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Last year, the Anchorage Assembly launched a monthly newsletter. After 11 editions and thousands of opens, it’s your turn to share what works for you.

Assembly leadership issued a statement last week regarding the letter from the legal representatives of former Municipal Manager Amy Demboski. The allegations contained in the letter are serious, and Assembly Leadership is working to understand the scope of legislative powers that can address these concerns in order to identify thoughtful, deliberative next steps with a focus on good governance, the delivery of critical municipal services and protecting the interests of residents as well as public funds. 

While personnel matters are outside of the Assembly’s jurisdiction, municipal employees are encouraged to reach out to report further improprieties that warrant investigation: employees can reach out to the Municipal Ombudsman’s Office at (907) 343-4461 or ombud@muni.org to learn about their options, including filing with the Municipality of Anchorage Labor Relations, the Municipality of Anchorage Office of Equal Opportunity, the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

• Approved AR 2022-411 with amendments to expand the capacity of the Sullivan Arena emergency shelter to include the existing capacity of 150 and a surge capacity of 50, plus a new option to add 160 additional shelter beds if needed for the life, safety and welfare of unsheltered persons. The approval will expire January 27, 2023.
• Approved contract amendments to continue space and support services at the Alex Hotel and Sullivan Arena.
• To see the big picture of current shelter and housing options, visit Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness's capacity map, which is updated on Tuesdays and  Thursdays.

• Approved the use of Supplemental Emergency Medical Transport revenues to purchase a rescue boat based in Girdwood, make improvements to the Anchorage Areawide Radio Network (AWARN) system, and replace roofs on several municipal facilities. An item to purchase the Police Headquarters Building at 716 W 4th was postponed indefinitely with the expectation that a new resolution with updated information will be introduced at the January 24 meeting for public hearing at the February 7 meeting.
• Overrode a mayoral veto of AO 2022-105 creating a requirement for Assembly approval of payments for legal settlement for services and supplies not performed in accordance with the municipal code pertaining to Assembly Approval of Contracts.
• Reviewed a memo from municipal internal audit concerning an initial review of Joe Gerace's spending as Director of the Anchorage Health Department. The Administration has conducted an investigation as well and the Assembly asked for an Executive Session to review the redacted portions of that investigation.
• Voted to approve AO 2022-107 with amendments to update Title 21 of Anchorage code to expand use of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The most significant change to code is the allowance of ADUs in all residential and commercial zones. Other changes increased the height allowed to 30' if built above a garage, removed requirements that the ADU be the smaller of the structures on a property as long as they follow other size guidelines, and removed the requirement that the owner of the property live in one of the units. These changes demonstrate the Assembly's commitment to removing barriers to increasing the supply of housing throughout Anchorage - making sure that if there is a property owner willing to provide additional housing, the opportunity is open to them.

• Passed AR 2022-416, a resolution outlining the Assembly's support for actions to alleviate Anchorage's housing shortage and affordability crisis.
• Approved AR 2022-411 with amendments to expand the capacity of the Sullivan Arena emergency shelter to include the existing capacity of 150 and a surge capacity of 50, plus a new option to add 160 additional shelter beds if needed for the life, safety and welfare of unsheltered persons. The approval will expire January 27, 2023. 
• Approved AR 2022-409 and AR 2022-410 to address the upcoming vacancies of Assembly Seat C for District 2, Eagle River/Chugiak and Seat H for District 5, East Anchorage as Assembly Members Jamie Allard and Forrest Dunbar leave their seats next month to represent their constituents in the Alaska State House of Representatives and State Senate, respectively. Learn more.
• Held the public hearing on AO 2022-100 to provide for optional independent structural plan review for commercial buildings in the Municipality, and review of all plans for residential three-family buildings. The ordinance was reviewed at the October 7 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee and a worksession was held on December 1. The item was remanded to the Board of Building Regulations Examiners and Appeals for additional review and community input with a response due to the Assembly by the February 21 regular meeting.
• Introduced for public hearing on January 10 AR 2022-413 and AR 2022-414 to add Mulcahy Stadium and other parks projects, such as Fairview and Spenard Recreation Center improvements and playground and trail improvements to the 2023 Park Bond.

• Public hearings on bond propositions for consideration for the April 4, 2023 election ballot: Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area, Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area, Areawide Public Safety and Transit Improvements, public safety equipment in Girdwood Valley, Anchorage and Chugiak Eagle River Service Areas. A public hearing for the Anchorage School District capital improvement bond was held on January 10.
• A public hearing on AO 2023-8 to submit a ballot proposition to create the Anchorage Bowl Chugach State Park Access Service Area, which would allow the Municipality to later submit to Anchorage Bowl voters ballot propositions with the question of whether to bond for the capital improvements expense and to budget for maintenance and operations of projects that support access to Chugach State Park and ameliorate the neighborhood effects of access by park users.
• AO 2021-17(S), an ordinance submitting to Anchorage voters a ballot proposition amending the Anchorage Municipal Charter to support and advance early childhood education, dedicate the net proceeds of the current retail marijuana sales tax to this purpose, and excepting the marijuana tax from the tax cap. Worksessions were held on November 18 and January 6.

• Action on the HLB Holtan Hills land disposal, AO 2022-103(S-1) was postponed from the meeting of January 10 to allow time to review and incorporate feedback from a January 6 worksession and comments from the project developer. Background documents can be found under the worksessions page for the December 2 and January 6 worksessions, including a timeline of past and future actions on the issue and also on the Assembly's housing focus page.  

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