Municipality of Anchorage · Photo source · US government work
Suzanne LaFrance
Mayor · Municipality of Anchorage
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 18 clips
Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska
Mayor of the Municipality of Anchorage. She served two terms on the Anchorage Assembly, including two years as chair, and has more than 25 years of private-sector management experience. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Portland and a master's from Purdue University.
Affiliations
Anchorage Assembly to hear plan giving Girdwood street crews their own storage yard
Girdwood's street crews have parked their gear on the same lot for nearly two decades. The Assembly takes testimony Tuesday on handing them control of it.
Mayor seeks $1.5 million from APD's technology levy without naming what it would buy
The mayor wants up to $1.5M more from APD's tech tax fund for unnamed "technology implementation and maintenance," nearly word for word last year's ask.
Anchorage's 2052 transportation plan calls for a Fairview Bypass and more frequent buses
Anchorage's 2052 transportation plan calls for a Fairview Bypass, buses every 30 minutes and a rebuilt Muldoon. The Assembly weighs in starting Nov. 17.
Anchorage permits more new housing than in any year since 2015, mayor's office says
“Every permit represents future homes for Anchorage families, workers, seniors, and military personnel," said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. "While more work remains, these numbers show that our efforts to remove barriers and encourage housing development are producing results.”
LaFrance asks Assembly to confirm Leslie Vines for another Women's Commission term
LaFrance wants Leslie Vines on Anchorage's Women's Commission for three more years. Her attendance record shows two unexcused absences this year.
LaFrance reappoints Jennifer Griffis to Anchorage's library board
Mayor LaFrance wants to keep Jennifer Griffis, a policy consultant with a library science degree, on Anchorage's library board. The Assembly votes Tuesday.
Anchorage Assembly to take up Transgender Day of Remembrance resolution Nov. 17
The Anchorage Assembly takes up a resolution Nov. 17 recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance. Nine members and the mayor sponsor it. Last year's passed 9-3.
Anchorage Assembly to consider awareness month for families of homicide victims
The Anchorage Assembly will consider recognizing a month for families of homicide victims. Its Anchorage homicide figures don't match the state's crime report.
Anchorage sets Dec. 1 hearings on rezones for 44 townhomes and a Chugach utility yard
Anchorage set Dec. 1 hearings on rezoning 44 townhomes that sit on land zoned for shops and Chugach Electric's longtime utility yard to heavy industrial.
Assembly shelves salary commission pick after questions over his firm's city contract
Anchorage's mayor picked a consultant for the panel that sets officials' pay. Then his firm's $86,899 city contract came up, and the Assembly shelved the pick.
Anchorage Assembly delays Missing Middle housing vote again, this time to Dec. 1
The Anchorage Assembly scheduled its Missing Middle housing vote for a Friday at noon, then unscheduled it. It's now Dec. 1, the second delay in four weeks.
Alcohol tax advocates ask Anchorage to put more into prevention and treatment
“This year we faced a $15 million budget gap. We were able to close that gap through a combination of one-time funding, targeted adjustments, and by cutting positions”
Anchorage builders group says the building code already accounts for quake risk
Anchorage's home builders group wants the city's highest-hazard quake zones kept in a housing overlay, saying codes account for them. Vote's Wednesday.
Assembly weighs using $400,000 in Girdwood reserves for Ruane Road culvert
The Anchorage Assembly votes Wednesday on using $400,000 in Girdwood reserves to match a federal grant. This money funds a $2 million project to replace aging culverts with a fish-friendly design.
Anchorage Assembly to consider $1.9 million for police unit targeting impaired drivers
Anchorage police could get about $2.6 million, mostly from the state, to go after impaired drivers, speeders, street racers and distracted drivers.
Assembly to consider $587,000 contract to rebuild Creekside Park paths and playground
Creekside Park's worn paths and playground could get rebuilt. The Assembly takes up a $587,000 contract Wednesday, with work expected done by summer 2027.
LaFrance appoints retired municipal lawyer to Anchorage Equal Rights Commission
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance appointed retired attorney Linda Johnson to the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission. The Assembly votes on her confirmation Wednesday.
Assembly to vote Wednesday on McDonald Center contract after audit's 11 findings
Eagle River's rink operator could get 10 more years at the McDonald Center, 10 months after a city audit listed 11 findings. The Assembly takes it up Wednesday.
LaFrance names business executive to Anchorage salary commission, reappoints another
LaFrance appointed John Gregoire Jr. and reappointed Karen Norsworthy to Anchorage's salary commission, pending Assembly confirmation Nov. 4.
Assembly to weigh a helipad for military helicopters at the Port of Alaska
Anchorage's port could get its own helipad so Army and Air Force helicopters can deploy through it. The Assembly votes Wednesday on a deal worth up to $3.9M.
Anchorage police would get $182,425 to go after illegal street racing
Anchorage police would get $182,425, mostly state money, to target speeders and aggressive drivers at illegal street races. The Assembly votes Wednesday.
Anchorage police would get $113,318 to target distracted drivers on high-crash roads
Anchorage police would get $113,318 in state money to go after distracted drivers on roads where walkers and bikers get hit. The Assembly votes Wednesday.
Volland proposes a task force to streamline Anchorage permitting
Volland wants a task force of builders and others to streamline permitting. A builder says one permit took 9 months; some neighborhood groups want more review.
Anchorage Assembly returns Wednesday to unfinished police surveillance rules
“The S version of the ordinance gives you a sensible and effective opportunity to do that tonight.”
