Duties of the municipal clerk as compiled by the revisor of the code include the following duties in municipal charter and code and may be periodically updated:
The duties of the municipal clerk are as follows:
Section or Chapter of Code
Duty
Charter § 10.01(e)
Attest to all ordinances.
§ 1.05.075
Availability of Municipal Code and other code matter adopted by reference.
§ 1.05.110
Monitor and notify the appropriate person of the expiration of ordinances of limited duration.
Ch. 1.15
Administrative and secretarial staff to the board of ethics.
§ 1.15.150
May request advisory opinions from the board of ethics. Publish advisory opinions of the board of ethics in a generic form on the municipal website.
§ 1.25.015
Notice public meetings.
§ 1.35.010C
Administer oaths of office to principal executive personnel, members of boards and commissions, and elected officials, if requested, and maintain oaths administered by the clerk or filed with the clerk's office.
§ 1.40.025
Custody of the municipal seal.
§ 2.20.055B.12
Provide administrative and logistical support to the assembly boards and commissions, including the board of ethics, the board of adjustment, the salaries and emoluments commission, and the election commission, and other boards and commissions as directed by code.
§ 2.20.055B.13
Serve as the parliamentarian for the assembly at its regular and special meetings.
§ 2.25.010
Maintain the original assembly apportionment map.
§ 2.30.010
Call the roll and administer the election of the chair and vice-chair.
§ 2.30.030
Record and maintain the recording of all regular and special meetings and work sessions. Serve special meeting notices. Provide notice of assembly meetings.
§ 2.30.040
Accept filings of appearance requests and make the determination, in conjunction with the chair of the assembly, to place the request on the assembly agenda.
§ 2.30.065
Receive written notice of reconsideration. Receive notification to override the veto.
§ 2.30.083
Prepare the minutes of assembly meetings.
§ 2.30.095
Schedule confirmation hearings.
§ 2.30.100
Receive written notification of the veto.
§ 2.30.110
Publish special notice on rezoning.
§ 2.30.122
Receive notice from the alcohol and marijuana control office of the filing of an alcohol license application. Prepare documents for the assembly's approval of non-objection or protest and notify relevant parties. Schedule required public hearings.
§ 2.30.124
Notify licensees at the request of an assembly member regarding possible protest.
Ch. 2.35
Administer rules on lobbying.
Ch. 2.50
Process initiative, referendum, and recall petitions. Accept petition applications and verify signatures; in consultation with the municipal attorney determine if the measure may be submitted to voters and notify petitioner; prepare petition master form; verify signatures on petition; review and certify petition and submit petition to voters as detailed in code. Process recall petitions as detailed in state law.
§ 2.50.040
Verify signatures on initiative and referendum petitions and certify the results of elections.
§ 2.50.050
Keep on file all petitions.
§ 2.70.020
Publish the announcement and invitation to apply for an assembly vacancy. Determine if the applicants are qualified. Run the election at the assembly meeting to fill the vacancy consistent with code.
§ 2.70.030
Receive accusation documents, serve copies on the assembly member and municipal attorney, and request names for potential hearing officers.
§ 3.10.050
Receive accusation documents, serve copies on the mayor and municipal attorney, and request names for potential hearing officers.
§ 3.40.045
Maintain municipal regulations.
§ 3.60.045, § 3.60.060
Issue administrative subpoenas and receive requests for reconsideration or rehearing.
§ 3.70.140C.2
Accept filing of complaint of unfair labor practices.
§ 6.10.050
Accept the submittal of the school district annual budget, together with a proposed ordinance to approve the budget and to appropriate funds. Retain copies of the budget and distribute the budget. Place the budget on the assembly agenda for public hearing as required by code.
§ 9.54.005
Maintain the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing.
Title 10
Business licenses.
§ 10.05.030
Issue municipal regulations for the administration and interpretation of title 10.
§ 10.10.015
Furnish and receive business license applications.
§ 10.10.020
Issue business licenses and administer forms as detailed in Chapters 10.20 through 10.80.
Ch. 10.20
Merchants.
Ch. 10.40
Service Establishments Licensing.
Ch. 10.45
Recreation and Amusement Activities Licensing.
§ 10.50.005
Actions by the clerk. Compile department reviews regarding application compliance determination; submit notice of renewals to Community Councils and submit the information to the assembly.
