2018 Regular Municipal Election 04032018

MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE

NOTICE OF REGULAR ELECTION

April 3, 2018

A regular election of the Municipality of Anchorage will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.  The election is a by-mail election. Traditional polling places will not be open and are not an option for voting on Election Day. 

Ballot packages will be mailed to qualified, registered voters twenty-one (21) days before Election Day. Voters should follow the instructions included in the ballot package.  After filling out the ballot, voters may

(1) mail the ballot return envelope by using first class postage through the United States Postal Service; or (2) place the ballot return envelope in one of twelve Secure Ballot Drop Boxes across the Municipality; or

(3) bring the ballot return envelope to one of five Accessible Vote Centers. 

Secure Drop Boxes will be in place on March 13 for voters to return their ballot at any time before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Accessible Vote Center Hours and Locations:  (You may view a map of Accessible Vote Center locations at muni.org/elections/AVC)

Voters may obtain the following services at an Accessible Vote Center: return a mailed ballot envelope and ballot, replace a lost or damaged ballot, receive a ballot package if you did not receive one in the mail, vote a questioned or provisional ballot, receive voting assistance, and get help with other voter questions.

For information and the location of the twelve Secure Ballot Drop Boxes and the five Accessible Vote Centers, visit muni.org/elections.  Additional information on the twelve Secure Ballot Drop Boxes and five Accessible Vote Centers will be published in the newspaper and on the Municipal Clerk’s webpage, at least twenty (20) days prior to Election Day and again the day before Election Day.

Registered voters of the State of Alaska who reside within the Municipality of Anchorage are eligible to vote in this election.  The last day to register to vote or update your voter registration record is Sunday, March 4, 2018.

Candidates’ names will appear in a random, non-sequential alphabetical order on the ballot. Voters may vote for candidates listed by marking the ballot within the oval opposite the written name, or by writing in the name of a person qualified to hold the office and by marking the oval opposite the write-in candidate’s name.

OFFICES TO BE FILLED AT THE REGULAR ELECTION ON APRIL 3, 2018 ARE AS FOLLOWS: 

MAYOR - to be voted upon by all registered voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage.

DARDEN, Dustin                   

HUIT, Timothy R.                  

KERN, Jacob             

KENDALL, Paul                     

MENDONSA, Matthew                     

GODOY, Nelson                    

STAFFORD, Ron                  

LOGAN, Rebecca                 

BERKOWITZ, Ethan A.                     

SCHOOL BOARD - to be voted upon by all registered voters residing in the Municipality of Anchorage.

School Board Seat E

HOTCH, Tasha          

HILDE, Alisha

SMITH, Don   

STAFFORD, Ron      

NEES, David             

School Board Seat F

MITCHELL, Deena    

ISLEY, Phil     

School Board Seat G

WEISMAN, Irene       

SNELLING, Elisa       

SERVICE AREAS - to be voted upon by all registered Municipal voters residing in the respective service area.

BEAR VALLEY LRSA - SEAT C                                                                

ENNIS, William                                                                                              

BIRCH TREE/ELMORE LRSA - SEAT B                                                  

CHUGIAK FIRE SERVICE AREA

SULLIVAN, Ronni

GIRDWOOD VALLEY SA - SEAT A                                                          

FOX, Gerald (Jerry)                                                                                                                                                                                                             

GIRDWOOD VALLEY SA - SEAT B                                                          

BOONE, Eryn                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

GLEN ALPS SA - SEAT E                                                                          

MARKS, Roger                                                                                              

CONNOLLY, Joseph                                                                                                                                                                                                             

LAKEHILL LRSA - SEAT B                                                                                                                                                                                                

MT. PARK ESTATES LRSA - SEAT A                                                                                                                                                                             

MT. PARK/ROBIN HILL RRSA - SEAT A                                                 

HOEFLER, Brian                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

MT. PARK/ROBIN HILL RRSA - SEAT B                                                                                                                                                                         

PARADISE VALLEY SOUTH LRSA - SEAT C                                                     

SHUMAR, Eric                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

