Juneau Arts & Humanities Council Executive Director Nancy DeCherney, right, Katherine Heumann, Executive Director for the New JACC, New JACC staff members Bob Banghart and Ben Brown, left, listen to the Assembly’s Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. The Assembly voted to explore new JACC funding in the Public Works & Facilities Committee. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau Arts & Humanities Council Executive Director Nancy DeCherney, right, Katherine Heumann, Executive Director for the New JACC, New JACC staff members Bob Banghart and Ben Brown, left, listen to the Assembly’s Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. The Assembly voted to explore new JACC funding in the Public Works & Facilities Committee. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

What’s the future for New JACC funding?

• Assembly committee tasked with considering funding options • Ideas for project have spring deadline

Public funding for a new Juneau Arts & Culture Center is coming back into focus.

Mayor Beth Weldon referred exploring New JACC funding to the Public Works & Facilities Committee during Wednesday evening’s Finance Committee meeting. The public works committee is tasked with determining possible options for the city partially funding construction of a New JACC and has a May 1 deadline.

“We’re pleased the Finance Committee has taken a look at this, and we look forward to working with the public works committee and moving this forward for the best result for all of us in Juneau and for the new arts and culture center,” said New JACC Executive Director Katharine Heumann.

[New JACC project receives Alaska Airlines support]

However, Heumann said it would be ideal to begin the project as soon as possible because the longer it takes to break ground, the more expensive the project could become.

There have already been some delays.

Initially, demolition of the old JACC was hoped to start in spring. However, in August a possible initiative that would have put the matter of issuing up to $12 million in general obligation bonds on ballots was favored by a 4-3 vote but failed to earn the five votes it needed to appear on ballots.

The package that failed to pass was included in the Finance Committee members’ meeting packets.

“This package that we’re looking at right now suffered an anomalous end,” Assembly member Rob Edwardson said.

Whatever shape a new option takes has yet to be decided.

“I think we’re not ready to talk about a financial package yet,” Weldon said before referring the matter to the public works committee. “We’re still trying to come up with a concept that people can get behind.”

Assembly members Michelle Bonnet Hale, Wade Bryson, Maria Gladziszewski, Loren Jones and Edwardson said they welcomed the referral to the public works committee. No Assembly members voiced opposition to the idea.

“I appreciate that once this goes to public works, it will bring a lot more visibility to the issue and a lot more transparency within the community, so people know that it’s being worked on early on, before we hit the budget cycle early on,” Hale said.

New JACC funding was placed on the committee’s agenda at Jones’ request.

“We as the Assembly need to re-assume some leadership in terms of being in the know, understanding what’s being proposed, understanding what the issues are among the various groups that are interested, supporting the JACC or not supporting the JACC or changing the JACC or whatever it is,” Jones said.

He said it was important to start the discussion before budget talks and to assert the Assembly’s place at the forefront of New JACC funding discussions.

“My request is we ask the mayor to assign this to a committee, to put a soft or hard deadline on it and then that committee chairman talk to the mayor about the other groups to talk about the best way to get the leadership from the Assembly on solving the problem and coming back with what we ought to do,” Jones said. “Whether it’s zero, or $7 million, $12 million or $20 million, hopefully not $30 million. I just think we as an Assembly need to re-establish ourselves in the leadership of having this discussion because it’s going to affect our finances in one way or another.”

Oblique references were made by Assembly members to meetings involving “other groups” focused on forming a funding plan for the New JACC.

Weldon and representatives from the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, Travel Juneau and the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce had previously met.

“We were trying to see if we could get to some kind of consensus,” Weldon said. “I was trying to see if we could all get in the same room and get along together first to start off with.”

Weldon said after the meeting that her role is trying to find more support for the project.

“There was no talk of numbers,” Weldon said.

Kiehl over

The Finance Committee was the last one that will be chaired by Assembly member Jesse Kiehl, who will resign soon after being elected to the Alaska Senate.

[Seven apply to fill Kiehl’s old seat]

Kiehl, who wore a tie emblazoned with an Alliance Starbird logo popularized by Star Wars during Wednesday’s meeting, said he had filled that role for the past 2 1/2 years.

Gladziszewski thanked Kiehl for serving as chairman for the committee.

“You’re making me blush,” Kiehl said. “It has been very rewarding, and I’m sorry to give it up, but I know somebody more capable will take it over, and that described each one of you. We’re adjourned.”


• Contact arts and culture reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com.


Assembly member Loren Jones, second from left, makes a recommendation that exploring new JACC funding should be taken up by the Public Works & Facilities Committee during a Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Assembly member Loren Jones, second from left, makes a recommendation that exploring new JACC funding should be taken up by the Public Works & Facilities Committee during a Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A rendering of what the New JACC could look like. (Courtesy photo | For the JAHC)

A rendering of what the New JACC could look like. (Courtesy photo | For the JAHC)

More in News

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of May 18

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2024 schedule.… Continue reading

Legislators and staff huddle to discuss adjustments to a final compromise spending plan during a budget conference committee meeting on Sunday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
$1,000 PFD approved by legislative conference committee as part of final compromise state budget

Lower-than-expected oil prices results in lowest inflation-adjusted dividend since payouts began in 1982.

Juneau Assembly members hear a report from Eaglecrest Ski Area leaders during a Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau Assembly taking on pretty much the entire town with 59-item agenda Monday night

Items include mutitude of projects, faster release of police bodycams, stopping Mendenhall Glacier from being sold.

The Alaska House of Representatives is seen in action on Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Republican opposition kills bill intended to fix Alaska’s absentee voting problems

Senate Bill 64 passed the Senate this week, but the House doesn’t have enough time to address it, legislators said.

Fu Bao Hartle (center), a Juneau Special Olympics athlete, crosses a bridge with family and supporters during the annual Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
Community spirit shines at Juneau’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics

Energy was high at race to fundraise to send Juneau’s athletes to Anchorage Summer Games.

The Alaska State Capitol is seen behind a curtain of blooming branches on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Most state services will see no new funding in final Alaska state budget draft

Flat funding, combined with inflation, will mean service cuts in many places across the state.

Steve Whitney (left) is sworn in as a Juneau Board of Education member by Superior Court Judge Amy Mead in the library at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday, May 17, 2025, after five candidates were interviewed by the other board members to fill the seat vacated when Will Muldoon resigned last month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Steve Whitney returns to Juneau school board six years after departure to temporarily fill vacant seat

Fisheries manager and parent selected from among five candidates to serve until October’s election.

A used gondola purchased from an Austrian ski resort is seen as the key to Eaglecrest Ski Area’s year-round operations and a secure financial future. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Board chair: Eaglecrest’s gondola pushing limits of 2028 completion deadline under Goldbelt agreement

Company can nix $10M deal if work not finished on project ski area calls vital to its financial future.

Two spawning pink salmon head upstream in shallow water in Cove Creek in Whittier on Aug. 5, 2024. While last year’s pink salmon runs and harvests were weak, big increases are expected this year. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska officials forecast improvements for the state’s commercial salmon harvest

Total catch is projected to be twice the size of last year’s weak harvest.

Most Read