250,000 of state grant funds previously invested by Anchorage Historic Properties, for a limited municipal contribution to the project. Funding for the deal will come in the form of a $2.6M loan from the Rasmuson Foundation, a $600,000 cash contribution from Gottstein, $250,000 in state historic preservation grant funds previously awarded to the municipality, and a combination of historic tax credits valued at $1.95M. The theatre will cost $3.4M and an additional $1.75 will be spent for building renovations along with $250,000 in development fees. The mayor also introduced on Tuesday an ordinance authorizing a purchase and sale agreement for the theatre and assignment of the agreement to a single purpose (private) entity. Both items will be decided after public hearings scheduled for January 23, 2007.

The theater will be managed privately by the Anchorage Convention and Visitors’ Bureau for conferences and evening functions held in connection with events at the new Convention and Civic and Convention Center. Municipal officials emphasize that the business plan for the theatre will generate sufficient cash flow to cover loan payments and operating costs without taxpayer contributions.

While reminiscing about their high school days in the old theatre, Assembly conservatives Dan Sullivan and Dan Coffey are expected to continue grilling Mayor Begich on January 23rd about details of the transaction, repeating claims of a lesser radio talk show host that city government should not attempt to preserve Anchorage’s best known historic landmark.

ASSEMBLY TINKERS WITH OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS: What started out as a simple dispute between neighbors and a local watering hole over parking and location of an old railway car in front of the bar resulted in passage of a new ordinance changing off street parking regulations for Anchorage businesses on Tuesday night. Complaints from neighbors about parking from patrons of Al Choy’s Alaskan Inn on the Old Seward Highway and the location of a used 84' railway car at the bar’s entrance brought city zoning officials, two midtown Assembly members and the Planning and Zoning Commission into the fray. When the dust settled, the Assembly passed AO 2006-87(S)(1) Tuesday night which modifies current zoning laws governing off street parking requirements for retail businesses, including bars and restaurants. The ordinance imposes additional standards on joint parking agreements, prohibits location of parking separated by major arterial, and has the effect of reducing surface parking requirements imposed on businesses.

Curiously, the ordinance does not completely resolve all of the zoning issues of the railroad car at Al’s Alaskan Inn and its neighbors. According to planning director Tom Nelson, a number of issues include the application of parking standards to the bar, the location of the car itself, the car’s intended use, remain unresolved at this time and even with passage of the ordinance may still require Al’s to move the rail car or acquire additional parking spaces for that use.

ASSEMBLY APPOINTS EAGLE RIVER BUSINESSMAN TO REPLACE DEPARTING ANNA FAIRCLOUGH : Bill Starr, an Eagle River businessman and current president of the Eagle River Valley Community Council was chosen from among 10 candidates to represent Eagle River-Chugiak on the Assembly until the April, 2007 election. The vacancy was created by the election of Anna Fairclough to the Alaska Legislature last year. Starr is 45 years old and is in his third consecutive term as president of his community council and served for two years on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Other local activities include service as Alpenglow’s general manager between 1995-6, a legislative liaison for the new Eagle River High School. He is owner of a development LLC handling aircraft hanger projects at the Birchwood Airport and ran an air tour company outside as well as a trucking operation.

Starr is a licensed airline transport pilot and holds a BS from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He is married and has three children. He is able to work full time on Assembly business..
Starr will represent Eagle River-Chugiak until the April 2007 general election at which time Eagle River residents will elect an assembly member to complete the last year of Fairclogh’s tem which expires one year later.

FIRST TITLE 21 (LAND USE PLANNING) CHAPTERS HEARD BY ASSEMBLY: Several years in the making, Title 21 finally reached the Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday night. The Assembly took public testimony on AO 2006-172 which would enact several of the non controversial chapters of the revised land use title. The public hearing has been continued until January 23, 2007 and final action anticipated in February pending receipt of written recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The ordinance before the Assembly on Tuesday includes chapter 21.01 General Provisions; chapter 21.02 Boards, Commissions, and Municipal Administration; chapter 21.08 Subdivision Standards; and chapter 21.13 of the new title relating to enforcement. According to the Administration’s memo to assembly members, passage of these four chapters of Title 21 will have "little to no" effect on economic changes brought about through the revised code. The Assembly will receive later this year the more controversial portions of Title 21 including chapters revising specific zoning districts, use regulations, dimensional standards and measurements, development and design standards, non conformities ("grandfather" rights) and definitions.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION GOES TO WORK: An ordinance unanimously approved by the Assembly on Tuesday night re establishes a historic preservation commission in Anchorage. AO 2006-175 creates a eleven person Historic Preservation Commission whose members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Assembly from Anchorage knowledgeable about local history, architecture, historic preservation, archeology and Alaska native culture and history. The commission will inventory of historic resources in Anchorage, prepare a Historic Preservation Plan for Anchorage, consider and propose to the Assembly standards and procedures for identification of historic resources and to make recommendations to the Assembly and Planning and Zoning Commission for historic preservation planning and programs. The new commission with assume many of the duties previously handled by the board of Anchorage Historic Properties Inc.

Twenty kilotons for each taxicab in Anchorage

2007-01-03T15:08:00.000-09:00

ARMED WITH A SUPREME COURT ORDER, LIBERTARIANS DECLARE WAR ON ANCHORAGE'S “LIMITED ENTRY” TAXICAB PERMIT SYSTEM: A recent decision of the Alaska supreme court has ignited yet another bitter taxicab war in Anchorage. On December 22, 2006 the court ordered a public vote on an initiative that would repeal the current municipal system which limits issue of new taxicab permits in Anchorage. New permits have not been issued since 1994, thereby assuring operators of a lucrative market for existing permits which are worth more than $125,000 to private investors.

On the advice of then municipal attorney Bill Green, Municipal Clerk Greg Moyer in 2002 rejected initiative petitions bearing the signatures of thousands of Anchorage residents calling for a public vote on a new system that would allow issue of new permits upon safety compliance and payment of a small administrative fee to the municipality. If approved by the voters in the upcoming April 3, 2007 election, the measure could allow for issue of dozens of new cab permits but would also destroy the lucrative resale market for existing permits.

According to Greene, the initiative should not have gone to voters in 2002 because cab permits are "public assets" that cannot be appropriated directly by the people through an initiative. Greene also argued that if the initiative were approved, the municipality would have to reimburse the holders of existing permits for the lost value of their investments and therefore, the measure constituted an unconstitutional "appropriation" of public funds for that purpose. By a vote of 4-1, the court held cab permits were not "public assets" and the city erred by refusing to allow a public vote on the initiative in 2002 for that reason. The court declined to reach the second issue, however, as to whether implementation of the initiative would require payment of compensation holders of existing permits for private property "taken" by the regulatory scheme. The court found this issue legally debatable and not appropriately resolved before the election.

A motion for reconsideration filed on January 2, 2007 by the municipal attorney asks the court to decide the issue of whether the initiative would "take" private property thereby requiring compensation to permit holders. The municipality argues that this issue should be resolved before the election, so voters will know if the measure is fiscally neutral or one which will cost more than $20M in just compensation to permit holders if approved. As things stand now, the municipal clerk will be required to put the initiative on the April 3rd ballot unless otherwise directed by the court. With several other controversial issues headed to voters on the same ballot, including possible repeal of the city’s secondhand smoke ordinance, an "advisory" state vote on health benefits for same sex partners of state workers, and the election of six members of the Assembly, the election in April should indeed be interesting.

Assembly Report for December 19, 2006

2006-12-20T11:41:00.000-09:00

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM INTRODUCED; SCHEDULED FOR ACTION ON JANUARY 9, 2007: The Assembly on Tuesday briefly considered and then postponed action on Mayor Begich’s proposed 2007 (state) legislative program until Tuesday, January 9, 2007. Emphasizing public safety, transportation, and community and economic development, the twenty page program is a wish list of capital projects and state grant requests together with changes in state law the mayor recommends legislators consider. The Assembly will act on the program on January 9, 2007. A full copy of the 2007 legislative program can be found
on the Assembly's agenda for December 18, 2006.

Top funding priorities for the mayor include municipal revenue assistance, critical to his plan to actually reduce real property taxes by some $41M this year, help from that state in funding retirement programs for local government and teachers, and reinstatement of the senior citizens/disabled veteran’s property tax relief program.

Priorities in public safety include increased funding for additional judges, prosecutors, and public defenders as part of the mayor’s anti-crime initiative. The mayor also recommends stricter state laws on methamphetamine “precursors”, court ordered monitoring devices for gang members, vehicle impoundments for driving while a license is suspended, together with late fees on unpaid court costs and increased penalties for unpaid traffic tickets.

Despite warnings from Gov. Sara Palin that the 2007 state capital budget will be slashed, the mayor’s proposal includes 13 pages of detailed requests for hundreds of millions in capital grants, ranging from $17.5M for expansion of APD’s headquarters building, an additional $10M for the Anchorage Museum, $14M to replace Covenant House, and $35M to replace the aging municipal health department building at 8th and L St. An additional $25M is requested for the port, together with $18M for a “fishery information and learning center.” Highest priority transportation capital projects totaling over $80M made the list as well as scores of other transportation projects throughout Anchorage.

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, FREE AMBULANCE RIDES IN CHUGIAK: Thanks to Assemblymembers Debbie Ossiander, Anna Fairclough and a few of their elves on the Assembly, residents of outlying areas of Chugiak Eagle River will get free ambulance rides to Anchorage hospitals next year. Expressing his grave concern over the financial impact of the new ordinance Mayor Mark Begich warned the Assembly that the ordinance had not been thoroughly researched by sponsors and should not be passed. The mayor also noted the measure saves no money for areawide ambulance services and effectively shifts costs of providing ambulance transport for Chugiak residents to residents in the Anchorage Bowl.

Chugiak residents already enjoy lower mill levies for fire protection because they have a separate volunteer fire department. The ordinance now exempts those residents from ambulance charges as well, even though sponsors could not back up their claims that Chugiak residents are entitled to free ambulance service because that service is provided by volunteer firefighter/paramedics working for the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department.

Assembly debate on the ordinance revealed that critically needed approvals from Medicaid and private health insurers such as Blue Cross and Aetna were not been obtained in advance by sponsors, nor had full costs of EMS service in Chugiak been researched before the Assembly majority waived ambulance fees in Chugiak. Rushing to pass the ordinance, members ignored repeated warnings of special counsel to first make sure the state’s Medicaid program will go along with the meaure.

