Thread by @AnchorageAction

Tonight's #anchgov Assembly meeting starts Tuesday, Sep 27 at 5pm, chambers at Loussac Library.
The shelter plan was already voted on Monday at a special meeting, lots of other regular business on the agenda.

Meeting gaveled in. All members present, Quinn Davidson on the way.
Pledge, land acknowledgement.

As usual, a little cluster of people waiting to testify during audience participation. A few people just can't wait to talk, every time.

Mayor's report:
Budget out Friday. Prioritizing "public safety and keeping services intact."
Bronson awkwardly talks about upcoming Broadway shows & Library Yoda card.
It's hard to sound friendly when you seem to always pick fights.
At least he hasn't vetoed yet. #anchgov

Chair's report:
Thoughts go out to Western Alaska for storm-impacted communities.
Public meeting recording yesterday sounded off, but it's intact & posted online now.
An audit of the Muni election system found everything working properly.
Be sure to get a library card!
#anchgov

Chair LaFrance spends time recapping the winter shelter plan vote, thanks the community for being involved, why it's important to have a plan.
She quotes a testifier: "When we help vulnerable people, we make the community stronger."
Then turns to Rivera for presentation. #anchgov

Rivera says he's giving 1 more slideshow. Details what was funded.

Rivera also shares cost per person per day to shelter people. Existing shelters ~ $80-90 per bed/day, multiple funding sources.
Sullivan, 150 beds, $45-60. Golden Lion, 85 housing units, $40 per day. #anchgov

The task force has a list of "tier 2" building options: empty buildings like DMV & old call center. No rec centers or hockey arenas on list.

More slides, all the projects funded so far: housing, hotel conversions, other services.
Unknown: Nav Center (Oct 25 meeting). #anchgov

It's somewhat amazing how long it took to come back to a plan developed almost 2 years ago, in spite of, not because of, the administration's work.

Consent agenda, but first the addendum to agenda, but before that laid-on-the-table items, which takes its own vote. #anchgov

Laid on the table item for funding at the Aviator Hotel. Demboski explains it is to pay an existing vendor, and 2 new ones. Zaletel points out this started in June. Quinn Davidson says it's not urgent, so it shouldn't use this process.
Still passes 8 to 4. #anchgov

Appearance request: Robert Alexander. He isn't here, so they move on.

Audience participation: Chair LaFrance reminds people to prioritize those who can't stay or speaking on item without a hearing.
No one ever seems to step out of line to let others speak, though. #anchgov

Same person who tells life story & complex legal trust issues in 3-minute increments at each meeting, another installment. Hard to follow the plot. He reads a prayer.

Brenda, District 3, also reads a prayer. Judging city leaders, asking "reclaim the city from enemies." #anchgov

Eric from Trout Unlimited encourages Assembly to vote on the Eklutna resolution. He talks about damage to fish passage, asks for mitigation & allowing free flow of the river. Has detailed information about what mitigation is required. There must be opposition to this? #anchgov

Jonas Banta also testifies in favor of original Eklutna resolution (not a new version). He points out Anchorage residents should have more access to wild salmon, as well as Native Village of Eklutna. Utilities are responsible for mitigation & carrying out voters intent. #anchgov

Christian Harrison speaks about experience at Sullivan, he completed his treatment program. Said staff stopped being searched for drugs & weapons, frustrated. He's trying to get into housing, just got denied rent because of credit score.
It's not easy to find housing. #anchgov

This is the first time, in a long time, that audience participation didn't run up to 6pm. Usually there's a short line of people who don't get to speak.
Also a rare meeting without Dustin Darden taking up 3 minutes for whatever campaign he's running at the moment. #anchgov

Resolution: second Monday in October, Indigenous People's Day. Also a holiday in Alaska, 2nd state to do so.
Anchorage is built on Dena'ina lands, the largest population of Native peoples in the state, and a welcoming community. Everyone signed on to this resolution. #anchgov

Resolution recognizing October as Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Having inclusive work places, accommodation for people to do their jobs & support independence for people with disabilities are important.
Two speakers talk about their work, experience w/ TBIs. #anchgov

Two items postponed to future meetings.

Women's Commission appointments: Allard wants to bifurcate the vote on 2 people. She intends to vote no on one of them, doesn't say who or why, but "some information." Passes, bifurcated. Allard moves Nester, not the issue. #anchgov

Zaletel points out, regardless who it is, commissions being filled by current Muni employees. She's concerned: employees already have access to government, is for independent volunteers.
Rivera says this makes sense, but depends on topic, could be a personal interest. #anchgov

Allard says she supports the community applying, maybe they don't because they get "lambasted by members," but then says she opposes Elkinton appointment. Points out 2 library board members not appointed yet.
Vote passes, Sulte & Allard against. #anchgov

Back on the record.

