Chapter 2.30 RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR ASSEMBLY

§ 2.30.025 Youth representative to the assembly.

Editor's Note: § 2.30.010, Organiation; election of chair and vice chair, derived from AO No. 13-75; AO No. 77-330; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 2008-131; and AO No. 2017-53, was repealed by AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026.

§ 2.30.020 Presiding officer.

The chair of the assembly shall be the presiding officer of the assembly.

The vice-chair of the assembly shall be the presiding officer of the assembly in the case of unavailability of the chair. In such instances of unavailability, another member shall be selected by the acting chair to serve as acting vice-chair.

The presiding officer shall be addressed as "Chair."

The presiding officer shall be a member of the assembly with all of the power and duties of that office.

The chair shall have the authority to make rulings, subject to being overruled by vote of the assembly, to promote the efficient, safe and orderly conduct of assembly business. That authority shall include:

Establishment of a seating chart. The chair shall have the authority to establish a seating chart for assembly members and assembly staff participating in an assembly meeting.

Arrangement of chambers. The chair shall have the authority to prescribe how the physical space of a premise used for an assembly meeting may be used.

Prohibited items. The chair shall have the authority to prohibit members of the public from bringing dangerous or distracting items to assembly premises, or to require an item to be removed from assembly premises if it is being used to create an actual disturbance.

Removal for actual disturbance. The chair shall have the right to order a person to be removed from a meeting for creating an actual disturbance to the meeting.

Direction to security. The chair shall have the right to direct security guards at assembly chambers, in furtherance of assembly meeting purposes.

Signage. The chair shall authorize signage posted at assembly meetings, related to the assembly meeting.

Safety rules. The chair may adopt rules to promote the safety of members and attendees of assembly meetings.

Dilatory motions, points of order, and requests for information. The chair shall rule out of order motions, points of order, and requests for information that are dilatory.

Non-germane requests for information. The chair shall rule that a request for information is out of order if it is not germane to the pending motion or public hearing.

10.

Recess. The chair may temporarily recess a meeting for convenience, to restore order, or to resolve a technical issue.

11.

Committee, liaison, and other assignments. Committees shall be established and organized pursuant to section 2.30.140. The chair shall appoint assembly members as liaisons to other organizations, and to roles identified in Charter or this Code requiring appointment of an assembly member by the assembly.

12.

Office assignments. The chair shall assign members office space.

13.

Administrative direction to branch offices. For purposes of carrying out the chair's duties under this code and necessary administrative or ministerial functions for the legislative branch:

The chair shall provide direction to the municipal clerk, counsel, and offices of the legislative branch in chapter 2.20.

In addition, the assembly may direct by official action and delegate to the chair authority to provide direction and supervision for other specific matters.

The chair shall provide administrative support to the Office of the Ombudsman in a limited and as needed manner. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as restricting the independence of Ombudsman or in any way subordinating their office to the chair.

The vice-chair may exercise authority of the chair to provide administrative direction to the branch when it is determined a conflict of interest would prevent the chair from performing an administrative or ministerial duty.

14.

Youth representative. The chair shall oversee the selection process for and appoint the youth representative(s) to the assembly.

The chair shall have the authority to administer contracts for, and the budget of, the legislative branch.

The chair shall have the authority to access municipal technology to timely send electronic communications to all employees of the municipality. The information technology department shall provide resources and support to implement this section in a reasonable manner.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 2017-53, § 4, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022; AO No. 2022-82, § 1, 9-27-2022; AO No. 2023-31, § 1, 3-22-2023; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

Youth representative. There is established a youth representative to the assembly seat. The assembly may seek nominations for the position from the residents of the municipality who will be at least 16 and not more than 19 years of age at the time of appointment. The youth advisory commission shall have the opportunity to nominate individual youths for appointment.

The youth representative(s) are appointed by the chair of the assembly for a term certain and confirmed by the assembly. The chair may also appoint an alternate youth representative or a cohort of multiple youth representatives to share the position, with one youth representative serving at a time during assembly meetings.

Qualification. The youth representative(s) shall:

If legally eligible, be a qualified voter of the municipality;

Shall be a resident of the municipality for at least one year immediately preceding appointment;

Shall remain a resident of the municipality while in office; and

Shall not be physically absent from the municipality for more than 30 consecutive days unless the absence is approved by the chair.

Role and responsibilities. The youth representative(s) to the assembly:

Shall be seated with the assembly during regular and special meetings, may join committees, participate in work sessions and informal meetings, but shall not attend or participate in executive sessions or quasi-judicial hearings;

May be recognized for comment by the chair or the presiding officer of the assembly and participate in asking questions, debate and deliberation, but may not make parliamentary motions or seconds except to raise a point of privilege;

Shall be provided all materials presented to assembly members for regular and special meetings of the body except materials confidential or related to executive sessions or quasi-judicial hearings;

May indicate a "yes" or "no" preferential vote on matters before the assembly except discussion related to executive sessions or quasi-judicial hearings; the youth representative vote shall not be counted in the vote totals by the municipal clerk but may be recorded; and

Shall not be counted in determining a quorum of the assembly; and

Shall be subject to the code of ethics, chapter 1.15.

Service, training, and term.

Service as a youth representative is voluntary.

The chair of the assembly may assign assembly members to mentor the youth representative(s), and the chair or legislative staff may provide for training and orientation for the youth representative(s).

The term shall be a minimum term of six months and a maximum of one year and shall be determined by the chair at the time of appointment. A youth representative shall not hold or run for public elected office during the term of appointment.

Vacancy.

A youth representative seat becomes vacant in the same manner as the office of an elected official becomes vacant as provided in section 7.01(a) of the Charter. Youth representatives serve at the pleasure of the chair.

A youth representative seat automatically becomes vacant without further action necessary if the person:

Is absent from three regular meetings they were scheduled to attend without excuse; or

Unless approved by the chair of the assembly, the youth representative is physically absent from the municipality for more than 30 consecutive days.

Compensation. Youth representative(s) may receive compensation as determined by resolution.

(AO No. 2022-69(S), § 1, 6-21-2022; AO No. 2023-106, § 1, 11-7-2023; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

§ 2.30.030 Assembly meetings and premises.

Regular meetings. Regular meetings of the assembly shall be held twice each month on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. at the Assembly Chambers, 3600 Denali Street, unless otherwise designated by the assembly.

Special meetings. A special meeting may be called by chair, mayor, or by five assembly members in accordance with Charter section 4.04. At least 24 hours' written notice shall be given designating the date, time, place and purpose of a special meeting. The municipal clerk or designee shall serve special meeting notices by electronic transmission to each member of the assembly and the mayor at the email address assigned to them by the Municipality of Anchorage.

Emergency meetings. In an emergency, a meeting may be called by chair, mayor, or by five assembly members with less than 24 hours' written notice served by electronic transmission to each member and the mayor at their assigned email address. A reasonable attempt shall be made to provide prior public notice of an emergency meeting prior to the start of the meeting. It shall be a legal meeting if three-fourths of the members are present. Members may participate in an emergency meeting telephonically in accordance with section 2.30.075.

Electronic recording of meetings. The official electronic recording of all regular and special meetings, to include emergency meetings, shall be retained permanently by the municipal clerk.

Electronic public notice of meetings. The municipal clerk shall enter the date, time, place and purpose of meetings on the assembly calendar and on the public notice page of the municipal website. The municipal clerk may also publish in a newspaper of general circulation notice of special meetings.

Continued meetings.

Shall be publicly noticed a minimum of 24 hours prior to the meeting, unless the recessed meeting is continued to the next day or in cases of exigent circumstances.

Time permitting, the continued meeting notice shall include the same information as a regular meeting, except that a new agenda need not be published as long as the continued meeting agenda is consistent with the agenda from the recessed meeting.