Ossiander and Fairclough also refused to address the mayor’s recommendation that they consider forming a separate service area in Chugiak to provide cheaper EMS and fire protection at reduced levels rather than shifting costs of ambulance trips to residents of the Anchorage bowl through the new ordinance.

Mayor Begich has seven days to consider veto of the ordinance.

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS II; ANNA’S GOING AWAY PARTY ON THE CALENDAR: At taxpayers’ expense, Assembly Chair Dan Sullivan will convene an extraordinary meeting of the Anchorage Assembly at a restaurant in Eagle River at noon on Friday, January 5, 2007 to honor departing Assemly member Anna Fairclough who earlier this week resigned from the Assembly, effective January 5, 2007.

The date of January 5th for the special Assembly meeting was selected by Fairclough to accommodate her personal schedule because she will travel to Juneau to join the Alaska legislature on January 8, 2007. She unhorsed fellow Republican and former house speaker Pete Kott in the August, 2006 Republican primary and was elected to the state house in November, 2006.

Assembly members attending the special event in Eagle River will travel by motor coach from City Hall to Fairclough’s favorite Eagle River lunch spot, Garcia’s Cantina and Cafe for the meeting. Once inside, they will say their long good byes to Anna and, in her honor, actually hold a public hearing a special Eagle River park ordinance, AO 2006-182.

Only Assembly members will be given free rides to the gathering and taxpayers are paying picking up the tab at Garcia’s Cantina. Although the public will be speak only on AO 2006-182, the public can observe assembly members during the luncheon. The public is not invited to share in the food.

Last month Fairclough and Assembly conservatives howled down a request to use $75,000 of their unrestricted savings (fund balance) left over in the Assembly’s budget for police recruitment. Instead, they opted to set the money aside for the Assembly’s use, presumably including the costs of hosting the special meeting and lunch in Eagle River on January 5th.

Assembly Report for December 12, 2006

2006-12-12T17:37:00.000-09:00

EAGLE RIVER-CHUGIAK COMP PLAN UPDATED BY ASSEMBLY: The Assembly updated the 1993 Eagle River-Chugiak Comp Plan Tuesday night with plenty of help from the Planning and Zoning Commission and the municipal planning department. Members considered and ultimately approved some 41 amendments proposed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and several others drafted and presented by Assembly member Debbie Ossiander. The ordinance is AO 2006-93(S)(1) and the vote was 9-0. Assembly debate focused on maximum density standards in the new plan and language encouraging connectivity of roads between subdivisions.

FAIRCLOUGH TO RESIGN; TO BE FETED IN SPECIAL EAGLE RIVER MEETING ON JANUARY 5TH: Eagle River Assembly member Anna Fairclough announced Tuesday night she will resign effective January 5, 2007 in order to claim a seat she recently won in the state house of representatives. At her request, Assembly chair Dan Sullivan will call a special meeting of the Assembly for Friday, January 5th in Eagle River to introduce legislation she has been working on for several years resolving a land use issue in her community. Although the location of this special meeting has not been announced, it will take place at noon. A retrospective on Fairclough’s career on the Anchorage Assembly will appear in the next issue of this Report, after the meeting of January 5th.

ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY PASSES NEW ETHICS CODE: Six years in the making, the Assembly on Tuesday passed AO 140(S)(1) which sets higher standards for ethical conduct of elected municipal officials and municipal employees.

The new code outlaws those notorious "consulting contracts" between assembly members and private companies on municipal issues and prohibit those same officials from representing private interests before the Assembly, School Board and appointed boards. The code also bars members of the state legislature from representing or lobbying for private interests before the Assembly. The code also contains more explicit definitions of "financial interests" which will disqualify a member’s participation in voting; standards governing gifts and gratuities, and procedures governing investigations conducted by the Board. An amendment previously adopted by the Assembly prohibits members from voting on matters where the body has found they have a "substantial financial interest" even though their disqualification makes it more difficult for developers to muster the eight votes necessary to pass a protested rezoning action.

Municipal lobbyists are prohibited from fundraising for candidates for municipal office and, along with members of their immediate families, from contributing to municipal campaigns. Municipal employees cannot register as lobbyists, excempt for members of a city union's exectutive board. New rules are in place governing gifts to elected officials, meals, and political activities of municipal employees and executives.

In several areas, particularly those prohibiting "consulting contracts" involving elected officials and their participation in legislative matters where they have financial interests, the new municipal code is more stringent than comparable laws governing state legislators.

Assembly Report for November 21, 2006

2006-11-22T00:07:00.000-09:00

EAGLE RIVER-CHUGIAK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CONSIDERED BY ASSEMBLY: The Assembly concluded a second public hearing on an update to the 1993 Eagle River-Chugiak Comprehensive Plan. Action on the plan was delayed until December 12, 2006 in order to allow members to consider 31 amendments proposed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and 6 floor amendments drafted and presented by Assembly member Debbie Ossiander, and another substitute version of the ordinance, AO 2006-93(S), prepared by the administration. Public testimony focused on the adequacy of density limitations in the plan, measures to protect the rural lifestyle of the area and addressing the challenges of new residential construction in one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Assembly members Ossiander and Fairclough and will prepare another substitute version of the ordinance for action in December.

ASSEMBLY PLODS THROUGH NEW ETHICS CODE, POSTPONES ACTION UNTIL DECEMBER 12th: Six years in the making, the Assembly on Tuesday waded through a thicket of 20 floor amendments to a new ethics code and then voted to postpone final action until December 12 pending further legal review of the measure.

Assembly members debated and then rejected a bizarre proposal added by Assembly counsel Julia Tucker and East Anchorage Assembly member Ken Stout which would have barred the mayor from even announcing his candidacy for higher office while serving as mayor. Apparently not followed in other cities and counties throughout the country, this unusual provision quickly drew the wrath of Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and the threat of a veto on constitutional grounds. Insiders say the mayor could have easily mustered the four votes necessary to sustain a veto of the entire ordinance. Members also rejected another zinger directed at the mayor which would have prohibited him from "political campaigning" or making "political endorsements" weekdays between the hours of 7:00 and 6:00 pm, without exceptions for national or municipal holidays such as President’s day or the 4th of July.

The code outlaws so called "consulting contracts" between assembly members and private companies on municipal issues and prohibit those same officials from representing private interests before the Assembly, School Board and appointed boards. The code also bar members of the state legislature from representing or lobbying for private interests before the Assembly. The new code also contains more explicit definitions of "financial interests" which will disqualify a member’s participation in voting; standards governing gifts and gratuities, and procedures governing investigations conducted by the Board. An amendment previously adopted by the Assembly prohibits members from voting on matters where the body has found they have a "substantial financial interest" even though their disqualification makes it more difficult for developers to muster the eight votes necessary to pass a protested rezoning action.

An amendment passed Tuesday night forbids the "use or depiction of a uniform in political advertisements if the uniform identifies the person as a municipal employee" regardless of its ownership. Another amendments applies ethics rules governing elected officials in Sec 1.15.015 to candidates for municipal office equally. Another amendment removed a prohibition against campaign contributions by lobbyists which was in the earlier draft prepared by Ms.Tucker and Mr. Stout.

RUTH MOULTON, NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER, DEAD AT 75: Anchorage was saddened to learn Saturday morning that Ruth Moulton lost a one year battle with cancer, leaving the Fairview and Downtown neighborhoods without one of their strongest and most able leaders. She was 75.

All of us can count the ways she gave of herself to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods and to speak out for ordinary Anchorage residents. I will always remember her tireless advocacy for a Town Square in the 1980s which brought about that project, her relentless efforts to petition voters to adopt a local alcohol tax in the mid 1990s and her continuing crusade against the unfair concentration of social service agencies and halfway houses in the downtown area. Most recently, she was very active in fighting to keep the community’s dream alive of a south Anchorage Coastal Trail and even going toe to toe with the Begich administration over private use of Westchester lagoon.

She was a founding member of Friends of Neighborhoods in the 1990s and mastered the use of the initiative petition as an effective tool against recalcitrant municipal government. Legend has it that it only took her one hour and a clipboard on a public street to convince former mayor Tony Knowles to abandon plans for a road through Town Square shortly after the PAC was built.

An excellent recap of Ruth’s life and the countless causes she supported to make Anchorage a better community was written by Rosemary Shinohara of the Anchorage Daily News on November 18, 2006. Rosemary’s article is found at:
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/anchorage/story/8419589p-8313879c.html

WE’RE ALL MEETING AT ST. ANTHONY’S ON NOVEMBER 27th: Hundreds of local residents from 13 churches will meet on Monday, November 27th at 7:00pm to present a comprehensive vision for Anchorage’s youth to Mayor Mark Begich, School Superintendent Carol Comeau, and Police Chief Rob Huen. The meeting will take place at St. Anthony’s Catholic church on 825 S. Klevin St. in east Anchorage. Given the issues of youth violence and gangs in neighborhoods, a compassionate and clear vision for our youth is urgently needed in Anchorage. This public meeting is sponsored by Anchorage Faith & Action Congregations Together (AFACT) a community wide religious group consisting of several thousand Anchorage residents who are members of Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, CME, and non-denominational churches.

Assembly Report for November 14, 2006

2006-11-14T21:58:00.000-09:00

ASSEMBLY TINKERS WITH AND THEN POSTPONES ACTION ON NEW ETHICS CODE: The assembly plowed through a field of floor amendments to a new ethics code (AO2006-140) on Tuesday night and then deferred final action on the new code for one week pending further legal review. The code would outlaw so called "consulting contracts" between elected officials and private companies on municipal issues and prohibit those same officials from representing private interests before the Assembly, School Board and appointed boards. The code would bar members of the state legislature from representing or lobbying for private interests before the Assembly. The new code also contains more explicit definitions of "financial interests" which might disqualify a member’s participation in voting; standards governing gifts and gratuities, and procedures governing investigations conducted by the Board. A floor amendment adopted Tuesday night prohibits members from voting on matters where the body has found they have a "substantial financial interest" even though their disqualification makes it more difficult for developers to muster the eight votes necessary to pass a protested rezoning action. This issue arose in the recent rezoning in east Anchorage requested by Wal-Mart when the Assembly ruled on conflicts involving two members and the developer needed eight votes to secure passage of the controversial rezoning.