RABBIT CREEK VIEW/HEIGHTS LRSA - SEAT A                                                         

LIPPS, David                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

RAVEN WOODS/BUBBLING BROOK LRSA - SEAT A                                                                                                                                                                         

ROCKHILL LRSA - SEAT A                                                                                                                                                                                               

SECTION 6/CAMPBELL AIRSTRIP RD LRSA - SEAT B                                                

JOHNSON, Eric                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

SECTION 6/CAMPBELL AIRSTRIP RD LRSA - SEAT C                                               

WALKER, Jack                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

SEQUOIA ESTATES LRSA - SEAT E                                                       

BINGHAM, Brett                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

SKYRANCH ESTATES LRSA - SEAT A                                                                                                                                                                          

SOUTH GOLDENVIEW RRSA - SEAT B                                                                                                                                                                          

SOUTH GOLDENVIEW RRSA - SEAT C                                                                                                                                                                        

SRW HOMEOWNER'S LRSA - SEAT A                                                   

DOOLEY, Shawn                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

SRW HOMEOWNER'S LRSA - SEAT A                                                   

JOHNSON, Thomas                                                                                                                                                                                                             

TALUS WEST LRSA - SEAT B                                                                  

WINSOR, Anthony                                                                                                                                                                                                                

TOTEM LRSA - SEAT C                                                                             

GIAMMALVA, Pamela                                                                                                                                                                                                          

UPPER GROVER LRSA - SEAT A                                                            

COTTRELL, Jim                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

UPPER O'MALLEY LRSA - SEAT B                                                                                                                                                                                 

UPPER O'MALLEY LRSA - SEAT E                                                                                                                                                                   

VALLI VUE ESTATES LRSA - SEAT A                                                                                                                                                                            

VALLI VUE ESTATES LRSA - SEAT D                                                    

JONES, Jewel                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

VILLAGES SCENIC PARKWAY LRSA - SEAT C                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

VILLAGES SCENIC PARKWAY LRSA - SEAT C                                                

PROPOSITION 1

REGULATING ACCESS TO FACILITIES SUCH AS LOCKER ROOMS AND BATHROOMS ON THE BASIS OF SEX AT BIRTH, RATHER THAN GENDER IDENTITY 

This proposition enacts a law that, among other things, would:

1. Require all multiple occupancy changing facilities and restrooms that are owned or operated by the Municipality to be designated for, and used only by, persons of the same “sex,” except: (a) for custodial or maintenance purposes, when the facility is not occupied by a member of the opposite sex; (b) to render medical assistance; (c) in the circumstance of a caretaker accompanying a disabled person for the purpose of allowing the disabled person to use the facility; (d) for minors under the age of 8, when the minor is with a person caring for the minor, and (e) for certain emergency and other situations;

2. Provide that employers, public accommodations and other persons may establish and enforce sex-specific standards or policies concerning access to “intimate facilities,” such as locker rooms, showers, changing rooms, and restrooms;

3. Define “sex” as an individual’s “immutable biological condition of being male or female,” as determined by “anatomy and genetics at the time of birth”; an individual’s “original birth certificate” could be relied upon as “definitive evidence” of the individual’s sex;

4. Define “multiple occupancy changing rooms and bathrooms” as facilities designed or designated to be used by more than one person at a time where persons may be “in various states of undress in the presence of other persons”; such facilities would include, but not be limited to, locker rooms, shower rooms, changing rooms and bathrooms;

5. Declare a policy that persons using such facilities owned or operated by the Municipality have a right to “physical privacy” that includes the right “not to be seen in various states of undress by members of the opposite sex”; and

6. Delete the requirement in current Municipal Code that entitles persons to use restrooms, locker rooms and dressing rooms that are “consistent with their gender identity”; Municipal Code provides that a person’s “gender identity” means his or her “gender-related self-identity, as expressed in appearance or behavior, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth,” which may be established by medical history or, among other things, evidence that the gender identity is “sincerely held, core to a person’s gender-related self-identity, and not being asserted for an improper purpose.”

