Lands Housing & Economic Development Committee Meeting - February 24, 2026
Lands Housing & Economic Development Committee Meeting - February 24, 2026
The meeting was called to order at 5:45 PM with a land acknowledgement and roll call. Members present: Mr. Kelly, Ms. Hall, Lisa Hughes Gandis, Chair Steininger. Liaisons present: Mr. Becker (Docks & Harbors), Ms. Schreimer (Parks & Rec), and a Planning Commission representative. Agenda and minutes from January 26, 2026 were approved.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda approved.
- Minutes from January 26, 2026 approved.
Discussion Items
1. Vertical Bridges Lease Amendment (3000 Fish Creek Road) – Staff requested support to amend an existing 402 sq ft communications tower lease at Eagle Crest, expanding the footprint and extending the lease to the maximum 35 years allowed by code. The former Eagle Crest General Manager and board were in favor. Committee voted unanimously to support the amendment.
2. Proposed Land Trade with State of Alaska – Staff presented a proposal to trade a vacant city-owned parcel (approx. 0.96 acres) near the Juneau-Douglas Bridge to the Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT) in exchange for state land needed to improve the North Douglas boat launch ramp. DOT would grant the city an easement for non-permanent uses. The trade is expected to be value-positive for the city. Committee voted unanimously to direct staff to begin negotiations.
3. Disposal of 155 Heritage Way (City Hall) – Staff recommended a sealed competitive bid sale with a minimum bid of $2.5 million, citing the building (22,000 sq ft on a quarter-acre lot) will be vacated by December 2026 after the move to the Burns Building. An assessor’s analysis valued the property between $900,000 and $3.5 million; an appraisal would cost ~$15,000 and take several months. Discussion included alternative disposal methods, potential use restrictions, and tax incentives. Assemblymember Hughes Gandis moved to obtain an appraisal; that motion failed 3-1. A subsequent motion by Mr. Kelly to proceed with sealed bid and direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance passed 3-1 (Hughes Gandis opposed).
4. Peer-to-Peer Vehicle Sharing Excise Tax (Title 69) – Deputy City Manager Barr introduced draft legislation to impose an excise tax on peer-to-peer car rentals originating or ending within a half-mile radius of downtown cruise ship areas. The tax aims to discourage congestion and raise revenue for parking management. Discussion addressed zoning, enforcement, and impacts on traditional rental car companies. The Marine Parking Garage has a waiting list of ~200 and the Downtown Transportation Center 87, with both garages oversold by over 45%. Motion to refer the ordinance to the next regular Assembly meeting, Committee of the Whole, and Visitor Industry Task Force passed unanimously.
5. Short-Term Rental Update – Assemblymember Hughes Gandis provided an informational overview, noting materials from prior task force work were distributed for review. The topic will be taken up at the next regularly scheduled Lands meeting.
6. Affordable Housing Fund Update – Scott Chamber gave a verbal report as a precursor to the June annual report, noting the fund’s five-year history and upcoming decisions on budget and per-unit caps. Assemblymember Kelly raised the idea of incentivizing units for licensed professions (e.g., teachers, medical professionals). Ms. Hall expressed concern about targeting specific professions given broader housing needs. The Mayor questioned enforceability. No motion was taken; further discussion will occur at the next meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Vertical Bridges lease amendment support (unanimous).
- Directed staff to negotiate land trade with DOT (unanimous).
- Approved sealed bid sale of 155 Heritage Way with $2.5 million minimum bid, directing city attorney to draft ordinance (3-1).
- Referred peer-to-peer vehicle sharing ordinance to Assembly, Committee of the Whole, and Visitor Industry Task Force (unanimous).
- Short-term rental and affordable housing fund topics continued to next meeting.
Meeting Transcript
All right, I'll bring this mean of the Assembly Lands Housing and Economic Development Committee to order. Um Ms. Hall, will you read the land acknowledgement? Thank you. We would like to acknowledge that the city and borough of Juneau is on Clinkett Land and wish to honor the indigenous people of this land. For more than 10,000 years, Alaska Native people have been and continue to be integral to the well-being of our community. We are grateful to be in this space, a part of this community and to honor the culture, traditions, and resilience of the Klinkett people. Thank you. Mr. Blydorn, will you note the role? Yes, please. We have uh Mr. Kelly. Here. Uh Ms. Hall. Present. Uh Lisa Hughes Gandhi's. Here. And then Chair Steininger. Here. We also have uh Mr, who is the um liaison for the Planning Commission. We have Mr. Becker, who is the liaison for the Dachs and Harbors Board, and we have Ms. Schreimer, who is the liaison for the Parks and Rec Advisory Committee. Thank you. Um does anyone have any changes to the agenda? All right. Seeing none, I'll consider that approved. Um, we also have before us the minutes from the January 26, 2026 meeting. Um changes to those minutes. All right, seeing none, I'll consider those approved as well. Um, Mr. Blydorn on the topic number one. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the first item on the agenda today is going to be vertical bridges request to amend a communications tower lease at 3,000 Fish Creek Road, which is Eagle Crest. So currently, as of 2013, uh Vertical Bridge has leased 402 square feet for a communications tower at the base of Eagle Crest. If you're ever up there, you'll notice it it's a monopole tower uh right next to the parking lot. And so um, due to the high demand and the continued use for uh cellular communications, they've requested to expand this lease. Um I had conversations with uh former Eagle Crest General Manager who was uh highly in favor of this, and he spoke with their board and they're in favor of it as well. And so the idea is to increase the square footage, but also take this as an opportunity to extend the lease out uh to the full 35 years that's allowed by city code. And um staff are requesting that the land's housing and economic development committee provide a motion of support to amend the lease of city property located at 3,000 Fish Creek Road. And on page 7 is the memo, and page eight is another diagram of the location of the tower, and I'll gladly answer any questions. All right, are there any questions from the committee? Seeing none looking for a motion from anybody. Uh Mr. Kelly I move that the Lands Housing Economic Development Committee support the amending the lease of CBJ property located at 3000 Fish Creek Road and ask for unanimous consent. Is there any objection? Seeing none, that motion is adopted.
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