Juneau Assembly Regular Meeting - March 10, 2026
Juneau Assembly Regular Meeting - March 10, 2026
The meeting was called to order on March 9, 2026, but metadata indicates March 10, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.
The Assembly addressed a lengthy public comment period, several ordinance readings, and key decisions on View Drive flood buyout, Eagle Crest board status, and social service funding concerns. The meeting concluded with an executive session on collective bargaining.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes for February 9 regular and February 25 special assembly meetings.
- Passed consent agenda items (routine ordinances for introduction).
Special Order of Business
- Proclamation for Sienna: Recognized youth leader Sienna for civic engagement and environmental advocacy. Sienna expressed gratitude and encouraged youth to believe in themselves.
Agenda Changes
- Manager's requests: Moved new business before public hearing to allow early testimony on View Drive; added item to postpone consideration of Eagle Crest Board advisory ordinance (originally scheduled for March 16 Committee of the Whole); pulled Resolution 4042 (supporting lake tap mitigation system) pending new information from Secretary Adam Tell's visit later in March.
Public Comments & Testimony
(41 speakers; rules suspended to allow 2 minutes each)
- Amy Miller (Valley) : Expressed frustration with CBJ’s handling of Mendenhall Valley flooding, high taxes, and lack of long-term solutions. Criticized Telephone Hill demolition and Eagle Crest gondola costs. Stated she and friends are planning to leave Juneau due to feeling unheard.
- Kirsha Hughes Candies (North Douglas) : Thanked the Assembly for their service; urged the public to channel anxiety constructively rather than displace anger onto local officials.
- Max Rosen (Downtown) : Supported libraries as essential community infrastructure; encouraged continued funding.
- Maureen Conerton (Auke Bay) : Opposed $5.5 million demolition of Telephone Hill, citing budget shortfall and lack of developer commitment. Suggested redirecting funds to relieve budget cuts.
- Robin Chartrand (North Douglas) : Criticized Telephone Hill project as wasteful and premature, noting pending lawsuits and risk of losing federal funding. Called for listening to constituents and following legal processes.
- Sean Strauss (Valley) : Supported housing expansion but opposed current Telephone Hill plan, citing no developer commitment, high costs, and risk of no housing outcomes.
- Robert Reich (Auke Bay) : Represented Echo Ranch Bible Camp; requested assistance to expedite rebuilding of collapsed field house after January snowstorms, currently before Planning Commission in April.
- Dr. Will Jemison (Valley) : CEO of JAMHI Health & Wellness; highlighted positive outcomes from past city investments (new providers, 76% increase in primary care) and urged continued partnership despite city budget constraints.
- Catherine Fritz (Highlands) : Questioned data behind 100-unit target for Telephone Hill; estimated $45 million subsidy needed; urged pausing demolition and considering alternative options.
- Tony Tangs : Opposed subsidizing “unaffordable housing” on Telephone Hill; stated average subsidy of $300,000 per unit with 20-year tax recovery timeline.
- Rebecca Belmore (Valley) : Science director at Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition; described ongoing fish habitat restoration and bank stabilization projects in Mendenhall watershed; invited public to meeting on March 19.
- Bruce Batello (Douglas) : Argued that petition signatures must meet 25% threshold within 30 days; urged clarifying charter interpretation to prevent granting additional 10 days when initial count is insufficient.
- Melani Shavins (Downtown) : Supported Batello’s proposal on petition rules; stated that unclear thresholds lead to divisive ballot measures and undermine initiative process.
- Josh Anderson (North Douglas) : Local contractor; noted confusion and lack of confidence in city government; called for simplification and cost-effective projects.
- Dan Parks (Lena Point) : Executive Director of Southeast Alaska Food Bank; opposed proposed 30% reduction in social service block grant; noted demand increase from 300 to 500 clients per week; urged maintaining funding.
- Mariah Thibodeau Offer (Downtown) : Opposed Telephone Hill demolition; emphasized historic and cultural value; referenced past destruction of Indigenous neighborhoods.
- Sean Cantola (Valley) : Real estate developer; supported Affordable Housing Fund but recommended sliding-scale loan amounts based on bedroom count to encourage family-sized units.
