Largest local government in Alaska, covering 1,961 square miles from Girdwood to Eklutna. A unified home-rule municipality combining city and borough powers over a population of roughly 290,000.
Anchorage, AK, USA
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Speaker C
“the very drafty version that you're seeing here with a bunch of notes and kind of fill this in is a first pass at doing this from myself, Mr. Boland, and Ms. Baldwin-Day, who has joined us as the third member on this committee. But this— the goal is not that this coming from three of us, it's from all of us.”Anchorage Assembly: Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole · Jun 18, 2026
Speaker C
“last year we passed this in September. We know that's pretty late. In terms of kind of when some kind of guidance like this would be useful, what timeframe would you recommend?”Anchorage Assembly: Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole · Jun 18, 2026
Speaker C
“So fixing this is going to involve a real trade-off.”Anchorage Assembly: Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole · Jun 18, 2026
Speaker C
“the intent is that we bring this forward probably at the July 21st meeting, so we have some time. And of course, this does not need to reflect every single person's individual priorities. We want to find what, you know, at least a majority of us can agree on at this point.”Anchorage Assembly: Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole · Jun 18, 2026
Speaker C
“The first section really deals with asking for information in what's called the preliminary budget memo or the 120-day memo that that will come out around September 1st. So it's really asking for basically scenarios or any information to really, you know, project that the point of that memo is to say, here's the revenue we expect, here's the big trends, here's our capital improvement program list, and really kind of a preview of what the actual budget will look like.”Anchorage Assembly: Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole · Jun 18, 2026
Speaker C
“the thing that Bill did not say, Mr. Fauzi did not say, was if we build more stuff, the Building Safety Service Area also fills itself back up, as we saw in the revenue. And so that is also a relevant piece piece of that conversation.”Anchorage Assembly: Budget and Finance Committee-of-the-Whole · Jun 18, 2026
Nearly $1 million for Anchorage's safety net goes to an Assembly vote
The Anchorage Assembly takes up a $978,240 package of Human Services Community Matching Grants on July 7, directing funds to nine nonprofits serving homeless residents, domestic violence survivors, youth, and food-insecure families, with continued funding contingent on both state and municipal appropriations.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Anchorage cuts a top City Hall job it just created
Anchorage plans to eliminate its chief administrative officer position and move finance under the mayor, saying the internal problems the role was created to fix are resolved.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Fred Meyer owes Anchorage back taxes — so the city grabbed its liquor licenses
nchorage's Assembly conditionally blocked four Fred Meyer liquor-license renewals over unpaid municipal taxes, using the licenses as leverage until the chain pays its debt.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Why Anchorage's longest-held shelter animals are the ones most at risk
A $3,000 Best Friends grant would fund training for hard-to-adopt animals at Anchorage Animal Care and Control, an open-admission shelter that repeatedly runs over capacity.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Decades-old rules cap buildings at a Tudor Road corner. The Assembly may start to lift them.
The Anchorage Assembly is considering a land use plan amendment that would redesignate two Southcentral Foundation parcels in the Century Village subdivision from 'Neighborhood Center' to 'Main Street Corridor.' The change would not itself alter zoning but could support a later effort to remove a 40-year-old special limitation capping building heights at 25 feet.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage approved three ice-arena contracts. The office that oversees them has one employee.
