Juneau Assembly Meeting: Rezones, Goals, Budget, and Public Testimony

The regular Juneau City and Borough Assembly meeting was held on February 9, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting included a proclamation for National Engineers Week, approval of minutes, a correction of an agenda item title, public testimony on non-agenda items, multiple rezoning decisions, adoption of assembly goals, and approval of funding for affordable housing projects. The meeting was extended until approximately 10:12 PM for executive session.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved as amended. The amendment corrected the title of an ordinance appropriating funds to St. Vincent's through the Affordable Housing Fund from "Hill Street facility improvements" to the correct title reflecting facility improvements. The item was pulled from public hearing and placed on consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joshua Adams (downtown incremental developer): Urged the assembly to meaningfully engage with the Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC) recommendations rather than ignoring them. He described HRAC as a technical advisory body, not an obstacle to development, and requested a formal feedback loop.
• Max Rosen (Baron's neighborhood, board member of Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries): Expressed strong community support for neighborhood libraries as accessible spaces that foster connection across generations. Urged continued library funding despite challenging budget decisions.
• Bruce Weyrock (President, Foundation for End of Life Care): Thanked the assembly for past and ongoing support of Bartlett Regional Hospital's hospice services, which serve a vast Southeast Alaska region with a growing elderly population. Noted that Bartlett is the only accredited hospice provider in an area larger than several New England states combined, with only one provider for ~71,000 people.
• Tony Tangs (downtown resident, Telephone Hill): Raised parking concerns for proposed high-end housing on Telephone Hill, estimating three parking spaces per unit would be needed. Pointed to $20 million in CIP funding (FY28 and later) for parking, suggesting a subsidy of ~$300,000 per unit.
• Larry Talley (the flats): Proposed using the $9 million allocated for demolishing Telephone Hill housing to instead build housing on existing vacant lots (25,000 sq ft) on Third Street and Dixon. Estimated $9 million could yield 43 one-bedroom units at $325/sq ft, preserving 13 existing houses.
• Mary Alice McKean (downtown resident): Argued that Telephone Hill houses are assets, not worthless wrecks. Suggested the city should sell or transfer houses to people willing to adhere to development conditions, maintaining 13 units of housing and saving $5.5 million in demolition costs.
• Paige Bridges (Carroll Way, downtown): Displayed photos of the Tanaka house she is restoring to argue that the hill's houses are structurally sound (full-dimension timber, old growth) and not rotting. Urged the city to allow residents to buy back houses or rent-to-own.
• Susan Clark (federal building area): Criticized the Telephone Hill process, citing over $500,000 in consultant fees to First 40 Feet (since July 2023) and an additional $884,000 for a six-month extension through June 2026. Noted that a 2022 sales tax proposition bundled the project with 18 other items, and claimed the option to leave the hill as-is was never offered.
• Shannon Green (Valley resident): Challenged the city's FAQs on Telephone Hill, arguing the 2022 sales tax vote was not a blank check for tens of millions in development. She claimed her informal poll showed ~99% of people asked were unaware of the Telephone Hill project.
• Eunice James (valley): Stressed the dire need for affordable, long-term rental housing, particularly for young people returning from education, medical professionals, and tribal citizens. Highlighted unsafe living conditions due to lack of heat and water.
• Carol Bookless (Douglas): Criticized the Telephone Hill plan as inconsistent with the Community Development Department's mission to respect history and culture. Proposed building a high-rise at the high end of the site to achieve 155 units while preserving heritage. Suggested the city create an inventory of all CBJ-owned properties for development.
• Bruce Simonson (downtown resident): Thanked the assembly for the budget survey but requested that a PDF of questions be posted on CBJ's website and that the deadline be extended until at least March 3rd to allow more public input.
• Steve Benke (Thane, representing Renewable Juneau): Notified the assembly of a Southeast EV shipping solutions panel on Wednesday, 6-8 PM at K2 Studios. Described the growing difficulty of getting EVs into/out of Juneau (barge lines stopped hauling, ferry limits of two per sailing with months-long wait lists). Over 100 Juneau households now own EVs, and he urged CBJ to advocate for solutions.