- Skip Gray (Twin Lakes) : Opposed destroying Telephone Hill homes; compared proposed 100-155 units to larger apartment complex; suggested selling houses with historic preservation stipulations.
- Kim Metcalf (Downtown) : Opposed Telephone Hill demolition; cited 1,052-signature petition; urged prioritizing other needs over $9+ million project.
- Tina Rice (Valley) : School counselor; stressed importance of Hope/CBJ social service grants for weekend food bags for over 100 students weekly; warned 30% cut would harm children.
- Shannon Green (Valley) : Referenced social media comments criticizing gondola cost overruns; expressed loss of confidence in CBJ leadership; urged aligning spending with budget survey priorities.
- Erin Walker Tollis : Executive Director of Catholic Community Service; requested maintaining social service block grant funding; noted 30% decrease in social service workforce and increased senior food needs (meals served only 4 days/week).
- Angie Amend-Bayer (Downtown) : Referenced Innovation Summit and budget survey; opposed Telephone Hill demolition; urged reserving $5 million for urgent fiscal needs.
- Jacqueline Peta (Valley) : President/CEO of Klinket Haida Regional Housing Authority; described Shaay Khaat Hit youth shelter serving 3,000 bed nights; warned cuts would impact runaway and homeless youth.
- Kaya Quinto (Valley) : Executive Director of Glory Hall; stated 99 units of housing, 15,000 emergency beds, 60,000 meals annually; stressed crucial role of SSAB funds.
- Morgan Cruz Airsman (Valley) : Glory Hall board member; warned loss of funding would eliminate meal program and jobs; said need does not disappear.
- Aaron Surma (North Douglas) : NAMI Juneau; described time spent fundraising to replace state cuts; said advocacy and crisis stabilization work would be at risk if CBJ hope funds reduced.
- Casey Krieger (South Douglas) : Thanked city for dropping trespassing charges; criticized Eagle Crest gondola cost increases from $10M to $40M; questioned transparency and deferred maintenance decisions.
- Heather Parker (Downtown) : Supervising attorney at Alaska Legal Services; highlighted $6,000 in SNAP benefits secured for one family; urged continued Hope funding for civil legal aid.
- Paige Bridges (Downtown) : Emphasized beauty and arts value of Telephone Hill; urged sparing the neighborhood.
- Debbie Fisher (Valley) : Thanked Assembly; urged broadening resolution language to include midterm flood solutions (not just long-term lake tap) and better communication with flood-affected residents.
- Dave Ringle (Airport neighborhood) : Reported first decrease in warming shelter attendance in four years; credited affordable housing and social services; urged continued investment.
- John Ingalls (former Telephone Hill resident) : Opposed demolition; cited doubled construction costs and successful historic restoration elsewhere.
- Susan Clark (Flats) : Highlighted $1.4 million already spent on Oregon consultant for Telephone Hill; questioned need to contract out bidding and geotech work.
- Bruce Simonson : Opposed demolition until RFQ responses are reviewed by Assembly.
Discussion Items
- View Drive NRCS Buyout: The manager recommended entering into a formal agreement with NRCS for a buyout program, with up to $558,000 for appraisals and cost estimating. Discussion included cost-sharing (25% local), off-ramps, and need to inform homeowners early about expected costs. Motion passed as amended (7-2) to enter agreement and draft appropriation ordinance with flexible funding source (general fund or emergency reserve).
- Eagle Crest Board Advisory Ordinance: The Mayor proposed postponing discussion on converting the Eagle Crest board from empowered to advisory for six months (to September 28, 2026) to allow ongoing work with Goldbelt and others. Some Assembly members objected, preferring to decide sooner. Motion to postpone passed 7-2.
- Hardship Tax Exemptions: Approved late-filed senior/disabled veteran exemptions for Paula Sumdum and Daniel Roundow (unanimous).
Public Hearing Ordinances
- Ordinance 2025-01BAB: Appropriated $493,000 from school district funds for Dzantik’i Heeni playground improvements. Passed.
- Ordinance 2026-10: Amended title definitions to include online newspaper of general circulation. Passed.
- Ordinance 2026-08: Exempted residential composting from sales tax. Passed 7-2 (Mayor and Deputy Mayor Smith opposed).
