Video Clips

Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.

Speaker C

“I'm only going to support these variances because they allow infrastructure to be phased in coordination with actual development demand. Requiring immediate construction of an 880-foot roadway segment to serve an undeveloped future parcel would result in infrastructure that is not presently needed.”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Speaker C

“I move in Case S12883 to approve a variance from AMC 2108030E, legal and physical access. A subdivision shall have legal and physical access and a variance from AMC 2108050F2, peripheral streets, improvement of peripheral streets when necessary for efficient flow of traffic or emergency vehicle access, subject to the conditions shown on page 6 of the staff report.”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Curtis McQueen

“It has been a dream for 30 years. People who might know the Eklutna Inc. board on the land side and the tribal side of Native Village of Eklutna are the same people. So we share the same people on both boards and councils. So this has been a project that the corporation and the tribe have been working for, for a long time.”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Curtis McQueen

“I have worked for, with, and alongside the Eklutna people, most of it with Eklutna Inc., for over 21 years. I was the CEO for 15 years, right through 2019.”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Curtis McQueen

“after the 2018 quake, we decided that we were going to design the building— and we have Stantec, our architects here— to a place where the entire village can muster, gather in an emergency. So it'll be a place where if, you know, a big event happened, the village could go to that building. So it's been designed for that. So it's evolved, but it's— we're really excited about that.”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Curtis McQueen

“we've cleared the site, we're looking forward to bringing heavy equipment in here real soon”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Dora Cross

“Variant requests typically have a much more stringent application process, and I will point out on pages 5 and 6, they've met all standards. There are special circumstances, conditions affecting the property that such strict application and provision of the subdivision regulations could clearly be impractical, unreasonable, will not be detrimental to the public welfare, will not have a nullifying effect on the intent and purpose of the subdivision, and it is creating undue hardship due to strict compliance. So I'll be voting for it.”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Speaker C

“I will not support a variance if it's based on finance, just for the record.”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Patrick Jones

“I wholeheartedly support Item B on page 5 where it talks about the detrimental to building the road that's not needed at this time. I feel like if you give the public that much road, it's just an invitation for, you know, people to go back there and nefarious acts, dump, do whatever. So I think not doing that at the time would really be the best decision.”

Anchorage Assembly: Platting Board: June 17, 2026 - 2026-06-17 18:30:00 · Jun 18, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“That's what we're really trying to build the system around, is an early detection tool for measles. Then also for a certain subtype of influenza A, H5N1, also known as avian influenza, or you probably have heard it called bird flu.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“These auto-samplers are a little pricey. Most wastewater treatment plants already have them. If, for instance, there's some— there's a need of one at your wastewater treatment plant and you guys would like to engage in the sampling, we can provide them for you. They're a little pricey, but we will cover all costs and maintenance.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Speaker A

“memorandum of agreement with the Alaska Department of Health for participation in the wastewater monitoring program, brought to you by the administration.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Speaker B

