OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Special Assembly Finance Committee and Joint Airport & Hospital Board Meeting - February 26, 2026

Assembly Meetings — Thursday, February 26, 2026
BodyJuneau, Alaska
SessionAssembly Meetings
DateThursday, February 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:21:12

Transcript — Verbatim
0:12

Call the special assembly finance committee meeting to order.

0:18

We will skip roll calls since we'll do introductions in a second.

0:22

That brings us to approval of minutes.

0:24

You have the February 4th, 2026 AFC meeting minutes in your packet.

0:30

Any objections to those from the Finance Committee.

0:35

Seeing none, those are so moved.

0:37

And with that, I will pass the gavel to Madam Mayor to bring us into our joint meeting.

0:44

Thank you, Madam Finance Chair.

0:47

I am co-chairing this meeting with Mr.

0:49

Epstein, who is the co-chair or vice chair.

0:53

Sorry, you guys have a different name.

0:55

As uh Ms.

0:57

Soutier is on Zoom if she's there.

1:01

So anyway, um, we will start with introductions.

1:04

You want to start.

1:08

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

1:10

Um is Ms.

1:12

Soutier on Zoom this evening.

1:14

Can we bring her up?

1:15

I sure am.

1:17

Okay.

1:17

Um Madam Chair, can you introduce yourself and uh advise how long you've been on the board?

1:25

Sure.

1:26

I have been on the oh, sorry, my name is Eve Soutier.

1:30

Um I'm sorry I'm not there in person today.

1:33

Um I've been on the board.

1:36

Oh goodness, for long enough to not remember.

1:40

Um I'm in my second term.

1:42

I think I've been on the board for four years, maybe five.

1:48

Thank you, Ms.

1:49

Soutier.

1:50

I'm David Epstein.

1:52

I served on the board from January of 2010 to June of 2018.

2:00

I termed out.

2:02

And um a year ago, uh Mayor Weldon asked me through Mr.

2:07

Godkin to uh consider coming back on the board.

2:11

And uh I uh I was honored by that request, and I accepted.

2:20

And we're certainly glad you did.

2:21

So I'm Beth.

2:23

Well then I'm the mayor third term uh Ms.

2:26

Scratkin.

2:29

Thank you.

2:29

Uh Jerry Gottkin Airport Board.

2:32

I've let's say I think I'm working on my 17th year with a break, mandatory break in there, and then uh getting called back also to service by the assembly.

2:43

So it's a privilege.

2:49

Hi everyone.

2:50

Uh Christine Wall.

2:51

I am in my sixth year on the assembly.

2:55

Um I am also the assembly uh liaison to the airport board as of November.

3:09

My name is Nano Brooks.

3:12

I'm first year assembly member on my first term.

3:18

My name is Neil Steininger, and I am in my first term uh midway through my second year on the assembly.

3:28

Dennis Bedford, I'm uh about to time out on the board.

3:31

I'm in my ninth year, just a general report hang where on pretty much grew around up around the airport.

3:42

Paul Kelly, uh in my third year on the assembly.

3:47

Maureen Hall and first term, second year on the assembly.

3:55

And we'll get to staff in just a minute, but is there anybody else on Zoom, Madam Clerk?

4:04

Mr.

4:04

Redman, would you like to introduce yourself, please?

4:07

Sure, yeah.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Airport Management█████████████████████████25%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████████15%
Healthcare Management██████████████14%
Procedural█████████9%
Healthcare Finance█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Community Engagement██████6%
Personnel Matters████4%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Special Assembly Finance Committee and Joint Airport & Hospital Board Meeting - February 26, 2026

The meeting began as a special Assembly Finance Committee (AFC) meeting, approved minutes, then convened joint meetings with the Juneau Airport Board and the Bartlett Regional Hospital Board. The airport board presented its FY27 budget, highlighted a critical shortage of ARF firefighting trucks, and discussed funding options. The hospital board presented its financial outlook, addressed facility and workforce challenges, and emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong community hospital.

Consent Calendar

  • The AFC unanimously approved the minutes of the February 4, 2026 meeting.

Airport Board Discussion Items

  • Airport Manager Andres Delgado presented the FY26 projected under-spending of ~$110,000 due to a mild winter and reduced de-icer use, and outlined FY27 expense assumptions including a new deputy airport manager position and union rate increases.
  • The airport financial model was updated to correct an allocation mismatch between Part 121 (air carriers) and Part 135 (commercial operators), resulting in lower fuel flowage fees and higher landing fees.
  • Revenue projections assume 2.8% annual passenger growth through 2030, reaching over 600,000 enplanements.
  • CIP projects include the Runway 26 MALSR reconstruction (~$25M, 93.75% FAA funded), a new control tower grant applications, and various completed projects.
  • Fund balance target is three months of operating expenses (~$3M); future refinements may add $900k–$1M.

