P.M.

this afternoon.

I'd like to go ahead and start with introductions in the room.

I have Christopher Constant.

And on the phone, I have Mr.

Myers.

Yes, thanks, Chair.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Does not sound like it.

I know some members are at the ASD luncheon and then may trickle in, but I think in the interest of time, let's go ahead and get started.

I think in terms of the program, especially if it is this small, um, especially if we don't have any new members in attendance.

I think we can probably start with uh the overview from from Mr.

Clouda.

Um, I had sort of plan on maybe maybe having a little bit more discussion about what the process for this committee looks like, but since I think most of us in the room are familiar, um sorry anyone else coming in, we'll we'll start there and then maybe just jump into talking about uh the program for 2026.

So with that, if you'd introduce yourself on the record and take it away, please.

Uh yes, uh Mr.

Chair, I'd actually like to start um and have uh Mayor LaFrance give a few open a few a few comments on our program for this season, what what our approach is, if I may.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Is that close enough?

I know these mics pick up.

It's okay from there.

Okay.

Well, um hello everyone.

Thanks for letting me share a quick update on the legislative program for 2026.

This year we're hoping to keep the program short and focused.

And I know that it's uh always tempting to list out everything we support, but we're zeroing in on issues where legislative action can make the biggest difference for the municipality.

At the very top of that list, and I don't think this will be a surprise, is the funding for the Don Young Port of Alaska modernization.

And as you all know, our plan of finance lays out our ideal scenario of paying for the modernization program by splitting the costs equally between file funds, state funds, and surcharge supported revenue bonds.

Beyond the port, we've grouped our priorities into three themes that really capture what we're aiming for.

Those three themes are safe, secure, affordable.

The first, safe, supporting public safety and first responders.

Second, secure, investing in resilience and critical infrastructure so our systems can stand up to future challenges.

And the third, affordable, advancing policies that help bring down the cost of living for residents.

So I'm looking forward to working with all of you as we refine this program and prepare to advocate for our community this next legislative season.

So thank you, Mr.

Chair, and thanks all of you.

And with that, I will turn things over to Mr.

Clauda.

Thanks.

Before uh you start as quickly note for the record, uh member Rivera joined us at 1247.

All right, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um, we can proceed with uh slides.

I've got a uh kind of a quick overview of like the approach that we're thinking of taking for the legislative program to share with this committee, get feedback on and any additional ideas that you guys may have.

Um so on my next slide.

Um by way of reminder, um, I included this because I know we have some new members, and just just as a as a good reminder, that the state legislative program is something that is um spelled out in in municipal code and it and it's a very short section.

I've captured almost all of it here.

I cut off a little bit of B, but it but essentially is that you know, with the recommendations from the mayor and assembly members, the assembly by December 10th, you know, passes or adopts the legislative program.

And it also, and then another requirement is that it has to be introduced prior to the adoption of the uh of the budget, right?

Each um each year.

So it's got to be passed, it's got to be adopted by December 10th, and it has to be introduced sometime before the budget is adopted.

And it doesn't, there's you know, no not a lot of stipulation about what um the program contains or how it works, but but um also that it's among the duties of the mayor to implement the legislative program.

So those are the that's the uh the code reference on this.

Um next slide, please.

Um so we a couple of guiding principles that we took on this in in what we've with our sort of framework that we've developed is as the mayor said, keeping it pretty focused and brief.

Uh, you know, I think that that it's it's good to focus our asks, you know, and uh in a towards things that we can really put a lot of effort into collectively and to uh and to achieve and to focus those things on tangible acts asks that have a direct impact in the municipality.

So um things that usually have you know a fiscal impact to us, like we can get funded if possible, or that or that in some other way have a have a stronger direct impact on us.

I think um, and and sometimes in the past we've we've looked at you know, taking the approach of of adopting um you know other things that benefit other organizations that are in broadly in our interest, and this year we and we we may still in our legislative approach, we may still find it convenient to do that sometimes, but I think that in terms of our program, keeping it focused on stuff that has a direct impact to the municipality.