A new day has dawned for Juneau’s Tourism Best Management Practices program as its previous administrator, Kirby Day, hands off the baton of leadership role with the tourism program to a new head. Day was the recipient of one of the two special recognition awarded by Mayor Beth Weldon and issued at the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly’s Monday night meeting.
Day, the director of shore operations for Princess Cruises, was recognized in honor of his 25 years of administrating Juneau’s Tourism Best Management Practices program and his positive impact on the Juneau tourism industry and relations.
Day has been involved in the Juneau tourism industry since 1991 and has helped lead the TBMP since its establishment in 1996, which serves to minimize the impacts of tourism while addressing both residents’ and industry concerns, funded by cruise ship passenger fees. Elizabeth Arnett with Travel Juneau will take over Day coordinating role for the TBMP.
“It really is an honor,” Day said. “We don’t solve 100% of the problems for 100% or the people 100% of the time, but I think we made an impact.”
Day, who was also honored in 2018 as the Citizen of the Year by the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce, thanked the city and the Assembly, along with the previous iterations of the two entities and other people and businesses that have contributed to the program throughout the past 25 years.
“The work is not done and it will continue to be done,” he said.
Weldon also presented a certificate of appreciation to Mitchell McDonald and Mort Larsen for their efforts and assistance during the Gastineau Avenue landslide in late September.
“Your knowledge and professional expertise were instrumental to the success of the city’s response,” Weldon said. Larsen works as a geologist for the state’s Department of Natural Resources Geological and Geophysical Surveys and McDonald works as the south coast regional engineering geologist with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
Larsen accepted the award on behalf of the pair and thanked the city along with Capital City Fire/Rescue for their efforts and collaboration, and said he hopes to continue to provide his knowledge and experience as a geologist to assist the city and residents in the future.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807. Follow her on Twitter at @clariselarson.
Mort Larsen shakes hands with City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr at the Monday night Assembly meeting. Larsen, along with Mitchell McDonald were awarded a certificate of appreciation for their efforts and assistance during the Gastineau Avenue landslide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
