Anchorage Assembly Regular Meeting: November 18, 2025

The Anchorage Assembly convened for a regular business meeting to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 General Government Operating Budget, Approve Capital Improvement Budgets and Programs, and address various ordinances and resolutions. The meeting featured extensive debate on fiscal strategy, including the Mayor's proposal for new sales taxes and extensive amendments to trim municipal spending. The session concluded with the passage of the budget without a sales tax implementation at this time.

Consent Calendar

• 10A-10G Items: The Assembly approved the routine consent agenda items excluding those pulled for discussion.
• Item 10A2 (Wild Ice): A resolution recognizing November as Wild Ice Skating Month was adopted unanimously (13-0) after a conflict of interest disclosure by Member Volland regarding his membership in the Wild Ice Skating Club.
• Item 10A4 (David's Jewelers): A resolution honoring David's Jewelers for 35 years of service and demonstrating resilience following a recent break-in was adopted unanimously.
• Item 10A3 (Transgender Day of Remembrance): A resolution recognizing November 20, 2025, as Transgender Day of Remembrance was passed on a vote of 9-3.
• Item 10B3 (State Legislative Program): The resolution adopting the 2026 State Legislative Program was postponed to a future meeting after Member Brawley declared a personal interest due to her employment with a state legislator.
• Item 10D5 (Crane Agreement): An assembly memorandum authorizing the crane purchase agreement between the municipality, Don Young Port of Alaska, and Matson Navigation Company was adopted. A subsequent motion to reconsider failed, confirming the agreement was finalized.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bruce Talbot (Basher Community Council): Expressed full support for including the Basher Trailhead parking renovation in the capital budget, citing voter intent and the urgency of safety issues at the current parking area.
• Bill William Baxter (Fairview): Expressed concern regarding the decline of agricultural land and the potential shutdown of Glacier View School due to population shifts, advocating for support of FFA and 4-H.
• Mari Mahana: Expressed strong opposition to the proposed sales tax, stating Assembly members were out of touch with the cost of living and criticizing the lack of "little teeny cuts" compared to tax increases. She also raised concerns about the expedited passage of the shelter ordinance waiving planning commission review.
• Sherry Streesak: Questioned the funding and oversight of Federation of Community Council grants, expressing concern that traffic calming measures might align with a "15-minute city" agenda and noting a lack of documentation for 2025 grants.
• Michael Oaks (Fire Department Clinician): Urged full funding for a second mobile crisis team, noting the current team handles double the average call volume and that the second team improves service quality and responder resilience.
• Mark Vokov: Expressed concern over the vague messaging regarding the municipality's fiscal problem and argued that a broken tax cap formula should be fixed rather than adding a sales tax.

Discussion Items

• General Government Operating Budget (AO 2025-106):

  • Omnibus Amendment: Adopted the omnibus amendment (10-2), which included funding for an additional free bus day for seniors (65+) and adjusted travel and position reductions. Member Brawley and Member Voland urged support for the collaborative approach.
  • Ghost Positions Amendment (Item 1B): Member Kirker moved to increase the reduction of non-recruited positions from $175,000 to $850,000. The Director of OMB testified that increasing this cut could impact service levels. Member Baldwin Day argued the $675,000 difference represented only 0.1% of the budget and voted against the amendment. The amendment failed (4-8).
  • Best Beginnings Grant: Member Voland moved to remove funding for Best Beginnings from the omnibus, citing process concerns. Member Silvers and Member Brawley spoke against the removal, noting the program's success. Member Voland's amendment to remove the item failed (6-6 tie, failed by youth vote or procedural rule, effectively failing). Member Kirker subsequently moved to strike the funding from the omnibus; this amendment failed (3-9).
  • Travel Budget Reduction: Member Kirker proposed across-the-board cuts to discretionary travel. Fire Chief Troggy testified that travel is essential for training, inspections of million-dollar equipment, and national conferences, refuting the claim of "waste." Member Constant and Member Baldwin Day opposed the amendment, noting that municipal travel differs from household vacations and that the cut amounts were negligible (0.03% of the budget). The amendment failed (4-8).
  • Overtime Reduction: Member Martinez proposed a 10% reduction in budgeted overtime across general departments ($1.2 million). OMB Director Pearson stated that a structural analysis should be conducted in Quarter 1 budget revisions rather than this night to avoid service disruptions. The amendment failed (4-8).
  • Equal Rights Commission: Member Kirker proposed defunding the Equal Rights Commission due to duplicative functions. The Municipality's Law Director noted that the Commission is mandated by charter and the Department of Law would face conflicts of interest if it took over the investigation of complaints. The amendment was withdrawn.
  • Revenue Measures: The Assembly voted to postpone several revenue ballot measures (1% sales tax, 2% tax for infrastructure, and short-term rental tax) to future meetings (December 16 or January) to allow for further community discussion.

• Capital Improvement Budget (AO 2025-107):

  • CASA Advisory Group: The Assembly adopted an omnibus amendment (10-2) regarding the Chugach State Park Access Service Area (CASA). The amendment requests the administration convene an advisory group to develop a six-year CIP, submitting the plan by March 31, 2026. This addresses concerns about the lack of input from Arts (Area Service) voices.
  • Specific Projects: The budget was amended to include the Basher Trailhead parking renovation and Stuart Trail wayfinding signage.
  • Traffic Calming: Member McCormick moved to strike traffic calming funding ($500,000). Member Silvers and Member Brawley testified that traffic calming is highly supported by community councils and includes speed bumps, not just lane narrowing. Member Martinez suggested a holistic review of traffic calming's relationship with economic development. The motion to strike failed (3-9).
  • Downtown Wayfinding: Member McCormick moved to strike downtown wayfinding funding, noting it wasn't the right priority. Member Brawley noted that ArtSA bond funds, not general taxpayer funds, would be used for this project. The motion to strike failed.

• Executive Branch Reorganization (AO 2025-110):

  • Adopted unanimously (12-0) to reorganize the executive branch, specifically tying Community and Economic Development functions together to support the Mayor's housing agenda. The ordinance takes effect January 1, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• AO 2025-106 (General Government Operating Budget): Passed as amended (9-3). The budget remains below the tax cap by approximately $194,000.
• AO 2025-108 (Municipal Utilities Enterprise): Approved unanimously (12-0).
• AO 2025-109 (Community Development Authority): Approved unanimously (12-0).
• AO 2025-110 (Executive Reorganization): Approved unanimously (12-0).
• AO 2025-107 (Capital Improvement Budget): Approved as amended (9-3). The omnibus amendment regarding CASA was adopted.
• AR 2025-296 (General Government CIP): Approved unanimously (12-0).
• AR 2025-298 (Municipal Utilities CIP): Approved unanimously (12-0).
• Crane Agreement (AO 2025-78): Approved unanimously (12-0) and final execution authorized.
• Postponements: The 1% sales tax (For Progress), 2% tax for infrastructure, and short-term rental registration tax were postponed to December 16 or January meetings. The State Legislative Program was postponed to December 2nd.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after all budget items and related resolutions were finalized.