Anchorage Assembly Regular Meeting – May 13, 2026
Anchorage Assembly Regular Meeting – May 13, 2026
The Anchorage Assembly held a regular business meeting on May 12-13, 2026, chaired by Assembly Chair Brawley. The meeting included committee reports, multiple public hearings, and votes on ordinances and resolutions. Key topics included a veteran-owned business preference program, a collective bargaining agreement, a firefighter medical second-opinion ordinance, and a proposal to restore initial audience participation. The meeting adjourned shortly after 10:00 p.m. on May 12.
Consent Calendar
- Routine approvals: Items 10A through 10G (excluding polled items) were approved unanimously on a single vote. Polled items included recognition resolutions for Building Safety Month, Police Memorial Week, Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and the 65th anniversary of UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research – all passed unanimously.
- Nuisance property abatement appropriation (AR 2026-130): Appropriated $300,000 from nuisance abatement revenue to the Development Services Department for code enforcement. Passed 12-0.
- Procurement card audit (AIM 652026): Accepted as information. Member Baldwin Day noted the audit found fewer than 100 problematic transactions out of ~40,000, and the Audit Committee will further review in July. Passed 12-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Appearance requests (3 individuals):
- David Gottstein alleged the theft of $100 million-plus from his father’s charitable foundation. He urged the Assembly to demand a law enforcement investigation. Pastor Gary Morton supported Gottstein, stating the alleged crimes could happen to any family and urging action.
- Conrad James, a new resident, proposed a "Make Anchorage Native Again" ordinance to address homelessness, elderly and disabled discrimination, and to create a jitney program using federal grants.
- Public hearing on AO 2026-40 (veteran-owned business preference): One testifier (Miranda Walso) expressed support for the goal but concerns about the 5% preference cap ($50,000 vs. state’s $5,000) and mandatory RFP scoring, urging a simpler structure.
- Audience participation (end of meeting): Four speakers addressed mental health among youth, a sewer easement issue, code enforcement actions, and barriers to public testimony.
Discussion Items
- AO 2026-45 (Raspberry Road development extension): Unfinished business – extended the development period for a Heritage Land Bank parcel. Approved 12-0.
- Veteran-owned business preference (AO 2026-40): Extensive debate. The S1 version provided a 5% evaluation preference (capped at $50,000) for qualifying veteran-owned businesses in contracting. Administration requested more time to propose alternatives. A motion to postpone to June 9th passed 11-1.
- Collective bargaining agreement with Operating Engineers Local 302 (AR 2026-96): Approved 11-1. Provided 15% wage increases over the contract term and removed service recognition pay disparities. Member Gerker voted no, citing concerns about agency fee language and employee rights under the Janus decision.
- Firefighter medical second-opinion ordinance (AO 2026-63): Passed 9-3. Allows applicants disqualified under NFPA 1582 to seek a second medical opinion. Supporters argued it improves fairness and transparency; opponents cited liability and implementation concerns.
- Initial audience participation restoration (AO 2026-64): Failed 3-9. Would have reinstated a 30-minute public comment period at the start of regular meetings. Opponents cited past operational challenges and existing alternative participation methods.
- Numerous public hearings on bond appropriations, easements, liquor licenses, and rezoning items – all passed with 12-0 votes, except where noted.
Key Outcomes
- Veteran-owned business preference: Postponed to June 9, 2026, for further work with the administration.
- Collective bargaining agreement (Local 302): Approved 11-1.
- Firefighter medical second opinion (AO 2026-63): Approved 9-3.
- Initial audience participation (AO 2026-64): Failed 3-9.
- All other public hearing items: Approved unanimously or as noted.
- Meeting adjournment: Shortly after 10:00 p.m. on May 12, 2026 (continued into early May 13).
Meeting Transcript
Is it just me? All of my life waited for a son to hurry. She knows boundaries to have and nowhere to go. Don't let them take a shine. Don't let them steal your mind away. Boom you said if they owed you money, I want me to be for you. Oh you're stronger than you think. Don't let these women stay up on four, five, six sometimes two girls. Thank God it's something bad. I get something bad. Say if they owe me money, if they owe me something, let's go find it staying over. I'm not very lucky if they owe me something, let's go find it, stayed it up. I saw that we asked you things hadn't go in my way. I've been on both nose and the face is better over sight. Let me take it down at the end we turn scares me. But it's on a rules. I always lose. I wake up if I get to choose. I don't know. Don't let them take a shine. Don't let them steal your mind. Oh, if they owe you money, I will need a belly for you. Oh you're stronger than you think. Don't let these woman stain up on four, five, six, no doubt. Nobody else fall Think I get something bad. I did something back, and I question the hand they owe me money. If they owe me something, let's go back to stay. I'm not very lucky if they owe me something. Let's go back to me get you a secret. Let me tell you all. Let me tell you a secret. Let me tell you all. Let me tell you the secret. Sacred uh oh I keep it all alone. I keep it alone. I keep that alone, I keep it alone. I keep it alone, I keep it alone. I keep it alone, I keep it, keep it, keep I keep it all alone, I keep it alone, I keep it all alone, I keep it alone, I keep it all alone, I keep it alone, I keep it alone, I keep it, keep it. I keep your food easy, and case in nobody else is fall. Thank I get something bad. I did something bad. Say if they owe me money, if they owe me something, let's go out and spend it always. I'm not very lucky if they owe me something, let's go out and spend it all. Sometimes the world moves too quickly, and I know it's not like the earth is turning so ready gone, but we both know I can sleep alone or at least a one really home. It doesn't place even though I know where I'm gonna go. Let nobody stays mad at me. Oh it's up in your eyes. We didn't get to say that you take me. Seriously, and now these things many let you take me seriously. Oh sometimes the world moves too quickly, and I know it's not like the earth is turning so we both know I can't sleep.
openpublica.com