Business at emergency or special meeting. No business shall be transacted at any special meeting of the assembly except as specifically stated in the notice of the meeting. In the event of an emergency meeting, business necessarily pertaining to the emergency for which the meeting is called may be transacted regardless of whether it falls within the notice of the meeting.

Cancellation of meetings. Cancellation of a special assembly meeting shall be by the authority of the persons who called the meeting and shall be effective by notice upon each member of the assembly through electronic transmission at the address assigned to the member by the Municipality of Anchorage and communicated not less than two hours before the special meeting.

Management authority for assembly premises; necessary resources. Notwithstanding any other section of this Code, the presiding officer of the assembly, or the presiding officer's designee, shall have management authority over assembly premises. No person shall act to frustrate, or unreasonably deny to the offices of the legislative branch resources needed to exercise the assembly's management authority over assembly premises. For purposes of this section:

"Assembly premises" shall mean the assembly chambers or other designated space which is used by the assembly, a committee of the assembly, or for legislative purposes, including the room in which a meeting is held, and adjacent areas and rooms reasonable and necessary for logistical purposes, staff support, security, executive session, recess, public and press access, public broadcasting, and other ancillary needs related to legislative uses. Such other designated space includes, but is not limited to, the assembly and municipal clerk's offices and conference rooms at City Hall and the Z.J. Loussac Library, conference rooms and offices customarily used by the assembly or municipal clerk and their staff, and other similar space customarily used by the assembly and legislative branch departments. The assembly may by resolution designate those spaces it deems necessary for its use as assembly premises.

"Management authority" shall mean control over the physical and logistical arrangements of the premises for use of the space, including furnishings, equipment, technology, security, seating arrangements, attendance and occupancy limits (which may be more, but shall not be less restrictive than those required by Title 23), special safety measures or orders, accessibility accommodations, signage, décor, and other personal property and operational matters at the premises.

"To frustrate, or unreasonably deny to the presiding officer municipal resources" shall include:

Failing to make meeting premises available at such times as the presiding officer reasonably requires, notwithstanding that a conflicting use may have been scheduled and may need to be canceled,

Failing to reasonably make available fixtures, furnishings and equipment, information systems, contractors, and personnel that customarily support, or are otherwise necessary for a legislative use, or

Instructing an individual not to follow or implement, or otherwise to impede, a legitimate order of the presiding officer.

In the assembly chambers or any location where a regular assembly meeting, a special assembly meeting or any meeting where the mayor has a right under the charter to participate is held, an appropriate number of stations for the executive branch's use at a level equal to the assembly members shall be provided. The presiding officer may, pursuant to sections 2.30.080C. and D., determine the number of stations to be provided. The mayor or their designee shall have management authority over these stations.

In the assembly chambers during assembly meetings there shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner:

The United States, State of Alaska, and Municipality of Anchorage official flags; and

The official land acknowledgement statement adopted by the assembly.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 61-75; AO No. 242-76; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 79-137; AO No. 82-140; AO No. 83-120(S); AO No. 83-211; AO No. 84-55; AO No. 84-86; AO No. 84-224; AO No. 84-249; AO No. 85-15(S); AO No. 85-54; AO No. 86-62; AO No. 86-151; AO No. 87-12; AO No. 88-164; AO No. 89-15, 4-1-1989; AO No. 90-154(S); AO No. 91-25; AO No. 91-178(S); AO No. 92-107(S); AO No. 94-76, § 1, 5-3-1994; AO No. 94-132(S), § 4, 8-25-1994; AO No. 94-177(S), § 1, 10-27-1994; AO No. 95-130, § 1, 6-6-1995; AO No. 95-83(S-1), §§ 1—3, 1-9-1996; AO No. 96-22, § 3, 2-6-1996; AO No. 96-92, § 1, 6-25-1996; AO No. 97-19, § 2, 2-11-1997; AO No. 98-161, § 1, 10-20-1998; AO No. 2000-121, § 1, 8-15-2000; AO No. 2001-126, § 1, 7-10-2001; AO No. 2002-148, § 1, 10-15-2002; AO No. 2003-58, § 2, 7-8-2003; AO No. 2008-81, § 1, 7-29-2008; AO No. 2009-134, § 1, 1-12-2010; AO No. 2015-113, § 1, 10-13-2015; AO No. 2017-53, § 5, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2021-113(S), § 1, 11-10-2021; AO No. 2023-73, § 4, 7-25-2023; AO No. 2023-129(S), § 1, 12-19-2023; AO No. 2025-39, § 1, 4-22-2025; AO No. 2025-91, § 6, 1-1-2026; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

§ 2.30.035 Meeting agenda.

Order of business. The order of business at all regular meetings of the assembly shall be as follows:

Call to order.

Roll call.

Pledge of allegiance and land acknowledgment.

Minutes of previous meetings.

Mayor's report.

Assembly chair's report.

Committee and liaison reports.

Addendum to agenda.

Appearance requests (shall begin no earlier than 5:15 p.m. and testimony by the last person shall begin no later than 6:00 p.m.). Appearance requests shall be in accordance with section 2.30.040.

10.

Consent agenda. Routine items requiring assembly action may be placed on the consent agenda for approval upon a single motion and vote. Prior to approval, on the request of any member of the assembly, an item placed on the consent agenda may be pulled from the consent agenda and considered with a separate vote.

Resolutions for action—Proclamations and recognitions.

Resolutions for action—Other.

Bid awards.

New business.

Appropriation items.

Information and reports.

Ordinances and resolutions for introduction. All ordinances and those resolutions requiring a public hearing will be placed on the consent agenda for introduction and will be set for public hearing at a future meeting.

11.

Unfinished business and unfinished action on public hearing items.

12.

Unfinished business and unfinished action on quasi-judicial matters after public hearing, or action on other administrative matters, such as election certification, and special orders that are not public hearing items.

13.

Continued public hearings (shall begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m., and shall be taken up immediately following completion of unfinished business and unfinished action on public hearing items).

14.

New public hearings (shall begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m. and shall be taken up immediately following completion of continued public hearings).

15.

New and continued quasi-judicial public hearings.

16.

Final audience participation.

17.

Assembly comments.

18.

Executive sessions.

19.

Adjournment shall be promptly at 11:00 p.m.; provided, however, by two-thirds vote of the assembly, adjournment and business before the assembly may be continued past 11:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight.

Laid-on-the-table items. Upon passage of a motion to amend the agenda duly made and seconded, any member of the assembly may request action on items not included in the regular or addendum agenda. A motion to "lay an item on the table" may be taken as a motion to amend the agenda.

Ordinances. Ordinances for introduction may be laid on the table at any time, pursuant to Charter Section 10.01. Ordinances shall be set for a public hearing following introduction and upon approval of three assembly members. The required approval may be in the form of a motion by an assembly member to introduce an ordinance, accompanied by both a second and a third.

Resolutions to be set for a public hearing at a future meeting, or for recognition. A resolution may be introduced and laid on the table at any time if the member introducing the resolution moves to set the resolution for public hearing at a future meeting or it is a resolution of recognition or proclamation under subsection A.10.a, and the motion is approved by majority vote.

All other assembly items, including resolutions not set for a public hearing at a future meeting. Upon an affirmative vote of at least eight members, the assembly may take action on these items only under circumstances that require immediate assembly action, such as financial necessity, natural disasters, enabling construction on municipal property before construction season ends, or when time is of the essence for assembly action on an item.

Supplemental materials. Additional materials on an item included on a properly published and distributed agenda may be added at any time.

Public notice of agenda. The agenda for the regular assembly meetings shall be published no fewer than 36 hours prior to any regular assembly meeting.

