The Assembly Legislative Committee convened on November 19, 2025, to review a revised draft of the 2026 Municipal Operating Authority (MOA) legislative program. Despite a late arrival by committee member Mr. Myers and a brief discussion regarding the inclusion of district priorities, the committee determined they lacked the quorum necessary to vote on amendments. Consequently, the committee decided to facilitate the formatting of changes for the December 2nd meeting, where a final vote is expected.
Um it's best conversation we can manage. So I'm gonna go ahead and call to order this meeting of the assembly legislative committee. We're those today from 1240 to 140 p.m. Do not think we'll need all the time. Uh let's go ahead and start with member introductions on the room. We have Jared Gerker. And on the phone, Mr. Myers. Yes, sir. Thanks, Zach. Thanks. Any other assembly members on the phone? Doesn't look like it. Okay, so we'll go ahead and jump right into our business today. Um the uh topic we have for consideration is a review of the draft 2026 MOA legislative program. Uh so we had a work session last week where members were invited to offer comments and suggestions for amendments. I understand the administration took some of those suggestions and has presented to us a revised draft of the MOA legislative program. I think I'll just go ahead and walk through the changes and my understanding of what led to them uh as well as I can. I'll note for people looking at the uh the draft document, the new items are uh highlighted in yellow. So first on page two, uh towards the bottom, we have the blight reduction fund. That category was in the legislative program the earlier draft, but it was suggested, I believe, by member constant that we consider the raising amount to make it bring a closer into parity with the item above it in the safe category, the APD real-time uh crime center capital. Um again, this was uh a recommendation that came from member constant, and I I think the argument was that um in terms of what do we want to do to impact public safety, uh, these two things perhaps merit closer to equal consideration than what was presented in the original draft. Uh going on to the next page on page three. Uh we have fund for unmanned aerial systems for emergency capabilities. This is a drone program that has been put forward by the Anchorage Fire Department. This is a carryover from our legislative program that we presented last year and took the Juno now. Since it's still in here, obviously it did not get funded by the state. Uh, but we remain concerned about wildfire safety. And the the thought was and one that I support is that I think there's certain things where even if we are not perhaps overly optimistic that will secure funding, I think showing a pattern of um commitment on our part to say that these are recurring issues that we think should always be uh front of mind for the legislature carries with it, Marin. So the Anchorage Fire Department, we consulted them again to see what they would like to see include in this program. And again, they came back to us with this request for an unmanned aerial system. Uh the thought is that I think most utility boot related to early detection of wildfires, but it could be used for other um other needs like search and rescue training, etc. Moving down the page, we have a restoration of defined benefit pensions for public employees. This is again one that's been in the legislature program for a number of years. I mean, as long as I've been around anyway. So I think this is at least the third time it's been included. Uh, there was a discussion at the work session on whether or not to include it. The thought being that um this is uh would perhaps have a lower chance of success given what we anticipate the focus of the legislature for next year to be. Um, with counter-argument being one that this is something we have had as a perennial request. It's been a priority for the meeting for a number of years, and so um it made sense to I think continue to hold on to the program, although I know there was um so also some dissent on that. Uh so that is an overview of the changes, and I think um since we don't have anyone from the administration present to elaborate, I'll pause there. Um certainly it's gonna be a short queue. So if any members have comments or thoughts or edits, uh feel free to chime in. Okay, member Gerker. Yeah, just uh to clarify on the district priorities. We'd sent in uh Scott and I had sent in something for the split rail fence and uh station 11, the volunteer fire department. Is that that's reflected somewhere, right? Yeah, I think I think we're working off this word document for the edit, but there is a new version of this glossy that I don't know has been shared with you, but it's definitely in the quite sure. Allie's on the phone. Maybe she can explain the process um for how members will next see the glossy draft.