“I just want to reiterate all the thank yous to the Kenai Senior Connection for their work and their effort to make the March on Meals a success this year. Just pretty incredible, the amount— $120,000. I'm still kind of wowed by that.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“we can look at the presence of certain disease pathogens like COVID, which also called SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV, measles, and pox. Once we get those results from the lab, it's reported to public health”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“we cover all costs. The only thing we can't do is reimburse for any time. For instance, if an operator needs to drop off the sample at FedEx and it takes 30 minutes from the job to a FedEx location, we don't really have any ability to kind of offset those costs, but everything else we pay for.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“We are working along with some public health nurse, that's Julie Bunch, that's in the area, as well as several community members. If the, you know, community council approves this work, next steps will be for me to schedule a visit to come meet with the operators and kind of do an assessment of the facility. And then, if you guys are game, they will start testing as soon as that happens.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“we really want to implement a robust and scalable wastewater monitoring system in Alaska. We want to continue to use it for routine monitoring of certain diseases like COVID, influenza, but we also want to have this available for, you know, when the next COVID COVID-19 comes around or, you know, the next disease that's really concerning, that we already have this infrastructure in place, that it's there and readily available for us when that new pathogen emerges.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“We collect the samples, they're transported to a lab. We have two labs stood up in Anchorage for this. One is the Department of Environmental Conservation's Environmental Health Lab, and the other is University of Alaska Anchorage AIMS Core Facility.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“This is done with trend tracking. We do this 1 to 2 times a week, and it really— looking at concentrations throughout the week and throughout the months really gives us an idea about disease and community disease trends in your community.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“Samples are collected from the wastewater treatment plant. We also can sample from other locations, but at the wastewater treatment plant, they're already sampling and for their routine wastewater discharge permit requirements, so it's really easy for us to kind of just take a slice of that wastewater. This testing provides information about the community as a whole and does not identify individuals.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“These are our pathogen targets or disease targets. The ones in red are the ones we currently have online here in Alaska. Most notable, I wanted to bring attention to measles.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“utility partnerships are the backbone of making this work. Without the utility operators' buy-in and engagement, this is not a sustainable effort.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Clayton Weingartner

“I also oversee our wastewater monitoring program, and that is what I'm here to talk to you guys about today.”

Kenai: 06/17/24 City Council Meeting · Jun 17, 2026

Speaker A

“I feel like your application was pretty thorough. We appreciate it.”

Kodiak Borough: Planning and Zoning Regular Meeting of June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Chris French

“The Native Village of Akarlik requests a conditional use permit for a utility facility within the C Conservation District. The subject parcel is split zoned between the C District and the W Watershed District. The utility facility is permitted use within the W District, therefore, the conditional use permit is needed for the portion of the development that is within the Sea Conservation District zone.”

Kodiak Borough: Planning and Zoning Regular Meeting of June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Chris French

“The applicant proposes improvements to the current water treatment facility including a new water storage tank and new water lines from the tank to the treatment facility. This facility is the primary source of drinking water to the Village of Carluck.”

Kodiak Borough: Planning and Zoning Regular Meeting of June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Speaker A

“We have case number 26-019. Native Village of Karluk requests a conditional use permit on Township 30 South, Range 32 West, TL-2001, Track C, Karluk.”

Kodiak Borough: Planning and Zoning Regular Meeting of June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Chris French

“The staff finds that the application meets the requirements of the code based on the submitted plan and details provided and based on the proposed conditions of approval. Both the findings and conditions of approval have been incorporated into the proposed resolution FY20— Mr. Mayor, 26-22.”

Kodiak Borough: Planning and Zoning Regular Meeting of June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Speaker A

“To bring the existing utilities facility into compliance with the Sea Conservation Zone, proposed project includes replacing the water tank, water mains, and service lines to provide year-round service— year-round source of potable water. Can I get a motion, please? I move to approve Resolution FY 2026-022.”

Kodiak Borough: Planning and Zoning Regular Meeting of June 17, 2026 · Jun 17, 2026

Mike Cronk

“They've made it pretty clear that you start to shorten that and that jeopardizes the economics of it. They need it to match the loan.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

Robert Yundt

“Our goal is to pass a clean bill that allows this project the opportunity to be built.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

James Kaufman

“suddenly committee hearings are being canceled and the majority's caught in a huddle apparently trying to figure out what they're gonna do. So I hope with all of my heart that we can get a clean bill to the floor and we can have a good up and down vote.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

Robert Myers

“We can't let a 2-year decision slow down a 50-year decision. That's really what this boils down to.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

James Kaufman

“It's really just a tax treatment to make the funding formula work for it so that they can get on with it try and get the investors to step up and get the funding package put together, along with the commitments at each end of it, gas in, gas out. So that's all that it is.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

Mike Cronk

“we are here today to talk about the gas line. And we're pleased to be collaborating with Glenfarn the House, the executive branch, and the majority caucus to push this project forward. This project benefits nearly every Alaskan, whether it's directly through cheaper energy costs, indirectly through PCE, or by employment or economic opportunities.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