When the code comes before the Assembly again on November 21st, the Assembly will take up the controversial issue of whether the code should bar the mayor from seeking higher office while serving as mayor. The draft now before the Assembly contains that new prohibition; administration officials have promised a fight if that language is enacted by the Assembly. Curiously, nobody has identified another local government with the same prohibition nor has anyone explained why the same prohibition should not apply to assembly members who, while in office, run for mayor or the state legislature.

ACTION ON FUR RONDY RESOLUTION DELAYED: Spurring new negotiations between the Anchorage Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and new operators of Fur Rondy, the Assembly postponed until December 12, 2006 action on a resolution requiring the ACVB to contribute $85,000 per year to the ailing festival. AR 2006-290(S) would deem "appropriate" an allocation of $85,000 from ACVB’s portion of bed tax revenues, beginning in 2008. The ACVB receives about $5.8M in bed tax revenues each year for tourism promotion. The resolution also requires Rondy to prepare an annual marketing and operations plan for submission to the Assembly and to the ACVB before expenditures of bed tax revenues for the Festival. The plan must address reduction of debt incurred by Rondy from prior festivals. The resolution is sponsored by Assembly members Fairclough, Tesche, Trani, Stout, and Bauer.

REMINDER: COMMUNITY MEETING ON A VISION FOR YOUTH FOR NOV. 27th: 13 local churches will hold a community meeting on Monday, November 27th to present a comprehensive vision for Anchorage’s youth to Mayor Mark Begich, School Superintendent Carol Comeau, and Police Chief Rob Huen. The meeting will take place at St. Anthony’s Catholic church on 825 S. Klevin St. in east Anchorage and begins at 7:p.m. Given the issues of youth violence and gangs in neighborhoods, a compassionate and clear vision for our youth is urgently needed in Anchorage. This public meeting is sponsored by Anchorage Faith & Action Congregations Together (AFACT) a community wide religious group consisting of several thousand Anchorage residents who are members of Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, CME, and non-denominational churches.

Assembly Report for October 31, 2006

2006-10-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

2007 OPERATING, CAPITAL, AND UTILITIES BUDGETS UNAMINOUSLY APPROVED: With little fanfare, the Assembly approved a $393,424,86o general government budget for 2007. The 2007 operating budget fully funds 16 new police officers and 4 non sworn positions which were created and partially funded in 2006. For other city services, the 2007 operating budget is a "continuation level" budget, maintaining the level of services and programs currently provided by the municipality. To maintain existing services, the budget adds another $3.7 million for rising fuel, utility and lease costs, and meets demands of limited road service areas for additional road maintenance funding. No new or expanded service are proposed for 2007, except a small appropriation of $30,000 for additional funding for arts programs.

Significantly, the 2007 budget provides millions in property tax relief for homeowners in Anchorage. By using $44 million in state revenues ($22 million already in hand in 2006 from the State Legislature and a similar amount anticipated in 2007) for tax relief, the city will lower total property taxes required from $202.7 million in 2006 to $175.1 million in 2007. The percentage of property taxes required to fund city services will drop from 59 percent 2003 to 44 percent for 2007. Property tax relief is dependant, however, on increased State aid to municipalities next year.

This is the first budget approved under the city’s new biennial budgeting process, which was implemented last year. The process now calls for a mid-cycle "tune-up" of the 2007 budget that was submitted to the Assembly and approved in November, 2005. Under biennial budgeting, the 2007 budget was not prepared from scratch. Instead, expenditures and revenues have been adjusted, where applicable, to reflect major changes in financial and program conditions that have occurred since the biennial budget was approved in 2005.

COMMUNITY MEETING ON A VISION FOR OUR YOUTH SCHEDULED FOR NOV. 27TH: A consortium of 13 local churches will hold a community meeting on Monday, November 27th to present a comprehensive vision for Anchorage’s youth to Mayor Mark Begich, School Superintendent Carol Comeau, and Police Chief Rob Huen. The meeting will take place at St. Anthony’s Catholic church on 825 S. Klevin St. in east Anchorage and begins at 7:p.m. Given the issues of youth violence and gangs in neighborhoods, a compassionate and clear vision for our youth is urgently needed in Anchorage. This public meeting is sponsored by Anchorage Faith & Action Congregations Together (AFACT) a community wide religious group consisting of several thousand Anchorage residents who are members of Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, CME, and non-denominational churches.

ORDINANCE WOULD MAKE PEARLS OUT OF A SOW’S EAR DOWNTOWN: The Assembly heard public testimony and then passed AO 2006-139(S) which would declare 19 downtown parcels a "deteriorated area" in order to facilitate its redevelopment into more intensive commercial uses and to build the downtown tax base. The area, located north of 3rd Ave. and between Cordova street the old Pioneer School house presently contains a mixture of run down or abandoned buildings, vacant lots and small apartments. With the approval of AO 2006-139(S), owners of the property will be allowed to make a specific redevelopment proposal to the City and if, approved, may receive a tax abatement/deferral as approved by the Chief Fiscal Officer and the Assembly. Speaking for the property owners, developer Marc Marlow on Tuesday announced plans to redevelop the property with three fifteen story towers that will contain hundreds of new apartments, store front retail, and other commercial uses.

ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS STANDARDS FOR TRANSMISSION TOWERS: The public hearing and assembly action on AO 2006-64(S), which would set new standards for electric transmission towers has been continued again until December 11, 2006. Apparently, a third draft of the ordinance is being prepared by the Planning Department and affected electic utilties and, according to Assembly member Dan Coffey, will further address specific standards for issue of contitional use permits and landscapping requirements for new towers. The ordinance comes before the Assembly as a result of a public outcry in east Anchorage earlier this year when Chugach Electic erected a line of 75 ft. metal towers along Nothern Lights Blvd.

ETHICS CODE REWRITE MAKING PROGRESS: Six years in the making, a new Ethics Code will be heard by the Anchorage Assembly on November 14th. AO 2006-140 was first drafted by the City’s Ethics Board then substantially rewritten in the past year by an Assembly committee headed by Assemblyman Ken Stout. The proposed code would outlaw so called "consulting contracts" between elected officials and private companies on municipal issues and prohibit those same officials from representing private interests before the Assembly, School Board and appointed boards . The code would bar members of the state legislature from representing or lobbying for private interests before the Assembly. The new code also contains more explicit definitions of "financial interests" which might disqualify a member’s participation in voting; standards governing gifts and gratuities, and procedures governing investigations conducted by the Board.

Midtown Move Only Temporary, Tesche Says

2006-06-24T15:24:00.000-08:00

TESCHE MOVES INTO MIDTOWN DISTRICT: Downtown Assembly member Allan Tesche recently moved to 3200 Providence Drive, a midtown area currently represented by Dan Coffey, who is up for re election in April, 2007. Tesche flatly denies rumors he planning to run against Coffey next spring and instead claims he is staying temporarilly in Providence Hospital where he is recovering from open heart surgery. For reports on Tesche's condition and to leave a comment, go to:

http://www.thestatus.com/index.cfm?fa=patdet&pid=80522204031&CFID=1655374&CFTOKEN=27654389

Assembly Report for May 16, 2006

2006-05-16T21:30:00.000-08:00

SIGN ORDINANCE ROLLED BACK: Assembly conservatives finally delivered on Dan Sullivan’s promise to roll back key reforms made by a previous assembly to the city’s sign code. By a vote of 7- 3 (Chris Birch was absent) members repealed or relaxed a number of restrictions on signs previously recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the Assembly in 2003. Gone are provisions which required amortization (phase out) of large pole signs by October, 2006 and a variety of restrictions on use of electronic signs. Temporary signs, including, banners, baloons, ribbons, and streamers are coming back as "decorative displays". Poster advertisements and window signs once popular with liquor and convenience stores are returning. Even roof signs, once popular thirty years ago, are coming back if they meet certain size limitations, along with rotating signs. Businesses will no longer be limited to no more than two freestanding signs on street frontages.

An amendment offered by Dan Coffey to prohibit use of balloons, ribbons, and streamers used by auto dealers failed.. Car dealers including the Morrison Auto Group who supported Sullivan’s ordinance, are now free to bring those "decorations" out of the closet, on to their lots, and into the sky. Voting in favor of the Sullivan ordinance were Assembly members Sullivan, Fairclough,Coffey, Ossiander, Stout, Traini, and Bauer.

HEATED SIDEWALKS COMING DOWNTOWN: Passage of AO 2006-49 on Tuesday night expanded the city’s so called "bonus point" system which governs new projects downtown to allow incentives to developers who install heated sidewalks. Bonus points reward developers greater leeway in meeting dimensional and design standards if they install optional amenities such as landscaping and now, heated sidewalks. Sponsored by Mayor Begich, Allan Tesche, and Dan Coffey, the ordinance passed unanimously.

ASSEMBLY, MAYOR, LAUD LEGISLATIVE GRANTS TO ANCHORAGE: The state legislature drew a warm round of applause from the Anchorage Assembly Tuesday night for passage of capital budget and operating budget grants totaling $281M. Most of Anchorage’s highest priority road projects, totaling $86M were funded as well as $23.6M in state assistance for energy assistance and help to offset public employee retirement costs. By Assembly resolution and with the help of Mayor Begich, revenue sharing grants to the municipality will be used to offset local property taxes, but without reducing the allowable "tax cap" which limits the amount in taxes Anchorage may collect each year. For a detailed list of legislative appropriations made to the Municipality, go to the city’s web site at http://muni.org/homepage/index.cfm or to the Clerk’s website at http://www.muni.org/assembly2/index.cfm

Ben & Jerry's is now hiring!

2006-05-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

BEN & JERRY’S IS NOW HIRING!: A new tax break given to the Anchorage Baptist Temple by the Senate Finance Committee on Friday opens the door for hundreds of new "minsters" or religious "educators" to escape rising property taxes in Anchorage. Masterminded by state senate president Ben Stevens, a floor amendment to SCS CSHB 334(FIN) totally exempts all property taxes levied on the private residence of "an educator in a private religious or parochial school’ as well as that of a "minister" who is "ordained, commissioned, or licensed as a minister according to the standards of the religious organization for its ministers; and employed by the religious organization to carry out a ministry of that religious organization."

To qualify, the residential property must be still be owned by the religious organization, but no limits are set on the employment or the numbers of "educators" or "ministers" a congregation may hire or ordain in order to get the new tax break. On its face, the law allows ABT to provide tax free housing for as many as two dozen "teachers" or "ministers". Hundreds of other potential "educators" or religious "ministers" could also get the same the same tax break by simply hiring on with their favorite church as "educators" or by serving their congregtation as "ordained, commissioned, or licensed" ministers.

