Administration proposes nonprofit model for city rinks, recommending ASIM with $450,000 transition grant
June 19, 2026 | Anchorage Municipality, Alaska
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The Anchorage administration on Thursday recommended the Assembly approve a nonprofit operating model for the Ben Boeck and Dempsey ice rinks, proposing to award management to Anchorage Community Ice Management (ASIM), an entity formed in partnership with the Anchorage Hockey Association.
Chief Administrative Officer Bill Falsy said ASIM would receive a nominal $10 management fee and a one-time transition grant of $450,000 to cover startup and early-season costs. "We're proposing... a onetime transition grant of $450,000," Falsy said, noting facilities are seasonal and operators need funds to install ice and prepare venues before revenues materialize.
Under the proposal, the administration would temporarily pause the regular 5 percent deposits into the rinks' capital reserve through 2029 to free up funds for near-term maintenance and improvements. Falsy said the capital reserve is approximately $1.3 million now and that pausing contributions for a limited period would allow ASIM to focus on day-to-day repairs and facility appearance.
Jeanne Carey, president of the Anchorage Hockey Association, said youth programming comprises roughly three-quarters of municipal rink programming and that ASIM intends to retain revenue in the facilities to support maintenance and programming. "The Anchorage Hockey Association board recognized that we cannot meet our mission to provide youth hockey in Anchorage ... unless we have these municipal rinks to operate in," Carey said.
Assembly members raised questions about potential conflicts because ASIM is affiliated with a dominant rink user and about which repairs remain municipal responsibilities. Administration officials said the contract requires operators to follow the municipal ice-allocation policy, that major systems (HVAC, heating) remain the municipality's responsibility, and that ASIM has governance safeguards including a volunteer committee and a separate general manager.
Falsy said the recommended awards will be on the Assembly agenda for Tuesday; if the Assembly approves, the administration hopes to operationalize the model quickly to avoid disruptions in July scheduling. Members asked for a side-by-side comparison of the prior contract and the proposed document; Falsy said he would try to provide that before the Tuesday meeting.
No formal action was taken at the work session.
Chief Administrative Officer Bill Falsy said ASIM would receive a nominal $10 management fee and a one-time transition grant of $450,000 to cover startup and early-season costs. "We're proposing... a onetime transition grant of $450,000," Falsy said, noting facilities are seasonal and operators need funds to install ice and prepare venues before revenues materialize.
Under the proposal, the administration would temporarily pause the regular 5 percent deposits into the rinks' capital reserve through 2029 to free up funds for near-term maintenance and improvements. Falsy said the capital reserve is approximately $1.3 million now and that pausing contributions for a limited period would allow ASIM to focus on day-to-day repairs and facility appearance.
Jeanne Carey, president of the Anchorage Hockey Association, said youth programming comprises roughly three-quarters of municipal rink programming and that ASIM intends to retain revenue in the facilities to support maintenance and programming. "The Anchorage Hockey Association board recognized that we cannot meet our mission to provide youth hockey in Anchorage ... unless we have these municipal rinks to operate in," Carey said.
Assembly members raised questions about potential conflicts because ASIM is affiliated with a dominant rink user and about which repairs remain municipal responsibilities. Administration officials said the contract requires operators to follow the municipal ice-allocation policy, that major systems (HVAC, heating) remain the municipality's responsibility, and that ASIM has governance safeguards including a volunteer committee and a separate general manager.
Falsy said the recommended awards will be on the Assembly agenda for Tuesday; if the Assembly approves, the administration hopes to operationalize the model quickly to avoid disruptions in July scheduling. Members asked for a side-by-side comparison of the prior contract and the proposed document; Falsy said he would try to provide that before the Tuesday meeting.
No formal action was taken at the work session.
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