Agenda distribution. The agenda for regular assembly meetings shall be distributed to each assembly member and the mayor not less than 72 hours prior to the regular assembly meeting.

Agenda for special meeting. The agenda for a special meeting shall include such items as are necessary to accomplish the purpose of the meeting, and at least the following:

Call to order.

Roll call.

Pledge of allegiance and land acknowledgment.

Items of business.

Audience participation.

Assembly comments.

Adjournment.

Public hearings at continued and special meetings. Continued and new public hearings at special meetings, if any, may be opened or resumed at any time during the pendency of the meeting.

Adoption. A published agenda applies to the meeting for which it was published, subject to amendment at the meeting, and does not need to be formally adopted or approved by vote.

(AO No. 2017-53, § 6, 7-1-2017; AO No. 2020-30(S), § 2, 4-28-2020; AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022; AO No. 2022-82, § 1, 9-27-2022; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

§ 2.30.036 Executive sessions.

The assembly may recess to meet in executive session to discuss the following subjects if the express nature of the subject is stated in the motion calling for the session:

A specific legal matter, including pending litigation;

Labor negotiations with municipal employees;

Matters the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of the municipality;

Subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and character of any person, provided the person may request a public discussion;

Matters which by law, Municipal Charter, or ordinance are required to be confidential, including the provision of legal advice subject to protection by the attorney-client privilege; or

Matters involving consideration of government records that by law are not subject to public disclosure.

Members of the public shall be excluded from executive sessions. Special invitees, employees, and staff members that the body determines are necessary to the discussion may remain in the meeting during executive session.

No official action may be taken in executive sessions except to give direction to an attorney or labor negotiator regarding a specific legal matter or pending labor negotiation. Although the public may be excluded, the session shall be electronically recorded. The recording shall be disclosed following release only upon request pursuant to chapter 3.90 according to the following timelines:

If the session concerns pending litigation, the release date shall be when all causes of action have been resolved by final judgment or when further claims arising from the matter are otherwise barred;

If the session concerns labor negotiations, the release date shall be six months following expiration of the labor contract;

If the session concerns matters that, if immediately disclosed, would adversely affect the finances of the municipality, the release date shall be a date certain set by the assembly at the conclusion of the executive session;

If the session concerns matters which tend to defame or injure the reputation of persons the assembly may set a release date or may provide that no release shall occur;

If the session concerns matters required by law to be confidential, the assembly may set a release date subject to the applicable law governing the subject matter or may provide that no release shall occur; and

If the session concerns matters involving consideration of government records that by law are not subject to public disclosure, the release shall be conditioned upon a competent authority determining the records at issue may be disclosable as public records.

The assembly may extend the time periods set forth in subsection C only for good cause.

Recordings or minutes of an executive session shall be available only to assembly members or authorized municipal staff until the date of release, if any, as authorized under the provisions set forth in this subsection.

(AO No. 2017-53 § 6, 7-1-2017; AO No. 2020-30(S), § 3, 4-28-2020; AO No. 2025-91, § 7, 1-1-2026; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

§ 2.30.040 Appearance requests and audience participation.

A person wishing to speak before the assembly under "appearance requests" must file an appearance request with the municipal clerk specifying the topic on which the person intends to speak.

Appearance requests will be heard by the assembly when placed on the agenda by the municipal clerk. A person may only file one appearance request per meeting. Each speaker is limited to three minutes of testimony. The chair may, at the chair's discretion, extend the time to allow no more than five minutes for remarks when the speaker is representing a group.

In determining whether or not appearance requests are placed on the agenda, the municipal clerk, in conjunction with the assembly chair, shall adhere to the following:

If the appearance request has clearly defined administrative channels of resolution that have not yet been utilized by the person requesting an appearance before the assembly, the municipal clerk shall refer the person to the appropriate administrative channels of resolution.

Except under special circumstances as determined by the chair, appearance requests which involve the following shall not be accepted:

Items that have clearly defined administrative channels of resolution that have not yet been utilized by the person.

Items that the assembly or administration has no jurisdiction over and/or responsibility or authority to resolve per the Municipal Charter, Municipal Code, or Municipal Code of Regulations.

Subjects currently under labor negotiations.

An item upon which litigation involving the person or the person's representative is currently pending.

If the person requesting an appearance has submitted multiple appearance requests within a 90-day period, the chair may, at their discretion, limit the speaker to one appearance every quarter. The clerk shall provide written notice to the speaker on behalf of the chair prior to denying a request pursuant to this subsection.

To ensure that sufficient time remains available for the assembly to conduct its business, not more than three appearance requests will typically be granted for any single meeting.

Appearance requests approved by the chair and accepted by the municipal clerk shall be placed on the next available regular agenda after acceptance.

In lieu of appearance requests, the assembly will accept brief written communications on any subject at the electronic transmission address assigned to assembly members by the Municipality of Anchorage. Other written communications directed to the assembly will be reproduced, if necessary, and distributed to assembly members by the municipal clerk no later than 14 days after receipt.

Persons who do not wish to speak before the assembly under "appearance requests," persons who had their appearance request denied under subsection C.2 or C.3 of this section, or persons who do not wish to submit written communications, may be heard under "audience participation."

If time is available, final audience participation shall be held at each regular meeting. Audience participation is limited to three minutes of testimony per speaker, and this time may not be extended. A person may testify on any topic; however, a person shall not testify on the speaker's own appearance request at the same meeting.

The following chart summarizes information in this chapter regarding appearance requests, audience participation, and public testimony:

AMC § 2.30.040B	Appearance Requests	3 min. - chair may extend to 5 min. for individual representing a group
AMC § 2.30.040G	Final Audience Participation	3 min. - chair may not extend
AMC § 2.30.055B	Public Hearings	3 min. - for individuals, chair may extend for up to 5 min. total for individual representing a group OR 5 min. - for community council representative, Girdwood Board of Supervisors (GBOS) representative, or Native Village of Eklutna (NVE) representative - chair may not extend Note: Person testifying for a group does not also get 3 minutes to testify as an individual.

(AO No. 78-49; AO No. 79-137, 10-18-1979; AO No. 94-177(S), § 2, 10-27-1994; AO No. 2014-2(S), § 1, 2-25-2014; AO No. 2017-53, § 7, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2020-30(S), § 4, 4-28-2020; AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022; AO No. 2022-82, § 1, 9-27-2022; AO 2025-73, § 1, 8-26-2025)

§ 2.30.050 Introduction of ordinances; action on ordinances.

Introduction. An ordinance shall be introduced in writing and may be introduced by an assembly member at a regular meeting of the assembly. An ordinance may be introduced at a special meeting of the assembly provided introduction has been included in the call of the meeting.

Public hearing. Upon approval of three assembly members, an ordinance will be scheduled for public hearing consistent with Charter Section 10.01(b). The title or condensed title of every ordinance shall be read before the public hearing.

Assembly memorandum. An assembly memorandum will be submitted in writing for each ordinance.

Amendments. Amendments to proposed ordinances shall be submitted in writing when practicable.

Substitute versions of ordinances. When a "Substitute" or "S" version of an ordinance is presented for action by the assembly, the sponsor will provide a supplemental assembly memorandum outlining the significant changes from the most recent version. The supplemental assembly memorandum and the substitute version of the ordinance will be available to the public.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 92-162; AO No. 94-176, §§ 1, 2, 9-27-1994; AO No. 96-159(S), § 3, 1-14-1997; AO No. 2003-169, § 1, 1-6-2004; AO No. 2008-40, § 1, 5-20-2008; AO No. 2014-2(S), § 2, 2-25-2014; AO No. 2017-53, § 8, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2020-30(S), § 5, 4-28-2020)

§ 2.30.053 Summary of economic effects (SEE) on proposed ordinances.