The Anchorage Assembly approved management contracts for three city ice arenas, as officials acknowledged thin oversight staffing and questioned the aging Sullivan Arena's future.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's library puts Hoopla on a budget with new borrowing limits
The Anchorage Public Library cut Hoopla borrowing limits and added a daily spending cap to control costs, and is seeking Assembly approval of a $150,000 contract for 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A New El Green-Go's Is Coming to East Anchorage
The Anchorage Assembly must act by July 21, 2026 — the last regular meeting before the deadline — or permanently lose its right to protest a new restaurant eating place license for El Green-Go's at 5305 E Northern Lights Blvd.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage child care fund squeezed by programs moved from alcohol tax
Anchorage's Child Care and Early Education Fund says two added programs are squeezing its mission — but the alcohol tax its board wants them moved to is also shrinking.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly approves True North deflection contract with APD
The Anchorage Assembly voted 11-0 Tuesday to award True North Recovery Inc. a contract for deflection navigation services with APD, creating a formal system to divert people who commit low-level offenses into behavioral health treatment rather than prosecution.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly unanimously passes veteran-owned business preference ordinance
The Anchorage Assembly voted 12-0 Tuesday to create a veteran-owned business preference program for municipal contracting, with a key 'right to match' amendment requiring qualifying businesses to accept contracts at the lowest competing bid price rather than automatically winning at a higher amount.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A neighborhood drinking arsenic-tainted well water wants help paying to join the city system
A Seaview Street homeowner told the Anchorage Assembly her neighborhood's wells exceed arsenic limits and asked for help funding a costly city-water connection.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage mayor introduces two property tax incentive proposals to spur housing
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance introduced two property tax incentive proposals Tuesday aimed at encouraging starter home construction, mixed-use development, and conversion of vacant commercial buildings, framing attainable housing as foundational to workforce stability and local business health.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Platting Board to weigh Canyon Road trail easement vacation
The Anchorage Platting Board is scheduled to hear a contested request July 1 to vacate a public trail easement near Chugach State Park, with Planning staff recommending approval despite six public comments against it and a Glen Alps Community Council resolution in opposition.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly members call on Martinez to resign after APOC ruling
Two Anchorage Assembly members publicly called Tuesday for Assembly Member George Martinez to resign after the Alaska Public Offices Commission found he willfully misused campaign funds and lied under oath, threatening formal removal proceedings if he refuses.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Supreme Court tax-sale ruling puts spotlight on Alaska foreclosure proceeds
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling establishes that just compensation in tax-foreclosure sales is based on the auction price, not fair-market value. The decision has direct implications for Alaska's statutory process and Anchorage's June 24 tax-foreclosed property auction.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Moves to Fix One of Its Most Dangerous Streets
The Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday, June 23, on a $7.3 million engineering contract with HDL Engineering Consultants that launches a safety overhaul of Bragaw Street, a 1.5-mile corridor with no bike lanes and only intermittent sidewalk separation from traffic. Total programmed funding is listed as $34.4 million in the Assembly memorandum and $35.4 million in the department recommendation memo.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Two Assembly members want Martinez out. The removal law may not reach him
Donald Handeland, Jared Goecker call for Anchorage Assembly's George Martinez to resign over APOC fines; AMC 2.70.030 removal law faces private-capacity carve-out
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago4 min read
Anchorage Assembly set to award $2.4M in tree-removal contracts Tuesday
The Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday, June 23, on three IDIQ contracts totaling up to $2.4 million for tree removal and arborist services, targeting spruce beetle kill and hazard trees across the Anchorage bowl.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly set to award $1.35M in homeless housing grants to five nonprofits
The Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on $1.35 million in supportive housing grants to five nonprofits, including a Bering Sea tribal organization, funded through federal HOME-ARP dollars and city operating funds.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
APD awards $1.66M opioid settlement contract for deflection program
The Anchorage Police Department recommended awarding a four-year, $1.66 million contract to True North Recovery for deflection navigation services on Tuesday, drawing the base-year cost entirely from the Anchorage Health Department's Opioid Settlement fund.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly to consider AMEA-ASEA merger recognition June 23
The Anchorage Assembly is scheduled to consider AR 2026-178 on June 23, which would formally recognize ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 as the exclusive bargaining representative for municipal workers after AMEA merged into ASEA on April 1, 2026.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Girdwood pot shop, Bird Creek grow op seek Anchorage license renewals
