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Record of Proceedings

Anchorage Military & Veterans Commission Meeting – September 14, 2026

Assembly & Committee Meetings — Monday, September 14, 2026
BodyAnchorage, Alaska
SessionAssembly & Committee Meetings
DateMonday, September 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:13:28

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

All right, I just want to start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:12

America.

0:13

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:16

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice.

0:25

All right.

0:30

Robert, you want to go ahead and do uh roll call.

0:36

Okay, uh we got Commissioner Davis here.

0:40

Commissioner Ellen.

0:42

Commissioner Robert Massal here.

0:44

Commissioner Al.

0:45

He's here.

0:45

Commissioners come along.

0:47

Commissioner Olivia.

0:49

Absolutely.

0:50

Commissioner Robert.

0:51

Here.

0:52

Commissioner.

0:55

Jason New Routine.

0:57

Here.

1:00

Which one's Jason Simon?

1:02

He's up in the oh on the right hand corner.

1:03

Yeah, top right.

1:07

That's me.

1:10

All right.

1:15

Let's go and do the uh last minute meeting last meeting minutes.

1:21

Hi oh, wait a second.

1:23

My fault.

1:24

I need to uh yeah, this is the approval.

1:28

So the uh let's do the the meeting minutes.

1:31

Everybody have a chance to read them.

1:33

Anyone have any objections or uh admissions to the minutes?

1:38

Um the attendance um is changed.

1:42

If you look at the ones that he just handed out, the attendance has been changed to Al present and a mall at his excused absence because he was out of town.

1:52

Okay, yes.

1:53

And I have an amendment.

1:55

Uh last month I mentioned that uh open meetings that you could get together with more than three of us, and uh that if that we're not gonna discuss goodness, that was uh ran through the ombudsman Darrell S.

2:16

So I think it should be the meeting in the minute because that's important.

2:20

It was actually in the minutes of the month before that.

2:23

Well, I wouldn't I didn't think it was the month before that.

2:26

Yeah, yeah.

2:28

Because I when I was doing the agendas and everything, I had to pull it up.

2:31

Okay, good.

2:32

I just want to make sure it's in we have to have that in official that the minutes are real important that we get them uh accurate in all of the commissioner's review and I kind of know that being reviewed by all commissioners and please review and get your comments in and correction because it's important, yeah.

3:00

Okay, anyone else.

3:06

All right, then uh do we have any objections to the minutes?

3:10

No, no.

3:12

Okay, with no objections, then uh by un set the minutes passed.

3:17

Okay, the agenda, everybody have a chance to look at the agenda today's meeting.

3:23

Does anybody have any objections with the agenda for this day?

3:29

All right, no one approved.

3:31

I was not hearing any, they're passed by unanimous consent.

3:36

All right, introduce a guest.

3:40

Okay, so we have over here.

3:43

We have um cal, it's uh Williams, who I remember you filled out the application to become a member of the commission, is that correct?

3:52

I did, and we're just waiting to find out about uh his process if it's gone through.

3:57

So if we can uh find out that I'd sent an email to Marie and you to find out, yes.

4:04

Um and we had to ask that last month too for the status.

4:07

Yeah, I believe Marie said that she did try to already regarding your application.

4:12

I think there was missing some um additional documentations to finish up.

4:17

Oh yeah, um, but I can connect with Marie, she's in the office today.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Veteran Affairs██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Public Works██████████████14%
Grant Management██████████10%
Procedural██████6%
Community Engagement████4%
Public Records Management███3%
Board And Commission Management███3%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Anchorage Military & Veterans Commission Meeting – September 14, 2026

The Anchorage Military & Veterans Commission (AMVEC) met on September 14, 2026, to discuss the 11th Air Force Memorial, sign placement, grant processes, and planning for a Veterans Day ceremony. The meeting included introductions of new staff and guests, approval of minutes and agenda, and updates on various initiatives.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting were approved by unanimous consent after an amendment to include a discussion about open meetings and the ombudsman's guidance. Attendance was corrected to show Commissioner Al present and Commissioner Mall at excused absence.
  • Approval of Agenda: The agenda for the meeting was approved by unanimous consent.