When required. A summary of economic effects of proposed ordinances is required unless excepted by this section. A summary of economic effects describes the anticipated effect of a proposed ordinance on local government costs and revenues and the private sector. A summary of economic effects in the form required in subsection D of this section shall be submitted to the municipal clerk for a proposed ordinance prior to the date of the scheduled public hearing.

When not required. A summary of economic effects is not required if:

The proposed ordinance has no private sector economic effects and local government effects are less than $30,000.00, in which case a statement to this effect shall be included in the assembly memorandum; or

The information is already included in the ordinance or appended materials, in which case a statement to that effect shall be included in the assembly memorandum.

Preparation. For ordinances introduced by chair at the request of the mayor, a summary of economic effects shall be included with the proposed ordinance upon introduction. For ordinances proposed by an assembly member, the department affected by the ordinance shall prepare the summary of economic effects within 10 working days of an assembly member's request unless a time extension is granted by the member.

The sponsor of the proposed ordinance may prepare a summary of economic effects in conformity with the requirements of this section and submit it to the office of the municipal clerk for attachment to the proposed ordinance.

The sponsor or legislative branch staff may request information supporting a summary of economic effects and the department affected by the ordinance shall provide the information within 10 working days of the request unless a time extension is granted by the sponsor. If the affected department prepares a completed summary of economic effects in conformity with this section, then the department shall provide it to the sponsor and may submit it to the municipal clerk.

A department affected by a proposed ordinance introduced by an assembly member may, without being requested, prepare and submit a summary of economic effects to the municipal clerk and shall contemporaneously provide a copy to the sponsoring assembly member(s) and the mayor.

Contents. A summary of economic effects shall address:

Local government effects for the current and succeeding four years, including:

All costs of implementation, capital, operation and maintenance of the proposed ordinance, if adopted;

Changes in revenue;

The impact on existing programs;

The source of funds to be utilized;

The number of new positions which may be required, identified as full-time, part-time or temporary;

The fiscal effects, if any, of not passing this ordinance; and

Any additional fiscal information that may be useful to the assembly in its deliberations.

A description of private sector economic effects which may reasonably be expected as a consequence of the proposed ordinance. This summary of private sector effects may include but need not be limited to changes in:

Costs or opportunities to individuals or businesses;

Availability of goods and services;

Employment;

Property value;

Population; and

Other economic factors that may be useful to the assembly in its deliberations.

Formal information consisting of:

The ordinance number;

The name of the prime sponsor;

The date the summary was prepared; and

The name and telephone number of the person who prepared the summary.

Waivers. The assembly may waive the application of the provisions of this section. Failure to comply with this section shall not invalidate any action taken.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 87-134; AO No. 88-10, 4-4-1988; AO No. 88-22, 4-4-1988; AO No. 92-162; AO No. 94-176, §§ 1, 2, 9-27-1994; AO No. 96-159(S), § 3, 1-14-1997; AO No. 2003-169, § 1, 1-6-2004; AO No. 2008-40, § 1, 5-20-2008; AO No. 2014-2(S), § 2, 2-25-2014; AO No. 2017-53, § 9, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

§ 2.30.055 Conduct of public hearing.

The chair or presiding member of the assembly meeting may request persons testifying at public hearing to give their name, and to identify their neighborhood or community of residence.

Each individual giving testimony shall be allocated three minutes; however, the chair may, at the chair's discretion, extend the time to allow the individual to testify for no more than five minutes when the speaker is representing a group. The time limit for a designated representative of a community council is five minutes. The time limit for a designated representative of the Native Village of Eklutna is five minutes. When an individual is representing a group, the total amount of time for the individual is five minutes; the individual does not get an additional three minutes to speak in their personal capacity. The speaker must focus testimony to the topic of the public hearing. An individual may use a portion of their allocated time to engage in silent protest, but while doing so must not prevent or delay other members of the public from providing testimony while the individual's silent protest continues. A chart summarizing information in this chapter regarding public testimony, appearance requests, and audience participation is at section 2.30.040H.

A person may testify once at public hearing on any item. While the public hearing is open, a person may testify on the changes in a substitute version and will not be precluded for having given prior testimony on an earlier version of the same item.

A sign-up list may be implemented to facilitate the management of public hearing so that all who seek to testify are allowed the opportunity to be heard in an orderly manner.

A sign-up list may be initiated at any time by the chair of the assembly or the municipal clerk in consultation with the presiding member.

A member of the public may request use of a sign-up list by submitting a written request to the municipal clerk by noon on the day prior to public testimony. When a written request for use of a sign-up list is timely filed by a member of the public, the municipal clerk may implement the sign-up list.

If a sign-up list is utilized, the municipal clerk shall manage the sign-up list to ensure fairness.

If a public hearing is continued, the sign-up list will remain open and available to anyone present to be heard at the continued public hearing.

If any time scheduled for public hearing proves inadequate to hear all persons present to testify, the public hearing shall be continued.

Continued public hearing may be scheduled for any day of the week on a continued, special or subsequent regular meeting agenda.

If the date, time, and location of continued public hearing cannot be announced when the public hearing is continued, public notice shall be given as soon as practicable.

If the assembly anticipates public hearing or assembly deliberation will draw more people than the assembly chambers will accommodate, additional space with audio or audio and video in the Wilda Marston Theater or other location will be used, if available, to facilitate seating for additional members of the public.

Notwithstanding subsection E of this section, the assembly may close a public hearing:

In order to meet a deadline imposed by law,

If necessary to pass an item which is, in the sole discretion of the assembly, time sensitive, or

If the item for which the public hearing is being conducted is postponed indefinitely. A motion to postpone an item indefinitely, made and seconded before the closure of the public hearing, is not debatable.

Questions posed by assembly members should be to provide clarification or additional information on testimony provided. Members shall not engage in debate with members of the public. Questions should not be used as an attempt to lengthen or expand the testimony of an individual. Assembly members shall use restraint and be considerate of the meeting time of the assembly in exercising the option to pose questions. The chair may intervene if a member is violating the spirit of this subsection, or if questions become so numerous as to impair expeditious conduct of the public hearing.

(AO No. 2014-2(S), § 3, 2-25-2014; AO No. 2017-53, § 10, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2020-137(S), § 2, 1-14-2021; AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022; AO No. 2022-43(S), § 5, 4-12-2022; AO No. 2022-82, § 1, 9-27-2022; AO 2025-73, § 1, 8-26-2025; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

§ 2.30.060 Public hearings and action on resolutions.

The assembly may set public hearings on resolutions at such time and with such public notice as the assembly may determine.

Public hearings on proposed resolutions shall be conducted in compliance with section 2.30.055.

Action on proposed resolutions shall be governed by this chapter.

(AO No. 78-49; AO No. 92-162; AO No. 94-176, § 3, 9-27-1994; AO No. 95-227, 1-2-1996; AO No. 2014-2(S), § 4, 2-25-2014; AO No. 2017-53, § 11, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022)

§ 2.30.065 Motions.

By a member with the floor. A motion that is in order may be made at any time by a member who has been granted the floor by the chair.

Rules applicable to specific motions. Certain motions classified by Robert's Rules as subsidiary shall be considered incidental main motions when made pertaining to an agenda item and there is no main motion pending, including a motion to postpone indefinitely, motion to postpone to a time certain, motion to continue, motion to refer, and similar motions incidental to or related to assembly business on the agenda.

Motion to postpone indefinitely. Any main motion may be postponed indefinitely. When made as an incidental main motion, a motion to postpone indefinitely is not debatable if it is moved and seconded before closure of a public hearing on the item.

