Anchorage Assembly Chair Forrest Dunbar announced on Thursday that he is calling Special Meetings of the Anchorage Assembly on March 12 and 20, both at 5:00 PM, for the introduction and potential passage of measures designed to prepare the the Municipality and the Assembly Department for any future outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The Special Meeting on March 12 will be held at Anchorage City Hall in Room #155; the Special Meeting of March 20 will be held in the Assembly Chambers in the library.
In a release, Chairman Dunbar stated: “First, I’d like to stress that there are not yet any cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in Anchorage, and that for the most up-to-date information residents should visit https://www.muni.org/Departments/health/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx where the Anchorage Health Department is doing a great job disseminating facts from reliable sources, but in conversations with the Municipal Clerk and members of the administration, it is clear that there are legal stumbling blocks to a measured COVID-19 response, which we are seeking to address.”
The Assembly ordinances submitted on March 11 are both based in part around the recommended principle of “social distancing:”
First, a change to municipal code that would allow the Assembly to reach a quorum telephonically, without six Assembly Members physically present. This ability would only be available in times of emergency, such as the emergency declared by the Governor of Alaska on Wednesday, March 11. This change would allow the Assembly to continue to meet its Anchorage Charter-obligated duty to meet at least twice a month to conduct official business. It will also facilitate the continuation of regular Assembly business and the functioning of the Municipality, even in cases where a number of Assembly Members must be quarantined or are otherwise unable to physically attend.
Second, because health officials have indicated COVID-19 is particularly dangerous to people over age 60, and all but a few of the current Municipal election workers are in this category, many may understandably refuse to work at accessible vote centers or the Election Center if the virus spreads to Anchorage during our election. This proposed ordinance explicitly gives the Municipal Clerk additional powers to close accessible vote centers, if necessary, and provide for alternative means for voters to receive and cast ballots, and ultimately protect the integrity of the election. Fortunately, Anchorage’s existing Vote-By-Mail/Vote-At-Home system is already much better suited to protect public health than a poll-based election.
An ordinance submitted on behalf of the Mayor in response to COVID-19 will also be introduced at the meeting of March 12th and set for public hearing on March 20th.