Unfinished business: a collective bargaining ordinance, addressing the arbitration process.
Constant speaks to an amendment, compromise from what he wanted.
Dunbar explains the original version is better, was in older law already. #anchgov

Muni attorney says that older language was probably in violation of the charter, because it limits the mayor's veto power.
Allard tries to pick a fight with Dunbar, asking why he said he gave an opinion, being an attorney. He says she should listen closer. A short spat. #anchgov

Without going back into legal records & case law, it's an unknown, so they compromised instead. It has to do with approval or rejection of an arbitrator's decision. Sounds like it needs time to sort out.
Both attorneys say it's an issue. Work session. Postponed to 10/11. #anchgov

Next, Eklutna River ordinance, the one Trout Unlimited & @jonasbanta testified on. Assembly moves the original version.

Zaletel moves amendment to add information about a 1991 agreement that still applies. #anchgov

Amendment, part of the S version, is approved.

Next, main motion. Dunbar asks the utilities to speak to the changes they want?
Utilities like the S version better, they follow the '91 agreement too. They are worried about not being able to commit to its outcomes. #anchgov

Dunbar points out the city makes policy. They say a reference to that agreement is better.

Volland makes a floor amendment, worries about a future separation of powers veto. Bronson is already just a known roadblock at this point, a never-filled pothole to avoid. #anchgov

Volland withdraws amendment, Constant moves one with 2 changes. Points out all this is within the 1991 agreement.
Amendment passes.

Quinn Davidson has questions about changes in S version. Says some changes are offensive, crossing out words like "salmon" for "water." #anchgov

Quinn Davidson asks who drafted this, with these removals?
Muni attorney says it was collaborative & with utilities, can't make statements not in existing studies.
Quinn Davidson says this is wrong. Facts were removed. This is offensive. #anchgov

Zaletel agrees: making policy statements by the admin. & utility owners is offensive.

Constant points out revisions should be done in public, but if there are legal questions, need to get resolved. He points out whatever gets passed, hopes it follows the public intent. #anchgov

Dunbar thanks utilities for moving faster on making changes, that's a positive. So is working with Eklutna. He hopes the community keeps following this intent.
Constant hopes in 2029, 100 years after the dam was built, we celebrate a healthier river.

Passes 11 to 1. #anchgov

Next, an audit report, which Rivera puts heavy quotes around. It sounds like another audit showing no wrong doing & still won't stop whatever conspiracy theory brought it about in the first place.
Report accepted. #anchgov

A few appointments moved, most of them pass.
Except Valerie Ritz, for the Platting Board, who seems to have thousands of dollars in fines & legal action against the Muni and others, through mostly LLCs. Not a great choice for a city board.
The best people. #anchgov

Next, an ordinance updating the Muni's records retention policy. Constant says it's been a long time coming, lots of work. He has several amendments, about retention of Assembly records, says he worked with the Clerk. Clerk says they are fine. #anchgov

Sulte asks the admin's records manager if they like the amendments. She says consistency is important, having different policy is more complicated, so, no. Attorney says the same thing. They can't say it's wrong, it's the Assembly's choice. Just inconvenient. #anchgov

Allard looking for reasons to say amendments are bad. It's not clear if she cares about the content, or just saying no because she can.

Records person says Assembly documents meant to be permanent. But they don't want to keep records longer than needed.
#anchgov

Constant: 2 years ago, he would be fine with an advisory body making policy. But not after all that's happened, he wants to ensure the Assembly has control of its records policy.
Clerk Jones says they worked for a long time on this, doesn't change how they are kept. #anchgov

Allard decides to respect the professional opinion of the records person, at least. Maybe because she also dealt with a lot of files, professionally. #anchgov

Ordinance for records retention passes, 10 to 2, amended.

2 special items:
Reports of the risk-limiting audits of April & June elections.

Too bad the people who need to see clean election audits don't pay attention to these. Even if they did, they would still lie. #anchgov

No continued hearings - on to new hearings.
Ordinance on special elections & costs, postponed to October. More work needed, meetings scheduled.
Cross tells conspiracy-addled supporters who get spun up about anything related to elections: should see the changes first. #anchgov

Next, ordinance prohibiting use of recreation centers for emergency shelter, outside disasters. This started with the mayor's shelter plan, now that's off the table, but still protects rec centers. Volland reads a statement about why it matters for families. #anchgov

Sulte supports this idea with the language with some flexibility.
Allard, who has started reading state law herself, quotes Title 29 again & says it's hypocritical to exclude these from a humanitarian crisis, homelessness, when it's been called an emergency. #anchgov

Cross asks if the Sullivan is considered a Rec Center? Or is it excluded, is it a neighborhood center?
Volland reads the definition. It's not a rec center.

Allard makes an amendment, adding the Mac Center in Eagle River as a recreation center. #anchgov

Demboski points out the administration does not plan to use the recreation centers as shelters.

Allard says something she's probably alone in feeling: "I'm worried Bronson might not be in here in 10 years." #anchgov

Amendment withdrawn, the Mac Center may not be a rec center, but it doesn't matter right now.

Ordinance protecting rec centers passes 10 to 1. Allard against, of course. Maybe if Eagle River facility was listed too, she would have cared more? #anchgov

Back on the record.