Motion to postpone to a time certain. Any main motion may be postponed to a future meeting date.

Motion to lay on the table. A motion to lay an item on the table may be taken as a motion to amend the current agenda.

Motion to change the order of the day. The assembly may re-order an agenda and take up any item by motion of a member to change the order of the day. A motion to change the order of the day requires a second, and a majority vote.

Motion to continue. A public hearing and action on an item can be continued to any date.

Motion to refer. A motion to refer an item to a committee or department shall also bring the item back to a date specified by the assembly, or to the next regular agenda following the committee's or department's completion of the matter referred.

Motion to reopen a public hearing. A motion to reopen a public hearing requires a majority vote.

Motion to reconsider. A motion to reconsider a vote may be made only by a member who voted with the prevailing side and seconded by any other member of the assembly.

The motion must be made and seconded during the meeting at which the action to be reconsidered was taken, or by written notification to the municipal clerk within 24 hours of the adjournment of the meeting by the moving party and second.

A motion to reconsider may not be made regarding:

The approval of an emergency ordinance after adjournment of the meeting at which the item was approved;

The assembly's action on whether to protest a state liquor license or marijuana license application; or

The assembly's certification of an election.

A motion to reconsider items on the consent agenda may be made narrowly to bring back only a specific item or items or may be made to reconsider the entire consent agenda.

Any member of the assembly may call up a motion to reconsider which has been duly made and seconded at any time during the meeting at which made, or at the next meeting of the assembly.

Motion to reconsider and enter upon the minutes. A motion to reconsider and enter upon the minutes is out of order, except in circumstances:

Absent members. When one or more assembly members is absent from the meeting; and

Vote could have changed. The absent members could have changed the outcome of the vote to be reconsidered, had the absent members been present and voted in the negative.

10.

Effect of motion to reconsider. A proper motion to reconsider, once seconded, suspends implementation and effect of the decision for which reconsideration is sought, until the assembly takes action on that motion.

11.

Second motions to reconsider that are not in order. No motion or item can be reconsidered twice, unless it was materially amended during the first reconsideration. The failure of an immediate vote for reconsideration precludes a further motion for reconsideration.

12.

Motion for a division of the assembly. A motion for a division of the assembly is out of order whenever the outcome of the immediately prior assembly vote is clear.

13.

Motion to rescind or amend something previously adopted. Except as provided by law, a motion to rescind or to amend something previously adopted may be moved by any member, and must be seconded. Actions that cannot be rescinded or amended by motion to amend something previously adopted are as defined in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Approval. A motion to rescind or to amend something previously adopted requires the approval of two-thirds of the entire assembly unless previous notice of the motion has been given at the regular meeting immediately preceding that meeting during which the motion is to be considered. If previous notice of the motion has been given, only a majority of the assembly is required for approval.

Further motions if motion fails. Upon failure of a motion to rescind for which previous notice has once been given, no further motions or notices of intent to rescind the same action are in order. Upon failure of a motion to amend something previously adopted for which no previous notice has been given, no further motions or notices of intent to amend the same action, substantially similar in substance to the failed motion to amend, are in order, except a motion to reconsider.

Time limit and suspension. There is no time limit on making either a motion to rescind or to amend something previously adopted.

Before the effective date. A motion to rescind or to amend something previously adopted may be made at any time after passage but before the effective date of the item.

After the effective date. A motion to rescind or to amend something previously adopted may still be made after the item's effective date, only if no provision of the ordinance, resolution or memorandum has been carried out or implemented.

§ 2.30.070 Voting and disclosure of financial and private interests.

Suspension. The making of either motion or the notice of intent to do so does not operate to suspend the implementation or effect of any prior assembly action, in contrast to a proper motion to reconsider, and the effective date of action is not delayed.

14.

Motion to suspend the rules. A motion to suspend the rules may be applied to a procedural rule in chapter 2.30 of this Code, provided it does not in effect suspend a fundamental principle of parliamentary law or violate a federal or state law, Municipal Charter, or another municipal code provision prescribing procedural rules applicable to the subject matter.

15.

Motion to override mayoral veto. May be made at any time by any member within the 21 days of the mayor's exercise of the veto power and is not subject to procedural requirements of a motion to lay an item on the table. The motion may be made and seconded during a meeting of the assembly, or by written notification to the municipal clerk. Any member of the assembly may call up a motion to override a mayoral veto which has been duly made and seconded at any time during the meeting at which made, or at any subsequent meeting of the assembly, provided it is taken up within 21 days of the exercise of the veto. Computation of time shall be in accordance with section 1.05.020 of this Code, and the motion shall be considered untimely after 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day.

No committee motions. Motions may not be referred to the assembly by committee.

Withdrawal.

A motion may be withdrawn by the mover at any time before it is voted upon without the consent of the second, or the assembly.

A motion to introduce an ordinance may be withdrawn by the mover at any time prior to the public hearing. If the mover is no longer on the body, the motion may nonetheless be made by a co-sponsor of the ordinance or the second or concurring third from the original motion to introduce.

(AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022; AO No. 2022-82, § 1, 9-27-2022; AO No. 2023-62, § 1, 5-23-2023; AO No. 2025-73, § 1, 8-26-2025; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

Duty to vote. All assembly members present shall vote on each question before the assembly for determination, unless excused by the chair or a quorum of the assembly as provided in subsection B.

Duty to disclose financial or private interests. Prior to participation in official action, each member shall disclose financial or private interests for determination of whether they are substantial. No member of the assembly may vote or participate in any official action of the assembly on any question in violation of chapter 1.15, Code of Ethics.

Stating the question. The chair formally places a motion before the assembly by stating the question. The chair may state the question by referencing written items or amendments, which are incorporated into the chair's statement as if read in full.

Announcing the vote; tie vote. On completion of the vote, the chair of the assembly shall announce the number of affirmative votes, the number of negative votes and whether the action has carried or has failed. If the votes on a motion result in a tie, the motion fails.

Votes required.

An affirmative vote of seven members of the assembly is required to carry any measure or motion before the assembly, unless a greater number is required by ordinance or the Charter. Any lesser number, even though it constitutes a majority of the members present, shall not carry and the measure shall be defeated.

Some assembly actions require a supermajority of eight votes or more of the assembly. Motions or actions that require a supermajority include these examples:

The Charter:

§ 5.02(c) - motion to override mayoral veto;

§ 7.01(b) - motion to remove an elected official (see also AMC section 2.70.030B);

§ 10.03 - motion to approve an emergency ordinance requires three-fourths (nine votes) supermajority;

iv.

§ 18.02 - motion to approve an ordinance for voters to amend the Charter;

Anchorage Municipal Code:

Sections 2.30.035A.14 and 2.30.035A.20 - motion to extend the time of the meeting;

Section 2.30.080H - motion to rescind or amend something previously adopted without prior notice;

§ 2.30.075 Absences, excused absences, and telephonic participation.

Section 2.70.030B - motion to remove an elected official (see also Charter at § 7.01(b));

iv.

Section 3.70.100C.10 - motion to approve decision by arbitrator after impasse;

Section 14.20.010 - motion to remove administrative hearing officer prior to expiration of term without cause requires affirmative vote of the mayor and a majority of assembly members, or eight members of the assembly;

vi.

Section 21.02.070 - motion to approve appointment of members of the board of adjustment;

vii.

Section 21.20.120 - motion to approve zoning map amendment if the amendment is protested by owners in the area under certain specific circumstances;

viii.

Section 21.20.140 - motion to approve an overlay district zoning map amendment if the overlay district amendment is protested by owners in the area under certain specific circumstances;

ix.

Section 21.40.240T - motion to approve a T zone use if the T zone land use determination is protested by the owners in the area under certain specific circumstances;

Section 25.20.027E - motion to approve an ordinance on the limitations on the exercise of eminent domain;

xi.

