Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Work Session: Executive Appointment Confirmation Hearing for Shanna Gamble as Parks and Recreation Director - September 5, 2025

Assembly & Committee Meetings — Friday, September 5, 2025

BodyAnchorage, Alaska

SessionAssembly & Committee Meetings

DateFriday, September 5, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 20:42

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:21

Okay, so I'm gonna go ahead and call us to order.

1:25

At least now I have two other members.

1:27

I feel like something good.

1:39

Nice.

1:40

Okay.

1:40

Yeah, we'll put that on the record.

1:44

Okay, I'm gonna call this to order now.

1:47

Um, good morning, good afternoon, everybody.

1:50

Um, today is September 5th, 2025.

1:57

We are on the record to discuss assembly memorandum number six sixty-three twenty twenty-five executive appointment confirmation hearing, Shanna Gamble for Parks and Rec director.

2:08

Um, we'll start with introductions in the room.

2:13

Yaro Silvers, Anna Brawley.

2:15

Christopher Constant, we have Mr.

2:16

Myers on the phone.

2:19

Yes, thanks, Chair.

2:21

All right, thank you.

2:21

So then we are on the record until uh 1250 for this work session.

2:27

And we'll go ahead and start with introductions, Madam Mayor.

2:31

Thank you, Mr.

2:32

Chair.

2:32

I'm very excited to introduce Shanna Gamble today for her confirmation hearing.

2:39

Ms.

2:40

Gamble has been leading our parks and recreation department since April and has been doing it superbly.

2:47

Ms.

2:47

Gamble joined the municipality in 2020, right in the midst of COVID and all the challenges that came along with that time.

2:56

It wasn't an easy time to start a new position and to get to know your colleagues over Zoom and Teams.

3:03

But Ms.

3:04

Gamble fit right in and quickly gained the confidence of her team.

3:08

Since taking the acting director position, Ms.

3:11

Gamble has definitely led Parks and Rec through the busy summer season, making sure capital projects are executed, ball fields are maintained, and trails and playgrounds are ready for all of us who enjoy every hour we can outside.

3:26

Ms.

3:26

Gamble has also been a key member of our camp abatement team.

3:30

I really appreciate her support of the healthy spaces team.

3:34

You know, we love our parks and trails here.

4:02

Thank you, Mr.

4:03

Chair.

4:04

And opening comments, Ms.

4:06

Gamble.

4:08

Thank you.

4:09

Um good afternoon.

4:10

I want to thank um Mayor LaFrance and Ms.

4:13

Laman or Pearson.

4:14

Um it took me a few weeks to get to the point of actually realizing how much I wanted this position.

4:21

Um during that time, I had a lot of positive conversations with one person from the administration saying, if not now, then when ultimately what made the decision clear was the continuous support from my team.

4:34

Um we have this amazing team, and I will provide my support and resources needed to be successful so we can continue to provide programs and services our community expects and deserves.

5:00

Parks and recreation plays a vital role in offering the public spaces where people feel a sense of belonging and community.

5:04

And I want to see these spaces clean, safe, and accessible.

5:07

This is an amazing opportunity, both professionally and personally.

5:11

So thank you again.

5:12

And I look forward to working with all of you.

5:18

Anything to add?

5:20

Sure, I'll happily pile on.

5:21

You know, I was thinking about this this morning when I was driving in.

5:24

I was thinking, you know, this is it's been a year that I have been bringing candidates to you all for consideration for confirmation.

5:31

And I think I have been proud at the mayor's direction to bring people who I think are just eminently qualified for their position, professionally qualified, personally ready, people who I see as really being fit to carry the trust of the community to shepherd the important services that we provide.

5:49

And I think Ms.

5:50

Gamble absolutely embodies that ethos in terms of hiring directors for municipal departments.

5:55

She is tremendously qualified.

5:57

She knows the parks and recreation department.

6:00

She is personally committed to this department to the work that it does.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████55%

Meeting Procedures███████████████18%

Mental Health Awareness██████████12%

Homelessness███████8%

Personnel Matters██████7%

Summary of Proceedings

Work Session: Executive Appointment Confirmation Hearing for Shanna Gamble as Parks and Recreation Director - September 5, 2025

This work session was convened by the Anchorage Assembly to consider the confirmation of Shanna Gamble as the Director of Parks and Recreation, as outlined in Assembly Memorandum 663-2025. Mayor LaFrance introduced Ms. Gamble, who has been serving as acting director since April 2025 and has been with the municipality since 2020. Ms. Gamble expressed her commitment to providing clean, safe, and accessible public spaces and her desire to support her team. Assembly members asked questions on staffing, park planning, community center operations, departmental scope, volunteer programs, and emotional well-being.

