Fire fighters hit the Anchorage streets and raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association with Fill the Boot today.

The controversy surrounding this event had many thinking the city was going to pull the plug because it was against city code.

Every year, the Muscular Dystrophy Association depends on this money and they thought they were doing everything by the book. Then Mayor Dan Sullivan took office and told organizers this is breaking the law and hit them with a list of conditions to meet, including coming up with a $2 million insurance policy.

"I think it is a great fund raiser, we just have to make sure it compiles with existing law, which right now it doesn't," said Mayor Sullivan.

MDA, executive director, Sandy Baker said the last time the city spoke to her back on July 30th, "He didn't believe we would be able to do it in this manner in the future."

The Sullivan administration first said they needed a right-away permit and then it said they did not want fire fighters volunteering while on the clock and it was creating a safety hazard. Now, the Sullivan administration wants a $2 million insurance policy.

"We are self insured, which means the first $2 million of a claim comes right out of our bank account before insurance kicks in, so that is important," said Sullivan.

The city says in case someone got hit or an accident happened while fire fighters are on the streets to raise money, Anchorage could be liable.

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But the city has never talked to MDA about this. In fact, MDA says it already has a $1 million liability insurance policy and has had it for ten years.

"I think that is why we carry insurance. Again, I have not had this conversation and it wasn't in the original plan. It was a right-away sort of thing and I can see how (MUNI) get(s) there, but I did let them know we already have this policy in place," said Baker.

"If the one million dollars covered it, that is great. If MUNI is named as an additional insurer that's great, but if somebody files a lawsuit usually what they do is go after the deep pockets. They are not going to after a non-profit organization, they are going to go after the MUNI," said Sullivan.

Mayor Sullivan says these conditions have always been a part of the plan and in fact, he is already thinking of ways this event can happen next year, legally. He is introducing a new ordinance he hopes the assembly will approve. "It will be mirrored after an ordinance I introduced in 2003," said Sullivan.

MDA has a non-commercial solicit permit but mayor Sullivan says that is not enough, "right now it is illegal to solicit."

While Sullivan recognizes the solicitation permit, he says MDA needs a permit to allow firefighters to do it on the roadway. The new ordinance would also require fire fighters to wear bright colored vests and make MDA foot a $2 million liability insurance policy. The MDA says those are conditions the city never discussed with the charity

Sullivan says the ordinance he plans to introduce a month from now will make sure the city is covered and allow the event to go on. "If you do certain things, that charity that sponsores the event provides liability insurance that makes sure the municipality is covered, in case there is any claim against the MUNI."

If the assembly does not approve the ordinance the MDA will be forced to raise money in different ways, that organizers say wont met nearly the $125,000 the MDA pulls in from the Fill the Boot. "The original way that Anchorage does it where we go in the street corners and intersections in the street in there getting it. There are places that are not able to do that. If we went to that way based on all the evidence from other places, the best we can hope to do would be maybe about 30 thousand dollars and some places you can only do it a mall or maybe in some parking lots and that is really difficult."