James Kaufman

“If people wanna try some amendments, do it. But I think it all should be done in the light of day. If we're squabbling over revenue that comes from this thing, we need to remember no revenue comes from bought gas. No revenue comes from windmills. None comes from solar panels.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

Cathy Tilton

“HB 381 and passing this key piece of legislation isn't about choosing between revenue and development. It's about securing both for Alaska's future. And I look forward to being a yes vote to vote on a clean piece of legislation.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

Robert Myers

“the developer was pretty clear in committee meetings the last few days that it's a 30-year loan based on 30-year contracts, so they're asking for a 30-year tax treatment.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

James Kaufman

“I don't know what the effort might be to make it unpalatable to people to vote for it, the old poison pill idea. I don't know how far we might go down that road if it comes to the floor, but I think the best thing we can do is get it to the floor and do it in the light of day, just like we should have been having committee meetings to get the final bill in shape and then send it to the floor. But instead, we've kind of collapsed into this closed-door caucus meetings rather than the committee meetings and the process that we should should be following.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

Robert Yundt

“we are nowhere near ready to even consider that right now. So it needs to stand on its own merit in a year or 2 years or 4 years or possibly never. But we got to finish the financial modeling. We cannot— I don't think we should be considering jeopardizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity over something that we haven't even finished the committee process on.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

James Kaufman

“This getting to the point where suddenly things just collapse in committee and then we go into these caucus meetings, you know, behind closed doors. That was really kind of a breaking point that occurred that I think is unfortunate.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

Robert Myers

“nothing in life is guaranteed here. And I think everybody agrees that passing this bill does not guarantee us a gas line, but not passing this bill guarantees we don't get a gas line. This is the last thing that we as a state can do to help this process along.”

Alaska Legislature: SMIN-20260617-1630 · Jun 17, 2026

Suzanne LaFrance

“True North was planning a launchpad project where crisis services would be provided on-site.”

Anchorage Assembly: Housing and Homelessness Committee · Jun 17, 2026

Thea Agnew-Bemben

“The proposal, it's a 3-year proposal. The first year is gonna be about $3.1 million, then a couple million each year after that. So it's a big lift for us to do this, but the goal is that that will get us over a hump that will allow us to not only coordinate care within Anchorage, but also statewide.”

Anchorage Assembly: Housing and Homelessness Committee · Jun 17, 2026

Speaker G

“Services not proposed: crisis services. There'd be no crisis services at this facility. They will continue their current work of providing providing that through mobile outreach, and the new vehicle will assist in that and make that a more streamlined and efficient process”

Anchorage Assembly: Housing and Homelessness Committee · Jun 17, 2026

Speaker G

“she is putting this forward to the Assembly again for Assembly action at the July 7th meeting. This will be a revised Assembly memorandum outlining the revised scope of services being proposed by True North and requesting Assembly approval of the grant agreement.”

Anchorage Assembly: Housing and Homelessness Committee · Jun 17, 2026

Erin Baldwin Day

“when I look at a feasibility study and there's an entire paragraph that says, you know, the mobile outreach team is the service line with the least amount of billable revenue associated given the target population of the service line, and then there's a question at the end about operational impacts if additional grant funding isn't made available. I have questions about sustainability when it sounds like we're shifting harder into that mobile outreach model.”

Anchorage Assembly: Housing and Homelessness Committee · Jun 17, 2026

Erin Baldwin Day

“I'm curious about how this service change impacts financial feasibility of this project, if at all, for True North. It sounds like, based on the feasibility study, that those, the mobile services were actually the least financially viable or stable in the long haul, and there were some questions about whether or not that, that particular line of service could even be sustained after the first 2 years of operation if additional grant funds were not made available.”

Anchorage Assembly: Housing and Homelessness Committee · Jun 17, 2026

← Newer Older →