Section 25.35.065A - motion to designate and withdrawal of municipal land to the Anchorage Community Development Authority;

Other motions or actions as detailed in the Charter and code.

Section 2.30.080I - other motions or actions not covered by Chapter 2.30 are governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern.

Numbers of members for determining a majority or supermajority (two-thirds). Except where specifically provided otherwise, whenever this chapter refers to a vote of a majority or other greater designated portion of the assembly, the vote required shall be the designated portion of the number of members authorized to serve on the assembly (12 members). A majority is not determined by a majority of the members present. Whenever this chapter refers to a certain number of members required to be present, it shall be based on the number of members authorized to serve pursuant to chapter 2.25.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 79-137; AO No. 80-56; AO No. 85-56; AO No. 87-17(S); AO No. 94-191, § 1, 10-25-1994; AO No. 2001-58, § 1, 3-20-2001; AO No. 2002-61, § 1, 3-19-2002; AO No. 2005-79, § 1, 6-28-2005; AO No. 2006-140(S-1), § 3, 1-1-2007; AO No. 2017-53, § 12, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2020-30(S), § 6, 4-28-2020; AO No. 2021-109, § 1, 11-1-2021; AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022; AO No. 2022-78, § 1, 7-12-2022; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

A member of the assembly who is physically absent from a regular or special meeting, including an executive session, will be recorded as absent unless the member is participating telephonically as provided in subsection B below. Except for emergency meetings, a member who fails to provide prior notice of their anticipated absence to the chair or clerk will be recorded as having an unexcused absence.

A member of the assembly who is participating telephonically under this section may participate in and vote at the meeting by telephone or other electronic means under the following circumstances:

The member has provided prior notice to the chair or clerk of their intent to participate telephonically, except such prior notice is not required for emergency meetings;

The meeting is held with a quorum of members physically present, except as expressly provided in subsection D of this section;

Reasonable technical capabilities are available at the meeting location to allow the member to participate, to include being able to hear and engage in discussion, and being audible to all persons participating in the meeting;

The member participating telephonically has the ability to obtain the meeting agenda and other pertinent documents to be discussed and/or acted upon; and

A member who is participating telephonically will have a voice vote.

Telephonic participation under this section shall include any means through which a member may participate remotely, to include being able to hear and engage in discussion, and being audible to all persons participating in the meeting.

A quorum of assembly members may be established with the combined total of members physically or telephonically present in the following circumstances:

The mayor, governor, or federal government has declared an emergency;

An emergency meeting is called; or

For good cause by ruling of the chair.

(AO No. 2017-53, § 13, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2020-31, § 1, 3-20-2020; AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

§ 2.30.080 Conduct of debate and discussion; general parliamentary authority.

Obtaining the floor. The mayor or any assembly member, when desiring to speak at an assembly meeting, shall respectfully address the chair as "Chair," and shall refrain from speaking until recognized.

Order of recognition. Debate on any question before the assembly may be initiated by any member, but the moving party shall be given first opportunity to do so.

Consent agenda items. Upon calling up an item pulled from the consent agenda, the chair shall first recognize the member who requested the item be pulled.

Unfinished business and public hearing items. Upon asking the will of the body, the chair shall recognize the first member to make a motion, duly seconded. At their discretion, the chair, may ask for a motion from a particular member.

When two or more members request recognition at the same time, the chair shall determine which one shall speak first. The chair may call on members in the order in which they indicated their desire to speak or may attempt to alternate between those favoring and opposing a motion. No one is entitled to the floor a second time in debate on the same motion on the same day as long as any other member who has not spoken on this motion desires the floor.

Order and decorum; rulings of the chair. The chair shall be charged with the responsibility of maintaining order and decorum at all times. The chair shall make such rulings as deemed necessary concerning points of order or concerning spectators.

Appealing a chair's ruling.Any assembly member may challenge a ruling of the chair by motion to appeal the ruling of the chair. The member does not need to wait to be recognized before moving to appeal. It requires a second. The vote is taken so that the affirmative will be in favor of sustaining the chair's ruling. The question to be put before the assembly may be, "Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgement of the Assembly?" or, "Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?"

Member comments; chair's participation in debate. Every member, while speaking, shall confine the member's comments to the subject under debate, and shall not refer to any other member except in a respectful manner. Members shall generally speak while seated. If the chair of the assembly wishes to speak in debate, the chair shall temporarily relinquish control of the meeting to the vice chair or, in the absence of the vice chair, to any other member present. At the conclusion of the chair's remarks, the chair shall resume control of the meeting.

Total time for debate. Total debate on any question before the assembly shall not be permitted to exceed one hour unless such time is extended by a majority vote of the assembly.

Amendments and preambles. When an ordinance or resolution contains a preamble consisting of one or more statements beginning "whereas," the preamble may be amended before or after amendment of the resolving or ordaining clauses has been completed.

Previous question. Debate on any pending motion may be ended by motion to call the previous question. A member may make the motion by stating, "I call the question." A motion to call the question on a main motion to adopt a resolution or ordinance with a preamble applies to debate and amendment of a preamble, unless otherwise stated by the member making the motion.

General adoption of Robert's Rules. In all matters not covered by this chapter, Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern.

Minor deviations. Minor deviations from the rules and procedures contained in this chapter and incorporated by the adoption of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall not be a basis for invalidating any otherwise valid assembly action.

Non-member participation in debate. The rules may be suspended to allow a person other than an assembly member or the mayor to speak in debate, except that:

Counsel. The municipal attorney and assembly counsel may give an opinion, either written or oral, on legal questions; and

Municipal staff. Municipal employees may obtain the floor to respond to a question from an assembly member. As a courtesy to the mayor, when the mayor exercises the mayor's right under the Charter to participate in an assembly meeting to the same extent as an assembly member (except that the mayor may not vote), the mayor also may call upon a municipal employee to make comments on the mayor's behalf.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 91-178(S); AO No. 2017-53, § 14, 4-11-2017; AO No. 2019-84, § 1, 7-9-2019; Ord. No. 2019-97, § 1, 8-20-2019; AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022; AO No. 2026-22(S), 3-24-2026)

§ 2.30.083 Minutes.

Minutes of assembly meetings shall be prepared by the municipal clerk. The minutes shall be in any form acceptable to the assembly that accurately reflects members' attendance, motions, amendments, and votes.

(AO No. 2021-117, § 1, 1-19-2022)

§ 2.30.085 Assembly access to municipal records; subpoena powers.

Except as restricted by this section or other provision of local, state, or federal law, including any applicable privilege, a member of the assembly acting in an official capacity is entitled to review and inspect all records of the municipality, including certain confidential information, in a reasonable time, place, and manner. Such review and inspection shall not be subject to the fees and costs applicable to public records requests under AMC section 3.90.050.

A member acts in their "official capacity" when performing the duties and exercising the powers of the office of an assembly member as contained in Article IV of the Anchorage Municipal Charter, under the laws of the state, municipality, and under other applicable law.

"Confidential information" means any information not available to the public generally pursuant to a public records request.

In the event that a member requests to review or inspect any record containing confidential information, that request shall be referred to the municipal attorney. Where the member's access to such information is not restricted by this section or other provision of local, state, or federal law, including any applicable privilege, the municipal attorney shall work with assembly counsel to facilitate the member's access to the confidential information in the presence of assembly counsel.