The Daily News reported recently that the latest tax break is the product of a lot of calls from Glenn Clary, a pastor at the Anchorage Baptist Temple. Clary is also treasurer of the Alaska Republican Party. For a full version of the News article, go to

http://www.adn.com/news/government/legislature/story/7703788p-7614812c.html

With the new tax break, the bill has passed the senate and is headed to the House for concurrence before the legislative session ends this week.

Assembly Report for May 2, 2006

2006-05-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY BRUNCH IN THE SOUTH ADDITION: A young moose enjoys a Sunday brunch in a South Addition yard one block away from the Park Strip.

ASSEMBLY TWEAKS ‘06 BUDGET; SETS MILL LEVIES: With little commotion, Assembly members on Tuesday made minor corrections to the city’s 2006 general government operating budget and set mill levies to support a budget of $366,401,960. First quarter revisions account for about 1% of that amount, or $3,356,150. Property taxes will provide $202,665,990; the balance comes from a variety of state and federal grants, fees, and revenues, including earnings from the city’s trust funds.

Hard budget numbers contradict election year critics of Mayor Begich who argued he has “broken” the city’s Tax Cap and allowed property taxes to “skyrocket”. The FY 2006 budget, as revised, comes in $6,350,640 under the Tax Cap and shows a relatively modest overall increase of 5.2% in actual taxes collected from residential properties. Average mill rates are down, way down, from a high of 10.43 in 1997 to a ten year low of 7.84 in 2006. Property tax revenues needed to support the FY 2006 budget will increase 8.1% over last year; more than one half of that increase is attributable to revenues the city will receive from new construction and from voter approved ballot measures such as school bonds. Upward pressure on property taxes is also noted in road service areas in Eagle River and South Anchorage where local residents have urged higher mill levies to support road maintenance and repair in those areas.

SULLIVAN SIGN ORDINANCE: “Rollbacks” proposed by Assembly member Dan Sullivan to the City’s 2003 sign ordinance were delayed at Sullivan’s request on Tuesday and are now scheduled to return on May 16th. At least 3 versions of the ordinance are currently before the Assembly.

SEPARATION OF BARS, SCHOOLS UNDER STUDY: A proposal by Assembly members Dick Traini and Allan Tesche to expand the minimum separation between bars and package stores and neighboring schools and churches surfaced briefly on Tuesday and will return on June 6th for continued hearing. Current law requires a 200 ft. separation; the proposed ordinance (AO 2006-63) would expand that minimum distance to 500 ft. A local beverage retailers trade group, CHARR, is expected to oppose the measure and to argue its passage would turn downtown Anchorage into a desert. Strong objections to the proposed ordinance have already been voiced by Anna Fairclough and Dan Coffey.

BIRCH, SULLIVAN TINKER WITH BOE APPEAL FEES: Dan Sullivan and Chris Birch would refund appeal fees charged to property owners who appeal property assessments to the city’s Board of Equalization by refunding fees if appellants show up at their hearing. Introduced on Tuesday and set for public hearing on May 23, 2006, AO 2006-72 would refund appeal fees (typically $100 for a parcel worth between $100-500,000) provided the owner appears at the hearing scheduled before the BOE. The fee would be refunded to the appellant appearing before the board, regardless of the outcome of the appeal. Several years ago, the appeal fee was instituted at the recommendation of the Municipal Assessor who noted that over 80% of the appeals to the BOE were “no shows” costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in staff time preparing appeal cases. The new fees largely eliminated “no shows” but drew criticism from some who argued the fees unduly burdened the rights of property owners to challenge assessments.

ANCHORAGE SPORTS DOME LOCATION, FUNDING ENDORSED: Assembly members endorsed a $12,000,00 funding package proposed by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority to build a new indoor sports dome on 12 acres near the corner of Raspberry Road and Minnesota Drive. The 177,000 square foot dome will house an indoor track and exercise area immediately adjacent to the old Alaska Seafood plant which was purchased by a church. Passage of the Assembly’s resolution Tuesday enables the developers of the dome to finance the project through state backed revenue bonds issued by AIDEA

Assembly Report for April 18, 2006

2006-04-15T21:51:00.000-08:00

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.

Assembly Report for April 11, 2006

2006-04-11T23:31:00.000-08:00

MARCHING TO THE SEA: New transmission towers erected by Chugach Electric in Muldoon march westward along Northern Lights to the sea. Residents of the area now occupied by the 90 ft. industrial towers are incensed and are protesting their presence in the neighborhood. Even the clerics of the Anchorage Baptist Temple are rumored to be organizing an insurgency against the occupation.

SULLIVAN SIGN ORDINANCE DRAWS A CROWD: The Assembly heard several hours of spirited public testimony but did not act on Dan Sullivan’s proposal to roll back major provisions of the city’s sign ordinance. (AO 2005-163) Another 20-30 persons lined up to whack an issue which has dogged the Assembly for the past 6 years. The public hearing is closed; the Assembly will hold a work session on April 28, 2006 and then bring the matter back for action on May 2, 2006.
Opponents of Sullivan’s rollbacks cited aesthetic reasons, safety, and quality of life to support current city sign codes. Supporters argued the large signs, like Cal Worthington’s serve as "lighthouses of safety", arguing that businesses will have to pay $200,000,000 to comply with current law and likened Anchorage signs to American flags, freedom and democracy itself. Sullivan would repeal the current amortization or phase out of outlawed "pole signs" and older signs that do not meet current dimensional requirements would be repealed, thereby allowing these nonconforming signs to rust in place, forever. Examples would include the airport parking sign on International Airport Road, the Outback sign on C St and those monster golden arches under which "Billions and Billions" of hamburgers have been served. Sullivan would also increase the allowable area of signs devoted to "changeable copy" (electronic messages) from 30% to 80%. He would also bring back those "rotating, moving, revolving signs inflatable signs and tethered balloons, pennants, ribbons, streamers" favored by car dealers.

FUR FLIES OVER NEW DOWNTOWN MARTINI BAR: A delay in paperwork kept the Assembly from finishing a public hearing on a new conditional use permit for a new downtown martini bar at 7th and A St. across from the Anchorage Museum. Because assembly leaders want to take up both the conditional use permit application and the proposed liquor license transfer at the same time, they continued the public hearing to April 18th where the body is expected to take final action on the licence. Testimony from members and clergy from a Russian Orthodox church located less than 200 feet from the proposed martini bar revealed a potentially fatal flaw in the liquor licence application which Assembly members will address on April 18th. State law forbids location of new bars within 200 feet of churches holding regular religious services.

ASSEMBLY SPEAKS OUT ON NEW PETROLEUM TAX LAW CHANGES: Members unanimously passed a resolution supporting adoption of a new Petroleum Production Tax by the state legislature with two important recommendations: Any new PPT must protect against adverse consequences to the existing Cook Inlet tax structure which could affect production or gas prices in southcentral Alaska. With a new PPT, the assembly resolution repeats the Assembly’s longstanding support for reinstatement of state revenue sharing to Alaska’s communities and its concurrent pledge to use those new revenues for property tax relief. The Assembly resolution studiously avoids stating a local position or recommendation on the exact amount of any new PPT the legislature might enact.

MAMMOTH SOUTH ANCHORAGE REZONE WALLOWS: Assembly members again delayed final action on a large rezoning of 120 acres in South Anchorage on Tuesday night. Forest Heights, LLC had proposed zoning the property as R-7 with density limited to two units per acre. Residents in the area are challenging the action, by arguing traffic impacts, wildlife, and surface run off problems. Retired biologist Art Weiner says the area will look like a "moonscape" once the "digging and blasting" is completed in order to build the subdivision. The parcel is located off Goldenview Drive and is one of the largest, undeveloped tracts remaining within the municipality. The public hearing has long been closed; the ordinance will return to the Assembly for action on June 20, 2006. The written protest filed by residents d who live adjacent to the area has been accepted and requires a supermajorty vote of 8 assembly members to approve the rezoning. Members were told on Tuesday night the developer may have a new plan in the works for the property but no details were available.

FUSILLADE OF QUESTIONS GREETS ETHICS CODE REWRITE: Assembly members on Friday, April 7th greeted Ken Stout’s 50 page redraft of the city’s new ethics code with a fusillade of questions, "what ifs" and potential amendments during a work session when the new draft was announced. Evolving through five years of work by the city’s Board of Ethics, an earlier redraft by Mr. Stout and Assemblymember Allan Tesche which tanked last year after objections by Assembly conservatives last year, the lasted version was drafted "off line" by Assembly member Stout with the assistance of assembly counsel. Another work session on Stout’s draft (which has not yet been formally introduced) is scheduled for May 12th at 10:a.m.
While incorporating much of current law, Stout’s latest version would make several interesting changes: Registered lobbyists would be prohibited from making campaign contributions to candidates for municipal office; an elected municipal body such as the school board could not hire a professional lobbyist to work the Assembly; the handling of ethics complaints, while still largely shrouded in secret "investigatory" proceedings would be suspended 45 days before a municipal election in order to avoid use of the Ethics Board for politically motivated complaints; members would be prohibited from serving as a director of a utility such as Chugach Electric which provides the same service as a municipal utility such as ML&P. Meals valued in excess of $50.00 given to elected officials would have to be disclosed on forms in the Clerks’s office.

NEW FIREARMS ORDINANCE MEANT TO CONFORM TO STATE LAW: The Assembly passed AO 2006-39, to bring local laws into conformity with new state laws relaxing "concealed carry" requirements for firearms. Sponsored by Assembly member Dick Traini, AO 2006-39 ends debate among law enforcement officials and local gun enthusiasts over the extent to which Anchorage might stricter laws governing firearms, particularly in schools and public buildings. Only Pam Jennings voted against the ordinance; Dan Coffey was watching an Aces game and did not vote.

Assembly Report for March 28, 2006

2006-03-28T22:24:00.000-09:00

ASSEMBLY OKS SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET: Assembly members on Tuesday approved an operating budget for the Anchorage School District in 2006-7. Overall expenditures are $608.2M, up $36.2M or 6.3% from last year. Local taxes to support the proposed budget will rise to $191.2M, up 7.9%. Two thirds (62.5%) of the revenues needed to support the Districts’s General Fund will likely come from State sources, down from recent years. Federal funds will make up only 3.2% of the district’s General Fund in 2006-7. Rising fuel costs, required pension contributions, and declining state revenues were blamed by Superintendent Carol Comeau for the increases. By a lopsided vote of 8-2, members rejected a last minute effort by Dan Sullivan and Paul Bauer to cut the district’s budget by 1% or $4.6M.