Next, ordinance allowing relocatable buildings, given by Anc. School District. Rivera moves to delay, it's not urgent & can't be used this winter. He points out they can be used in many ways.
Only question, whether they lose them by delay. Unknown. #anchgov

Dunbar says he missed the meeting Friday, if these aren't used for shelter, where would the individuals be sheltered instead? If this was passed tonight, could they be used this winter?

Trombley says it's possible, but lots of questions about who maintains them. #anchgov

Sulte points out the ordinance is generic, but could apply to these portable buildings. If the ASD buildings don't work out, this could still be applied if another resource comes along.
Cross agrees, they don't have plumbing, but maybe can be used with another facility. #anchgov

Volland asks, given all the questions, if this isn't time sensitive, can it wait?
Trombley points out they want to know if the Assembly is open to the idea? If so, they can do the work. But they are waiting to see if it's worth spending time on. #anchgov

LaFrance points out they may support it, but what if they need more time? Can they have another work session or committee before a vote?
Trombley says postponing is better than a No vote, they are willing to take more time for discussion. Process! #anchgov

Zaletel has concerns about overnight use, people living in them not just classrooms. There are still questions.
What is the process for accepting the buildings from ASD?

Trombley says passing the ordinance can show good faith. Could be used for storage of belongings.#anchgov

Constant also points out when they updated Title 21 & Title 23, building code, they prohibited use of temporary buildings for housing.
Trombley points out these relocatable buildings are exempt from that, have structural standards. #anchgov

Allard gets another dig in, about not working with the mayor, because the Assembly isn't instantly taking the free buildings.

She then immediately drowns a legitimate point in a lot of ridicule & making fun of climate change.

She also forgot this is a code change. #anchgov

More discussion about what is being voted on, that it's not about these buildings, they can still be accepted. Either way, they won't be shelter.

Now that it's sorted, a vote to postpone to 10/25. Passes 9 to 3. #anchgov

Another item gets postponed, moving to October meeting.

Next: ordinance making conforming changes to reflect there being 12 Assembly members now. Approved. #anchgov

Next, an ordinance updating rules of procedure at Assembly meetings. Most seems to be unremarkable.

Constant brings an amendment: get rid of initial audience participation. It was only added a few years ago, there are still plenty of times to speak. #anchgov

Sulte opposes, says he wants to protect at least 30 minutes for audience participation.

Dunbar speaks in favor of amendment: meetings used to be shorter, end earlier. They got longer. Calling it a "mixed results" experiment is a positive spin. He says it's not working. #anchgov

Zaletel asks how audience participation works: is there a limit?
It's set by the chair, customary limit of 3.

Perez Verdia agrees. He points out it's the same people who rush to the front, often they are here the whole time, and the Assembly needs time to do business. #anchgov

Cross says he wants to make sure the public is heard, he doesn't want to take away rights.

Quinn Davidson points out it's not a right, it's a norm & new part of meetings. It was for people who can't stay late, but being abused & often same few people. Counterproductive. #anchgov

Rivera agrees it's not working, but he also doesn't want to delete it entirely. He says it has good uses, as well as very bad moments too.
(Weddleton favors removing it.)

Petersen hears from many people who don't feel safe coming to meetings. He supports removing it. #anchgov

Zaletel points out appearance requests, email testimony, town halls & other methods to talk to the public are still in place, important for members to get out & engage with people.

Constant also notes public notices with hearings are the priority. #anchgov

Vote on amendment: Passes 8 to 4. Initial audience participation experiment may be over... So long, open mic night.

Next, Sulte amendment to remove the dinner break time. He says as an employer, he doesn't see the need for breaks. For efficiency. #anchgov

Cross agrees.
Dunbar explains the break is valuable for Muni staff, especially Clerk staff, it's about the time rather than any cost of the meal.

Current & former chairs speak up for staff having time for a break, after collaborating closely with hard-working staff. #anchgov

Amendment to get rid of dinner break & make staff work continuously for over 12 hours fails, 3 to 9.
Sulte sure sounds like a caring boss. #anchgov

Constant talks about the ordinance, mostly to keep Assembly in line with Robert's Rules and order of motions.

Petersen suggests increasing appearance requests to 5 per meeting. They'll discuss it at Rules committee.

Ordinance approved 8 to 4. #anchgov

Next, license approvals. Agenda almost done. Business as usual. #anchgov

Almost done!

Final audience participation: Chair LaFrance reads the rules, none of which should be necessary to say out loud.

Irene Quednow complained that she couldn't speak, again. She's mad about initial audience participation. She is one who speaks all the time. #anchgov

Another person speaks to not using rec centers, but moreso to not using Dempsey & Ben Boeke as shelters either. She asks to amend the ordinance to include those.

Constant asked if the community is interested in taking on more ownership & management of the rinks? #anchgov

Marcie Tompkins, who sits in every meeting but rarely speaks, complains about inefficiency & how dinner break contributes.

It's so, so easy to just tear something down, criticize, find an angle to make it sound bad. That is easy. Doing the work is hard. #anchgov

Final comments from Assembly members.
Rivera speaks to how much work was done by the cold weather task force, he thanks everyone who worked on it.

Everyone is relieved to be done before midnight!

Meeting adjourned. #anchgov