Shall this proposition become law?  (Initiative Petition 2017-2) 

PROPOSITION 2

ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS

Shall Anchorage borrow up to $50,656,500 through the issuance of general obligation bonds to pay for educational capital improvements, construction, upgrades, design, planning and renovation of school facilities and educational facility building life extension projects within Anchorage, as provided in AO 2017-164(S)?

The general obligation bond proceeds will be used to pay costs of constructing, renovating, installing, designing, planning, acquiring and equipping educational capital improvement projects including, but not limited to, replacing all or a portion of the roofs at Birchwood, Homestead, North Star, and Ptarmigan Elementary Schools and Mears Middle School, replacing roof drainage systems at Kincaid, Northern Lights ABC, Bowman, Trailside, Russian Jack, Kasuun and Lake Hood Elementary Schools, installing fire suppression systems and making safety and code upgrades at Abbott Loop Elementary School, East High School Gym and Service High School, and undertaking planning and design projects for safety and code improvements at East High School.

Voter approval of this bond proposition authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed taxable property value (based on the estimated 2018 assessed valuation) an annual increase in taxes of approximately $10.20 to retire the proposed bonds.

The debt will be paid from real and personal property taxes levied and collected areawide in Anchorage. Anchorage will also pledge its full faith and credit for payment of the bonds.

PROPOSITION 3

ANCHORAGE ROADS AND DRAINAGE SERVICE AREA ROAD AND STORM DRAINAGE BONDS

For the purpose of providing roads and storm drainage capital acquisition, construction, renovation, upgrades and related capital improvements in the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area, as provided in AO 2017-172, shall Anchorage borrow money and issue up to $33,865,000 in principal amount of general obligation bonds and increase the municipal tax cap by an annual amount not to exceed $866,000 to pay for associated annual operations and maintenance costs?

Voter approval of this bond proposition authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed taxable property value (based on the estimated 2018 assessed valuation in the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area):  (i) an annual increase in taxes of approximately $8.66 to retire the proposed bonds, and (ii) an annual increase in the municipal tax cap (Charter 14.03(b)(2)) of approximately $3.08 to pay for annual operation and maintenance costs related to the proposed capital improvements.

The debt shall be paid from real and personal property taxes levied and collected within the Anchorage Roads and Drainage Service Area, without cost to properties in Chugiak, Eagle River, Girdwood and other areas outside the Service Area. The Municipality will also pledge its full faith and credit for payment of the debt.

PROPOSITION 4

ANCHORAGE PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICE AREA CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS 

To repair and replace aging pedestrian bridges along trails, make playground, parking, safety and park improvements at various parks, rehabilitate trails including Campbell Creek Trail, construct a bike park at South Anchorage Sports Park, and complete related capital improvements in the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area, as provided in AO 2017-177, shall Anchorage borrow money and issue up to $3,650,000 in principal amount of general obligation bonds and increase the municipal tax cap by an annual amount not to exceed $174,000 to pay for associated annual operations and maintenance costs?

Voter approval of this bond proposition authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed taxable property value (based on the estimated total 2018 assessed valuation in the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area): (i) an annual increase in taxes of $0.85 to retire the proposed bonds, and (ii) an annual increase in the municipal tax cap (Charter 14.03(b)(2)) of approximately $0.56 to pay for annual operation and maintenance costs related to the proposed capital improvements.

The debt shall be paid from real and personal property taxes levied and collected within the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Service Area, without cost to properties in Chugiak, Eagle River, Girdwood, and other areas outside the Service Area. The Municipality will also pledge its full faith and credit for payment of the bonds.

PROPOSITION 5

ANCHORAGE METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE AREA FACILITIES BONDS

For the purpose of renovating certain facilities, replacing boilers, valves and fittings, replacing a HVAC unit and undertaking certain capital improvements in the Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Area, as provided in AO 2017-173, shall the Municipality of Anchorage borrow money and issue up to $1,050,000 in principal amount of general obligation bonds with no increase in the municipal tax cap required to pay the associated annual operations and maintenance costs?