§ 10.50.006A
Action by the clerk. Provide APD and state Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board) information regarding compliance with conditions of alcohol licenses.
§ 10.50.037
Bar Safety Hour Permitting.
Ch. 10.54
Tow Operator Licensing.
Ch. 10.55
Teen Nightclubs and Cultural Performance Venues Licensing.
Ch. 10.60
Vendors Licensing.
Ch. 10.80
Licensing and Regulation of Marijuana.
§ 12.05.050
Receive applications for the board of equalization. Receive annual report from the board to the assembly.
§ 19.20.020
Petitions for special assessment districts.
§ 21.02.070 and § 21.03.050A
Issue subpoenas for board of adjustment; receive appeal packet for the board from assembly counsel's office; publish notices of the date of the hearing; record the hearings before the board of adjustment.
§ 21.03.185
Accept executive orders of street name changes and mail notice to all owners and residents as required by code. Accept protests of the street name change and submit certain protests on the agenda for a public hearing before the assembly.
§ 25.30.030
Attest to documents pertaining to the conveyance of municipal land and executed by the mayor or his or her designee.
§ 26.10.045
Accept and maintain filings of copies of all utility rates, tariffs, rules and regulations approved by the duly constituted authority relating to a municipal utility.
§ 27.20.085
Receive accusation documents regarding removal of elected member of supervisory board and serve copies on the member of the supervisory board and municipal attorney.
§§ 28.10.010 to 28.300.010
Election supervision and administration. Prepare for, conduct, and supervise all municipal elections, and determine whether candidates for municipal office are qualified in accordance with law.
§ 28.85.040F
Following the results of the election, prepare an oath of office for the elected candidates and schedule the swearing in ceremony.
§ 29.10.060
Receive accusation documents regarding removal of elected member of school board and serve copies on the school board member and municipal attorney, and request names for potential hearing officers.
Section of Code of Regulations (AMCR)
Duty
AMCR § R21.15.003
Attest to Final Plat Using Official Seal - Section XVII Certificates subsection C.
(AO No. 2014-141, § 2, 12-2-2014; AO No. 2017-53, § 2, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2019-109(S), § 1, 12-3-2019; AO No. 2020-30(S), § 1, 4-28-2020; AO No. 2023-73, § 1, 7-25-2023)
A. 
Organization.
1. 
The municipal clerk's office is established by Charter sections 4.05 and 4.06.
a. 
(Reserved)
b. 
(Reserved)
c. 
(Reserved)
d. 
Assembly Program and Budget Analyst. The general duties shall consist of annually preparing the Assembly Department Budget proposal for submission to the Assembly; assisting the Assembly in its analysis of the operating, capital and utility budgets prepared and presented by the administration, as may be directed by the presiding officer; administering the contract for the annual municipal independent financial audit and other contracts assigned to the Municipal Clerk's Office by ordinance; and the Assembly program and budget-related duties as assigned by the municipal clerk or the presiding officer.
2. 
All positions in the municipal clerk's office shall be classified as executives under section 3.30.172.
3. 
Appointments.
a. 
Appointment of the municipal clerk shall be subject to the approval of the assembly, the municipal clerk serves at the pleasure of the assembly, pursuant to Charter section 4.05.
4. 
Notwithstanding section 3.30.172C:
a. 
The municipal clerk shall hire the deputy municipal clerks and the assembly program and budget analyst, in consultation with the presiding officer, subject to confirmation by the assembly;
b. 
Except for deputy municipal clerks and the assembly program and budget analyst, the municipal clerk may appoint assistants or other personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, in consultation with the presiding officer, within the assembly-adopted budget for the municipal clerk's office.
B. 
Duties and responsibilities. The municipal clerk's office, through the municipal clerk and the clerk's staff, is responsible for implementation of the following core duties; other duties as detailed in the charter and elsewhere in the Anchorage Municipal Code, including AMC section 2.20.050. Duties may be established and prioritized by the presiding officer of the assembly:
1. 
Provide administrative and logistical support to the assembly and to its individual members, the municipal clerk shall assign the duties and responsibilities set forth below to staff members, as appropriate, in consultation with the presiding officer;
2. 
Prepare ordinances, resolutions, memoranda and other working papers to support the activities of the assembly and its individual members equally without discrimination among the members;
3. 