- Ordinance 2025-01BU: Appropriated $150,000 grant to St. Vincent de Paul for long-term maintenance. Amended to remove reference to Teal Street. Passed.
- Ordinance 2025-01BZ: Appropriated $2 million from general fund to replenish deferred building maintenance CIP. Passed.
- Ordinance 2026-07: Exempted 2026 fireworks display purchase from procurement code. Passed.
Key Outcomes
- View Drive Buyout: Assembly directed staff to enter into formal NRCS agreement and draft appropriation ordinance for up to $558,000 (funding source to be determined). Multiple off-ramps available before final commitment.
- Eagle Crest Ordinance: Postponed to September 28, 2026 Committee of the Whole.
- Election Overview: Clerk presented 2026 municipal election timeline; no action needed. Discussion on petition signature deadlines – Attorney clarified history of interpretation; Assembly may consider legislation but advised caution near petition season.
- Committee Reports: Various updates on Lands (vertical bridge, land swap, short-term rentals), Public Works (water mains, museum, recycling), Finance (special meeting March 18 with docks/harbors and school board), Human Resources (forwarded resolution on committee engagement, discussed board term limits), etc.
- Executive Session: Assembly entered executive session to discuss collective bargaining negotiations; no return to regular session.
Meeting Transcript
We'll bring the regular assembly meeting to order for March 9th. We have a full crowd, so please keep your conversations outside. Um Mr. Smith, will you lead us in the flag salute, please? Thank you, Mr. Smith. Mr. Kelly, would you do the land acknowledgement, please? Gladly, Madam Mayor. 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 ten thousand 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 place, a part of this community, and to honor the culture, traditions, and resilience of the Clinkett people. Here. And for the record, Ms. Adkinson is absent. You have quorum. All right, thank you. And Miss Agison said she would join us if she could when they get down up on the hill tonight. So with that, we'll go right into special order of business. Born and raised in Geno, Sienna has demonstrated exceptional commitment to civic engagement and environmental advocacy. She has led statewide initiatives and inspired youth participation in public discourse. She has testified before the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Board, contribute to an environmental research efforts, and spearheaded her school's Ocean Guardians Project, securing federal funding to support student-led conservation work. Sienna further demonstrates leadership through her roles as president of our school's National Honor Society chapter, student site council representative and co-chair of her state's model until United Nations Crisis Committee through her dedication to service scholarship and committee community involvement. She exemplifies the best of Genoa's youth leadership. The City and Borough of Juneau's assembly congratulates CNFR on this well-deserved recognition and extends its best wishes for continued success in her academic and professional pursuits. Presented this ninth day of March 2026. I'm very thankful for this opportunity for my community and for my parents for supporting me. And if there's not many, but if there are any youth in the crowd, believe in yourself because you can do anything. So we will now close uh sign-ups for non-part public participation on non-agenda items as we have several folks, but we're not quite there yet. Approval of minutes, Mr. Kelly. I move and ask unanimous consent that the assembly approve the minutes for the February 9th regular assembly meeting. And the February 25th special assembly meeting and ask for unanimous consent. Any objection? Seeing none, they are approved. Madam Manager, you have a couple agenda changes for us. I do, thank you. So there I have three things to mention, so please bear with me. Uh, and they all pertain to new business. First, I just want to highlight for the assembly and the public that new business is coming uh right after approval of the consent agenda and before public hearing. Those are items that that we will um anything in new business, uh, we will be taking public testimony on. The reason for this is the um staff memo on view drive and next steps is under new business, and I want to make sure since we may have members of the public here to testify on that, that we get to that um early in the agenda. Um, so that is the reason for the new business shovel. The other two items I request uh changes on is I'd like to um add an item to new business specifically for the purposes of considering a date change. And that item is the uh ordinance that was discussed at the committee of the whole on January 26th uh regarding establishing the City and Borough Eagle Crest Recreation Area Department and Recreation and Ski Area Advisory Board. That's the official title. But if you recall the topic was uh making the Eagle Crest Empowered Board and Advisory Board. That um item is currently scheduled for your um March uh 16th, Monday committee of the whole. That was the direction that was given in the um in the meeting. And I understand that just given everything going on, there may be a desire to postpone that so that that item and that conversation will happen uh under new business.
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