Anchorage Assembly Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting - September 4, 2025

The Community and Economic Development Committee of the Anchorage Assembly met on September 4, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, chaired by Scott Martiners. The meeting included departmental reports, a detailed presentation on the Alaska Botanical Garden expansion plan, a discussion on legislative budget priorities, and the deferral of an ordinance.

Departmental Reports & Public Works Updates

Planning: The department is fully staffed except for two senior planners. Staff is working on R6 setback zoning updates, and a planning services contract is expected before the assembly. The Safer Sewer and Highway project in the Robert Creek Flats area is at the 35% design phase.

Building Services (Greg Soule): On-site plan reviewers are fully staffed, with a structural plan reviewer expected in December and a plumbing/mechanical inspector starting next month. Construction valuation is pacing at about $600 million for the year. The nuisance abatement fund has $480,000 for demolitions, $150,000 for cleanups, and a $50,000 contingency, with two demolitions scheduled.

Third-Party Plan Reviews (Preliminary):

• Commercial new buildings (structural only): 10%
• Commercial alterations: less than 1%
• Commercial additions: 15%
• Residential new buildings: 62%
• Residential alterations: 7%
• Residential additions: 6% A full report on third-party plan reviews is due to this committee on October 1st.

Public Works (Kent): Street resurfacing on 36th Avenue, Old Seward Highway, Lake Otis, Dowling Road, Dual Terrace, and Forest Park is complete. The 42nd Avenue project is 30% complete (two-year project). The West Anchorage Snow site phase 2 is underway. 14 miles of paper greenways are being finished, and the long-vacant traffic signal manager position has been filled.

Real Estate (Tiffany Briggs): Working on two Girdwood subdivision actions. The 2026 work program is being drafted. Member Baldwin Day asked about the status of cataloging developable heritage land bank parcels; Ms. Briggs reported the first draft from GDIC is completed and data is being refined.

Anchorage Community Development Authority (Chad Stillball): The micro-unit project contract (Vizar Construction) is signed, site development has begun, with a November 15th deadline. The NALE RV Resort RFP is being drafted (targeting October). A downtown reinvestment program using excess parking revenue has been launched. Multi-family housing development discussions are starting for the Fireweed property. Member Constant questioned discrepancies between approved and charged downtown parking meter fees; ACDA will provide a detailed breakdown. Member Brawley requested a portfolio of ACDA properties, to be presented next month.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public testimony was received during this meeting.

Discussion Items

Alaska Botanical Garden Expansion Plan

Mike Monarusso, Executive Director of the Alaska Botanical Garden (ABG), presented the garden's expansion plans. ABG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating on 80 acres of heritage land bank land under a 55-year lease. It is a robust year-round operation with over $1 million in annual revenue, 80% of which is earned. The garden hosts summer camps (150 children), horticulture therapy, guided gardening, and large seasonal events like Beer Garden (taking place the day of the meeting) and Winter Lights.

Mr. Monarusso stated the garden has "maxed out" its facilities. He detailed overcrowding in staff spaces, a lack of on-site fire suppression (closest hydrant is 1,000 feet away), and a parking lot designed for 125 cars that is consistently overwhelmed, requiring shuttles to an overflow lot. He stressed that adhering strictly to occupancy codes would force the organization to "go backwards."

The expansion concept, based on a feasibility study, includes a children's garden, education/visitor centers, expanded parking, and fire suppression. The total project cost is approximately $10 million (scaled down) to $19-20 million. Mr. Monarusso estimated that the critical infrastructure for parking and fire suppression represents a $2.5 to 3 million package.

Member Positions:

• Member Brawley noted the capacity issues are "a good problem to have" for the city and expressed strong interest in exploring municipal support. She requested a detailed breakdown of the "little package" of parking and fire suppression to understand where the municipality could assist versus private funding.
• Member Constant voiced caution, warning about "high competition and limited resources" for municipal infrastructure projects. He stated the committee must be careful not to give a "false sense of opportunity."
• Member Baldwin Day thanked Mr. Monarusso for his stewardship and inquired about phased approaches, specifically asking about the cost and scope of the parking and fire suppression package.

Mr. Monarusso also connected the expansion to broader community goals, such as retaining families and acting as a complement to the Coastal Trail system.

Committee Legislative Budget Priorities

Member Brawley updated the committee on a resolution regarding legislative budget priorities moving through the Budget and Finance Committee. She stated an amendment regarding the 120-day memo will be offered and requested committee input on specific budget items, such as the nuisance abatement fund.

Key Outcomes

• AO 2025-96 (Deferred): Discussion of this ordinance was postponed to the next committee meeting because the lead sponsor, Member Martinez, was not present.
• Alaska Botanical Garden Expansion: No formal action taken. The committee heard the presentation. Mr. Monarusso was asked to provide more detailed phased cost breakdowns for future discussion on municipal support mechanisms.
• ACDA Reporting: ACDA committed to bringing detailed information on downtown parking meter fees and a full property portfolio to the committee's next meeting.
• Progress Ordinances: Set for a public hearing on the following Tuesday; the sponsor plans to continue them to the next month.