Voter approval of this bond proposition authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed taxable property value (based on the estimated 2018 assessed valuation in the Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Area) an annual increase in taxes of approximately $0.22 to retire the proposed bonds.

The debt shall be paid from real and personal property taxes levied and collected within the Anchorage Metropolitan Police Service Area, which consists of areas north of McHugh Creek (other than Fire Island), without cost to properties in Girdwood, Bird, Indian, Rainbow, Portage and other areas outside the Service Area. The Municipality will also pledge its full faith and credit for payment of the bonds.

PROPOSITION 6

ANCHORAGE FIRE SERVICE AREA FIRE PROTECTION BONDS 

For the purpose of acquiring replacement emergency communication equipment and replacing, improving, and renovating certain facilities in the Anchorage Fire Service Area, as provided in AO 2017-169, shall the Municipality of Anchorage borrow money and issue up to $2,588,000 in principal amount of general obligation bonds with no increase in the municipal tax cap required to pay the associated annual operations and maintenance costs?

Voter approval of this bond proposition authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed taxable property value (based on the estimated 2018 assessed valuation in the Anchorage Fire Service Area) an annual increase in taxes of approximately $0.56 to retire the proposed bonds.

The debt shall be paid from real and personal property taxes levied and collected within the Anchorage Fire Service Area without cost to properties in Chugiak, Girdwood, and other areas outside the Service Area. The Municipality will also pledge its full faith and credit for payment of the bonds.

PROPOSITION 7

AREAWIDE FACILITIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BONDS

For the purpose of providing areawide facilities capital improvements within the Municipality of Anchorage, including roof replacements and senior-citizen facilities improvements, as provided in AO 2017-171, shall Anchorage issue up to $1,407,000 in principal amount of general obligation bonds?

Voter approval of this bond proposition authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed taxable property value (based on the estimated total 2018 areawide assessed valuation in Anchorage) an annual increase in taxes of approximately $0.28 to retire the proposed bonds.

The debt shall be paid from real and personal property taxes levied and collected areawide within Anchorage. The Municipality will also pledge its full faith and credit for payment of the bonds.

PROPOSITION 8

AREAWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSIT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BONDS

For the purpose of acquiring two new ambulances, upgrading transit facilities, upgrading infrastructure and undertaking bus stop and school safety zone improvements and related capital improvements in Anchorage as provided in AO 2017-170, shall Anchorage issue up to $4,908,000 in principal amount of general obligation bonds with no increase in the municipal tax cap required to pay the associated annual operations and maintenance costs?

Voter approval of this bond proposition authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed taxable property value (based on the estimated total 2018 areawide assessed valuation in Anchorage) an annual increase in taxes of approximately $0.99 to retire the proposed bonds.

The debt shall be paid from real and personal property taxes levied and collected areawide within Anchorage. The Municipality will also pledge its full faith and credit for payment of the bonds.

PROPOSITION 9

CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING PARKING ENFORCEMENT IN GIRDWOOD, PERMITTING POSSIBLE DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE GIRDWOOD VALLEY SERVICE AREA TO THE WHITTIER POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Anchorage Municipal Charter currently provides that, except for violations that occur within a specified area in downtown, parking violations may only be enforced by employees of the Anchorage Police Department. This proposition would amend the Anchorage Municipal Charter to allow the Assembly to delegate the enforcement of parking violations in the Girdwood Valley community to the employees of any police department where police protection services are authorized to be provided in a service area.

If approved, the proposition would allow, but not require, the Assembly to delegate the enforcement of parking violations that occur within the Girdwood Valley Service Area to the Whittier Police Department, which is currently providing police protection services to the GVSA on a contractual basis.

Specifically, this proposition would amend sections 21.01 and 21.02 of the Charter to read as follows: (Underlined and bolded words are proposed new words; strikeouts are proposed deletions.)

Section 21.01.  Vehicle violation enforcement.