Work with the presiding officer in scheduling assembly meetings, work sessions and committee meetings;
4. 
Attend assembly meetings, assembly work sessions and standing and ad hoc committee meetings as required by the presiding officer, and to maintain records of such proceedings as required by ordinance or as required by the presiding officer;
5. 
Work with the presiding officer in reviewing and scheduling assembly agenda items to determine compliance with the requirements of the Charter, the Code, and the adopted policies and procedures of the assembly and, further, to insure the assembly timely and appropriately deals with those matters coming before the assembly;
6. 
Assist the assembly in its analysis of the operating, capital and utility budgets prepared and presented by the administration, as may be directed by the presiding officer;
7. 
Administer the contract for the annual municipal independent financial audit and such other contracts as may be assigned by ordinance;
8. 
Assist individual assembly members with constituent inquiries, to the extent possible and not addressed by the assembly members' legislative aides, insuring all assembly members are promptly and timely informed of constituent inquiries coming to the attention of any staff member;
9. 
Coordinate requests for information by individual assembly members and by the various standing and ad hoc committees of the assembly to the administration and to various municipal departments;
10. 
Prepare for and conduct the general and special elections of the municipality; and
11. 
Administer licensing functions assigned to the municipal clerk's office by ordinance.
12. 
Provide administrative and logistical support to the assembly boards and commissions, including the board of ethics, the board of adjustment, the board of equalization, salaries and emoluments, the election commission, and other boards and commissions as directed by code.
13. 
Serve as the parliamentarian for the assembly at its regular and special meetings.
14. 
Serve as the legislative branch records management officer with responsibility for supervising and administering the branch records and information management program.
C. 
Access to municipal information.
1. 
In the performance of duties under subsection B above, the municipal clerk's office staff shall have full, free and unrestricted access to:
a. 
All public records, as defined in section 3.90.020;
b. 
All activities of the municipal government and its various departments;
c. 
All municipal property;
d. 
All municipal personnel; and
e. 
All policies, plans and procedures, and records pertaining to financial expenditures by municipal funds.
2. 
This subsection C does not authorize public disclosure of confidential or privileged material under federal, state or local law, or of material, the public disclosure of which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
D. 
Political activities by staff.
1. 
It is imperative that the staff of the municipal clerk's office serve all the residents of the municipality in a fair, equal, and impartial manner. The municipal clerk's office also administers municipal elections.
2. 
The staff of the municipal clerk's office, including the municipal clerk, shall not participate in municipal political activity.
3. 
For the purposes of this subsection, the following meanings are given to these terms:
a. 
Municipal politics means a:
i. 
Municipal election for Mayor, Assembly, School Board, and elected Service Area Boards, and
ii. 
Municipal ballot, initiative, bond proposal, proposed charter amendment, or other matter authorized to be submitted in a municipal election to the voters of the municipality or service area of the municipality.
b. 
Participation means public endorsement, fundraising, and contributions.
i. 
Public endorsement in this section does not include party registration or affiliation.
c. 
Political activity means an act for the purpose of influencing the outcome of an election. Election includes ballot, bond, or candidate elections.
d. 
Staff means all employees of the municipal clerk's office, actively working and in paid status, after the date of hire.
4. 
Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit staff from registering as to political party affiliation, voting, or expressing private political opinions, so long as such expression does not interfere in any manner with, or occur during, the business operation of the municipal clerk's office.
5. 
Nothing in this subsection is intended to prohibit the municipal clerk and staff from legal drafting, research, and other work performed in the normal course of legislative duties of the municipal clerk's office.
6. 
Violations of this section by staff shall be addressed under the municipal employee personnel rules.
E. 
Annual budget and administrative procedure.
1. 
The municipal clerk's office shall annually prepare a budget proposal for submission to the assembly. Copies shall be provided in a timely manner to the mayor for informational purposes to assist in the preparation of the municipal budget.
2. 
The municipal clerk's office shall comply with those administrative procedures prescribed by ordinance except as otherwise provided in this section. Requests for approval of various administrative matters shall be submitted to the administration in proper form. In order to ensure the independence and objectivity of the municipal clerk's office, the administration's discretionary administrative decisions shall be considered advisory.
3. 
The administration shall retain the authority to deny any request contrary to ordinance or exceeding the assembly-adopted budget.
