Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

January 2, 2020

In this issue:

• Pre-Session Constituent Meeting

• Henry Toll Fellowship

• Christmas Tree Recycling

• Community Events

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, we ended the decade and welcomed in 2020. With the New Year comes a new legislative session. Please join us next week to discuss the upcoming session before we return to Juneau!

Pre-Session Constituent Meeting

Join us Monday evening for food, beverages, and an opportunity to discuss the upcoming legislative session!

When: Monday, January 6 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Where: Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO), 1500 W. Benson Blvd.

For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Henry Toll Fellowship Graduation

In 2019, I was chosen from applicants from across the nation to participate in The Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellowship. Each year, the Toll Fellowship brings 48 of the nation’s top officials from all three branches of state government to the CSG national headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky for an intensive five-day “leadership boot camp.” The program is designed to stimulate personal assessment and growth while providing valuable networking and relationship-building opportunities.

Last month, Rep. Louise Stutes (Kodiak) and I were recognized for our success in completing the Fellowship. The graduation ceremony was held in conjunction with the Council of State Governments National Conference. Drawing participants from 33 states in 2019 with a wide array of backgrounds, the Henry Toll Fellowship is one of the nation’s premier leadership development programs for state government officials.

The experience of working closely with a diverse group of leaders was a reminder that active listening is one of the most important tools a leader can possess. The Toll Fellowship was an opportunity to practice and improve our listening skills, gain insight into how those with political views that differ from our own see the world and think about their role as leaders, and reflect on how we can work together more effectively to find common ground.

Christmas Tree Recycling

When you're ready to take down your tree this year, recycle it for free at any Carrs location in Anchorage, Eagle River or Palmer. Look for the marked drop-off areas in store parking lots. Trees are accepted through January 15.

Each year, 6,000 to 7,000 trees are turned into wood chips and donated to local schools, gardens, trails and parks!

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

Spenard Community Council

When: Wednesday, January 8 at 7:00 PM

Where: Spenard Recreation Center

Turnagain Community Council

When: Thursday, January 9 at 7:00 PM

Where: West/Romig Career Technology Center, Room 152

Facebook event page

Sand Lake Community Council

When: Monday, January 13 at 6:30 PM

Where: Sand Lake Elementary School Library Room

Facebook event page

Town Hall: Anchorage's Fiscal Situation

The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) invites the public to join the Mayor and the Anchorage Assembly in a series of town hall meetings where the public can learn about Anchorage's fiscal situation and discuss new revenue options the Anchorage Assembly is considering.

State funding to the MOA has dropped by $100M since 2005. As state aid to communities continues to decline, and the need and cost for maintaining local government services and facilities continues, the Municipality is looking to other possible revenue streams to bridge the gap. These town halls provide a way for the public to ask questions and weigh in on proposed revenue options, including an alcohol tax and sales tax, both measures which are set for a public hearing and vote at the regular Assembly meeting of Tuesday, January 14. At this time, no other proposed revenue options have been put forward. New revenue options above the tax cap are required to be approved by voters at a future regular or special election.

Details for the Anchorage Town Hall are shown below:

When: Tuesday, January 7 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Where: Wilda Marston Theatre at the Loussac Library, 3600 Denali St.

For additional information, please go to the Assembly website at www.muni.org/assembly, or visit the Facebook event page to to RSVP.