(a)         Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, nNo enforcement of any vehicle violation, whether the vehicle is parked or in motion may be performed in by the Municipality of Anchorage by any persons other than a regularly sworn police officer who meets the standards set forth in A.S. 18.65.290(75)(A) or (B). Such enforcement includes, but is not limited to, any and all civil or criminal statutes, codes, ordinances or regulations which apply to the regulation of vehicles and which currently exist or may exist in the future.

***

(c)        The Municipality may, by ordinance only, delegate enforcement of parking violations in the Girdwood Valley community, when a service area in the community is authorized to provide police protection services, to the employees of any police department.

Section 21.02.  Prohibited vehicle impound, towing and transportation from public streets and emergency exception.

No vehicle may be impounded, towed, or transported from upon the public streets in the Municipality of Anchorage without the written permission of either the owner or the operator of the vehicle, a valid court order, or unless an impound notice is placed on the vehicle by a police officer qualified as set forth in Section 21.01 above, or by other employees of athe Anchorage Police Department as may be delegated by ordinance.  This shall not prohibit necessary emergency action in the event that a vehicle presents an immediate threat to life or public safety.

* * *                  * * *                  * * *

Shall the Charter be amended as set forth above? (AO 2017-165(S))

PROPOSITION 10

CHARTER AMENDMENT AND SALE OF ML&P TO CHUGACH ELECTRIC

If approved by a majority of qualified voters voting on the question, this proposition would amend the Anchorage Municipal Charter and authorize (but not require) the Municipality to sell by Assembly Ordinance approved no later than December 31, 2018, the assets and business of Municipal Light & Power (ML&P) to Chugach Electric Association, Inc. (Chugach Electric).

Chugach Electric proposes to acquire ML&P assets in a transaction that, among other terms, would include:

•     Payment of Competitive Value. Chugach Electric would pay a competitive value of approximately $1 billion for the acquisition of ML&P, subject to adjustment during the due diligence process.

      Proceeds will be used to:

1.    Retire ML&P and Municipality of Anchorage debt;

2.    Replace ML&P’s current payments in-lieu-of-tax to ensure that property and other taxes subject to the tax cap cannot rise as the result of the sale; and

3.    Fund the MOA Trust Fund. The MOA Trust Fund is a permanent, protected fund with dividends payable only in accordance with a controlled spending policy adopted by law.

      Any change in the use of the proceeds may be made only with approval of the majority of qualified voters voting on the question.

•     Retention of Employees. Chugach Electric would commit to not lay off any ML&P or Chugach Electric employees as a result of the transaction, and would succeed to all rights and obligations of the collective bargaining agreement covering ML&P employees.

•     No Increase in Base Rates.  Base rates for existing ML&P and Chugach Electric ratepayers would not increase as a result of the transaction.

This proposition would specifically amend Article XVI Municipal Utilities of the Anchorage Municipal Charter to add a new section as follows:

Section 16.04             Disposal of Municipal Light & Power to Chugach Electric Association, Inc.; Disposition of Proceeds. 

(a)  ML&P to Chugach Electric. In addition to the disposal options provided under section 16.02, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter to the contrary, the Municipality may by ordinance approved no later than December 31, 2018 sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or part of the assets and business of Municipal Light & Power to Chugach Electric Association, Inc.

(b) Disposition of Proceeds. Notwithstanding any provision of this Charter to the contrary, a portion of any annual payment received by the Municipality in a transaction described in section 16.04(a), equivalent to the Municipal Utility Service Assessment that the Municipality would have received from ML&P had the transaction not occurred, shall be deemed and treated as a “payment in-lieu of taxes” for the purposes of section 14.03(a)(1), and shall be available to the Municipality for appropriation.  All other proceeds of the sale of ML&P received by the Municipality shall be disposed of in accordance with section 13.11.

