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March 2023
Protecting & Rebuilding Our Workforce

Amid serious allegations of misconduct against the Administration, the Assembly has focused efforts to protect and rebuild the municipal workforce. 

Long-Term Safeguards
At the March 7 meeting, the Anchorage Assembly took up several ordinances to bring forward long-term safeguards to protect municipal resources that were introduced as emergency ordinances (EOs) in January

In a vote of 9-1, the Assembly approved AO 2023-23(S), As Amended, to codify several of the protections temporarily enacted by an EO to lower the monetary thresholds for competitively awarded contracts to be approved by the Assembly from $500,000 to $150,000 (the EO temporality lowered this threshold to $10,000), lower thresholds for amendments to large dollar contracts and require approval of amendments for work not described in the original contract memorandum, with exemptions available for emergency purchases necessary for life and safety.

AO 2023-27, which is also based on a January EO, is scheduled for public testimony at the March 21 meeting to codify the authority of the Ombudsman. The ordinance establishes in code the charter-granted authority of the Ombudsman to investigate personnel matters within the Municipality, similar to the state's ombudsman's investigative authority, while prohibiting the duplication or relocation of personnel files accessed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

AKOSH Violations
Earlier this month, a letter from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement Section (AKOSH) issued citations totaling $627,637 based on multiple health and safety inspections. 

On March 2, the Assembly held a worksession with the Administration to discuss how the municipality plans to respond to the letter before the 30-day deadline.

Paid Parental Leave Policy
At the March 7 meeting, the Anchorage Assembly took a step to increase the competitiveness of municipal employment by approving AO 2023-20, As Amended, to enact a four-week paid parental leave benefit for municipal employees.
 
The ordinance offers municipal employees four weeks of parental leave to be taken within 12 months of a qualifying event, including the arrival of biological and adoptive children as well as the placement of foster children.

While the new policy is effective immediately for executive and non-represented positions, the ordinance urged the Administration to coordinate administrative agreements with bargaining units to implement the policy for union-represented positions as soon as possible. 

Ballot Packages are Headed Your Way
Anchorage votes at home! Today, approximately 199,000 ballot packages are being mailed out to qualified registered voters.

Ballot packages contain the following:

  • Official ballot
  • Voter Instructions
  • Secrecy sleeve (which protects voter privacy)
  • Ballot return envelope
Voters can anticipate receiving their ballot package in the mail before Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Sign up to track your ballot, from outbound to accepted, at www.anchoragevotes.com.
Options to Vote On or Before April 4
Happy Women's History Month!

The Anchorage Assembly recognizes March 2023 as National Women's History Month and encourages our community to participate locally in programs, ceremonies and activities celebrating the contributions of women to our rich history. 
Assembly Chair Suzanne LaFrance will be inducted into the Anchorage Athena Society this month!

The Anchorage Athena Society recognizes outstanding leadership, excellence and dedication to promoting women in business and developing our community.

A powerful leader and an incredible asset to the Municipality of Anchorage, Chair LaFrance's work to fund and expand childcare, create paid parental leave for municipal employees, and develop a youth engagement program for the Assembly are just a few of the ways she supports and encourages the potential in women and girls in Anchorage.
Application Now Open: Assembly Youth Member
The Assembly Youth Representative position is open! A non-voting seat on the Anchorage Assembly, the Youth Representative weighs in on the business of the city in a real-world leadership role.

Young people aged 16-19 are encouraged to apply online before March 28.

Questions about this opportunity? Contact Associate Ombudsman Heather MacAlpine at heather.macalpine2@anchorageak.gov.

 
Learn More about the Assembly Youth Representative
In Case You Missed It - Chair Report
At each Regular Assembly Meeting, Chair Suzanne LaFrance gives a report on recent community events and issues of interest before the Assembly. If you missed her report at a meeting, you can now read the chair reports online.
Chair Report Chair Report
Recent Actions
At the March 7 Meeting, the Assembly took the following actions:
  • Approved AR 2023-58 recognizing March 2023 as Brain Injury Awareness Month.
  • Approved AR 2023-59 recognizing March 2023 as National Women's History Month.
  • Approved AR 2023-77 recognizing March 13-18 as Transit Employee Appreciation Week.
  • Approved AO 2023-20, As Amended to enact a Paid Parental Leave policy for municipal employees to allow 4 weeks of paid leave to new parents and guardians working for the Municipality.  
  • Approved AR 2023-25(S), As Amended, to amend the Special Land Use Permitting (SLUP) modification process to adopt a more efficient, affordable and collaborative process to request to expand liquor licensed premises area. A worksession on this item was held on March 3.
  • Approved AR 2023-43, As Amended, to direct $7.75M to emergency cold weather sheltering costs at Covenant House, the Alex Hotel, the Aviator Hotel and Sullivan Arena. An amendment was made to require a third-party provide oversight to ensure legal compliance and humane operations. 
For items that had action taken at an Assembly Meeting, finalized documents incorporating Assembly amendments are posted here about 2-3 weeks after passage.
Public Portal to Assembly Documents Public Portal to Assembly Documents
Press Releases Press Releases
What's Ahead
March 21 Regular Meeting
  • A public hearing on AO 2023-27 to codify the authority of the Ombudsman to investigate personnel matters in the Municipality. 
  • A public hearing on AO 2023-24 to restore regulations on Accessory Dwelling Units in Girdwood
  • A public hearing on AR 2023-30 to exempt existing buildings from residential design standards to cut red tape and encourage low-cost, safe housing development through hotel / motel conversions. 
April Business
  • Consideration of AO 2022-104 to authorize the $18M purchase of the 716 W 4th Ave from the Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA), a building which is currently leased by the Municipality to house the Anchorage Police Department Headquarters. A worksession on the item was held on March 10
  • Consideration of AO 2022-100 to allow optional independent plan review of structural design for commercial building permits.
  • It's almost time for First Quarter Budget Revisions! Q1 budget revisions replicates the budget approval process on a smaller scale to reflect changes in the 2023 Municipal Budget actualized during the year. Learn more about the budget process
  • Election Results are scheduled to be certified at the April 25 Regular Assembly Meeting. New members will be sworn in after the results are certified.
Learn more about what’s ahead for the Anchorage Assembly:
Meeting Agendas Meeting Agendas
Assembly Events Calendar Assembly Events Calendar
Committees Committees
Worksessions Worksessions
Participate
Learn how to get involved and share your voice.
Header photo: Anchorage Skyline, Ken Graham Photography, courtesy of Visit Anchorage.
Copyright © 2023 Anchorage Assembly, All rights reserved.


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