SULLIVAN SIGN ORDINANCE REPEAL STALLS: The Assembly heard public testimony but did not act on Dan Sullivan’s proposal to roll back major provisions of the city’s sign ordinance. About 12 persons testified on the ordinance until the meeting adjourned, leaving several dozen people lined up to speak. The public hearing will resume on April 11th.

Under Sullivan’s proposal, amortization or phase out of outlawed "pole signs" and older signs that do not meet current dimensional requirements would be repealed, thereby allowing these nonconforming signs to rust in place, forever. Examples would include the airport parking sign on International Airport Road, the Outback sign on C St and those monster golden arches under which "Billions and Billions" of hamburgers have been served. Sullivan would also increase the allowable area of signs devoted to "changeable copy" (electronic messages) from 30% to 80%. His law would also bring back moving or rotating signs along the streetscape. keeping the community guessing, Sullivan's third version of this ordinance, AO 2005- 163(S-1), is now the version he has ask the Assembly to pass, although on Tuesday, Sullivan hinted that a fourth version may be in the works for presentation after the public hearing closes.

NEW WEB CALCULATOR SHOWS SALES TAX IMPACTS: To understand how the 3% sales tax proposed by Assembly leaders would affect your family, click on the following URL and use my new Sales Tax Calculator:

http://tesche.us/salestax.asp

The Calculator gives you only a rough estimate of the impact of the proposed 4% tax on your family finances, based on the information you provide. Actual results will vary depending on more precise information about your own consumption of taxable goods, your family income and federal tax bracket. The calculator does not take into consideration the favorable impact of Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends which, when combined with relatively low overall state and local taxes, makes Alaska the cheapest place to live in America.

ANCHORAGE BOWL PARK PLAN POSTPONED (AGAIN): Anchorage residents will have to wait until April 18th for action on the new Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation Facility Plan. (AO 2005-122). 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. 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 . The plan has been before the Assembly since September of 2005. A work session is planned for April 14th. Copies of the revised plan are available at the Parks and Recreation Department through Jeff Dillon, and may be posted on line.

DOWNTOWN BARS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Licenses for three downtown bars were on the line Tuesday night and received mixed reviews from the Assembly. Members opened a public hearing on a transfer of a liquor license requested by owners of the Calypso Bar, a new establishment set to open at 6th and A St., immediately across from the Anchorage Museum. Potential neighborhood concerns from surrounding residents prompted members to continue the public hearing on the Calypso licence to April 11th and schedule a work session with the bar owners for April 7th. Members also considered a license renewal for The Panhandle, an established 4th Ave. watering hole targeted by the Anchorage Police Department for illegal activities. After hearing from the owners, members decided to approve renewal of the license with conditions imposed. Finally, Assembly member Dan Sullivan presented his own application for transfer of a beverage dispensary license to 625 G St. in the downtown area where he and several partners will open up McGinley’s Alaskan Pub. The Assembly approved Mr. Sullivan’s requested transfer of ownership and location for a new Irish theme bar. A public (no pun intended) hearing on the required conditional use permit for Sullivan’s new faucet is scheduled before the assembly on April 14th. Opening of the new Platinum Jax, the Calypso, and McGinley’s this year suggests the downtown bar scene is alive, well, and just waiting for the opening of a new museum and civic and convention center.

SEPARATE ZONING FOR EAGLE RIVER MAY BE CONSIDERED: Passage Tuesday night of AR 2006-72 may give residents of Chugiak-Eagle River a chance to modify proposed changes to local land use and zoning laws to reflect the "unique and distinct" features of that community. The resolution calls for "placeholder" measures and a separate chapter in the proposed rewrite of city zoning laws for Chugiak-Eagle River without impeding progress on the rewrite. Emphasis was made during Assembly discussion of the need to update a separate comprehensive plan for the area as an important first step in shaping regulatory measures - specific zoning regulations and mapping - necessary to implement that plan. Anna Fairclough and Debbie Ossiander were joined by Allan Tesche as co sponsors of the resolution, which passed unanimously

NEW ETHICS CODE EMERGES APRIL 7TH: Ken Stout promised Assembly members on Tuesday he will have a new draft Code of Ethics for release before a work session scheduled on April 7, 2006. Stout’s draft comes after an earlier ordinance written by the municipal Board of Ethics was rejected by the new Assembly leadership last year. Details of the new draft are not known. The work session will take place in the Mayor’s conference room on the 8th floor of City Hall between 10-12 a.m.

Assembly Report for March 14, 2006

2006-03-14T21:51:00.000-09:00

PEOPLE MOVER CUTBACKS MAY FORCE RETURN TO TRADITIONAL MODE OF TRANSIT: Cuts in the operating budget for the People Mover proposed by Assembly conservatives forced Mayor Mark Begich on March 4, 2006 to consider the reintroduction of sled dogs to handle public transit in Anchorage. Cleverly disguised as mushers participating in the ceremonial start of the 34th Iditarod, People Mover drivers tested possible routes (here at 14th and Cordova) to haul former bus riders to work in Anchorage. Assemblyman Ken Stout, whose daughter DeeDee Jonrowe was among the 80 mushers on the streets, insisted she was not seeking employment with the People Mover, but instead, was simply passing through Anchorage on her way to Nome.

SCHOOL BUDGET INTRODUCED: With the recommendation of the Anchorage School Board, Assembly members introduced and set for public hearing on March 28, 2006, an operating budget for the Anchorage School District in 2006-7. Overall expenditures are $607.9M, up $35.7M or 6.25% from last year. Local taxes to support the proposed budget will rise to $191.2M, up 7.9%. Two thirds (62.5%) of the revenues needed to support the Districts’s General Fund will likely come from State sources, down from recent years. Federal funds will make up only 3.2% of the district’s General Fund in 2006-7. Rising fuel costs, required pension contributions, and declining state revenues were blamed by Superintendent Carol Comeau for the increases.

SIGN ORDINANCE SHENANIGANS HEAD TO ASSEMBLY SHOWDOWN: The Assembly is still scheduled to hear Dan Sullivan’s attempt to gut the city’s sign code on March 28, 2006, but confusion over public notice given for a hearing held by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, March 13th may prevent the Assembly from acting on the measure. Commissioners were dismayed on Monday to receive a new version of Sullivan’s ordinance because the public had not seen his latest changes before the hearing. Ignoring the Commission, however, Sullivan convinced Assembly leaders to go ahead with a hearing on March 28th, denying Commission a chance to comment. Alternatively commissioners may decide to hold a special meeting to make their recommendations, but without adequate public participation.

Under Sullivan’s proposal, amortization or phase out of outlawed "pole signs" and older signs that do not meet current dimensional requirements would be repealed, thereby allowing these nonconforming signs to rust in place, forever. Examples would include the airport parking sign on International Airport Road, the Outback sign on C St and those monster golden arches under which "Billions and Billions" of hamburgers have been served. Sullivan would also increase the allowable area of signs devoted to "changeable copy" (electronic messages) from 30% to 80%. His law would also bring back moving or rotating signs along the streetscape. keeping the community guessing, Sullivan's third version of this ordinance, AO 2005- 163(S-1), is now the version he will ask the Assembly to pass.

ALDEN TODD REMEMBERED: Assembly members on Tuesday paused to reflect on the life and accomplishments of Anchorage resident Alden Todd who passed away on March 8, 2006. A formal resolution commemorated Todd’s decorated service as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne in Belgium during World War II, his distinguished career as a journalist and writer, and later community service on municipal library boards and commissions. A Liberator and Man of Letters, Todd was 88.

ETHICS CODE STIRS AGAIN: With the help of Assembly counsel, Ken Stout promised members on Tuesday he will have a new draft Code of Ethics for introduction on March 28th. Stout’s draft comes after an earlier ordinance written by the municipal Board of Ethics was rejected by the new Assembly leadership last year. Details of the new draft are not known.

FAIRVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN PROGRESSES: Assembly members unanimously commissioned the Fairview Community Council to prepare and present a new neighborhood plan for Fairview. An active planning committee of the council has engaged local residents, businesses, and community organizations in a planning process that will result in an officially sanctioned neighborhood plan as part of the city’s larger 2020 Comprehensive plan. Fairview is the first of several areas, including Mountain View, Government Hill, the Hillside and West Anchorage which are also considering their own neighborhood plans. Neighborhood plans are distinguished from other official planning efforts because they are drafted by affected residents under municipal supervision, rather than by paid consultants.

ASSISTED LIVING ORDINANCE HELD OVER, AGAIN: With two members absent on Tuesday night, remaining Assembly members postponed until April 11, 2006 further action on amendments to city zoning ordinances governing assisted living facilities. The mayor’s staff and assembly members are taking the extra time to iron out differences between competing versions of the legislation. The ordinance, AO 2005-124 and a substitute, would set occupancy limits for assisted living homes in residential neighborhoods. The Administration’s version allows up to 8 residents in certain facilities, the assembly draft reduced that number to 6 in certain zones but allows operators to increase occupancy through an administrative process. The assisted living ordinance is scheduled to come before the Assembly again for final action on March 28th.

VOTE ON 120 ACRE REZONE IN SOUTH ANCHORAGE POSTPONED: Assembly members took no action on a large rezoning of 120 acres in South Anchorage on Tuesday night. Forest Heights, LLC had proposed zoning the property as R-7 with density limited to two units per acre. Many residents of the area had protested the action, arguing traffic impacts, wildlife, and surface run off problems. According to Art Weiner, the area will look like a "moonscape" once the "digging and blasting" is completed in order to build the subdivision. The parcel is located off Goldenview Drive and is one of the largest, undeveloped tracts within the municipality. The public hearing closed on February 28th, the ordinance will return to the Assembly for action on April 11th. A valid written protest by residents adjacent to the area to be rezoned requires a supermajorty vote of 8 assembly members to approve the rezoning.

34th Iditarod begins

2006-03-04T14:14:00.000-09:00

ENJOYING THE RACE: The daughters of Kim Rich and Bill Large watch the ceremonial start of the Iditarod at 15th and Cordova on March 4th.

