City and Borough of Juneau

A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

WATCH: Municipal candidate forum

School board, Assembly candidates talk issues ahead of Oct. 5 election.

A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Mayor Beth Weldon

Get to know a candidate: Beth Weldon

She’s running unopposed for a second term as mayor.

Mayor Beth Weldon
Kelly Fishler

Get to know a candiate: Kelly Fishler

She’s running for the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly District 1 seat.

Kelly Fishler
Michelle Bonnet Hale

Get to know a candidate: Michelle Bonnet Hale

She’s seeking reelection to her District 1 seat.

Michelle Bonnet Hale
People grab drinks and sun at the Flight Deck, May 21, 2020. Restaurants are among the businesses subject to a 5% sales tax in the City and Borough of Juneau. In October, voters will be asked to reauthorize the 3% of the tax that is deemed “temporary” and used for street maintenance and general city and borough operations. Voters weigh in on the matter every five years. (Michael S. Lockett /Juneau Empire File)

Temporary portion of sales tax is on the ballot

Voters to decide fate of 3%

People grab drinks and sun at the Flight Deck, May 21, 2020. Restaurants are among the businesses subject to a 5% sales tax in the City and Borough of Juneau. In October, voters will be asked to reauthorize the 3% of the tax that is deemed “temporary” and used for street maintenance and general city and borough operations. Voters weigh in on the matter every five years. (Michael S. Lockett /Juneau Empire File)
Barbara ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak Blake

Get to know a candidate: Barbara Blake

She’s running for the District 1 City and Borough of Juneau Assembly seat.

Barbara ‘Wáahlaal Gíidaak Blake
Troy Wuyts-Smith

Get to know a candidate: Troy Wuyts-Smith

He’s running for the District 1 City and Borough of Juneau Assembly seat.

Troy Wuyts-Smith
People walk past commercial properties in downtown Juneau on June 3. Earlier this year, the city increased the base land value throughout the borough by 50% as part of the annual assessment process — a move that increased the tax bill for commercial property owners and generated more than 200 appeals. Wednesday night, Jeff Rogers, finance director for CBJ, said that despite complaints, the city’s process was sound and the adjustment was needed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Commercial tax assessments under review

City finance director updates committee

People walk past commercial properties in downtown Juneau on June 3. Earlier this year, the city increased the base land value throughout the borough by 50% as part of the annual assessment process — a move that increased the tax bill for commercial property owners and generated more than 200 appeals. Wednesday night, Jeff Rogers, finance director for CBJ, said that despite complaints, the city’s process was sound and the adjustment was needed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo/Elizabeth Siddon)

Siddon sets sights on a second term

Three open seats attract six candidates

Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo/Elizabeth Siddon)
Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire A garbage can sits next to a bin from Juneau Compost on Douglas on August 31. According to company officials, each day Juneau adds about 100 tons of garbage to the Capitol Disposal Landfill near Lemon Creek. At that rate, officials expect the landfill to be full in about 20 years. The city is exploring new ways to deal with Juneau’s waste stream, including composting options.

Juneau’s landfill likely to last 20 more years

City committee talks trash with owners

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire A garbage can sits next to a bin from Juneau Compost on Douglas on August 31. According to company officials, each day Juneau adds about 100 tons of garbage to the Capitol Disposal Landfill near Lemon Creek. At that rate, officials expect the landfill to be full in about 20 years. The city is exploring new ways to deal with Juneau’s waste stream, including composting options.
A voter fills out their ballot in person at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Oct. 6, 2020. The library was the site of one of the voting centers during the City and Borough of Juneau's by-mail municipal election. Soon, city officials will mail ballots for local elections to all registered voters in the City and Borough of Juneau. Residents must act by Sept. 5 to register to vote or update personal information. Residents who prefer to vote in person can do so early or on election day at designated voting centers. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Local election deadlines loom

Register, update information by Sept. 5

A voter fills out their ballot in person at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Oct. 6, 2020. The library was the site of one of the voting centers during the City and Borough of Juneau's by-mail municipal election. Soon, city officials will mail ballots for local elections to all registered voters in the City and Borough of Juneau. Residents must act by Sept. 5 to register to vote or update personal information. Residents who prefer to vote in person can do so early or on election day at designated voting centers. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This August 2 picture shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Frommherz seeks school board seat