Access shall not be provided where the member's access to or use of the requested confidential information would constitute a prohibited conflict of interest under AMC section 1.15.160, as determined by a municipal ethics officer or the board of ethics. Access shall also not be provided to any confidential information specified in a memorandum of understanding entered into between assembly counsel and the municipal attorney and transmitted to the assembly via assembly information memorandum. Such memorandum shall exclude from individual assembly member inspection under this section certain categories of particularly sensitive confidential information, including, but not limited to, investigative files of the Anchorage Police Department, the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, and the Ombudsman's Office, and personal health or financial information.

A member will not be entitled to retain a copy of any confidential information. Any notes regarding confidential information can be retained only by assembly counsel. A log shall be kept of which confidential information has been accessed by which assembly members under this section.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a member shall not use or disclose confidential or nonpublic information in violation of section 1.15.120, and shall not:

Use their position to obtain confidential information about any person or entity except in their official capacity and in furtherance of a bona fide legislative purpose;

Disclose any confidential information gained through the member's office or position, unless authorized by law, or compelled by competent legal authority as determined by the municipal attorney; or

Use such confidential information to advance any economic interest or personal interest of the member, their family member, or any other third party or to confer any other benefit to the member, a member of their immediate family, or other third party.

Members are expected to treat confidential information with prudence because a member's prohibited use or disclosure of confidential information accessed pursuant to this section may result in: referral of the member to the board of ethics for recommendations for corrective action under AMC section 1.15.160; civil action by the municipality against the member seeking damages or equitable relief; or provide grounds for a potential recall petition for misconduct in office under the procedures provided in AS 29.26.250.

Subpoena powers.

Subject to the privileges which witnesses have in courts of this state, the chair of the assembly, with the approval of a majority vote of the assembly, may, in the chair's official capacity and on behalf and in the name of the assembly:

Compel by subpoena, at a specified time and place, the appearance and sworn testimony of a person whom the assembly reasonably believes may be able to give information relating to a public matter being considered by the assembly; and

Compel a person, by subpoena, to produce documents, papers, or objects which the assembly reasonably believes may relate to a public matter being considered by the assembly.

If a person refuses to comply with a subpoena issued under subsection A of this section, the Superior Court may, on application of the chair of the assembly, compel obedience by proceedings for contempt in the same manner as in the case of disobedience to the requirements of a subpoena issued by the court for refusal to testify in the court.

A person who seeks to quash or limit a subpoena issued pursuant to this section may file an action against the assembly in superior court.

Cross reference - Confidentiality and use of nonpublic information, section 1.15.120; Ethics complaint for potential violation, section 1.15.160; Policies and procedures; fees, section 3.90.050.

(AO No. 91-15(S); AO No. 2023-133, § 1, 1-16-2024; AO No. 2026-19 Amended, 2-17-2026[1])

§ 2.30.095 Confirming the appointment of principal executives, department heads, and members of boards and commissions.

Editor's Note: This ordinance is effective 8/17/2026.

§ 2.30.090 Employees.

In addition to those established in the Charter, the employees of the assembly shall be as required by ordinance. They shall be appointed and their salaries set by a majority vote of the assembly.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49)

Except as otherwise provided in this section, a confirmation hearing for an appointment submitted to the assembly is scheduled pursuant to this section when:

The municipal clerk's office receives an assembly memorandum submitted to the assembly agenda from the mayor or designee with the subject "Executive appointment - confirmation hearing," or

The assembly requests it.

Confirmation hearing procedure. When this Code requires it, the following process shall be used to schedule assembly confirmation hearings of appointments:

The municipal clerk shall set an appointment on a regular meeting agenda for action occurring more than ten days after the proposed assembly memorandum for the appointment is received.

The municipal clerk shall set a confirmation hearing for the proposed appointee at a work session scheduled prior to the meeting for assembly action. The municipal clerk shall provide the proposed assembly memorandum to all assembly members at or before the confirmation hearing.

At the assembly meeting for action to confirm the appointment, the assembly may proceed even if no confirmation hearing was held.

An appointment for a principal executive or department head position that is subject to assembly confirmation may be scheduled for a confirmation hearing and set on a meeting agenda for a confirmation vote by the assembly chair at any time after 60 days from the person's date of hire into the position subject to assembly confirmation or adoption of an executive branch reorganization creating the position subject to assembly confirmation. The administration shall forward a copy of a letter of appointment for the current executive position subject to assembly confirmation within 14 days of the person's date of hire or date or adoption of an executive branch reorganization creating the director position. A letter of appointment is not exempt from disclosure under section 3.90.040. Submittal of a memorandum from the mayor or designee is not a prerequisite for this action by the chair, and lack of such memorandum does not preclude a confirmation vote.

(AO No. 2019-109(S), § 2, 12-3-2019; AO No. 2021-92(S), § 1, 11-10-2021)

§ 2.30.100 Veto by mayor.

The mayor has the veto power as provided in Charter Section 5.02(c).

The mayor may not veto actions of the assembly concerning the adoption or abandonment of a manager plan of government as provided in the laws of the state or actions of the board of equalization or the board of adjustment.

Exercise of the veto shall be by written notification to the municipal clerk any time within 7 days of passage of the vetoed item. Computation of time shall be in accordance with section 1.05.020 of this code, and the veto shall be considered untimely after 5:00 p.m. on the 7th day.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 88-178; AO No. 89-40; AO No. 91-20; AO No. 91-173(S); AO No. 2015-23(S), § 2, 3-24-2015; AO No. 2023-62, § 1, 5-23-2023)

§ 2.30.110 Special Notice: Rezoning.

Rezoning ordinances. Following the introduction, upon approval of three assembly members of a rezoning ordinance, the municipal clerk shall publish a notice containing the text of the ordinance or an informative summary of its contents, the date, time and place for public hearing on the ordinance, and the date, time and place where copies of the ordinance are available. The public hearing shall be held at least 14 days after publication of the notice.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 92-107(S); AO No. 94-132(S), § 5, 8-25-1994; AO No. 2009-134, § 1, 1-12-2010; AO No. 2017-53, § 15, 4-11-2017)

§ 2.30.120 Action on liquor license applications (Repealed). [1]

"Alcohol special land use permit"

Editor's note — Former § 2.30.120, Action on liquor license applications, was repealed.

Prior history: AO No. 93-139(S-1), 7-1-1994; AO No. 2000-72, 7-25-2000; AO No. 2005-30, 3-8-2005; AO No. 2009-134, 1-12-2010; AO No. 2018-101, 11-20-2018; AO No. 2019-84, 7-9-2019; AO No. 2022-78, 7-12-2022; AO No. 2023-71, 6-20-2023.

§ 2.30.121 Definitions.

"ABC Board"

means the appointed body that oversees and legislates alcohol licenses.

means the land use permit granted by the assembly or the director of the planning department to allow the retail sale of alcoholic beverages at a specific location.

"AMCO"

means the administrative office of the State of Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office.

"Application"

means an application to issue, renew, transfer location, or transfer to another person, an alcoholic beverage license, an alcoholic beverage license with one or more endorsement, or an endorsement, or to protest the continued operation of a license.

"Automatic conversion"

means any conversion of a license as described in SB 9 Section 169(b), (c), and (d).

"Clerk"

means the municipal clerk or designee.

"Condition(s)"

means restrictions or provisions that must be adhered to or corrected prior to the lifting of a conditional protest or continued during the duration of the license period.

"Licensed premises"

means the specific place which must be clearly designated in a line drawing accompanying an application and any area under the control or management of the licensee such as a public right-of-way.

"Licensee"

means the individual or entity who has been granted or issued a license.

(AO No. 2023-71, § 2, 6-20-2023)

§ 2.30.122 Assembly review and action on state alcohol license applications.

Assembly authority. The assembly, as the local governing body of the Municipality of Anchorage, is authorized by the state to protest an alcohol license application.

