STRIVE January 2018 | Page 34
An Innovative & Resilient Urban City
By Mayor Ethan Berkowitz
Since taking office as Mayor of Anchorage, I’ve consis-
tently asked people to take me out past where I can see. I say
that because if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, we’re
going to keep getting the same results.
In a dynamic, interconnected world where commerce and
climate are constantly shifting, resiliency and innovation – the
ability to face challenges and weather difficulties – are imper-
ative for success. That’s why I’m committed to implementing
change that is fiscally responsible and represents the environ-
mental stewardship that Alaskans value.
I believe Anchorage can be a leader when it comes to re-
siliency, and government can be the catalyst to make that hap-
pen. To do that, we need to take advantage of our strengths
and evolve past our deficiencies. This means revising practices
to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and enhance our resilien-
cy. Luckily, we Alaskans are creative problem solvers.
Smart, affordable energy
Smart energy investments are crucial to keeping our city
strong. The municipality recently commissioned a report
examining Anchorage’s energy landscape. The report looks at
how the city currently uses energy, what can be done to best
utilize its energy moving forward, and how the municipality
can be proactive about economic challenges. This initiative
aims to increase productive economic activity, save residents
and businesses money, and mitigate the impact of climate
change, all of which enhance resiliency.
The municipality is also looking for efficiencies with its
lighting and water. An energy-focused lighting initiative will
retrofit 16,000 streetlights with LED fixtures, saving the city
$1.2 million per year. Two city-owned utilities, Municipal
Light & Power (ML&P) and Anchorage Water and Wastewa-
ter Utility (AWWU), are capturing waste heat and using it to
warm the AWWU water supply. This reduces consumption
by as many as 75 million gallons of water annually, saving the
Photo by Gary Benson © 2018
34 January 2018
Photo by Glenn Aronwits, GA Panorams © 2018
community $1-2 million per year and reducing air pollution
at the same time.
Responsible waste and efficient transit
The city wants to handle waste responsibly. To this end,
Solid Waste Services is expanding commercial recycling op-
portunities for businesses and multi-family housing buildings.
The utility has also started two programs that divert food
scraps and yard waste. In just two years, participants diverted
almost 44 tons of material away from the Anchorage Regional
Landfill. These diversion efforts extend the life of the landfill,
saving taxpayers money and making us good stewards of the
environment.
Public transportation is also important for any city that
wants to be sustainable. Anchorage Transit launched its
re-engineered transit system in October. The improved system
seeks to increase ridership and reduce emissions in the city by
cutting wait times, expanding hours, and increasing service
frequency. Pedestrians and bike commuters are part of the
fabric of our active community, so Anchorage residents have
invested $7.5 million in parks and trails through municipal
bonds.
Food security and a welcoming community
Because nearly all of Anchorage’s food is delivered
through the Port of Alaska, it is critical that residents have
access to food in the event of a major disruption to the supply
chain. To achieve that, the city partnered with Cities of Ser-
vice to increase food security in Anchorage neighborhoods.
For the last two years, Volunteers in Service to America
(VISTA) volunteers worked with community members in
low-income areas to establish community gardens, school
greenhouses, and edible landscaping. They also partnered
with local schools to create a curriculum that teaches students
about local food systems. The city is also making it easier for