Anchorage Assembly Regular Meeting – April 28–29, 2026
Anchorage Assembly Regular Meeting – April 28–29, 2026
Note: The meeting was called to order on April 28, 2026 at approximately 7:26 p.m. (Alaska time), though the provided timestamp corresponds to April 29, 2026 UTC.
The regular meeting of the Anchorage Assembly included consent agenda approvals, public hearings, budget revisions, tax levy ordinances, election certification, and farewells to departing members. New members were sworn in and new leadership elected.
Consent Calendar
- Items 10A through 10G were approved as a block, minus polled items.
- Approved recognition resolutions: National Day of Prayer (May 7), Bike Month, Trail Town designation, Winter Olympians, Election Workers, Teresa Churchill (21 years of service), and the outgoing youth representatives.
- Also approved: contract awards, commission appointments, and sole source purchases (including NICE 911 software maintenance).
Public Comments & Testimony
- On AO 2026-53 (feeding wild animals): Chris Jansen (Spenard) opposed the ordinance, arguing it would harm abandoned domestic bunnies and small birds; requested exceptions. Mirror LaFrance (West Anchorage) similarly expressed concerns about bird feeders and bunnies.
- On other items: During later audience participation, Diane Ningle (District 3) praised the assembly for bipartisanship and public service. Stephen Rydell (Spenard) complained about planning department and Army Corps delays affecting his housing project.
Discussion Items
- Mayor's Report: Mayor LaFrance noted the revised budget sits $47,325 under the tax cap; invited the public to the Downtown Projects Expo; requested item 10D9 (behavioral health facility) be pulled for community conversation.
- Committee Reports: Various updates on legislative (state budget, port funding), infrastructure (port modernization, waste-to-energy, water supply agreement extension, Merrill Field staffing), budget/finance, Alaska Municipal League, quality/municipal services (cemeteries, downtown library), housing/homeless (Raspberry Townhome report), and public health/safety committees.
- AO 2026-56 (Attorney reporting): Substitute version passed after amendments requiring annual briefings on significant legal matters, reporting settlements over $200,000 (changed from $500,000) in the preliminary budget memo, and specifying briefings may be in executive session. Amended to twice per year. Passed 11–1.
- AO 2026-34 (FTE budget cap): After amendments (vacancy reporting at 120-day memo, no automatic elimination), the item failed 5–7.
- AO 2026-46 (Urban Design Commission sunset): Passed unanimously 12–0.
- AO 2026-53 (Feeding wild animals): Substitute version passed 9–3 after reopening the public hearing.
- Budget AR 2026-81 (General Government): Omnibus amendment passed 10–2, including: $80,000 for full-time constituent relations (net zero), $75,000 for AFD operational analysis, $35,000 for massage parlor inspection team, and $35,000 for civic youth summit. Another amendment on SAP reporting failed. Budget passed as amended.
- Tax Levies: AO 2026-43 (general government mill rate slightly lower than 2025) passed 12–0. AO 2026-44 (school district mill rate same as 2025) passed 12–0.
- Utility Budget AR 2026-82: Passed 12–0.
- Election Certification (AM 283-2026 and AM 313-2026): Election administrator reported 28.40% turnout (66,848 ballots), 815 rejected; recount in District 4 matched unofficial results. Passed 12–0.
- Organizational Meeting: New members Handelin (District 2), Park (District 4), and Perez-Redia (District 4) were sworn in. Anna Brawley was elected Chair (unanimous), and Daniel Voland was elected Vice Chair (ballot vote).
Key Outcomes
- AO 2026-56S as amended passed 11–1.
- AO 2026-34 failed 5–7.
- AO 2026-46 passed 12–0.
- AO 2026-53 passed 9–3.
- AR 2026-81 (budget) passed as amended.
- AO 2026-43 and AO 2026-44 (tax levies) passed.
- AR 2026-82 (utility budget) passed.
- Municipal election certified and new assembly impaneled.
- New Chair (Brawley) and Vice Chair (Voland) elected.
- Departing members Constant, Rivera, and Myers gave farewell speeches; their service was recognized.
Farewell Remarks and New Leadership
- Outgoing Chair Constant and members Rivera and Myers delivered farewell addresses. Constant highlighted achievements in housing reform, port financing, election security, and tribal sovereignty. Rivera emphasized the assembly’s evolution as a co‑equal branch. Myers expressed a desire for fiscal restraint and common-sense governance.
- The new assembly, under Chair Brawley and Vice Chair Voland, committed to continuing the work of building a strong legislative branch and addressing challenges in housing, behavioral health, and fiscal sustainability.
Meeting Transcript
Lightning strikes and the bigger one. We want we want things got the red sun, now we working for the past. But like 15 work salary on your wrist. A place of chasing what you want when you want if you want till it's up and dust, billions burning in the clubs of fire, please. No chasing peace. I must see scream, but honestly, I feel the brinch. We want we want them. Always a good guys coming to save us. Thank God that you came. Always got Uncle Sam ready to save us. Till the end we'll fight the good fighting, and the lives you've changed the effects you've made. Is this the life you made for me? Always a good guy's coming and save us. Thank God that you came. Always got Uncle Sam ready to save us. Thank God you came, thank God you came, thank God you came. Always a good guys coming to save us. Thank God that you came. Always got Uncle Sam ready to save us. Think God you came, thank God you came, thank God you came out used to feel it's nothing. Empty plane. A highway memorial, the fill up some space. The moon's only pretty Cause it's far away. So I'm keeping his place. Meaning if I look hard enough. Is it cause of your tears? And I check every month. Cut the law. Just you watch. It's all the same. Before the juice starts dripping on down it we kiss my elbow and kisses the ground just like a chuke I run in a day of the cave I got too much to say Oh my God it happened again Wound up by four I lost me again Why don't you go visit the summer time because it miss you don't know those freckles in the water Why don't you start sipping on tea? Go get yourself some love. Why don't you follow the dream? All you dance weaknesses, sweetness, selling you have ambitions in your life. I know perfect moment to reach out and shine. Sweetness, sweetness, sell it, I need some species when you say it's all so in your seller. You will never find it to this until you go change your mind, go do things for fun. I know that it was stolen, but don't be a child once. I let out a lamp, I let it break up. I leave it right off it with all the bowl. Life is too short, you're stressed enough that go with those days that keep you so tight and so you know I love you, but what I want so bad is to see you grow to see you laugh, fulfill your desires, and prove them all wrong, even yourself, mama make it and hurry along. Why don't you go visit the summertime? Does it miss you? I'll begin message from your daughter. Why don't you start sip it on tea? Go get yourself some love, I like you follow the team. I know big moments. Oh, you said I think suspicious when you listen yourself the message you're receiving. So fresh where I'm from Palm Trees, ready made good song fright. Cause you was on your own time coming, don't stop running, burning the leaves in the backyard summers, flowers and a breeze, keep warming me.
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