Want to have a seat of power when it comes to deciding what becomes of the downtown space where the remnants of the demolished Elks Lodge lay, who is the new permanent CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, or if appeals of property assessments have merit? Here’s your chance to apply for those and other municipal boards during the next couple of weeks.
The City and Borough of Juneau’s Planning Commission, Board of Equalization, Systemic Racism Review Committee and Bartlett’s board of directors are among the local governing bodies with open seats residents can apply for until the first week in December, according to City Clerk Beth McEwen.
Also open are three seats on the Juneau Economic Development Council, which has an application deadline of Nov. 27.
The openings are part of a regular ongoing process where vacancies need to be filled at certain times of the year, McEwen said in an interview Friday.
“Every year at this time you would be seeing notices coming out from us saying we’re taking applications for the planning commission and the hospital board,” she said. “During a June-July time frame we do the airport board, the docks and harbors, and the Eaglecrest boards. And then every now and again somebody on one of those empowered boards or the planning commission submits their resignation, so you may see these periodically throughout the rest of the year come up every now and again.”
McEwen also noted that Juneau has “the largest number of boards and commissions” per capita in Alaska.” According to the city’s website, there are currently more than 30 CBJ boards and committees.
“We do have a lot of vacant seats that have been vacant for a while on some of our boards, mostly since the pandemic that haven’t been filled, because the boards have not been meeting much,” she said.
The five boards meeting regularly that are seeking members now are:
• Juneau Economic Development Council: The 11-member board has one opening for an environmental seat specifically representing a nonprofit environmental organization and two at-large seats. All are for three-year terms. Candidates are recommended to the Juneau Assembly by current board members based on “experience and expertise in fields relating to economic development, including but not limited to large and small business, entrepreneurship, mining, oceans products, tourism, research, banking and finance, engineering and construction, and government,” according to JEDC’s website. Full application information and an online form are available at www.jedc.org/board.
• Juneau Planning Commission: Three open seats for three-year terms starting Jan. 1. McEwen said one incumbent whose term is expiring is eligible to seek reappointment, while the other two members have served the maximum terms allowed.
• Bartlett Regional Hospital Board: Three open seats with for three-year terms starting Jan. 1. McEwen said two incumbents are eligible to seek reappointment, while one is termed out.
• Systemic Racism Review Committee: One seat for a term starting immediately through June 30, 2025.
• Board of Equalization: Four open seats for various unexpired terms on the quasi-judicial board that meets between May and August to review appeals brought to the assessor’s office by property owners.
The deadline to apply for the planning commission, hospital board and Systemic Racism Review Committee is 11:59 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. Interested persons can apply using an online form at juneau.org/clerk/boards-committees.
“Upon receipt of an application the Clerk’s Office will email applicants advanced interview questions specific to each board,” a notice published by the city clerk’s office states. “The Clerk’s Office will schedule applicants who return the advanced interview questions (within the time allotted) for a 10-minute interview with the full Assembly sitting as the Assembly Human Resources Committee. Interview dates/times are tentatively scheduled for December 13 and/or 14 depending on the number of applications received.”
The Board of Equalization is made up of six to nine members who sit in panels of three members to consider appeals. Applications are due by Wednesday, Dec. 6, which the Assembly Human Resources Committee will review and make recommendations to the Assembly regarding appointments at its regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 11.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
