Anchorage Women's Commission Regular Meeting - May 12, 2026
Anchorage Women's Commission Regular Meeting - May 12, 2026
The Anchorage Women's Commission met on May 12, 2026, at 4:30 PM local time. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by agenda approval with an amendment, and approval of the March and April 2026 minutes. Committee reports were given, and new business included scheduling an in-person social gathering and inviting the mayor to a future meeting. No public comments were received.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda as amended (added new business item: inviting the mayor to a future meeting) by unanimous consent.
- Approved the March and April 2026 meeting minutes without dissent.
Discussion Items
- Infrastructure Committee Report: No meeting held; chair requested interested members to join and provide availability.
- Outreach & Communications Committee Report: Member Sharon reported difficulty contacting the legal department regarding social media requirements. Discussion ensued about using existing municipal social media channels (e.g., mayor's office, assembly pages) to recruit new commissioners and solicit public comment without waiting for legal clearance. Commissioner Ashley offered to check with the municipal Public Information Officer (PIO) and communicate findings to Sharon. The committee continues gathering a list of women-owned businesses.
- Strategic Planning Committee Report: Not yet met; chair stated plan to schedule a meeting after personal scheduling issues resolve.
- New Business: In-Person Social Gathering: Commissioners discussed and agreed to an informal, non-business social gathering to build relationships. Date and location set for Friday, May 15, 2026, at 5:30 PM at Bear Paw in midtown Anchorage.
- New Business: Inviting the Mayor: Commissioner reported a conversation with the mayor expressing interest in attending a commission meeting. After discussion, the commission agreed to invite the mayor to the September 2026 regular meeting. Member Sharon volunteered to contact the mayor's office to schedule.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda amended unanimously to include discussion of inviting the mayor.
- March and April 2026 minutes approved.
- In-person social gathering scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026, at 5:30 PM at Bear Paw (midtown).
- Decision to invite the mayor to the September 2026 regular meeting; Sharon to follow up with mayor's office.
- Next regular meeting: June 4, 2026, at 4:30 PM; no meeting in July.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 5:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
So now we are calling the meeting to order at 4 30. We'll start with the pledge of allegiance. All right. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation undervisible with liberty and justice. Before I open the floor for a motion, we'll be open the floor for motions about the agenda, and I have one. Motion to approve the agenda. A motion to communicate the agenda. Well, I we have to motion to approve it and then we'll take the okay. So then I make a motion to approve the agenda. All right, do we have a second? I'll second Celeste seconds. Thanks, Les. All in favor. Oh, we don't have to vote. We motion and then you can make the amendment. Well then I can make the now you can make your amendment. So now I need to make a motion to amend the agenda and it's just to add a new business item. Um about inviting the mayor to officially attend one of our commission meetings. Uh just by way of background. I was in a at an event on Saturday evening, and the mayor was there. We had a brief discussion, and she mentioned that she should probably try to get it on her calendar to come and just have discussion with us. So we I wanted to bring it up with the group, because I don't want to do something, I don't want to officially invite a speaker or someone like that without discussing it with the rest of the commissioners. Um I will second your motion for the same passage. Okay. Um we can discuss the item, but I have comments about it. So yeah, I'll second it. Okay. Um now are there any comments? Okay. So any comments on the amendment. So then I believe we can vote on the amendment and then on the agenda. Yeah, you can just do it by a sense. So you can just say something like uh we'll do it by a cent. Is there anybody who um dissents for it? I think they raise their hand to dissent, then we would take some sort of like hand vote. All right. So do we have any dissent on that motion to amend the agenda? All right, so seeing none, amendment amendment approved by second. Yep. And now I'll take to where we have motion and a second on the agenda. On the amendment to the agenda. We also so now that the amended agenda has passed, now we vote on the agenda. Yeah, that's what I was trying to get to. Yeah, so all in favor of approving the agenda, raise your hand or thumbs up emoji. Sure, we have something for everybody. Okay. So seeing none opposed. Um agenda is approved. So now we have to go back to our March minutes.
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