Shall the Charter be amended, and the Municipality be authorized (but not required) to sell all or part of ML&P to Chugach Electric and dispose of the proceeds of sale, as described above? (AO 2018-1(S))

PROPOSITION 11

LARGER RESIDENTIAL REAL-PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION

This proposition would increase the residential real-property tax exemption to provide that 20% of a residential real property’s value may be exempt from taxation, up to a maximum of $50,000. Currently, 10% of a residential real property’s value may be exempt from taxation, up to a maximum of $20,000. 

Shall the residential real-property tax exemption be increased, as described above? (AO 2017-154)

PROPOSITION 12

ANNEXATION OF THE EAGLE RIVER VALLEY AREA TO THE ANCHORAGE FIRE SERVICE AREA

This proposition expands the boundaries of the Anchorage Fire Service Area (AFSA) to include the parcels and areas in the northeast area Eagle River Valley that are currently not in a fire service area. The Eagle River Valley northeast area to be annexed is substantially as depicted in Exhibit A attached to AO 2018-3(S), As Amended, and described in Section 3 of that ordinance. The proposed boundaries of the area to be annexed will include all privately owned parcels of land in the Eagle River Valley from the eastern boundary of the current AFSA, which intersects Eagle River Road at mile 5.84, to the John Barclay Homestead parcels to the southeast past the end of Eagle River Road and Cumulus Road and between, on the southwest side, the southwestern banks of the channels of Eagle River from a point of even latitude with the parcels at the end of Cumulus Road downstream to the point Eagle River crosses the eastern boundary of the current AFSA, and on the northeast side of the valley, the ridges of Mount Magnificent and Pecking Mountain. If this proposition is approved by the voters, beginning with the 2019 tax year the taxable property in the annexed Eagle River Valley northeast area would be levied and taxed with the AFSA mill rate annually, and no increase in taxes is expected for properties within the current AFSA as a result of this expansion. The annexation of the Eagle River Valley northeast area to the AFSA will become effective only if both the voters in the area to be annexed, and the voters in the existing AFSA, separately approve this proposition by a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question in this election.         

Shall the Eagle River Valley northeast area be annexed to the Anchorage Fire Service Area effective January 1, 2019? (AO 2018-3(S)) 

Qualifications of voters:  A person may vote in a Municipal election if the person is a United States citizen who is qualified and registered to vote in state elections and has been a resident of the Municipality for 30 days immediately preceding the election.

Instructions for registration:  An individual may register to vote at any library within the Municipality, the State Election Office, the Municipal Clerk’s Office, the MOA Election Center, or the State Division of Motor Vehicles.  There are no residency requirements needed for an individual to register to vote.  To be a qualified voter, the individual must reside in Anchorage and be registered to vote 30 days before the election. The last day to register is Sunday, March 4, 2018 for the April 3, 2018 Regular Municipal Election. 

Absentee ballots and early voting:  Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters at a temporary mailing address beginning on March 13, 2018 for all voters who submit Absentee by mail applications by March 1, 2018. Otherwise, applications for absentee ballots must be submitted to the Municipal Clerk’s Office no later than March 27, 2018.  Absentee by Mail applications are available by visiting our website at muni.org/2018application or by contacting MOA Elections at (907) 243-VOTE(8683). Early voting is available at Accessible Vote Centers beginning on Monday, March 26 through April 2, 2018 (hours depend on location). Accessible Vote Centers will also be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.    

Description of precinct boundaries: Descriptions of the precinct boundaries can be found in the Alaska Administrative Code 6 AAC 313.235  - 6 AAC 328.145, and at the State of Alaska Region II Election Office, 2525 Gambell St., Anchorage, Alaska 99503.  Also, precinct boundaries are accessible through the Municipal Clerk’s Voting Information webpage at muni.org/elections.  

Inquiries regarding this election should be directed to the Municipal Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 632 W. 6th Avenue, Suite 250, or MOA Election Center, 619 East Ship Creek Avenue, Suite 100 at Door D, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, phone (907) 243-VOTE (8683). Detailed information is also available at muni.org/elections.

/s/ Barbara A. Jones, Municipal Clerk

Publish:           February 16, 2018