ARF Truck Crisis (Airport Rescue Firefighting)

  • The airport currently has only one reliable ARF truck; a second is on lease from Palmer and a loaner from Gustavus must return by May 1.
  • A temporary failure of two trucks in February reduced the airport to Index B, limiting aircraft size, and risked ARF Zero status (no air carrier service).
  • A new truck is expected in late April 2026 but won't be in service until June/July.
  • The FAA will not approve a new AIP-funded truck until 2031, so the airport board and city staff discussed using the city fleet reserve or airport fund balance with PFC reimbursement to purchase a second truck quickly.
  • Board members (Soutier, Epstein, Williams) stressed the urgent need and supported flexible funding mechanisms to avoid a single point of failure.

Hospital Board Discussion Items

  • CEO Joe Warner reported that FY26 expenditures will exceed budget due to new clinics and provider hires; FY27 net income of $5M is projected (excluding the lapsed rural demonstration program worth $4.2M).
  • The hospital is pursuing Rural Health Transformation grants to improve technology and care coordination, particularly to offset anticipated Medicaid reductions.
  • Facility master planning is underway; a housing expansion for employees and patient lodging is budgeted at $3.5M as a placeholder for rural health transformation funds.
  • Hospice and home care services are losing ~$30k/month and ~$50k/month respectively; the board committed to continue these services for at least five more years.
  • Employee engagement improved to the 39th percentile; the goal is 75th percentile.
  • Wildflower Court now has 47 of 51 beds occupied after a pipe burst temporarily closed eight beds.
  • Board member Max Mertz proposed a review of the 1970 charter relationship between CBJ and the hospital to improve efficiency in procurement, CIP, cash management, and shared services.
  • The hospital's separate audit (first year) is nearly complete; significant prior period adjustments were identified and booked.
  • New board member Jeannie Monk emphasized the need for community engagement to highlight the value of a community hospital.

Key Outcomes

  • The AFC acknowledged the airport board's request for a second ARF truck and noted the city fleet reserve as a potential quick-funding source.
  • The hospital board and assembly discussed the need for a formal review of the CBJ-hospital charter relationship; no formal motion was made.
  • The AFC updated the budget calendar, with assembly grant requests due March 15, 2026, and assembly member budget reduction proposals due April 16, 2026.
  • The next AFC meeting is scheduled for March 4, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Call the special assembly finance committee meeting to order. We will skip roll calls since we'll do introductions in a second. That brings us to approval of minutes. You have the February 4th, 2026 AFC meeting minutes in your packet. Any objections to those from the Finance Committee. Seeing none, those are so moved. And with that, I will pass the gavel to Madam Mayor to bring us into our joint meeting. Thank you, Madam Finance Chair. I am co-chairing this meeting with Mr. Epstein, who is the co-chair or vice chair. Sorry, you guys have a different name. As uh Ms. Soutier is on Zoom if she's there. So anyway, um, we will start with introductions. You want to start. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um is Ms. Soutier on Zoom this evening. Can we bring her up? I sure am. Okay. Um Madam Chair, can you introduce yourself and uh advise how long you've been on the board? Sure. I have been on the oh, sorry, my name is Eve Soutier. Um I'm sorry I'm not there in person today. Um I've been on the board. Oh goodness, for long enough to not remember. Um I'm in my second term. I think I've been on the board for four years, maybe five. Thank you, Ms. Soutier. I'm David Epstein. I served on the board from January of 2010 to June of 2018. I termed out. And um a year ago, uh Mayor Weldon asked me through Mr. Godkin to uh consider coming back on the board. And uh I uh I was honored by that request, and I accepted. And we're certainly glad you did. So I'm Beth. Well then I'm the mayor third term uh Ms. Scratkin. Thank you. Uh Jerry Gottkin Airport Board. I've let's say I think I'm working on my 17th year with a break, mandatory break in there, and then uh getting called back also to service by the assembly. So it's a privilege. Hi everyone. Uh Christine Wall. I am in my sixth year on the assembly. Um I am also the assembly uh liaison to the airport board as of November. My name is Nano Brooks.

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