Assembly Launches CivicAnchor

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The Anchorage Assembly's Legislative Services Office is launching a new civic engagement program this month to coincide with an open house hosted by the Municipality's Planning Department at an upcoming Assembly Meeting. The open house will be from 4-6pm on Tuesday, April 14 in the lobby of Loussac Library.

CivicAnchor seeks to help the community understand local and Municipal issues, connect with neighbors, and be a direct part of solutions. The public can learn more about the program at https://www.muni.org/CivicAnchor or by visiting CivicAnchor at Loussac Library, a partnership with Anchorage Public Library that includes informational displays in the library atrium. The displays will feature materials on how local government works and rotating updates from municipal departments.

"Local government touches our lives daily - from the frequency of snowplowing, to the quality of our parks and libraries, to emergency service response times," said project creator and Legislative Services Director Clare Ross. "But most people in our community don't understand how the Municipality works or how to get involved. CivicAnchor creates a clear path for learning more and working with neighbors to make our great community even better."

Marjorie Harrison, Library Director added, "The mission of Anchorage Public Library is connecting people to information, education, and community. CivicAnchor checks every box. We're excited to welcome the public to Loussac Library to engage with each other and their local government."

CivicAnchor spotlights the work of municipal departments and invites the community into their processes. The Municipality's Planning Department will present the first CivicAnchor display, highlighting their current work to update Anchorage's Comprehensive Plan and 2040 Land Use Plan which shape how land is used in our city. While the plans may sound technical, CivicAnchor enables anyone who cares about the future of housing in Anchorage to connect, get involved, and share ideas for the future of our community.

"The Comprehensive Plan, along with policy set by the Mayor and the Assembly, guide decisions on municipal land use regulations and capital investments, so it is essential that we hear from a broad range of voices during plan updates," said Planning Director Mélisa Babb. "Because many people lack the time or resources to participate through traditional channels such as community councils, we are working to reach them in new ways. What we learn through this outreach informs the goals and actions in the Comprehensive Plan and other projects. Efforts like CivicAnchor help us bring more residents into that process."

CivicAnchor also includes a youth civic engagement program, the popular City Nerd Nite series, a list of municipal volunteer opportunities, and deep dive essays, videos and webinars on how the Muni works.

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CONTACT

Clare Ross, Anchorage Assembly
Legislative Services Director
[email protected]
907-538-2259

Mélisa Babb, Director
Planning Department
[email protected]
907-343-7931

Misty Rose Nesvick, Communication Coordinator
Anchorage Public Library
[email protected]
907-343-2974​

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