Discussion Items

  • Sign Placement for 11th Air Force Memorial: Krista Langley, manager of the Traffic Safety Group, presented sign capabilities. Signs would be larger than samples shown and placed near the Glenn Highway and other locations, pending coordination with Alaska DOT. Installation expected in spring 2027 due to winter conditions. A committee of Commissioners Ellen and Al will work with Langley on final placement and messaging.
  • Grant Process Clarification: Laurel Foster, executive assistant and new military/veterans liaison, clarified that AMVEC cannot directly apply for grants; the municipality (mayor's office) must submit on their behalf. Two previously submitted grant proposals (one to the Officers Association, one to the Enlisted Association) will be resubmitted with the mayor's signature to avoid confusion. The Officers Association funds are likely unavailable as they belong to the 176th Wing for another purpose.
  • 11th Air Force Memorial Maintenance and Ownership: Commissioner Al reported that the memorial, located on Merrill Field, has structural cracks and trip hazards. Earl Malpause, Merrill Field director, has maintained it but lacks official ownership. A recommendation from the commission to the mayor proposes an interagency meeting (parks, airport, etc.) to decide long-term care. Laurel Foster was tasked with convening that meeting. Estimated repair costs are $28,000–$34,000, detailed in a proposal on the shared drive.
  • Veterans Day Ceremony Planning: The traditional ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) is unlikely due to the government shutdown and disaster relief commitments. The commission planned an alternative outdoor ceremony at the 11th Air Force Memorial on November 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. The event will feature a sound system, flags, possible honor guard, and brief remarks. Commissioner Jason donated small flags; Earl will set up the podium and sound system. A flyer will be created and distributed via social media and veteran organizations. A go/no-go decision from JBER is expected Wednesday, September 16.
  • Old Business: The BRAC survey reminder was noted; commissioners were encouraged to participate.
  • New Business: Commissioners Al, Robert, and Ellen submitted emails requesting renewal; status to be verified. Cal Williams' application to join the commission is pending missing documentation; Laurel will follow up.
  • Upcoming Events: JBER holiday bazaar (Nov 15–16) and tree lighting (Dec 4) are uncertain due to shutdown. Resource America event scheduled for December 13 at the National Cemetery, but may be affected. The mayor will attend a Veterans Day lunch at the Anchorage Senior Center on November 12.
  • Good of the Commission: Video recordings of meetings have not been posted since March 2026; Diana will investigate. Community relief efforts for flood evacuees from Western Alaska were highlighted; Laurel Foster deployed with the National Guard for two weeks. Military YMCA and Amvets Post 49 are collecting donations for military families and flood victims.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes and agenda approved by unanimous consent.
  • Grant proposals to be resubmitted via the mayor's office; Laurel Foster to coordinate.
  • Interagency meeting on memorial ownership and maintenance to be convened by Laurel Foster, including airport, parks, and M&O representatives.
  • Veterans Day ceremony planned for November 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the 11th Air Force Memorial; go/no-go decision from JBER on September 16. Flags donated by Commissioner Jason; flyer to be created; Earl Malpause to provide sound system and podium.
  • Commissioner renewals: Al, Robert, and Ellen to have their status clarified; Cal Williams' application to be processed.
  • Next meeting set for the first Monday of October (October 5, 2026).

Meeting Transcript

All right, I just want to start with the Pledge of Allegiance. America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice. All right. Robert, you want to go ahead and do uh roll call. Okay, uh we got Commissioner Davis here. Commissioner Ellen. Commissioner Robert Massal here. Commissioner Al. He's here. Commissioners come along. Commissioner Olivia. Absolutely. Commissioner Robert. Here. Commissioner. Jason New Routine. Here. Which one's Jason Simon? He's up in the oh on the right hand corner. Yeah, top right. That's me. All right. Let's go and do the uh last minute meeting last meeting minutes. Hi oh, wait a second. My fault. I need to uh yeah, this is the approval. So the uh let's do the the meeting minutes. Everybody have a chance to read them. Anyone have any objections or uh admissions to the minutes? Um the attendance um is changed. If you look at the ones that he just handed out, the attendance has been changed to Al present and a mall at his excused absence because he was out of town. Okay, yes. And I have an amendment. Uh last month I mentioned that uh open meetings that you could get together with more than three of us, and uh that if that we're not gonna discuss goodness, that was uh ran through the ombudsman Darrell S. So I think it should be the meeting in the minute because that's important. It was actually in the minutes of the month before that. Well, I wouldn't I didn't think it was the month before that. Yeah, yeah. Because I when I was doing the agendas and everything, I had to pull it up. Okay, good. I just want to make sure it's in we have to have that in official that the minutes are real important that we get them uh accurate in all of the commissioner's review and I kind of know that being reviewed by all commissioners and please review and get your comments in and correction because it's important, yeah. Okay, anyone else. All right, then uh do we have any objections to the minutes? No, no. Okay, with no objections, then uh by un set the minutes passed. Okay, the agenda, everybody have a chance to look at the agenda today's meeting. Does anybody have any objections with the agenda for this day? All right, no one approved.

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