One new and two returning Assembly members were sworn in at the Assembly’s reorganizational meeting Monday, marked by attendee objections and a tighter budget.
The meeting was delayed by an hour after an attendee allegedly behaved threateningly toward city staff and was escorted out by police. Some attendees left after waiting 45 minutes. Others remained, rehearsing their speeches to oppose the city’s plan to raze the houses on Telephone Hill.
Assembly members take their oaths
Municipal Attorney Emily Wright swore in first-time Assembly member Nano Brooks, alongside returning members Ella Adkison and Greg Smith. Each will serve a three-year term.
Adkison begins her first full term. Smith, who was appointed deputy mayor at the meeting, enters his third and final term.
After two previous unsuccessful campaigns, Brooks defeated two-term incumbent Wade Bryson for his seat. Adkison and Smith ran unopposed.
Residents object to Telephone Hill demolition
Sixteen people spoke in objection to CBJ’s plan to demolish the houses Telephone Hill, in a continued effort to reverse the decision.
The City and Borough of Juneau owns the houses on the hill. The city plans to clear the site to make way for higher-density housing as part of the their effort to address the lack of affordable housing in Juneau.
Telephone Hill resident Joe Carson read from a petition titled, “Stop the Bulldozers on Telephone Hill,” which amassed 847 signatures, he said. Two people unrolled a ten-foot scroll with names of signees. The petitions urges CBJ to pause the eviction and demolition until the Assembly has a credible plan for the hill’s future.
Downtown resident Bruce Simonson said that Telephone Hill has more value intact — developed as a historical district and tourist spot — than demolished and rebuilt.
“What I want you to do is realize that 847 people said, ‘Don’t do this.’ I found only nine who say, ‘Do do it.’ That’s you,” Simonson said.
Mayor Beth Waldon said that the Assembly would be discussing Telephone Hill as an agenda item at the Assembly meeting on Nov. 3. Eviction notices remain in effect, and residents must vacate by Nov. 1.
Assembly makes spending decisions amid a tighter budget
Monday’s meeting was the first since the results of the municipal elections were released last Tuesday.
Voters approved two ballot propositions to lower the property tax cap and reduce sales and utility taxes. CBJ estimates that the two measures will cost approximately $12 million in tax revenue, out of the $143 million in local taxes the city projected for fiscal year 2026.
Most ordinances on the agenda passed unanimously, with one drawing more debate. The ordinance transferred $3 million from the Waterfront Seawalk project to fund the Marine Park Rebuild. The budget for the rebuild has risen since it was first introduced in 2023, and is now estimated at $10 million.
The motion passed by a vote of 5-4, with Assembly members Christine Woll, Maureen Hall, Brooks and Mayor Beth Weldon dissenting. Weldon said it was “just too big a price tag right now.”
Last on the agenda, the board voted on motions to increase the salaries of City Manager Katie Koester and Municipal Attorney Emily Wright, following a 25-minute executive session to discuss.
Koester received a 3% cost-of-living wage increase, and 3.5% merit increase. Her salary is now $236,371. According to Adkinson, the wage increase mirrored that of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, which represents city workers in across departments.
Municipal Attorney Wright received a 3% cost-of-living wage increase and a 7.75% merit increase, making her salary $208,666. Adkinson said that the merit increase puts Wright’s salary at the same as her predecessor when he left CBJ last year.
Both motions passed unanimously.