One operator, Brent Carse, filed renewal applications May 6 for a Girdwood retail marijuana store and a Bird Creek cultivation facility. Anchorage has until around July 5 to protest; the public comment window has already closed.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly to vote on downtown sidewalk and ADA repairs
The Anchorage Assembly votes June 23 on a $1,773,605 contract with Pruhs Construction to repair deteriorated sidewalks and upgrade curb ramps along 3rd through 8th Avenues downtown, funded by ARDSA Bond funds.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on an $859K Eklutna River study
Anchorage's $859,850 Eklutna River study contract is part of a multi-year decision about hydropower, fish restoration, and tribal interests
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Von Imhof Launches Anchorage Mayoral Bid With 'Fix and Grow' Platform
Former Alaska state senator Natasha Von Imhof formally kicked off her Anchorage mayoral campaign Friday on a 'fix and grow' platform, centering on homelessness, housing, economic growth, and major infrastructure projects ahead of the April 6, 2027 municipal election.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage's hockey community moves to take over its own arenas for $10 a year
The Anchorage Assembly votes June 23 on awarding management of Ben Boeke and Dempsey Anderson Ice Arenas to a nonprofit subsidiary of the Anchorage Hockey Association for $10 annually, paired with a one-time $450,010 transition grant, ending a for-profit arrangement that cost the city up to $108,663 a year.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly to vote on $76M Eagle River road deal with sole bidder
The Anchorage Assembly votes June 23 on a road maintenance contract worth up to $76 million for the Chugiak-Birchwood-Eagle River area — with McKenna Brothers Paving the only responsive bidder on both the maintenance and paving contracts.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly takes up wipes ban in city sewers June 23
The Anchorage Assembly takes up AO 2026-94 on June 23 for a first reading, a measure that would ban all disposable wipes from the municipal sewer system and carry fines up to $1,000, as AWWU reports the habit costs ratepayers more than $200,000 a year at a single treatment plant.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage seeks $3.5M for plow operators, contracts toward 72-hour standard
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance is asking the Anchorage Assembly to approve $3.5 million in 2025 lapsed ARDSA funds for seven new heavy equipment operators and snow-removal contracts aimed at a 72-hour first-pass standard on ARDSA roads after storms. The Assembly takes up the resolution June 23.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Anchorage city funds carry $45 million in deficits — biggest two still growing
Anchorage city funds carry $45 million in combined deficits, with the workers' compensation and IT funds accounting for the two largest gaps
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage budget trade-off: schools OR general government, not both, may be coming
Anchorage Assembly committee asks administration to model fully funding schools OR fully funding general government — signaling a potential FY 2027 fiscal cliff
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly will vote June 23 on $214,684 for a pedestrian safety campaign
Anchorage Assembly will vote June 23 on $214,684 federal funds for a pedestrian safety campaign — inside a contested Anchorage policy response
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Chugach Electric wants perpetual easements through two Anchorage parks
Chugach Electric is asking the Anchorage Assembly for perpetual easements through Russian Jack Springs Park and Ira Walker Park to bury overhead power lines
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly to vote on $11M Port construction management deal
Anchorage Assembly votes June 23 on $11 million in on-call engineering contracts for the Port of Alaska Modernization Program
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly to vote June 23 on 5 labor agreements across 4 unions
The Anchorage Assembly will vote June 23 on five administrative agreements that loosen holiday pay eligibility for municipal electricians, technicians, operating engineers, plumbers, steamfitters, and general public employees, replacing a full-shift requirement with a partial-shift standard under AO 2026-35. The package covers four unions through two separate IBEW agreements and one each for IUOE Local 302, Plumbers and Steamfitters UA Local 367, and Public Employees Local 71.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage homeless residents tell Assembly: shelters worse than jail
Anchorage homelessness committee testimony Wednesday sits inside a debate shaped by competing lived experiences — both unhoused and housed residents
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago3 min read
Anchorage Assembly reviews missing middle housing overlay for transit corridors
Anchorage's Assembly weighed an opt-in overlay easing duplex and small-apartment building on transit corridors, balancing housing goals against neighborhood concerns.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
True North dropped crisis services from Fairview plan after months of pushback
True North Recovery dropped crisis services from its Fairview plan after community pushback — replacing them with outpatient care and mobile outreach
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A residential block off Abbott Road is going commercial — one lot at a time
The Anchorage Assembly takes up two ordinances Friday to rezone 0.45 acres at 9120 and 9130 Elim Street from residential to B-3 General Business, continuing a pattern of commercial conversions along Abbott Road that the Planning Department says warrants a broader comprehensive plan update.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read