Assembly hears measures on public safety, liability, and a Steinway piano

At its Tuesday meeting, the Anchorage Assembly is taking up several measures concerned with public safety, and finalizing major bond appropriations.

Public testimony is scheduled for a slate of issues that Anchorage voters approved in elections last month, including tens of millions in bonds as well as a five percent tax on commercial cannabis. Testimony is largely a procedural formality, with the measures almost certain to be passed by the body.

The assembly is also handling an ordinance from the mayor’s office seeking to move $6.2 million dollars to a workers compensation and general liability fund. According to a memorandum, the money is needed to cover unexpectedly high costs from the settlement of a workers comp claim, an increase in reserves to handle anticipated cancer claims among fire-fighters, and a new claim filed in a case connected to a gunshot wound that happened in 1981.

Also coming from the mayor’s office is a new ordinance for introduction that would raise compensation for some members of the police and fire departments. According to the administration, the departments have had difficulty filling certain leadership positions, in part because the transition from union to non-union jobs has meant a pay-cut. The pay plan aims to raise the compensation rate for police lieutenants and captains, as well as assistant fire chiefs and some battalion chiefs.

Also on the agenda is a measure ensuring protections for whistleblowers, as well as a resolution appropriating $175,000  to the Center for Performing Arts for a new intercom system and a Steinway grand piano.

The Assembly meets at 5 p.m. in the Loussac Library, with public testimony beginning at 6 p.m.