Clerk sets election calendar; several ordinances and records proposals headed to Assembly

The Anchorage Municipal Clerk on Thursday laid out the 2026 election calendar and committee members previewed multiple ordinances expected on upcoming agendas, including an update to public-records rules, a short extension for the Urban Design Commission's sunset and a marijuana-code omnibus.

"Random alphabet drawing is on Thursday, the fifteenth at 10AM at the Election Center...candidate filing opens" the clerk said, listing a schedule that also includes Jan. 27 as the last day for public hearings on ballot propositions, ballots mailed March 17, and election day April 7 with certification expected April 28.

Committee members flagged near-term ordinance items: Anna Brawley said she will bring a 90-day extension to the Urban Design Commission sunset so projects are not left in limbo while planning staff draft a repeal and transfer functions to the Planning and Zoning Commission. A separate ordinance previewed for 2027 would expand parks-and-rec commission review authority to include CASA CIP reviews.

Chair Christopher Constant said a public-records ordinance has been in development since November 2023 but attorneys requested a two-week delay before introduction; he warned a contentious downtown-bar item could appear before April 28. The meeting also noted a marijuana-code omnibus update ready for introduction Jan. 23.

On hiring and medical screenings, the chair described a proposed amendment that would give a subject of a municipal health screening the right to access their screening records (not make them public), and a related proposal to allow the fire department's chief medical officer to review and verify or remand screening-based disqualifications.

The committee did not take formal votes on any of these items Thursday; staff said some proposals are close to introduction and will appear on future agendas.