[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6138245,"mediaKeyId","5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb","parentId",5592438,"title","Assembly members weigh using $1.3 million for housing rehabilitation of vacant properties","audioSeconds",211,"startMs",3143000,"endMs",3354000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb&start=3143&end=3354","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb/thumbnail_3143000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6138245/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Assembly-members-weigh-using-13-million-for-housing-rehabilitation-of-vacant-properties","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138245-c36195d495e58e5f3f98e3e469f0df94/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144525&Signature=XhIlXFXsvp~3H9DbxW1zuOFgdRFIg1dWT-A5rNQ6wdlc9IYnNMmU6v0qUcIMZtRkEzhENSiRkcKONvJOEqfezcG7S0dxUDY4Mf-AwUQ7NOfd9DTva8lzHmiGOdwOfban8NS1sJp4WdHpQUWOiu4OUwieLFS27La08iwsWeEQACiuVdPnECkfVtj5y3Ru4UQjcqCq1~gEKWxM1vT87G~0e5BRWeodD-Gx6n4DHxZHWNfN6392qzIVgELi09bNjsndirpyOu1Uz-kWJGx81Mq2paeS9GSP1VUO3vA79SMBSTN7TJZlYRIJTWd10pQ126kg~lh2ed4eHrWgJNoQ7Rpoqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Municipality of Anchorage","date","2025-08-15T10:20:12Z","article","At the Aug. 14 Assembly Rules Committee meeting, Assembly member Erin raised interest in directing approximately $1.3 million toward housing rehabilitation and reuse of vacant and abandoned properties rather than prioritizing shelter spending.

\"I've been really interested in thinking through how do we put that $1,300,000 to work in a strategic way and in a way that is accessible to individual members of the public, not just entities,\" Erin said, describing an interest in programs that reach smaller property owners and individual households.

Chair and administration representatives responded that the administration and staff are already working on approaches and that members interested in shaping the plan should join the ongoing project. \"The agreement for the postponement definitely was laden with a number of conversations about how we're gonna proceed and the goal getting money for those, reuse of vacant and abandoned properties,\" the chair said. Committee staff said the plan is in progress and that collaboration with interested assembly members and administration leads (Ona and others) is underway.

Clarifying points: staff cautioned that the reappropriation conversation was connected to prior budget postponement terms and that some program parameters were negotiated during that agreement. Members said they would prefer to join the administration\u000027s ongoing project rather than start a separate process.

Next steps: staff indicated the administration will pursue project work and that assembly members should coordinate with municipal staff leading the effort to align objectives and access pathways for smaller property owners.

End note: No ordinance or final allocation was adopted at the meeting; members described an ongoing, staff-led process and expressed interest in participation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rules Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Assembly member Erin said she is exploring how roughly $1.3 million that was discussed for reappropriation might be used to rehabilitate vacant and abandoned properties for housing, and the administration said it is already working on related options and invited members to join that effort.","taxTitle","Anchorage Municipality, Alaska","taxId",2653,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138249,"Assembly members say proposed public-records overhaul seeks more transparency; drafting continues",303,3811000,4114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb&start=3811&end=4114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb/thumbnail_3811000.jpg","/articles/6138249/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Assembly-members-say-proposed-public-records-overhaul-seeks-more-transparency-drafting-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138249-986ebc4c8f4e5917a1b5db4fbf6322e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144525&Signature=KWjmsPP6wxeCjwNxTjcQ9YmCmpXhA9cR1piJShSBnVptUARi9bUF38n5lUJcEwebGr0KNdHBrZSqXq6vlh7Y1k4-gqnpMUppMFKY~g~icg52HHAQRk9iKWbJVnkf289z2vTBKXsQtszBf9DeH3tEcxiBZBRmmjdE9ghJ8WyHJh5qpCJIWAsbzhP9pgHk-mnooNBRnRUDz~AQDgGgXHyJGhJnrUrRGS~bvn~kdA5wQUfEUjlYLYAqXV3HaJc1Gq8MwsU2z7H1TX46YB0YaZXe7gIq6JerSegQ9YcVqRNb7syLdBu8uarr7UKUdG4PJlJ9CC20AfBBFDdqMIUYFBBOFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Aug. 14 the Assembly Rules Committee discussed a municipal public-records ordinance currently being drafted by assembly members and staff. Committee members said the draft is intended to clarify public access and to prevent past practices that withheld records from assembly members.

\"It was reported by a blog that the intent of that project is to make it more difficult for the public to receive or to access records. Can you maybe speak to that a little bit?\" an assembly member asked during the meeting. \"It's the opposite,\" the chair replied.

