About Us
At the Roots of Good Governance
"Government should be more responsive"
The Citizen Advisory Committee met in 1973 to create and present a set of community-wide goals and objectives. The goal of the group was “to employ government in a more positive, creative and responsive role” and “to provide for citizen participation in the planning process at the neighborhood level”.
This group eventually became the Anchorage Action Council. They brought forward ordinances to recognize Community Councils in both the City of Anchorage and the Anchorage Borough (before unification). They also worked to add Community Councils to the unification charter.
In 1975, the group succeeded in recognizing Community Councils within the Home Rule Charter – both in Article II and Article VIII.
From 1973 to today, the Community Councils have been a key part of supporting neighborhoods in Anchorage. They were originally supported by the municipal clerk’s office.
"Cooperative relationship with government"
The Anchorage Action Council eventually became the Federation of Community Councils. In 1977, the Action Council and the Assembly held a committee on the relationship between the Municipality and Community Councils. It was determined that the Community Councils should receive funding to support their civic engagement and separate from the Clerk’s office, as they are in a cooperative relationship with government but are not part of government.
The Federation took up the contract from the Assembly in 1978 and has continued to support the Councils ever since.
"Comprised of representatives"
The Federation’s Board of Delegates is made up of appointees from each of the 37 Community Councils. The Board is responsible for the strategic goals, organizational policies, and financial planning of the nonprofit.
These delegates meet on the third Wednesday of every month. The first half of the meeting is non-profit business (such as budgets, policies, and committee reports) and the second half is coalition work (such as government reports, Council updates, and special presentations).
