Alaska Municipal League annual conference to require COVID-19 mitigation

PALMER — The Alaska Municipal League’s 71st annual local government conference is scheduled at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage for November 15-17 this year and will add extra mitigation measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the over 400 expected attendees, many of whom are local elected officials, managers, financial officers and clerks. Members from 165 cities and boroughs across Alaska will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of attending and will also be required to wear masks during all in-person events.

During the Mayor’s report at Tuesday’s Palmer city Council meeting, Mayor Edna DeVries was inquiring about the newly elected officials’ workshops for Pam Melin, who was sworn in as a member of the council on Monday. Upon learning of the requirement for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, DeVries took issue with the mitigation protocols.

“That is uncalled for as far as I’m concerned and they have no right to require me to pass any kind of physical to attend a public event like that so I am vehemently opposed to that and I will not be participating in person then,” said DeVries. “I would like the council’s approval to have John [Moosey] send a letter to the head of AML regarding our opposal to that, even if you plan on going and doing the testing I feel that that is uncalled for.”

DeVries motion was seconded by Councilman Richard Best.

Last August, AML hosted a virtual conference, which was again the case for the annual conference in November of 2020 with meetings held on Zoom. There was no AML conference held in February of this year, but the August conference in Fairbanks was held in person with a requirement for participants to wear masks. Along with the proof of vaccination or negative tests, attendees at the annual conference next month must wear masks and social activities have been limited as well. Nearly every session will be streamed to allow as many members as possible to attend.

“I think as a statewide member based organization, looking at an annual conference where we’re bringing 400 plus members in from around the state, we have a responsibility to do so safely and if the choice was between not hosting conference and not having that opportunity to see one another and learn and address issues and to add mitigation protocols that allow us to do so, then that’s how we approached it. Our priority was to have an in person conference, to make that as safe as possible. We’ve provided a virtual option for those who can’t or aren’t able to attend. We really want to make this successful and we realize the inherent risk right now,” said AML Executive Director Nils Andreassen. “I think it was really important that we’re able to bring members together in person again. That’s what we heard from members, do whatever it takes, do what you can to make sure we have this opportunity to connect in person so we did that.”

The comments from DeVries came before the Anchorage Assembly passed an emergency mask requirement late Tuesday night that would still be in effect during the conference. Palmer Councilwoman Sabrena Combs serves as Secretary/Treasurer on the Board of Directors, along with Wasilla Councilwoman and District 4 representative Nikki Velock and Assemblywoman Stephanie Nowers. Combs told DeVries that the decision was made by Andreassen after consulting the board of directors, the executive committee, and the conferences of mayors, managers and finance directors.

“How do we oust him? I’m tired of people that are not elected officials making decisions for the rest of us,” said DeVries.

The annual AML conference will bring national level speakers to inform members and allow local elected officials from across the state to vote on AML directors and discuss policy. Andreassen said that the AML Board of Directors was consulted on the proof of vaccine or negative test requirement, but no formal action was taken by the board of directors.

“It wasn’t a lone decision to implement this, but it was done in consultation with all the necessary levels of our governance,” said Andreassen.

Alaska maintained the highest rate of COVID-19 spread in the nation this week and 1,220 new cases were reported Wednesday with 204 people currently hospitalized.

“AML’s Annual Conference provides a venue where municipal leaders can share best practices and lessons in innovation, efficiency and effective delivery of services. It’s an opportunity for dialogue and relationship-building. It’s a table at which we can come together and work toward solutions,” reads the AML website. “We are clear-eyed about the data and the consequences of not doing this right. Our members, especially those attending, are very likely to be among Alaska’s most vaccinated. Our members, many of whom have mitigation measures in place at home, serve as role models for residents. Our members know that compliance means preserving healthcare capacity and flattening the curve. Our members are committed to an Alaska that is open for business, even under new conditions.”