Anchorage, AK - At the July 25 Regular Assembly Meeting, Mayor Bronson, the Anchorage Assembly, and Port of Alaska officials hammered out final details and reached a major milestone in the Port of Alaska Modernization Program.
With the Assembly's unanimous approval of both AO 2023-60(S-1), As Amended, to adopt the Basis-of-Design concept for Phase 2, and AO 2023-34(S), As Amended, to adopt a new tariff rate structure to help fund the Port of Alaska Modernization Program, the Port can now move forward on the next phase of the modernization.
In asking her colleagues to support the Basis-of-Design, Assembly Vice Chair Meg Zaletel remarked, “it is important to note that the Port has tried to work through a modernization program for many years, and this is a huge milestone in that process. I'm really thankful for all of the engagement we've had on this topic with the Assembly Members, Port staff and Port users over several worksessions. Modernizing the Port is critical, not only for food security, but to protect the major economic engine of our state."
At the meeting, Member Zaletel and Mayor Bronson brought forward an updated, substitute version of the tariff ordinance to address concerns brought up in last week's worksession.
Upon passage of the new tariff, Mayor Bronson commented, “this approval to adopt the new Basis-of-Design and implement the uniform tariff on the Port is a crucial step forward in our continued effort to rebuild and modernize the Port of Alaska. Safeguarding Alaska's most important piece of infrastructure is the top priority for my Administration, and I thank the Assembly for their support."
In his closing remarks, Assembly Chair Christopher Constant said, “this process has been difficult, and at times contentious. There are a lot of stakeholders, a lot of needs, and we've been cleaning up a mess that was created before any of us got here. Our work today finally gets us to the point where we can talk about a plan of finance and show a coordinated approach to move forward. I want to thank all the parties involved – the users, the designers, the Port staff, the Administration, the Alaska Legislature, the Assembly, and Member Zaletel in particular – for the work you have put in to moving us forward on this once-in-a-generation project. I'd also like to thank Senator Lisa Murkowski personally for her stalwart support. This project will be a legacy that we give to the future of Anchorage and all of Alaska."
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Contact:
Christopher Constant | Assembly Chair, District 1, North Anchorage
Meg Zaletel | Assembly Vice Chair, District 4, Midtown
Corey Young | Communications Director, Office of the Mayor