4. 
Any disputes arising between the administration and the municipal clerk regarding administrative matters shall be resolved by the presiding officer and the mayor.
(AO No. 2005-138(S), § 2, 10-18-2005; AO No. 2017-40, § 1, 3-21-2017; AO No. 2017-53, § 2, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2023-73, § 3, 7-25-2023; AO No. 2024-106, § 1, 12-3-2024; AO No. 2024-124(S), § 4, 12-17-2024)
A. 
The assembly shall have the following staff appointed by the chair of the assembly:
1. 
Special assistant to the assembly. The general duties of a special assistant to the assembly shall consist of providing policy and other research and advice to the assembly, drafting communications, resolutions, memoranda and other working documents, conducting surveys and coordinating public engagement, assisting with constituent inquiries, and assisting the municipal clerk as directed by the chair of the assembly.
B. 
Classification: All staff positions for the assembly shall be assigned assembly-appointed classifications in accordance with section 3.30.172.
C. 
Access to information: In the performance of duties under subsection A above, staff to the assembly shall, without charge, have access to all public records, as defined in section 3.90.020. This subsection C does not authorize public disclosure of confidential or privileged material under federal, state or local law, or of material the public disclosure of which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This subsection C does not authorize access to meetings, records or information protected by privilege under state law or this Code.
D. 
Political activity: Staff to the assembly shall not publicly endorse, contribute to, or engage in any political or campaign activity on behalf of any candidate for elected municipal office or on behalf of any municipal ballot proposition, including service area ballot propositions.
1. 
Nothing in this subsection is intended to prohibit assembly staff from drafting, research, and other work performed at the request of an assembly member in the normal course of legislative duties of the particular staff member.
2. 
Nothing in this subsection prohibits the assembly staff from expressing private political opinion outside of the workplace, so long as such expression does not interfere with work performance.
3. 
Nothing in this subsection is intended to discourage or inhibit the exercise of voter franchise.
(AO No. 2021-66, § 1, 7-27-2021; AO No. 2022-117(S), § 3, 2-7-2022)
The Assembly Counsel shall be selected by the presiding officer, and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Assembly.
A. 
Duties: The general duties of the assembly counsel shall consist of providing legal advice to the assembly, drafting ordinances, resolutions and memoranda and other working documents, conducting legal research and providing opinions to the assembly, providing case management, conducting legal research, and providing opinions to the board of adjustment, and assisting the municipal clerk as directed by the presiding officer of the assembly.
B. 
Other personnel: The Assembly Counsel may appoint an assistant or other personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, in consultation with the presiding officer, within the Assembly-adopted budget for the Assembly Counsel's office.
C. 
Classification: All positions in the Assembly Counsel's Office shall be assigned Assembly-appointed classifications in accordance with section 3.30.172.
D. 
Access to information: In the performance of duties under subsection A above, the Assembly Counsel shall have full, free and unrestricted access to:
1. 
All public records, as defined in section 3.90.020;
2. 
All activities of the municipal government and its various departments;
3. 
All municipal property;
4. 
All municipal personnel;
5. 
All policies, plans and procedures, and records pertaining to financial expenditures by municipal funds; and
6. 
This subsection C does not authorize public disclosure of confidential or privileged material under federal, state or local law, or of material, the public disclosure of which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
E. 
Political activity: Assembly Counsel and staff shall not publicly endorse, contribute to, or engage in any political or campaign activity on behalf of any candidate for elected municipal office or on behalf of any municipal ballot proposition, including service area ballot propositions.
1. 
Nothing in this subsection is intended to prohibit Assembly Counsel and staff from legal drafting, research, and other work performed at the request of an Assembly Member in the normal course of legislative duties of Assembly Counsel's Office.
2. 
Nothing in this subsection prohibits Assembly Counsel and staff from expressing private political opinion outside of the workplace, so long as such expression does not interfere with work performance.
3. 
Nothing in this subsection is intended to discourage or inhibit the exercise of voter franchise.
(AO No. 2017-40, § 2, 3-21-2017; AO No. 2022-70, § 8, 7-26-2022)
The legislative services office is established in the legislative branch of the municipality and managed by a director, classified as a special assistant, who shall be appointed by the presiding officer, and shall be subject to confirmation by the assembly. The position serves at the pleasure of the assembly.