Committee members described a multi-year process to consolidate and clarify public-notice and public-records practices. A chair\u000027s office member said the assembly has been reviewing a draft line-by-line with administration attorneys and that there remain areas of disagreement; those areas will be highlighted when the ordinance is introduced. \"We spent 2 hours, and we only got through 2 pages of a 10 page ordinance,\" the chair said, describing the early-stage, detailed review.

Members emphasized two objectives for the draft: (1) to make public access clearer and easier where practicable, and (2) to confirm that assembly members can review municipal records relevant to their duties. A speaker said a forthcoming line will explicitly state that assembly members may review records with attorneys in confidence but cannot be denied records that should be available to the assembly. Committee members said they plan to identify agreed sections for early introduction and mark unresolved issues for further deliberation.

No ordinance was introduced or voted on at the Aug. 14 meeting. Staff said additional drafting and inter-office negotiation with the administration is ongoing and that the committee will introduce the ordinance after areas of agreement are assembled.

End note: The committee presented the public-records drafting effort as a transparency initiative and urged members to await the introduced ordinance rather than rely on third-party reporting.","Committee members reported line-by-line drafting of a public-records ordinance intended to clarify access and strengthen assembly access to municipal records; members disputed a blog report that the ordinance would restrict access.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138255,"Anchorage launches 50th-anniversary program with history essays, events and neighborhood \"time machines\"",1066,2201000,3267000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb&start=2201&end=3267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb/thumbnail_2201000.jpg","/articles/6138255/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Anchorage-launches-50th-anniversary-program-with-history-essays-events-and-neighborhood-time-machines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138255-84b932708aad59754616fce2e9f3b223/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144525&Signature=Od2oi~EAnNRw2QXJx91xiY4CQpeaWsTas0X7w~hAUQ8DIlDOXn2Mjgkkxp4qD6owTXQ41FX--LIHmAtXeISei-IFfvKDL8XINJzaYfkhwYjHlg1dkm3~Vd6lz6acrRCJ-rl3BADjhodCu1vNln6-AxKxCb~wKcDdcr0C3PsygOOWS23sTLJJRwIZhUyNVtv-onNgJHsUl2zil4ajxEdhSBtjGlFqnVxYUB9Ksj7y8PuRCnt~rT6-db9DrxG8izdX-6i1ULLdUP9PtwdkIfKt1tlavil6WSnPab8HDe5IKFaHwkwNQQeQtmgboo2zcjbw4l4AeJ~SXAiYtJ~C5L~cyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative services told the Assembly Rules Committee on Aug. 14 that the Municipality of Anchorage has organized a citywide 50th-anniversary celebration, with a central website, historical essays, departmental exhibits and community events intended to run through the fall and winter.

\"This is a great opportunity to reflect on our first 50 years while also inviting the community to imagine what the next 50 years could look like,\" said Ali Hartman, Legislative services staff, introducing the muni.org/fifty site and related programming.

The celebration is built around a public-facing website (muni.org/fifty) that will host a mix of content and activities: a series of short essays titled \"History Takes\" contributed by local historians and municipal staff; scanned archival material such as the original 1975 charter; department histories and photo archives; and a public events calendar that includes a university \"lunch and learn\" series, community kickoffs and neighborhood events.

Legislative services described a pair of community-engagement projects intended to broaden participation: a \"neighborhood time machine\" that will place historical maps and interpretive displays at about 10 locations across the municipality (from Eagle River to Girdwood) and a crowdsourced \"hidden gems\" list that will be curated into a scavenger-hunt-style program. The office will produce printed collateral, a two-page history pamphlet and will archive recordings and materials on the anniversary web page.

Staff asked assembly members to help promote events, submit \"hidden gem\" nominations from their districts and consider participating in a planned recognition resolution at an upcoming assembly meeting. The clerk's office also noted that it has scanned and archived minutes and the original charter for use in publicity and a retro-styled program if the assembly desires.

Timing and next steps: legislative staff said event recordings will be posted and that departments and outside partners are coordinating activities and tabling opportunities. The office also invited short-term volunteer help to plan the near-term recognition item and publicity for the next assembly meeting.

