Anchorage Assembly Regular Meeting - August 13, 2025
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Anchorage Assembly Regular Meeting - August 13, 2025
The Anchorage Assembly held a regular meeting on August 13, 2025 (the meeting was called to order on August 12th and continued into the early hours of August 13th). The meeting covered a broad range of topics including consent agenda items, a controversial resolution regarding the state's behavioral health system, tax incentives for housing rehabilitation, funding for the Holton Hills development, and several quasi-judicial marijuana license protests. Key votes and amendments were debated extensively, with the behavioral health resolution failing and the Holton Hills funding narrowly passing.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda minus pulled items (10B4, 10C4, 10D1, 10D5, 10D8, 10E1) on a single vote.
- Items pulled were subsequently debated and voted on individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Charles McKee: Spoke about religious and conspiracy-related matters, submitting a document titled "Pearl of Great Price."
- Jason Norris (South Anchorage): Expressed support for the tax incentive for housing rehabilitation (AO 2025-84) and encouraged further incentives.
- Will Walker (Spinnard): Supported the housing rehabilitation ordinance, noting it would encourage redevelopment of vacant/abandoned properties.
- Mike Edgington (Girdwood): Opposed the Holton Hills development, citing data that 80% of new housing in Girdwood from 2021-2024 is "dark homes" (unoccupied), mostly used as short-term rentals or second homes. He urged the Assembly to reconsider the investment.
- Connie Yoshimura (developer): Defended the Holton Hills project, emphasizing mixed density, HOA restrictions on short-term rentals, and market demand from families wanting to live in Girdwood.
- William Baxter: Raised concerns about moose health and wolf populations.
- Roger Branson (Eagle River): Praised the behavioral health discussion and urged continued advocacy for mental health services.
- Jamie Lopez D. Sandridge: Criticized the lack of a comprehensive plan for homelessness, noting people are already suffering as winter approaches.
Discussion Items
- Item 11A (AR2025-191) - Behavioral Health Crisis Resolution: Sponsored by Member Martinez, this resolution declared a public health and safety crisis due to state failures in the behavioral health system and directed the municipal attorney to pursue all legal remedies. After lengthy debate, amendments were offered to remove the directive to pursue legal action and to add language about the alcohol tax. The amended resolution failed on a 4-6 vote. A subsequent motion to go into executive session also failed.
- Item 13B (AO2025-84S) - Tax Incentives for Housing Rehabilitation: The S version clarified eligible properties and encouraged maximizing zoning (e.g., building duplexes on R1 lots). Multiple amendments passed, including allowing a six-month grace period for property sales, defining the exemption for residential buildings and accessory structures, and adding language to prevent abuse. The ordinance passed 10-0.
- Item 14G (AR2025-220) - Holton Hills Off-Site Improvements: This item appropriated $2.5 million from the Heritage Land Bank fund for off-site improvements (road, sewer, drainage) for the Holton Hills development in Girdwood. Heated debate centered on the public investment, potential for dark homes, and developer obligations. Supporters argued the municipality had a contractual obligation and that mixed density would provide workforce housing. Opponents cited risks of luxury second homes and lack of guarantees for occupancy. The resolution passed 9-1, with Member Johnson dissenting.
- Quasi-Judicial Items (15A, 15B): Conditional protests for marijuana cultivation licenses (Wobbly Moose and Alaska Marijuana Gardens) were approved 10-0 after public testimony indicated issues were being resolved.
Key Outcomes
- Item 11A (AR2025-191): Failed 4-6 after extensive amendments and debate.
- Item 13B (AO2025-84S): Passed 10-0 as amended.
- Item 14G (AR2025-220): Passed 9-1.
- Items 15A and 15B: Passed 10-0.
- Several items were postponed or continued to future meetings (e.g., 13A, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14H).
- The Assembly also approved executive appointments, contracts, and other routine items.
Meeting Transcript
Promise a good life, thank God that you can always got Uncle Sam ready to save us. Thank God you came, thank God you came, thank God you can't always come in and see us. Palm trees ready made good zone front. Don't stop running, burning the leaves in the back yard summers. Flowers and a breeze keep warming me. Tired of the priest keep warning me. Seconds from the least heart treatment. I'm too scared to breathe from my free don't do them for me. Too scared to be my own. Give me ruthless wait, all these papers, ways all the secret faces, A6 places, strangers. I'm nearing heights, I dreamt of Heights I fear, and since nobody else can hear me. Let my ears be low. Heart strings were following the tide. Never was a sign to aligned to the ceiling on the moon. My stride Low G's low weight, low, everything cheap. These lights, these streaks might die. Too bright, can't vision need my lenses. Blue ball in the sky. Keep turning on and on and on and on and on. I'm too scared to breathe. From my belief the land of freedom, the live me too scared to see. I just need some selfish time. I need my belly back, give me truth to what I know. Give me rules, please. Wait all this paper. Wait, so great faces, Asian place, changes. So fresh where I'm from. That's so fresh when I'm from S so fresh when I'm from Well I try to think down away. But he not there could be down at that. Yeah, seems nothing. Stop them all. Well, I know I hate a superhero. My eyes on laser beads, and I can't jump over the buildings, and I'm afraid of everything. Well, I know I hated a super hero My eyes on laser beats And I can't jump over the buildings and I'm afraid of everything Like this up around my friends or losing my home go in out after dark Just to walk my dark Will my friend go and bring up a space It's just feel like us in a baby out of place What it's feeling like I still just so be careful like I grew up and I've never been solving myself Well I keep making like no money else but the same heart not a few But I better start Well I can breathe on the water first Sometimes I wish I could not sink into the darkness on this appear burger No boots okay or shine magic flowers and boundary Song with side to bring it's all these things Well I keep making like nobody else looking for you I'm better so myself Why not give me nobody else I suppose in the wrong But I better start Well I know I ain't a superhero My eyes are laser bees And I can't jump over buildings and I'm free Grill Peaches with a little bit of charnail I didn't make it quite far before the juice starts dripping on down if we kiss my elbow and kiss it the ground Just like a chokey I won't even stay off the cave I got too much to say Oh my God it happened again Wind up by asked me again Why don't you go visit the summertime does it miss you don't know those freckles and the water Why don't you start sipping on sea go get yourself some love why don't you follow the game peaches crab peaches are you dancing sweetness sweetness selling you have ambitions in your life I know perfect on me to meet that shine peaches crap preachers are you dance sweetness sweetness sell it I this auspicious then you mess it's all so the message over sealing Ah my niece You will never find it but your face until you could change your mind but things for fun I know that it was stolen but go be a child once I let out a lap I let it wait for I leave I need suspicious when you say it's all the message I was seeing. You will never find the pet your face until you go change your mind. Good things for fun. I know that it was stolen, but don't be a child for once. I let out a laugh. I let it wait up. I leave it right off there with all other bowls. Life is too short. You're stressed enough. You know I love you, but what I want so bad is to see you grow to see you laugh. Fulfill your desires and prove them alone. Even yourself, mama make it hurry alone. Why don't you go visit the summer time? Cas it. I'll begin message from your daughter. Why don't you start sipping on tea?
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