City and Borough of Juneau

Soon-departing Assembly member and Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski smiles for a photo at her seat in the Assembly chambers Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Q&A: Deputy Mayor Gladziszewski prepares for departure, shares advice to candidates

The long-serving Juneau Assembly member nears the end of her final term.

 

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly was in full attendance sporting the color pink while conducting a meeting in early July in honor of departing member Carole Triem. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau Assembly attendance report card: Bryson, Hale and Smith get perfect scores

Members talk importance of getting involved during meetings, commitment to long hours.

 

Rows of houses line Douglas Highway in late May. Short-term rental operators in Juneau have until Oct. 8 to register their units with the City and Borough of Juneau before they face a $25 daily fine. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Registration deadline approaching for short-term rental operators in Juneau

As of Monday, 117 units have been registered out of the nearly 600 estimated in the capital city.

 

Cruise ship passengers walk around in downtown Juneau in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Saturday will mark first day without cruise ships since early May

Nearly 1.5 million cruise ship passengers have arrived in Juneau so far this season.

Cruise ship passengers walk around in downtown Juneau in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A sign paid for by Save Juneau sits in a yard on South Douglas. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Campaign group opposing new City Hall backs four candidates

Save Juneau supports Assembly candidates “who are most likely to give taxpayers relief,” chair says.

A sign paid for by Save Juneau sits in a yard on South Douglas. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A police officer stands on duty in early March. On Friday the City and Borough of Juneau announced three police chief finalists. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

City announces finalists for new police chief

Selection includes two out-of-state candidates, one from within the department.

A police officer stands on duty in early March. On Friday the City and Borough of Juneau announced three police chief finalists. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo collage of the candidates running for local office in the 2023 City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

2023 Juneau Election Guide

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Oct. 3 local election.

This is a photo collage of the candidates running for local office in the 2023 City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly, Laura Martinson McDonnell and Ella Adkison are the top three candidates so far this municipal election to raise the most funds, according to their campaign finance records with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Campaign cash: Assembly candidates Martinson McDonnell, Kelly and Adkison dominate municipal election fundraising

Donors include current and past mayors, Assembly members and legislators.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly, Laura Martinson McDonnell and Ella Adkison are the top three candidates so far this municipal election to raise the most funds, according to their campaign finance records with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Retiring City and Borough of Juneau Manager Rorie Watt smiles as he is honored during an Assembly meeting Monday night. Watt will be officially departing at the end of September after announcing his plan to retire in April. Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester was selected to take over the role. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly bids farewell to retiring City Manager Rorie Watt

He was honored Monday during an Assembly meeting ahead of his departure at the end of September.

Retiring City and Borough of Juneau Manager Rorie Watt smiles as he is honored during an Assembly meeting Monday night. Watt will be officially departing at the end of September after announcing his plan to retire in April. Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester was selected to take over the role. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Wade Bryson listen to public testimony Monday night about whether the city should adopt new maps that show updated landslide and avalanche risk downtown. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly sends hazard maps back to committee following public opposition

The move follows multiple rounds of public testimony advocating against the maps’ adoption.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Wade Bryson listen to public testimony Monday night about whether the city should adopt new maps that show updated landslide and avalanche risk downtown. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Deputy City Manager Robert Barr shares an update with the Assembly Monday evening following Resurrection Lutheran Church’s decision to not host the city’s cold weather emergency shelter this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City’s struggle to provide a winter homeless shelter continues

Combination of downtown transit center and bus considered as church again rejects hosting shelter.

Deputy City Manager Robert Barr shares an update with the Assembly Monday evening following Resurrection Lutheran Church’s decision to not host the city’s cold weather emergency shelter this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Cars pass down Egan Drive near the Fred Meyer intersection Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly passes resolution urging Fred Meyer intersection safety improvements

Members unanimously vote to ask state to provide funding for traffic light, other upgrades.

Cars pass down Egan Drive near the Fred Meyer intersection Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Traffic at the Fred Meyer intersection, formally known as Egan and Yandukin drives, in November 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly to formally urge state to improve safety at Fred Meyer intersection

A special meeting with a resolution seeking action planned Wednesday.

Traffic at the Fred Meyer intersection, formally known as Egan and Yandukin drives, in November 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Mountains tower over downtown Juneau in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly in committee votes against new hazard maps adoption

“Downtown is not the only place we have problems.”

Mountains tower over downtown Juneau in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The project manager for the Centennial Hall ballroom renovation, Lisa Eagan-Lagerquist, points out new features of the ballroom set to open its doors again for the first time on Saturday after nearly nine months under construction. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Centennial Hall ballroom opening back up with a new look

Saturday marks the first event since its closure in December for renovations.

The project manager for the Centennial Hall ballroom renovation, Lisa Eagan-Lagerquist, points out new features of the ballroom set to open its doors again for the first time on Saturday after nearly nine months under construction. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a picture of a half-pipe at the Pipeline Skate Park in the Mendenhall Valley. The City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation Department is looking for residents to drop in some ideas about what they’d like to see that would improve or enhance Jackie Renninger Park in a survey. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Big changes could be on deck for Pipeline Skate Park and surrounding land

City opens survey seeking input about possible improvements to Jackie Renninger Park.

This is a picture of a half-pipe at the Pipeline Skate Park in the Mendenhall Valley. The City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation Department is looking for residents to drop in some ideas about what they’d like to see that would improve or enhance Jackie Renninger Park in a survey. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Rorie Watt, manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the new City Hall project on Thursday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City manager: A new City Hall ‘just makes financial sense’

Rorie Watt advocates for the project set to be proposed to voters on the ballot this fall

Rorie Watt, manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the new City Hall project on Thursday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A “vote here” sign hangs duct taped outside of City Hall in October 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Final day to register to vote in upcoming city election is fast approaching

City officials share info and tips for this coming Oct. 3 municipal election.

A “vote here” sign hangs duct taped outside of City Hall in October 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new cruise ship dock downtown that was approved for a conditional-use permit by the City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission in early July. The project has since been appealed and following Assembly action Monday night will now be assigned to a hearing officer. (City and Borough of Juneau)

Assembly accepts appeal of new cruise ship dock permit, assigns hearing officer

Appeal process can take anywhere from six to nine months before a decision is made, attorney says.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new cruise ship dock downtown that was approved for a conditional-use permit by the City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission in early July. The project has since been appealed and following Assembly action Monday night will now be assigned to a hearing officer. (City and Borough of Juneau)
A Capital Transit bus makes its way downtown in August. The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a public transit bus to use as a winter warming shelter as it has received no bids to host a shelter. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City considers overnight warming bus for homeless during winter

Temporary option in discussion as city faces no prospects to host winter warming shelter.

A Capital Transit bus makes its way downtown in August. The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a public transit bus to use as a winter warming shelter as it has received no bids to host a shelter. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)