Assembly Report for February 28, 2006

2006-02-28T23:29:00.000-09:00

HEARING ON SULLIVAN SIGN ORDINANCE ROLLBACK POSTPONED: In order to allow the Planning and Zoning Commission to comment, the Assembly delayed a public hearing on Dan Sullivan’s "rollback" of the city’s sign code until March 28, 2006. The Commission will hear Sullivan’s ordinance on March 13th. His act would repeal many of the important changes the Commission and the Assembly made to the City’s sign law in late 2003 after several years of community review and work by municipal planners. Under Sullivan’s proposal, amortization or phase out of outlawed "pole signs" and older signs that do not meet current dimensional requirements would be repealed, thereby allowing these nonconforming signs to rust in place, forever. Examples would include the airport parking sign on International Airport Road, the Outback sign on C St and those monster golden arches that harken back to another era. Sullivan would also increase the allowable area of signs devoted to "changeable copy" (electronic messages) from 30% to 80%. His law would also bring back moving or rotating signs along the streetscape.

Municipal staff told the Assembly on February 24th they oppose rollbacks on the city sign code, because the accumulation of illegal signs "creates clutter and a Las Vegas effect" and traffic safety hazards along roadways by scrolling or moving signs. Speaking for auto dealers, Rick Morrison disagreed with staff and promised copies of a study which shows moving or flashing signs actually improve traffic safety by keeping drivers awake. Staff notes that since October 1, 2003, 573 sign permits were issued for erection of new signs. Comments at the work session suggest there are still thousands of illegal signs in Anchorage: the Chamber of Commerce claims businesses will have to pay $200,000,000 to rebuild their signs under current standards. One thing is clear: thanks to Dan Sullivan, "sign wars" are back, again.

LARGE ANIMAL ORDINANCE PASSES, ONCE AGAIN: A revised version of the ordinance setting land use standards for keeping of large domestic animals (horses) in outlying areas of Eagle River and the Hillside was passed again Tuesday evening. AO 2005-150(S-1) sets standards for size of corrals, buffering, vegetation, setbacks, and numbers of animals allowed in corrals and stables in rural areas. Previously adopted by the Assembly earlier this year, the ordinance was brought back for additional amendments offered by Janice Shamberg and Debbie Ossiander governing size of outdoor structures and numbers of animals allowed.

120 ACRE REZONE IN SOUTH ANCHORAGE: Assembly members heard but took no action on a large rezoning of 120 acres in South Anchorage on Tuesday night. Forest Heights, LLC had proposed zoning the property as R-7 with density limited to two units per acre. Many residents of the area had protested the action, arguing traffic impacts, wildlife, and surface run off problems. According to Art Weiner, the area will look like a "moonscape" once the "digging and blasting" is completed in order to build the subdivision. The parcel is located off Goldenview Drive and is one of the largest, undeveloped tracts within the municipality. The public hearing on the rezone is closed; the Assembly will act on March 14th.

ASSISTED LIVING ORDINANCE HELD OVER: Assembly members voted 6-5 to withhold action on revisions to the city’s assisted living ordinance in order to allow the mayor’s staff and assembly members to iron out differences between competing versions of the legislation. The ordinances, AO 2005-124 and AO 2005-124 (S), would set occupancy limits for assisted living homes in residential neighborhoods. The Administration’s version allows up to 8 residents in certain facilities, the assembly draft reduced that number to 6 in certain zones but allows operators to increase occupancy through an administrative process. The ordinances return to the Assembly for final action on March 14th.

INSTANT RUN OFF VOTING WINKS OUT: Members postponed indefinitely a charter amendment pushed by conservatives to ask voters in April to approve so called "instant run off voting" in certain municipal elections. Because the Assembly ran out of time and did not take action on this proposal on February 14th, the measure was postponed indefinitely on Tuesday.

MAYORAL RUN OFF AMENDMENT QUIETLY EXPIRES: Assembly conservatives quietly buried their failed effort to ask voters to change the rules governing run off elections for the office of mayor. Because the Assembly ran out of time on February 14th to consider the matter for the April, 2006 ballot, the proposal was postponed indefinitely Tuesday night.

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP: The Tax Foundation estimated the average taxpayer's total state and local tax burden for 2005 in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. That burden reflects what residents pay, as a percentage of per capita income, in state and local income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, luxury taxes and fuel taxes. States were ranked from least to most tax friendly. Not surprisingly, New York had the highest tax burden with 12%. The state with the lightest state and local tax burden is, of course, Alaska with only 6.4%. The study did not, however, also consider annual Permanent Fund Dividends. In another study showing what a family of four with annual income of $75,000 would pay in major state and local taxes, rankings were assigned for each state's largest city and Washington, D.C. Local taxes were highest in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Anchorage finished 50th, slightly higher than Cheyenne, Wyoming. See the study at http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/taxesbystate2005/index.html/

Assembly Report for February 14, 2006

2006-02-15T06:22:00.000-09:00

TO THE RESCUE: THIS TIME, THE 4TH AVE THEATRE: Assembly members voted on Tuesday to ask voters to approve $2M in general obligation bonds to acquire and restore the historic 4th Ave. Theatre located in the heart of downtown Anchorage. If approved in th April, 2006 election, the bond proceeds would be matched by private sector contributions necessary to acquire the theater at an estimated cost of $4M or less, depending on the results of a fair market appraisal. Details on how the theater would be operated, if acquired by the municipality, are not yet fully known. An amendment offered by Allan Tesche requires Assembly approval of an operations plan that would require the theatre to complement, and not compete with existing downtown businesses. The plan would must also “enhance the cultural and economic vitality of the downtown area.” Another floor amendment offered by Dan Coffey prohibits expenditure of any bond proceeds until matching funds for the purchase of the building from private and other public donors are received. Voting against the measure were Chris Birch, Dick Traini, and as is their custom on projects in the downtown area, Eagle River's Anna Fairclough, and Debbie Ossiander.

COFFEY’S SALES TAX GOES TO THE VOTERS WITHOUT HIS SUPPORT: despite little public interest (only 8 people testified) and a host of technical problems in drafting, the Assembly passed Dan Coffey’s proposal to ask voters in April to levy a 3% sales tax, with the proceeds dedicated to property tax relief. An exit strategy Coffey proposed earlier in the evening would have delayed a vote on the sales tax until 2007 by sending the issue an eleven member task force. Despite Coffey’s earlier concerns over the risks of taking the complex issue to a disinterested electorate, 6 Assembly conservatives rejected Coffey’s exit strategy and voted to send the tax proposal to the voters in the Apil 4, 2006 election. True to his earlier arguments in favor of more study and community support, Coffey actually voted against sending the 3% sales tax to the voters, along with Assembly members Tesche, Shamberg. Jennings and Traini.

Assembly insiders were startled by Anna Fairclough’s vote against Coffey's request to further study the proposed sales tax and her vote to place it on the April ballot. She had reportedly agreed earlier in the evening to support Coffey’s exit strategy and to give him another year to rewrite the measure with the help of his citizens’ task force. How or why Fairclough abandoned her Midtown colleague on the issue is not known. Contacting the Tesche Report on February 15th, Fairclough denies having made any committment to support Coffey's strategy and suggets that other Assembly members are to blame for its failure Tuesday night.

Left with his own 4% sales tax proposal that would cover most services as well, Assembly member Dan Sullivan too opposed Coffey’s exit strategy and insisted that members vote on his proposition. By a vote of 8-3, the Assembly voted down Sullivan’s proposal, effectively removing him as a leader in the conservative campaign to shift the burden of real property taxes from property owners and onto the backs of consumers, renters, and senior citizens. Voting with Mr. Sullivan were Chris Birch and Paul Bauer.

From the carnage of Tuesday’s battle between Assembly conservatives over their sales tax proposals, it remains unclear who will emerge as the primary spokesperson for an orphaned tax scheme that is no longer "the Coffey tax".

SCHOOL BOND PACKAGE GOES TO THE VOTERS: Facing a room filled with teachers, parents, students, and school district staff, the Assembly on Tuesday approved the Anchorage School District’s plan to ask voters to approve a $100M school bond package to voters in the April, 2006 election. If the voters agree, the bonds would allow the school district to continue a decade long program of repair and reconstruction of local schools. Subject to appropriation by the state legislature, a portion of the cost of these bonds will be reimbursed by the State. School district pollster Marc Hellenthall brushed asside a concern expressed from the Assembly that anti tax sentiment among voters and the decision of Assembly conservatives to force a public vote on a 3% sales tax might hurt the bonds during the spring election. Only Paul Bauer voted against a portion of the school bond package.

VOTERS MAY SOLVE MOUNT BALDY ACCESS WITH A LAND SWAP: Anchorage voters will decide whether to trade a portion of the city’s Mirror Lake/Edmonds lake Park to Eklutna, Inc., for 80 acres of land needed to assure public trail access to Mt. Baldy, located in Chugach State Park. The Assembly on Tuesday voted to send a ballot proposition to the voters in the April, 2006 election proposing the land swap in order to end a dispute over public access to Mt. Baldy and the remainder of Chugach State Park. The property to be acquired would also include a location for a trail head parking area.

ASSEMBLY LEADERS DITCH INSTANT RUN OFF PROPOSITION AT MID-HEARING: Right up against a midnight deadline and desperate to act on another ballot proposition (see below), Assembly conservatives on Tuesday abruptly halted public testimony on a ballot proposition asking Anchorage voters to adopt "instant runoff" voting in municipal elections. Seconds later, the meeting ended promptly at midnight with the public hearing on the measure still open, effectively keeping it off the spring ballot. Had it been approved, the proposition would have allowed voters to prioritize their choices of candidates for the same office on the ballot in order to ensure that the winning candidate ultimately elected receives at least 50% of the vote without the delay or a run off election. The abandoned proposition had been authored by Chris Birch.

50% MAYORAL RUN OFF PROPOSITION TANKS: Ken Stout and Dan Sullivan’s proposal to roll back rules governing runoff elections in the office of mayor splattered Tuesday night and will not appear on the April, 2006 ballot. A desperate effort by Assembly Chair Anna Fairclough to force an immediate vote on the measure late Tuesday without allowing a single word of Assembly discussion backfired when members ran out of time and could not act before the midnight deadline. Assembly conservatives wanted voters to change rules governing run off elections for the office of mayor by repealing a charter provision voters approved three years ago which requires a run off election in that office where no candidate receives 45% of the vote. If approved by the Assembly and the voters this April, the measure would have raised require a runoff if the leading candidate received less than 50% of the vote, thereby assuring Anchorage voters of additional mayoral elections in the future.