End note: The anniversary program is primarily an archival and public-engagement initiative; no ordinance was proposed. The municipal website (muni.org/fifty) will serve as the central repository for essays, archives and the events calendar.","Legislative services briefed the Assembly Rules Committee on a broad municipal 50th-anniversary program including a central website, historical essays, department histories, photo archives, a neighborhood-time-machine mapping program and a calendar of public events and a community kickoff.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138260,"Assembly seeks strategic review of Anchorage alcohol-tax spending ahead of budget season",1787,614000,2401000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb&start=614&end=2401","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592438-6b505aa50c956a6c9ec233ef39018afb/thumbnail_614000.jpg","/articles/6138260/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Assembly-seeks-strategic-review-of-Anchorage-alcohol-tax-spending-ahead-of-budget-season","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138260-454fd3dc553418d3195d3296bbad30ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144525&Signature=f4fwNtqhYXHVuAjmbDhA7KiqtFQ61-GAaChR5~vRLmO3TYgL5kVvhP59GZo10QKgx36ye8Ew8lFsuaH-0k6LlH5lJB75KEP~iZeDrr6il1L-QMiMAp8n6q4nAFX7Qfm9ih2AH7uCF9go4aazoCx5C1hTOEevtBcCFqV~Y7aNcry-nCGCINSXBMhQ7NTz7UhKGeYbiThGTz9cyo5wMqKZlZLvmzLWnm6QaR0~yyqDjMhT72XzwBKenbYYVbKI5vrry3ZorNHokhP-vI84boK~5chqTU3MbhDcbzVLQ3FN8o26Yuk-n8ss9KI95WqkvcWmG4CJWnLjltRPoh5cZBGccQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anchorage Assembly Rules Committee on Aug. 14 heard a detailed briefing on the municipality\u000027s alcohol tax and agreed to schedule a focused budget discussion with administration before the 2026 budget is finalized.

The briefing prompted members to press for clearer priorities and a formal work session on how alcohol-tax revenue is spent. \"There's so much to tell you about the alcohol tax,\" said Legislative services staff during the presentation, which pointed committee members to the Cheers Anchorage website for full strategic-plan documents and spending trackers.

Why this matters: Assembly members said the alcohol tax has at times produced large appropriations that were not fully spent, creating multi-year fund balances. That carryover changed the apparent distribution of spending across categories in some years, and members want a deliberate policy discussion before the administration publishes a final 2026 budget.

Committee members and staff outlined how the tax has been allocated in recent years and flagged several recurring issues. Legislative services staff said the annual totals fluctuate: early years showed smaller totals (2021 in the low millions), 2024 spending totaled roughly $23 million, and the 2025 budget was nearer $16\u00002017 million. \"When you look at the total, total spent in 2021 . . . it's going to be smaller than 2022,\" a committee member noted while explaining why percentage charts can be misleading.

The presentation summarized spending categories: homelessness has consistently taken a large share of alcohol-tax dollars; prevention and child-abuse/domestic-violence programs comprised larger shares in early years but declined; mental-health and substance-misuse spending was minimal to nonexistent in the 2025 allocations. A committee member pointed out that some line items that appear in the homelessness bucket represent shelter services rather than direct housing placement or rehabilitation.

On legal limits, the committee heard that the charter and the ballot proposition that created the tax include a restriction: alcohol-tax funds must support services or service levels that are additional to municipal services in place when the tax passed (2020). \"In general . . . this must be additional services that didn't provide [the same] levels of service,\" counsel summarized during the discussion.

Members raised overlap and classification concerns: some programs fall into multiple buckets (for example, mobile crisis response can be coded under public safety even though it is mental-health crisis response), complicating year-to-year comparisons. A member also noted that the voter-approved ACE fund (a separate marijuana-tax-funded initiative) and other revenue sources are now online and change how municipal prevention and youth investments are funded, which can obscure the full funding picture if observers look at only the alcohol-tax charts.

Committee members asked procedural questions about the spending data. When asked whether the spending tables were \"actuals,\" Legislative services staff responded, \"Spent. Actually spent. Yep,\" and pointed the committee to the funding tracker and the 2024 actuals posted on the Cheers Anchorage site.

Direction and next steps: Members agreed there should be a formal, facilitated discussion about alcohol-tax priorities rather than ad-hoc amendments. \"I'll work with the budget and finance chairs to figure out how to do that,\" Legislative services staff said, and several members asked that administration staff be in the room for that conversation to align priorities before the administration releases a proposed budget.

The presentation also recommended that the assembly review the annual report and the strategic plan documents on cheersanchorage.org before the scheduled work session.

Committee members requested clearer communications materials and a one-page guide for constituents explaining the tax\u000027s purpose and constraints. The discussion closed with an agreement to schedule a session tied to the broader budget process so assembly priorities can be considered before final budget decisions are made.

End note: The committee did not adopt any ordinance or motion on Aug. 14; members and staff agreed to set a work session and to review the posted annual report and spending tracker.","At an Aug. 14 Assembly Rules Committee meeting, members pressed for a structured review of how Anchorage\u000027s alcohol tax is allocated, noting large past appropriations for homelessness, smaller 2025 allocations for mental-health programs and a charter restriction on funding preexisting services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly members weigh using $1.3 million for housing rehabilitation of vacant properties

Assembly members say proposed public-records overhaul seeks more transparency; drafting continues

Anchorage launches 50th-anniversary program with history essays, events and neighborhood "time machines"

Assembly seeks strategic review of Anchorage alcohol-tax spending ahead of budget season