A. 
Duties: The general duties of legislative services office to the assembly shall consist of providing policy and issue research and advice to the assembly, developing assembly communications and educational materials, facilitating development of assembly strategic and work plans, drafting resolutions, memoranda and other working documents, coordinating public engagement, assisting with project management of major initiatives, and assisting the municipal clerk as directed by the chair of the assembly.
B. 
Other personnel: The legislative services director may appoint an assistant or other personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, in consultation with the presiding officer, within the assembly-adopted budget for the legislative services office.
C. 
Classification: All staff positions for the assembly shall be assigned assembly-appointed classifications in accordance with section 3.30.172.
D. 
Access to information: In the performance of duties under subsection A above, staff to the assembly shall, without charge, have access to all public records, as defined in section 3.90.020. This subsection D does not authorize public disclosure of confidential or privileged material under federal, state or local law, or of material the public disclosure of which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This subsection D does not authorize access to meetings, records or information protected by privilege under state law or this Code.
E. 
Political activity: Staff to the assembly shall not publicly endorse, contribute to, or engage in any political or campaign activity on behalf of any candidate for elected municipal office or on behalf of any municipal ballot proposition, including service area ballot propositions, unless otherwise authorized by this Code.
1. 
Nothing in this subsection is intended to prohibit assembly staff from drafting, research, and other work performed at the request of an assembly member in the normal course of legislative duties of the particular staff member.
2. 
Nothing in this subsection prohibits the assembly staff from expressing private political opinion outside of the workplace, so long as such expression does not interfere with work performance.
3. 
Nothing in this subsection is intended to discourage or inhibit the exercise of voter franchise.
(AO No. 2022-117(S), § 4, 2-7-2022)
A. 
The Municipal Audit Committee shall coordinate and may recommend audits on municipal agencies, activities and accounts. The Committee will be chaired by an Assembly Member and will be comprised of six members, three members appointed by the Assembly and three members appointed by the Mayor. The Committee will perform the following:
1. 
Recommend external auditors to perform such independent financial audits as required by section 6.40.060;
2. 
Oversee the independent financial audits to ensure that requirements of the audit contracts are satisfied;
3. 
Consult with the Director of Internal Audit regarding technical issues and review the annual audit plan;
4. 
Review and endorse the Office of Internal Audit's annual audit plan, submit the annual audit plan to the Assembly and Mayor for approval, and review and comment on any audit plan revisions;
5. 
Receive and review reports resulting from audits of municipal agencies, activities and accounts; and
6. 
Selectively review management action taken to implement audit recommendations contained in all reports of audit at a meeting of the Municipal Audit Committee.
(AO No. 88-68(S); AO No. 92-81(S); AO No. 95-165(S-1), § 1, 10-3-1995; AO No. 2017-40, § 3, 3-21-2017)
A. 
Definitions. Unless otherwise indicated, the definitions in section 3.95.010 shall apply herein.
B. 
Program. There shall be an assembly and legislative branch records and information management program within the municipal clerk's office covering the records of the assembly and legislative branch of the municipality. The records and information management program provides for the orderly and efficient management, retention, preservation, and disposal of records in accordance with this section.
1. 
The legislative branch records and information management program consists of the municipal clerk serving as the branch records management officer, and each office's record custodian.
2. 
The municipal clerk shall maintain a records manual which shall reflect policies and identify proper records procedures for offices within the legislative branch. Each office shall manage its records in accordance with the records manual, policies, and procedures relative to their branch.
3. 
All offices within the legislative branch shall have a designated records custodian, responsible for managing their records and information according to this section and their records and information management guidelines established by the municipal clerk. No office is exempt from the records and information management program requirements.
C. 
Records retention schedule. The municipal clerk is responsible for maintaining records retentions schedule for each of the offices within the legislative branch.
1. 
The retention periods recommended for each record series are established by legal, fiscal, administrative, operational, or historical purpose. Each retention period shall be reviewed by the respective office's record custodian and the assembly counsel's office.
2. 
The municipal clerk shall review any proposed changes to the records retention schedule and shall provide their recommendation along with a copy of proposed changes to the assembly for approval by resolution.
3. 
Records retention and disposition shall follow the respective records retention schedules.
(AO No. 2024-124(S), § 5, 12-17-2024)