Assembly Report for January 31, 2006

2006-01-31T22:16:00.000-09:00

MIDWINTER IN AKUTAN: In a Goose at 3,000 ft. above Akutan, Alaska on January 27, 2006. Anchorage residents can forget just how beautiful the rest of Alaska is until we reacquaint ourselves with more reomote areas such as the Aleutian Islands.

COFFEY, SULLIVAN SALES TAX MEASURES DELAYED: Almost year in the making, Dan Coffey’s proposal to ask voters to approve a 3% sales tax on many goods sold in Anchorage and dedicated to property tax relief has been postponed until February 14th for another public hearing and action by the Assembly. An error in the title of the ordinance forced Coffey to reintroduce the measure with a corrected title and ask the Assembly to delay consideration of the matter for another two weeks. The Assembly also delayed action on a competing 4% tax measure proposed by Dan Sullivan to February 14th.

Coffey's 3% percent tax would apply to most goods, but exempts services. If passed, the proposition would reduce property taxes by about 25 % and generate $90 to $100 million a year. The cap on Coffey's plan is at $500 on any single purchase. Dan Sullivan's 4% sales tax would produce about$180-200 million a year. Sullivan's would also tax most services -- attorney fees, car repairs, for example. and would cut property taxes by 50 percent, according to city estimates.

Despite confusion among assembly members over the status of the four or five competing sales tax propositions, Chair Anna Fairclough said on Tuesday that the public will be allowed to testify on the newest Coffey tax proposal even though it is largely identical to the earlier ones, AO 2005-126 and AO 2005-126(S) he previously submitted.

LARGE ANIMAL ORDINANCE COMING BACK FOR MORE WORK: To allow Assembly member Janice Shamberg to review floor amendments made to the new Large Domestic Animal ordinance passed while she was out of town last week, the Assembly voted to reconsider the measure and to review it on February 28th. As passed and amended last week, the ordinance is available in the Clerk’s office or on line as AO 2005-150(S-1)(Amended).

AREAWIDE PARKS PLAN BACKBURNERED (AGAIN): Local residents will have to wait until March 28th for action on the new Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation Facility Plan. (AO 2005-122). 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. The plan has been before the Assembly since September of last year.

ROADS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND PARKS BONDS HEADED TO THE BALLOT: Assembly members agreed on Tuesday to ask voters to approve road bonds in the amount of $44.1M and homeland security and public safety bonds in the amount of $12.9M in the April, 2006 municipal election. $1.9M in bonds for the Anchorage Fire Service Area and $3.9M in parks bonds were also approved and sent to the voters.

VOTERS TO DECIDE ENFORCEMENT OF NON MOVING VIOLATIONS: The Assembly unanimously passed Dan Coffey ‘s proposal to allow voters in April, 2006 to repeal a charter provision which requires sworn police officers to handle parking citations and vehicle right of way violations. The current charter provision was enacted by initiative in 1997 after a community revolt over zealous parking enforcement and photo radar. 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. If approved by the voters, Coffey’s charter amendment allows the Chief of Police to designate municipal employees as peace officers for purpose of enforcing non moving vehicle and right of way codes.

CHANGE IN MAYORAL RUN OFF RULE HITS A SNAG: A technical snag caught Ken Stout and Dan Sullivan Tuesday night and forced a delay on action on their proposed "rollback" of rules governing runoff elections in the office of mayor. The pair had previously proposed that Anchorage voters change rules governing run off elections for the office of mayor by repealing a charter provision voters approved three years ago which requires a run off election in that office where no candidate receives 45% of the vote. Stout and Sullivan reintroduced their ordinance, making it clear it would be voted upon in the Spring, 2006 election but would take effect in April, 2009. If approved by the Assembly and the voters this April, the measure would raise require a runoff if the leading candidate received less than 50% of the vote, thereby assuring Anchorage voters of additional mayoral elections in the future. A public hearing on the corrected ordinance is now scheduled for February 14th.

Assembly Report for January 24, 2006

2006-01-18T17:05:00.000-09:00

ASSEMBLY ACTS ON LARGE ANIMALS: Months in the making, a revised version of an ordinance setting land use standards for keeping of large domestic animals (horses) in outlying areas of Eagle River and the Hillside was passed Tuesday evening. AO 2005-150(S-1) sets standards for size of corrals, buffering, vegetation, setbacks, and numbers of animals allowed in corrals and stables in rural areas. The Assembly plodded through a morass of floor amendments written by Debbie Ossiander of Eagle River for the benefit of horse owners. Members of the city's Animal Control Advisory Board debated planners over minute details of the ordinance and the finer points of equisterian arts. A notice of reconsideration was filed in order to allow municipal staff to prepare a final version of the measure for the Assembly to review one last time before the ordinance becomes law.

$100M SCHOOL BOND PACKAGE INTRODUCED: The Anchorage School District has asked the Assembly to present a $100M bond package to voters in the April, 2006 election. If approved, the bonds would allow the school district to continue a decade long program of repair and reconstruction of local schools. Subject to appropriation by the state legislature, a portion of the cost of these bonds will be reimbursed by the State. A public hearing on the proposed bond propositions will take place on February 14, 2006.

CYCLOTRONS DO NOT BELONG IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS: By a vote of 6-3, the Assembly passed Allan Tesche's AO 2005-178, which keeps medical or industrial cyclotrons out of residential areas or private residences as "home occupations". Most members rejected claims from businessman Al Swank, Jr., that a twenty ton medical cyclotron should be installed in his South Addition garage across from the Park Strip. Medical cyclotrons are used to manufacture radioisotopes for sale to area hospitals. The ordinance leaves intact existing zoning governing industrial, or institutional areas where medical cyclotrons are typically located in other communities. Voting against the ordinance were Assembly members Chris Birch, Paul Bauer, and Debbie Ossiander. Dan Sullivan and Janice Shamberg were absent and did not vote on the measure.

SHORT ASSEMBLY DELAYS ACTION ON ASSISTED LIVING ORDINANCE: Because two members were absent on Tuesday, action was delayed on a proposed ordinance setting standards for more than 200 assisted living facilities located throughout Anchorage. Prepared by the administration in consultation with assisted living providers, AO 2005-124 sets a limit of 8 persons in assisted living facilities. A competing substitute authored by Dan Coffey reduces allowed occupancies to 6 but sets procedures and standards governing administrative variances and conditional use permits. The public hearings on the ordinance have been closed Both versions of the ordinance will return to the Assembly for action on February 28, 2006.

ASSEMBLY STILL UNDECIDED ON SALES TAX PROPOSITIONS: The Assembly completed public hearings on the second of two sales tax proposals - AO 2005-188 proposed by Dan Sullivan - and has postponed action on the measure until January 31, 2005. Only a handful of people spoke, most in oppositon to the measure and arguing the proposed 3% sales tax would befnefit owners of real property at the expense of low income families or renters. A work session on proposed ballot propositions, including the competing sales tax proposals authored by Dan Coffey and Dan Sullivan, is scheduled for Friday, January 27, 2006 in City Hall.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT CHARTER AMENDMENT DELAYED TOO: The Assembly postponed action onDan Coffey ‘s proposal to allow voters in April, 2006 to repeal the charter provision which requires sworn police officers to handle parking citations and vehicle right of way violations. The current charter provision was enacted by initiative in 1997 after a community revolt over zealous parking enforcement and photo radar. 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. Coffey’s proposed charter amendment (AR 2005-191) will return to the Assembly for final action on January 31, 2006.

ONCE AGAIN, INSTANT RUN OFFS? An idea rejected by the Assembly several years ago may see new life through an charter amendment proposed Tuesday night by Assembly member Chris Birch. The south Anchorage member introduced AO 2006-12 which would let voters decide whether to adopt "instant runoff" voting in municipal elections. If placed on the ballot and approved in the Spring, 2006 election, the measure would allow voters to prioritize their choices of candidates for the same office on the ballot in order to ensure that the candidate ultimately elected receives at least 50% of the vote without the delay or a run off election. A public hearing on the ordinance is set for February 14, 2006.

Assembly Report for January 10, 2006

2006-01-08T14:20:00.000-09:00

PARK STRIP LOSING BALL FIELDS: The municipal administration plans to relocate the softball fields from the Delaney Park Strip to south Anchorage this summer. Except for outhouse races and sled dog rides during Fur Rondy in February, the Park Strip is largely unused during winter months.

ASSEMBLY FURTHER LIMITS USE OF EMIMENT DOMAIN: Urged on by a small but militant group of South Anchorage residents opposed to an extension of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, assembly members on Tuesday added "leisure amenities" to the growing list of purposes for which the city may not use condemnation to acquire land for public purposes. Responding to a Court decision which permitted use of eminent domain to further a private development project, the Assembly last year banned eminent domain "to further private economic development" and requires that property acquired be occupied by the government itself or kept open to the public. Under AO 2005-171(S-1) approved Tuesday, use of eminent domaine to acquire property for so called "leisure amenities" would be off limits as well. "Leisure amenities" include parks, trails and pedestrian paths, greenbelts, wilderness areas sports fields, and enclosed sports facilities. Assembly action may be moot, however, because six bills are pending in the Alaska legislature to restrict use of eminent domaine by government agencies in Alaska.

ETHICS CODE SURFACES BRIEFLY, THEN VANISHES AGAIN: A long awaited rewrite of city ethics laws surfaced briefly Tuesday night only to disappear once again into further study. Five years in the making before the City’s Board of Ethics, the new code was first before the Assembly on June 28, 2005, postponed three times and then referred to a committee headed by midtown Assemblyman Ken Stout. A new version written by Allan Tesche and Ken Stout was apparently not satisfactory to Dan Coffey and backburnered. On Tuesday, members briefly discussed the ordinance and then voted to postpone it indefinitely, effectively killing the measure. Ken Stout promised to present a new ethics ordinance on March 29, 2006 where it will be discussed at a work session scheduled for April 7, 2006.