Plans to focus on early childhood education

This August 2 picture shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Kelly Fishler, a candidate for the District 2 Mendenhall Valley seat in the City and Borough of Juneau's City Assembly, sat down with the Empire for an interview on August 7. Fishler is challenging incumbent Michelle Bonnet Hale, who is running for a second term on the assembly. The election will take place on October 5 in a largely vote-by-mail affair.(Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Fishler seeks seat on CBJ Assembly

She’s challenging the incumbent

Kelly Fishler, a candidate for the District 2 Mendenhall Valley seat in the City and Borough of Juneau's City Assembly, sat down with the Empire for an interview on August 7. Fishler is challenging incumbent Michelle Bonnet Hale, who is running for a second term on the assembly. The election will take place on October 5 in a largely vote-by-mail affair.(Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A surplus warehouse at 1325 Eastaugh Way, off Thane Road, is being considered by the City and Borough of Juneau as a possible location for a ballot-counting center should the city decide to increase its use of voting by mail in future municipal elections. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members heard public feedback on the proposal. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Public weighs in on local ballot counting center

City leaders consider options for future elections

A surplus warehouse at 1325 Eastaugh Way, off Thane Road, is being considered by the City and Borough of Juneau as a possible location for a ballot-counting center should the city decide to increase its use of voting by mail in future municipal elections. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members heard public feedback on the proposal. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
The windows of the downtown branch of the Juneau Public Library tell passers-by that the city's overall COVID-19 alert level is high on August 20. City officials raised the alert level to curb the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19, which has been spreading rapidly throughout Alaska, including Juneau. All three Juneau Public Libraries will have reduced hours starting Monday, August 23, as staff are reassigned to help with the pandemic response, city officials said in a news release late Friday. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City takes action to slow spread; calls for community support

Renew your commitment, hospital official urges

The windows of the downtown branch of the Juneau Public Library tell passers-by that the city's overall COVID-19 alert level is high on August 20. City officials raised the alert level to curb the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19, which has been spreading rapidly throughout Alaska, including Juneau. All three Juneau Public Libraries will have reduced hours starting Monday, August 23, as staff are reassigned to help with the pandemic response, city officials said in a news release late Friday. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The waiting room at Custom Cuts II in the Jordan Creek Mall sits empty on Aug. 19. Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, new citywide COVID-19 mitigation measures mean that all personal services businesses must operate by appointment only and close all waiting areas. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Local business owners prepare to pivot

City announces increasing risk level and mitigation measures.

The waiting room at Custom Cuts II in the Jordan Creek Mall sits empty on Aug. 19. Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, new citywide COVID-19 mitigation measures mean that all personal services businesses must operate by appointment only and close all waiting areas. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
A sign seen near Twin Lakes on Sept. 17, 2020 encourages residents to wear masks in public settings. With cases surging locally, statewide and nationally, City and Borough of Juneau announced it would be fully implementing mitigation measures. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

City announces increasing risk level, mitigation measures

More stringent measures go into effect on Friday.

A sign seen near Twin Lakes on Sept. 17, 2020 encourages residents to wear masks in public settings. With cases surging locally, statewide and nationally, City and Borough of Juneau announced it would be fully implementing mitigation measures. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
The City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors department has issued a public survey as they consider improvements to the North Douglas Boat Launch Ramp, seen here on Aug. 18, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Docks and Harbors considering North Douglas launch ramp improvements

The department has issued a survey to see what the public wants.

The City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors department has issued a public survey as they consider improvements to the North Douglas Boat Launch Ramp, seen here on Aug. 18, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. nbsp; (NIAID-RML via AP)

New cases continue to surge in city, state

Nearly 800% increase in 7-day average for new case rate since July.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. nbsp; (NIAID-RML via AP)
Juneau’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in June 2013. Members of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Public Works and Facilities Committee have a plan to address concerns about the long-term viability of Juneau’s landfill and of complaints about odors in the Lemon Creek area. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Tackling the trash

City eyes zero waste plan

Juneau’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in June 2013. Members of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Public Works and Facilities Committee have a plan to address concerns about the long-term viability of Juneau’s landfill and of complaints about odors in the Lemon Creek area. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)