For purposes of this chapter, the term "application" shall include an application to issue, renew, transfer location, or transfer to another person, an alcoholic beverage license, an alcoholic beverage license with one or more endorsements, or an endorsement, or to protest the continued operation of a license. The protest shall be upheld by the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board unless it is found to be arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable.

Notwithstanding subsection A, an automatic conversion, a conversion by application, or an application by a current licensee for the following endorsements shall not be subject to protest pending the effective date of SB 9:

Manufacturer sampling endorsements;

Hotel or motel endorsements where the licensee currently operates a hotel or motel as defined under SB 9 and currently holds a beverage dispensary or a beverage dispensary tourism license;

Restaurant endorsements where the licensee already holds a restaurant designation permit;

Bowling alley endorsements where the licensee currently operates a bowling alley and currently holds a beverage dispensary or a;

Beverage dispensary tourism license;

Package store shipping endorsements;

Package store repackaging endorsements;

Package store delivery endorsements; and

Brewery repackaging endorsements.

Receipt of notice of application. Upon receipt by the municipal clerk (clerk) of notice from the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (AMCO) of the filing of an alcohol license application, the assembly may protest the application, or waive its right to protest. The assembly waives its right to protest if the assembly fails to protest within the time designated by the state.

Waiver: The clerk may prepare a memorandum for the assembly's approval stating its non-objection or waiver of the right to protest. If there is no request for a protest or a hearing from an assembly member or the relevant community council, and all certifications of compliance required from municipal departments have been received.

Protest: The assembly shall act on state alcohol license applications by resolution with grounds for protest specified. The clerk shall prepare a proposed resolution and send it to the applicant and to the community council involved at least ten days prior to the date set for assembly action. The assembly shall schedule and conduct a public hearing before exercising its right to protest the application.

A protest by the assembly under this section cannot be based in whole or in part on police reports or other written materials available to the municipality but which were not provided to the affected owner or operator before the public hearing on that protest.

The prohibition against ex-parte communication does not apply to the assembly's decision whether to protest an application until such time as a protest has been filed with the ABC Board.

A motion to reconsider may not be made regarding the assembly's action on whether to protest an application.

Public hearings. The assembly shall give the applicant a reasonable opportunity to defend the application being conditionally protested or protested. Notice of public hearing required under this section shall be published at least seven days in advance. After holding a public hearing, the assembly may:

Conditional protest. Conditionally protest the application to the ABC Board pending completion of items listed in the resolution. Conditional protests may be lifted by the clerk upon confirmation that all items have been addressed.

Recommend conditions. Amend the proposed resolution to include facts and findings to support the request for conditions to be placed on the license with or without endorsement(s) by the ABC Board. Conditions placed by the ABC Board are valid for the current licensing period only and a public hearing must be held prior to requesting conditions be placed for the following licensing period.

Protest continued operation. No later than January 31 of the second year in the biennial license year, amend the proposed resolution to include facts and findings to support the protest of the continued operation of the license with or without endorsement(s), or an endorsement to the ABC Board.

Protest application. Amend the proposed resolution to include facts and findings to support the protest of the application to the ABC Board.

(AO No. 2023-71, § 2, 6-20-2023)

§ 2.30.123 Standards governing assembly review of state alcohol license applications.

The assembly shall consider whether the proposed application meets standards set forth in this subsection, as follows:

General requirements. Whether all certifications of compliance from municipal departments have been received as required by AMC section 10.10.020.

Public comments. Whether comments have been received regarding the application from the public or the corresponding community council.

Payment of taxes, fees, and fines. Whether the applicant is delinquent in payment in full of accounts owed to the municipality.

When application is made for transfer of ownership of a license the assembly shall consider whether the municipality has received either payment or adequate security for the payment of any debts or taxes, including any estimated taxes for the current year arising from the conduct of the licensed business.

Security for payment of taxes, fees, and fines. Adequate security for the payment of debts and taxes may be in the form of:

Escrowed funds sufficient to pay the taxes, fees and fines claimed and any escrow fees;

Actual payment of debts and taxes claimed; or

A guarantee agreement in accordance with this subsection. Any guarantee agreement under this subsection shall be in writing, shall be signed by the transferor, transferee and municipality, and must include:

Acknowledgment and acceptance of responsibility by the transferee for the debts and taxes, fees, and fines due to the municipality;

Recognition of the municipality as the beneficiary of the agreement; and

§ 2.30.124 Standards governing assembly protests to state alcoholic beverage control board.

Recognition of the municipality's remedies for breach of the agreement including:

(A)

A civil suit for enforcement of the agreement;

(B)

Protest of a subsequent renewal for nonpayment of taxes arising from conduct of the licensed business or breach of the guarantee agreement; and

(C)

Any other remedies or claims that the municipality might have asserted against the transferor.

Release of guarantee. Upon payment of all taxes, fees and fines due the municipality pursuant to the written guarantee agreement, the municipality shall execute a written release of guarantee.

(AO No. 2023-71, § 2, 6-20-2023)

In the exercise of its powers to protest an application, the assembly shall consider whether the proposed license meets all factors and standards set forth in this subsection, as follows:

Concentration and land use. Whether the location of the requested license will negatively impact the community through an increase in the concentration of uses involving the sale or service of alcoholic beverages within the area affected and will conform to the separate standards of Title 21.

Operations procedures. Whether the applicant can demonstrate prospective or continued compliance with operations procedures for licensed premises set forth in chapter 10.50.

Public health and safety. Whether the operator:

Demonstrates the ability to maintain order and prevent unlawful conduct in the licensed premises; or

Has a pattern of prior violations of state and or practices harmful to public health or safety, such as providing alcohol to minors or intoxicated persons; or

Has taken or authorized other actions that pose substantial risks to public health or safety.

The assembly may consider police reports, criminal convictions, credible proof of illegal activity even if not prosecuted, testimony presented before the assembly, written comments submitted by the licensee, public, or community council prior to or during the public hearing, or other evidence deemed to be reliable and relevant to the purpose of this subsection.

Notice of possible protest. If at any time there appears to be a readily identifiable pattern or practice of recurring violent acts or unlawful conduct in a licensed premises, at the request of an assembly member, the clerk shall notify the licensee that they must submit to the clerk's office and implement a plan for remedial action. The clerk shall submit the plan as an information memorandum for the assembly's review and send the AIM to the anchorage police department and the corresponding community council and the ABC Board. Upon review of the next license application filed by the license, the assembly shall consider:

Whether a plan has been submitted;

The reasonableness of any plan that has been submitted; and

The diligence and effectiveness of the licensee in implementing remedial measures.

(AO No. 2023-71, § 2, 6-20-2023)

§ 2.30.125 Standards governing assembly protests to state alcoholic beverage control board (Repealed). [1]

§ 2.30.126 Report of violations of conditions of alcohol licenses.

Editor's note — Former § 2.30.125, Standards governing assembly protests to state alcoholic beverage control board, was repealed.

Prior history: AO No. 85-128(S); AO No. 86-58; AO No. 93-117, 8-10-1993; AO No. 93-141(S-1), 2-1-1994; AO No. 2023-71, 6-20-2023.

Upon receiving a report of conditions violation, the assembly may:

Revoke the premise's alcohol special land use permit;

Protest the license application;

Recommend to the ABC Board imposition of conditions on the license with or without endorsement(s) or the endorsement; or

Notify the ABC Board that a licensee has violated conditions and request that an accusation be brought against the licensee.

Prior to taking any of the actions listed in subsection A of this section, the assembly shall give the permittee or licensee notice and an opportunity to be heard on the accusation(s) in accordance with section 2.30.122.

(AO No. 2023-71, § 2, 6-20-2023)

§ 2.30.130 Compliance with conditions of alcoholic beverage licenses (Repealed). [1]