Discussion Items

• National Engineers Week Proclamation: Mayor Weldon read a proclamation declaring February 22–28, 2026 as National Engineers Week in Juneau. A representative from the Juneau branch of ASCE accepted and highlighted the role of engineers in addressing GLOF issues and other community challenges.
• Approval of Minutes Correction: Mr. Kelly moved to approve the January 12, 2025 minutes, but the date was corrected to 2026. Approved unanimously.
• Agenda Change: The manager requested pulling ordinance 2025-01 (St. Vincent's grant) from public hearing and placing it on the consent agenda due to a title error. Approved.
• Downtown Douglas/West Juneau Area Plan (Ordinance 2025-42): The assembly adopted the plan (7-2) over objections from Mr. Kelly and Mayor Weldon. Supporters (Ms. Wall, Ms. Hughes Candies) noted the plan's aspirational value and the work of both the steering committee and planning commission. Opponents argued that most of the plan is unfunded and therefore not appropriate for adoption as ordinance.
• Senior Citizen Rebate Code (Ordinance 2026-04): Housekeeping measure passed unanimously after a food/utility exemption.
• Rezone 5200/5220 Commercial Boulevard – Industrial to Light Commercial (Ordinance 2026-05): Approved 7-2. The applicant (Charles Donart, Jeff Larson, Marcy Larson) argued the parcels have been for sale for 10 years with no industrial interest, and that housing (114-120 units) addresses acute needs. CDD Director Lawhorn cited concerns about precedent setting, lack of design standards, pedestrian safety, and enforcement challenges. Two amendments (pedestrian safety, notification of nearby transfer station) failed. The planning commission had denied the rezone.
• Rezone 7170 Glacier Highway – D18 to Light Commercial (Ordinance 2026-06): Approved 6-3. Applicant Marciano Duran argued that D18 only allows ~91 units via alternative subdivision while light commercial allows ~120 units, in a location ideal for workforce housing (bus line, commercial access). Opponents (Mr. Smith, Ms. Hall) noted that light commercial would not guarantee housing and removes a high-density residential zone.
• Port Lease (Ordinance 2026-09): Authorized the port director to negotiate and execute a lease for waterfront commercial activity. Approved unanimously.
• Peterson Hill Housing Grant (Ordinance 2025-01bS): Appropriated $800,000 to Klinket Hyder Regional Housing Authority for Peterson Hill Phase 1B (16 single-family homes at ≤80% AMI). Approved unanimously.
• North Douglas Housing Grant (Ordinance 2025-01bT): Appropriated $250,000 for five new units in North Douglas. Approved unanimously.
• Brave Enterprises LLC Loan (Ordinance 2025-01bV): Appropriated up to $900,000 for 18 units at ≤80% AMI in downtown Juneau. Developer stated a two-year timeline. Approved unanimously.
• Southeast Endeavors LLC Loan (Ordinance 2025-01bW): Appropriated up to $200,000 for a fourplex (two units at ≤80% AMI). Construction nearly complete. Approved unanimously.
• Assembly Goals for 2026: Adopted with two amendments:
  1. Housing goal amended to add "and implement" and "property ownership" (pursue and implement zoning amendments that support an increase in property ownership and incremental infill development).
  2. Community wellness goal amended to read "Juneau is safe, affordable, and welcoming for all citizens."
• Communication Tower Lease (Diamond Park): Motion of support approved to negotiate directly with the original proposer for a 110-foot replacement light pole/tower.

Key Outcomes

• Rezones: Two rezones approved (Commercial Boulevard to light commercial 7-2; Glacier Highway to light commercial 6-3), overriding planning commission denials.
• Assembly Goals: Adopted with amendments adding "property ownership" to housing goals and "affordable" to community wellness.
• Funding Approved: $3.15 million total appropriated for affordable housing (Peterson Hill, North Douglas, Brave Enterprises, Southeast Endeavors).
• Human Rights Committee Event: Approved $750 funding request for a May event.
• Appointments: Ephraim Frailick (reappointment through 6/30/2028) and Melody Music (appointment through 6/30/2027) to the Systemic Racism Review Committee.
• Executive Session: The assembly entered executive session at 10:12 PM to discuss collective bargaining negotiations; no return to regular session.