LARGE ANIMAL ORDINANCE PLODS AHEAD: Months in the making, several versions of an ordinance setting new land use standards for keeping of large domestic animals (horses) in outlying areas of Eagle River and the Hillside were heard Tuesday evening. The ordinances set standards for size of corrals, buffering, vegetation, and numbers of animals allowed. Despite complaints from several testifying before the Assembly over a last minute substitute offered by Debbie Ossiander just before the meting began, members went ahead and took testimony on the ordinance and its substitutes. The matter returns to the Assembly for further debate and action on amendments drafted by Ms. Ossiander on January 24, 2006.

NO ACTION ON NEIGHBORHOOD CYCLOTRONS: The Assembly’s crowded agenda prevented members from completing a public hearing on AO 2005-178, which would ban medical or industrial cyclotrons from residential areas or as home occupations. Members heard businessman Al Swank, Jr., tout the health benefits of a twenty ton medical cylotron he wants to install in his garage in the South Additon neighborhood in order to manufacture radioisotopes for sale to local hospitals. The matter remains before the Assembly at its next meeting on January 25, 2006 under unfinished business.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: ANOTHER VOTE ON MAYORAL RUN OFFS? If Ken Stout and Dan Sullivan convince six other members to go along with them, Anchorage voters will have yet another chance to change rules governing run off elections for the office of mayor. Introducing AO 2006-1, the new "rollback" would repeal a Charter Amendment voters approved three years ago which requires a run off election for the office of mayor where no candidate receives 45% of the vote. If approved by the Assembly and the voters this April, the measure would raise require a runoff if the leading candidate received less than 50% of the vote, thereby assuring Anchorage voters of additional mayoral elections in the future. A public hearing is scheduled for January 31, 2006.

2006 BOND PACKAGE UNVEILED: Mayor Begich introduced the administration’s bond package which will be submitted to voters in the April, 2006 election. The proposed bonds will be heard by the Assembly on January 31, 2006. Measures include: $45,390,000 for Roads, $12,880,000 for Homeland Security and Public Safety, $1,960,000 for the Fire Service Area, and $4,050,000 for a Parks bond.

ACTION ON SIGN ORDINANCE ROLLBACK POSTPONED: The public will have to wait until February 28, 2006 to speak out on changes Dan Sullivan wants to make to the municipality’s sign ordinance. City sign regulations were modernized in 2003 and call for the elimination of those large "pole signs" by October of this year and all other illegal signs by 2013. Sullivan’s ordinance, AO 2005-163(S), would undo many of the tighter restrictions on signs passed in 2003 by eliminating amortization or phase out periods for illegal signs, including pole signs. The ordinance would also relax rules governing the size of electronic signs in business areas, and bring back moving signs. Opposition to Sullivan’s proposal from the North East Community Council and an expected vote by the Planning and Zoning Commission may make this "rollback" as controversial as the original measure was three years ago.

COMING YOUR WAY: A convenient calendar of key legislation the Assembly will consider during the next two months is maintained by the Municipal Clerk on her website. For details and copies of the ordinances, go to: http://www.muni.org/Assembly2/pending_legislations.cfm

Assembly Report for December 20, 2005

2005-12-21T08:06:00.000-09:00

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE NEW ANCHORAGE MUSEUM APPROVED: An ordinance approving a multi-year management agreement for operation of the Anchorage Museum of History and Art was approved Tuesday night at the recommendation of Mayor Mark Begich. See AO 2005-137(S). After several months of negotiations with representatives of two dozen municipal employees affected by the change, an agreement was reached allowing most current employees to transfer into other city positions or hire on with the Anchorage Museum Association, a non-profit entity which will operate the museum for the municipality. Under the agreement between the MOA and the Anchorage Museum Association, ownership of the facility and the museum collection will remain with the municipality. The museum association has for several decades supported the museum by rasing money to add to the museum collection and support museum activities, and education programs.

ASSISTED LIVING ORDINANCE DELAYED, AGAIN : Action on a series of proposed changes to city zoning ordinances governing "assisted living" facilities located in residential areas was delayed again on Tuesday night and postponed until January 24, 2006. The ordinance (AO 2005-124) sets land use standards for assisted living facilities and, in residential districts, allows assisted living facilities for up to eight adults. In the works are amendments being prepared by Assembly counsel at the request of Dan Coffey which might reduce the number of allowed residents in facilities located in R-1 and R-2 districts.

CONVENTION CENTER CONTRACTS APPROVED: Mayor Begich won Assembly approval of a multi-year management agreement between the municipality and the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau and a financing agreement with Anchorage Civic Ventures for the new Convention Center. Approvals allow the administration to sell tax exempt revenue bonds to be repaid with the proceeds of a 4% hotel motel tax increase approved by the voters last spring and lock in construction costs for the new $100M downtown facility. Voting against award of the financing and management contracts for the convention center were Assembly members Dan Sullivan, Chris Birch, and Paul Bauer who argued that ACVB should be required to put the management agreement for Center out to immediate bid instead of after the new facility is operational and management could be coordinated with other facilities.

THE ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY VS. EMINENT DOMAIN, ROUND 2: Prodded on by a small but vocal group of South Anchorage residents opposed to extension of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Assembly conservatives on Tuesday seemed likely to pass a new ordinance offered by Chris Birch (AO 2005-171) to prohibit use of eminent domain (condemnation) to acquire property for trails, parks, and other defined “leisure amenities.” No Assembly action was taken on the proposal because the Assembly ran out of time and will have to wait until January 10, 2006 to pass the measure.

Anchorage already has one of the country’s most restrictive laws limiting use of condemnation powers. Last spring, Assembly members unanimously banned use of eminent domain for any project that would “further private economic development”, and restricting use of condemnation to property be physically occupied by the government itself or open to and used by the public passage of Birch’s ordinance will end a longstanding practice of using condemnation to acquire rights of way and easements for trails, and parks, and public facilities such as the Sullivan Arena. The amendment would categorically forbid use of eminent domain for “sports activities of any kind”, “trails of any kind”, and “associated infrastructure” such as parking lots and access. Most of the testimony offered on Tuesday in favor of the Birch amendment came from a group of South Anchorage residents adamantly opposed to the South Anchorage Coastal Trail. Familiar invective like “tyranny”, “communism,” and “socialism” once again echoed through the Assembly chamber.

Curiously, passage of the Birch amendment extends a ray of hope to many residents of Government Hill whose homes will be bulldozed to make way for the Knik Arm Crossing: Touted as a project that would open up Point McKenzie to private residential development and to provide better access to Valley recreation, those purposes place eminent domain for the bridge construction off limits if used locally.

NO ACTION ON CYCLOTRONS; COME BACK IN JANUARY: AO 2005-178 would reaffirm the Assembly’s intent to prohibit operation of medical cyclotrons for purpose of manufacturing radioisotopes in residential areas or as "home occupation." 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.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT CHARTER CHANGE HELD OVER: 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. The Assembly opened a hearing Tuesday night on an ordinance Coffey drafted which 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. Coffey has announced plans to bring a revised version of his ballot proposition back to the Assembly for additional public hearings on January 24, 2006 . 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. The two ordinances are 2005-170 and 2005-191 which will both be heard on January 24, 2006.

37 years ago: a Christmas greeting from space

2005-12-18T10:14:00.000-09:00

Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon, entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968. That evening, astronauts Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders did a live television broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures of the Earth and Moon seen from Apollo 8. Lovell said, "The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth." Anders then led the crew with a reading from the book of Genesis. "For all the people on Earth," he said," the crew of Apollo 8 has a message we would like to send you":

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness."

Jim Lovell read:
"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day."

Frank Borman concluded:
"And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."

"And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you - all of you on the good Earth."

To actually hear the Apollo 8 Christmas broadcast, go to:
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo8_xmas.html

Assembly Report for December 13, 2005

2005-12-14T06:54:00.000-09:00

A BROKEN SIDEWALK IN YOUR FUTURE? Assembly amendments to the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) approved on October 25, 2005 stripped the plan of policies favoring pedestrian amenities such as sidewalks and trails. Statements approving of "aesthetics" in local transportation systems were removed from the Plan. This sidewalk at 5th and C Street is the result of those changes.

MUSEUM CONTRACT HELD PENDING TALKS WITH AFFECTED EMPLOYEES: Mayor Begich asked assembly members on Tuesday to delay approval of a new managment agreement with the Anchorage Museum Assoication for operation of the Anchorage Museum pending negotiations with city employees affccted by the plan. The mayor reported progress in negotiations which may enable affected employees to accept other municipal positons or hire on with the Museum Accociation. A public hearing on the agreement is now scheduled for December 20, 2005.

TESTIMONY ON BOWL PARKS PLAN MIXED: Three years in the making, a new Anchorage Bowl Parks Plan drew mixed reviews Tuesday night in several hours of public hearing. Plan proponents, including the city's parks board urged members to approve the Plan without signficant amendments. Opponents, focusing largely on general plan language referencing the southern extension of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, urged Assembly members to cut the trail out of the plan altogether. The plan would guide future decisions in a city 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. Public testimony on the plan concluded on Tuesday; the assembly has postponed action on the plan and expected amendments until January 31, 2005.

ASSEMBLY MAJORITY KILLS PLAN FOR CLEAN, ENERGY EFFICIENT GAS TURBINES AT ML&P: ML&P brass unleashed a barrage of technical objections to defeat an ordinance proposed by Allan Tesche to require ML&P to use the newer, more energy efficient combined cycle technology in replacing older gas turbine generators. AO 2005-108 would have mandated use of the newer technology which, in the Ship Creek area, would have provided a source of steam to heat sidewalks and other public areas.

COMING UP SOONER THAN YOU THINK: Key issues coming before the Assembly during the next two months range from the location of medical cylotrons in residential areas to a proposed 3% sales tax in Anchorage. Here's the schedule:

December 20, 2005
- Public hearing on location of medical/industrial cyclotrons in residential areas
- Public hearing on Chris Birch's ordinance limiting exercise of condemnation power
- Assembly vote on proposed Assisted Living ordinance
- Public hearing on Dan Coffey's parking enforcement charter amendment
January 10, 2006
- Public hearing on large domestic animal ordinance
- Continued public hearing on new ethics ordinance
- Public hearing on Dan Sullivan's proposed sign ordinance rollbacks
January 24, 2006
- Public hearing on Dan Coffey's 3% sales tax ballot proposition
- Public hearing on Dan Coffey's second parking enforcement charter amendment
January 31, 2006
- Assembly action on Anchorage Bowl Parks Plan
- Public hearing on Janice Shamberg's new land clearing ordinance
- Last day to introduce ballot propositions for Spring, 2006 election