Anchorage optimistic about new contract for bus operators and garbage crews
City Hall says it's optimistic about a new contract for Anchorage's bus operators and garbage crews. The old one runs out Dec. 31. What's on the table? Unsaid.
Anchorage Assembly set to honor veterans and Purple Heart recipients in November
The Anchorage Assembly is set Wednesday to recognize Veterans Day and Purple Heart Month. About 1 in 10 Alaskans has served, its resolution notes.
Anchorage's new Muni.org is live, but some old links now lead nowhere
“The new Muni.org reflects our commitment to making local government more accessible, responsive, and easy to navigate,”
LaFrance asks residents to help decide what Anchorage keeps as a 2028 gap looms
“We need to have an honest community conversation about what services we expect from our municipal government, what we're willing to pay for them, and how we can deliver them more efficiently.”
Assembly to vote on $12,200 more for Loussac theater's sound and video upgrade
Anchorage's library wants $12,200 more to finish upgrading the Wilda Marston Theatre's sound and video, which the city says has reached the end of its life.
Anchorage Assembly to weigh $587,000 contract for Creekside Park paths and playground
Kids from nearby schools helped pick Creekside Park's new playground. The Anchorage Assembly votes Nov. 4 on a $587,000 contract for it and new paths.
Eagle River rink operator could get 10 more years after audit found 11 problems
Eagle River's rink operator since 1984 could get 10 more years, after an audit flagged bonuses paid in a money-losing year and missing audits.
Anchorage Assembly members propose mandatory jail for repeat public intoxication
Two Anchorage Assembly members want mandatory jail for repeat public intoxication and minimum sentences for drug possession, with a treatment off-ramp.
Anchorage Assembly vote could decide whether new housing rules reach quake-hazard zones
The Assembly votes Nov. 4 on letting more duplexes and townhomes into much of Anchorage. Open question: whether that includes the ground that slid in 1964.
Anchorage Assembly takes up rezone for 44 townhomes sitting on land zoned for shops
Forty-four Anchorage townhomes sit on land zoned for shops and offices. The Assembly takes up a fix Nov. 4. The city says no one objected, but one neighbor did.
Anchorage police would get state money to go after street racers and impaired drivers
Anchorage street racers, take note: the Assembly votes Nov. 4 on $2.5 million in state grants paying police to chase racers, speeders and impaired drivers.
Anchorage water utility seeks up to $675,000 for an expert witness in rate cases
Anchorage's water utility wants up to $675,000 for an expert to argue the return built into your bill. Its manager says rate case costs land on customers.
LaFrance names 11 to Anchorage boards and asks the Assembly to confirm them Nov. 4
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance named 11 people to seven Anchorage boards, asking the Assembly to confirm them Nov. 4. Five fill vacant seats, six incumbents return for terms through 2029.
Anchorage administration tallies $31 million for shelter, outreach and crisis care
Anchorage's mayor tallies $31.26 million for shelter, outreach and crisis care next year. The Assembly chair says not all of that is homelessness spending.
Anchorage budget office lists pool closures and bus cuts as possible options for 2028 gap
Anchorage budget office outlined cuts that could close a $15 to $30 million 2028 gap. • Options include closing 3 pools, cutting a bus route and axing 21 police community officer jobs. • None are in the 2027 budget. Assembly votes Nov. 17.
Anchorage approves $1.23 million for two fire tenders to replace aging trucks
Anchorage is buying two new water tenders for $1.23 million to replace trucks older than 25 years, though the new ones could take about 20 months to arrive.
Energy official says Alaska tribal projects draw about half of $125 million federal selection
The U.S. Energy Department picked 20 Alaska tribal projects for about half of a $125 million funding round, covering power plants from Noatak to Port Graham.
Ermine Skate opens Midtown Anchorage storefront as founder receives legislative citation
“as local government officials, we want to do everything we can to promote the kind of business that you have succeeded at, Paxson.”
Anchorage's water utility could own the rights to most of the city's tap water in 2055
Most of Anchorage's tap water comes from a lake whose water rights belong to the hydro owners. A deal OK'd 12-0 lets the city's water utility own them in 2055.
Anchorage would give tax-exempt property owners 90 days to recertify instead of March 15
Anchorage wants tax-exempt property owners to recertify within 90 days of a request, not by March 15. A 2026 review of 60 found one that no longer qualified.
Anchorage Assembly amends proposed police surveillance rules, then runs out of time
“I urge assembly members to approve my administration's S version of AO 2026-108 tonight”
Downtown business leaders ask Anchorage Assembly to make police foot patrol permanent
Downtown business groups asked the Assembly to make APD's foot patrol permanent. The bed tax money paying for it is nearly gone, and the 2027 budget has none.
Anchorage School Board votes to raze Abbott Loop, return Westpark on a nonbinding pledge
The school board will spend $3.96 million to knock down Abbott Loop and hand the city three properties. The Westpark payback is a pledge, not a guarantee.
Cook Inlet Housing asks Anchorage to lift 2001 rules on its Creekside land
Cook Inlet Housing wants Anchorage to scrap 2001 rules on its Creekside land at Muldoon and DeBarr, calling them prescriptive and time-consuming.
Anchorage warned a private plan reviewer who missed 'egregious' safety risks
Anchorage says a private plan reviewer missed "egregious" safety risks. Officials warned them and want clearer power to drop reviewers who underperform.
Anchorage reports $1.75M in September contracts below the Assembly approval line
Anchorage reported $1.75 million in September contracts too small to need an Assembly vote, from AI that watches the city's network to police range backstops.
