Anchorage

Five things to know about Tuesday's Anchorage Assembly agenda

The Anchorage Assembly meets Tuesday at 5 p.m. on the bottom floor of the Loussac Library.

Highlights include public hearings on ordinances that would allow ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft in Anchorage, restrict unauthorized drone use above private property and add regulations for tracking the sale of scrap metal and precious metal.

Here's five things to know about the agenda.

Uber and other ride-booking companies

Anchorage Assemblyman Bill Evans has proposed local regulations for ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft. Evans said there's demand for such services in Anchorage, though it's unlikely Uber would open in Anchorage without a change in state law.  

The Alaska AFL-CIO, the state's largest organized labor group, emailed a letter to Assembly members on Monday urging the Assembly to table the measure. Operations chief Joelle Hall pointed to two pending bills in the Alaska Legislature — one would stop local governments from regulating such companies and the other to allow ride-booking companies to treat drivers like independent contractors, a critical part of the Uber and Lyft business model.

"We think this ordinance is not timely and that without changes to Alaska law the (ride-booking) business model is still illegal under Alaska law," Hall wrote.

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Assembly action expected: Will hold a public hearing but not a vote. 

[Read a copy of the ordinance]

Drones

Drones flying less than 50 feet above private property without permission could be fined as a public nuisance under an ordinance proposed by Assemblyman Patrick Flynn.

Assembly action expected: Will hold a public hearing but not a vote. 

[Read a copy of the ordinance]

Scrap- and precious-metal ordinance

Assemblyman Dick Traini has proposed new record-keeping regulations that he says are aimed at making it easier for police to track down stolen metal, ranging from copper nicked from construction yards to jewelry taken from homes.

But his ordinance has drawn opposition from local merchants, particularly those who deal in gold, silver and other precious metals. Those merchants say the new regulations, which could include a 30-day hold on purchased metals, would lead to extra costs and security concerns.

Assembly action expected: Will hold a public hearing but not a vote. 

[Read a copy of the ordinance] 

Union contract

A new contract was negotiated between the administration of Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547.   

The contract, ratified by union membership in early January, calls for annual wage increases of 1.5 percent through the end of 2019. It also has  increased city contributions toward union benefits and pensions.

The agreement translates into a $1.5 million increase in municipal labor costs over the next three years.

Assembly action expected: Vote

[Read a memo summarizing the proposed contract]

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Health care 'transparency'

The Berkowitz administration has proposed an Assembly ordinance that would allow patients to request a price estimate for medical services.

Assembly Action expected: Vote

[Read a copy of the ordinance]

Laurel Andrews contributed to this report.

Devin Kelly

Devin Kelly was an ADN staff reporter.

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