Discussion Items

Staffing Challenges: Assembly member Anna Brawley raised concerns about staffing, particularly seasonal workers. Ms. Gamble noted she is planning for the 2026 budget and is advocating for a shift from seasonal to more full-time positions. She mentioned presenting this model to the mayor and municipal manager. When asked about pay, she stated parks caretakers start at approximately $1,940 per pay period (exact figure to be provided later).
Cuddy Park Master Plan: Ms. Brawley asked about the status of the Cuddy Park master plan. Ms. Gamble responded that the plan is awaiting the RFP for the old archive site, which is currently public and closes at the end of September 2025. The master plan for Cuddy Park will proceed after that.
Mountain View Community Center: Ms. Gamble reported that the Parks Department took over operations in June 2025, currently with six staff (three full-time, three seasonal). The center is open Monday through Friday with weekend rentals, and staff transport children to and from schools. A strategic planning survey received only 34 responses, so it was extended to September 14, 2025. Wi-Fi, security cameras, and a computer lab are being implemented. Assembly member Christopher Constant noted a reappropriation of funds for this center on the upcoming agenda.
Track J Plating AO: Mr. Constant informed members that a motion to amend a previously adopted ordinance would be presented on Tuesday to rededicate park boundaries. This change would ensure the Port manages road portions while Parks retains use, freeing the department from road management duties.
Departmental Scope and Homelessness Response: Mr. Constant asked about the Parks Department's role in managing social services and solid waste, especially related to homeless camps. Ms. Gamble explained that the Healthy Spaces team remains necessary for camp cleanups on parkland but emphasized that the department is now focused on cleaning, with social work functions shifted to other teams. She acknowledged the department often becomes “everything for everybody” due to high demand on its staff. Mr. Constant stressed the need for strategic effort to keep Parks focused on its core mission.
Volunteer Program: Ms. Brawley inquired about expanding volunteer opportunities. Ms. Gamble noted that increased staffing would allow for more volunteer programs and citywide events, but legal and risk assessments are needed for certain tasks (e.g., camp cleanup). She also promoted the Haunted and Enchanted Trails event on October 17-18.
Emotional Toll and Support Systems: Mr. Constant asked how Ms. Gamble manages the emotional demands of her work, particularly regarding homeless camp abatement. She cited open communication and support from her team. Mr. Constant urged her to ensure systems are in place to prevent burnout, comparing the challenge to fire and police departments.
First Female Parks Director: Mr. Constant noted the gender diversity of the administration and asked if Ms. Gamble would be the first female parks director. She responded that she believed so, given the long tenure of predecessor Joe Durand.
Eagle River Relationship: Assembly member Scott (on phone) initially had no questions but, prompted, confirmed he had received support for Ms. Gamble from Eagle River representatives and indicated he would vote in favor.

Key Outcomes

No vote was taken during this work session; the confirmation is scheduled for the regular Assembly meeting on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.
Assembly members expressed general support for Ms. Gamble's confirmation, with no opposition voiced.
The work session served as a formal hearing to vet the candidate's qualifications and vision.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, so I'm gonna go ahead and call us to order. At least now I have two other members. I feel like something good. Nice. Okay. Yeah, we'll put that on the record. Okay, I'm gonna call this to order now. Um, good morning, good afternoon, everybody. Um, today is September 5th, 2025. We are on the record to discuss assembly memorandum number six sixty-three twenty twenty-five executive appointment confirmation hearing, Shanna Gamble for Parks and Rec director. Um, we'll start with introductions in the room. Yaro Silvers, Anna Brawley. Christopher Constant, we have Mr. Myers on the phone. Yes, thanks, Chair. All right, thank you. So then we are on the record until uh 1250 for this work session. And we'll go ahead and start with introductions, Madam Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm very excited to introduce Shanna Gamble today for her confirmation hearing. Ms. Gamble has been leading our parks and recreation department since April and has been doing it superbly. Ms. Gamble joined the municipality in 2020, right in the midst of COVID and all the challenges that came along with that time. It wasn't an easy time to start a new position and to get to know your colleagues over Zoom and Teams. But Ms. Gamble fit right in and quickly gained the confidence of her team. Since taking the acting director position, Ms. Gamble has definitely led Parks and Rec through the busy summer season, making sure capital projects are executed, ball fields are maintained, and trails and playgrounds are ready for all of us who enjoy every hour we can outside. Ms. Gamble has also been a key member of our camp abatement team. I really appreciate her support of the healthy spaces team. You know, we love our parks and trails here. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And opening comments, Ms. Gamble. Thank you. Um good afternoon. I want to thank um Mayor LaFrance and Ms. Laman or Pearson. Um it took me a few weeks to get to the point of actually realizing how much I wanted this position. Um during that time, I had a lot of positive conversations with one person from the administration saying, if not now, then when ultimately what made the decision clear was the continuous support from my team. Um we have this amazing team, and I will provide my support and resources needed to be successful so we can continue to provide programs and services our community expects and deserves. Parks and recreation plays a vital role in offering the public spaces where people feel a sense of belonging and community. And I want to see these spaces clean, safe, and accessible. This is an amazing opportunity, both professionally and personally. So thank you again. And I look forward to working with all of you.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com