City and Borough of Juneau

Troy Wuyts-Smith on July 12. Wuyts-Smith recently entered the race to replace long-serving City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Member Loren Jones, who is barred from seeking an additional term due to term limits. His entry means there are now three candidates for the seat. Paul Kelly and Barbara Blake have also announced bids to run. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

CBJ Assembly race heats up

A third candidate files to run for District 1 position

Troy Wuyts-Smith on July 12. Wuyts-Smith recently entered the race to replace long-serving City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Member Loren Jones, who is barred from seeking an additional term due to term limits. His entry means there are now three candidates for the seat. Paul Kelly and Barbara Blake have also announced bids to run. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The Holland America Line Eurodam pulls into Juneau’s downtown harbor heading for the city-owned dock on Monday, May 6, 2019. The privately-owned South Franklin Dock, foreground, is currently the only dock set up to provide electric power to a ship while at berth in Juneau. However, city officials are hoping to get a federal grant to add electrified docks. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Plugging into federal money

City OKs match for potential electric docks grant

The Holland America Line Eurodam pulls into Juneau’s downtown harbor heading for the city-owned dock on Monday, May 6, 2019. The privately-owned South Franklin Dock, foreground, is currently the only dock set up to provide electric power to a ship while at berth in Juneau. However, city officials are hoping to get a federal grant to add electrified docks. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Walter Alexander Soboleff Jr., listens to the story he shared and narrated for the Juneau Voices audio walk on June 24, 2021. His story recounts the struggles he had growing up as the child of prominent Alaskan Native leader and minister Walter Soboleff, namesake of building listeners look out on while hearing the installation. He wore his late father’s hat to a recent celebration of the project. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s less-heard history comes to life in new downtown audio walk

Audio installations share heritage through personal stories

Walter Alexander Soboleff Jr., listens to the story he shared and narrated for the Juneau Voices audio walk on June 24, 2021. His story recounts the struggles he had growing up as the child of prominent Alaskan Native leader and minister Walter Soboleff, namesake of building listeners look out on while hearing the installation. He wore his late father’s hat to a recent celebration of the project. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Barbara Blake recently entered the race for the City and Borough of Juneau City Assembly, setting up a head-to-head contest with school board member Paul Kelly, who declared his candidacy in May. Both Blake and Kelly aim to replace long-serving assembly member Loren Jones, who is prevented from running again due to term limits. (Courtesy photo/Barbara Blake)

Race is on for opening CBJ Assembly seat

A second candidate files to run for District 1 position.

Barbara Blake recently entered the race for the City and Borough of Juneau City Assembly, setting up a head-to-head contest with school board member Paul Kelly, who declared his candidacy in May. Both Blake and Kelly aim to replace long-serving assembly member Loren Jones, who is prevented from running again due to term limits. (Courtesy photo/Barbara Blake)
The Norwegian Bliss pulls out of Juneau’s downtown harbor on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Norwegian Cruise Lines recently offered to donate $2 million to the City and Borough of Juneau to help alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic-related pause on cruises. On Monday evening, city officials declined the donation and asked the company to redirect the money to the Juneau Community Foundation, a local charitable organization. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)

CBJ redirects cruise line’s donation offer

City asks NCL to give proposed $2M donation to Juneau Community Foundation.

The Norwegian Bliss pulls out of Juneau’s downtown harbor on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Norwegian Cruise Lines recently offered to donate $2 million to the City and Borough of Juneau to help alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic-related pause on cruises. On Monday evening, city officials declined the donation and asked the company to redirect the money to the Juneau Community Foundation, a local charitable organization. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)
Juneau City Hall on Monday, March 30, 2020. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire file)

Assembly members vote to increase pay for elected officials

Soon service to the City and Borough of Juneau will offer better pay.

Juneau City Hall on Monday, March 30, 2020. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire file)
On Monday evening, assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale introduced an amendment to reduce the mill rate for the 2021 property tax levy to 10.56. The measure passed and the .10 reduction will reduce 2021 property taxes by about $10 on every $100,000 of valuation. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

CBJ Assembly changes course, lowers property tax rate

Lower rates mean savings for homeowners

On Monday evening, assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale introduced an amendment to reduce the mill rate for the 2021 property tax levy to 10.56. The measure passed and the .10 reduction will reduce 2021 property taxes by about $10 on every $100,000 of valuation. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Bretwood “Hig” Higman, executive director of Ground Truth Trekking, talks Thursday at a news conference outside Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School about the risk of an eventual landslide in the Lemon Creek area. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Group investigates possibility of landslides in Lemon Creek area

There’s not cause for immediate concern, just watchfulness and evaluation, officials say.

Bretwood “Hig” Higman, executive director of Ground Truth Trekking, talks Thursday at a news conference outside Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School about the risk of an eventual landslide in the Lemon Creek area. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members agreed to take a closer look at the city’s arrangement with Travel Juneau, the private marketing organization for the Juneau area. This photo shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City to consider relationship with Travel Juneau

Committee to explore a competitive bid process

At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members agreed to take a closer look at the city’s arrangement with Travel Juneau, the private marketing organization for the Juneau area. This photo shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Karla Hart, who led the efforts to add a trio of initiatives to limit cruise ships in Juneau, talks about the failed effort at a press conference on June 2, shortly after announcing that the group did not collect enough signatures to move the questions to the October ballot. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Cruise-curbing initiatives won’t be on the ballot

Supporters failed to reach the signature threshold but vow to fight on

Karla Hart, who led the efforts to add a trio of initiatives to limit cruise ships in Juneau, talks about the failed effort at a press conference on June 2, shortly after announcing that the group did not collect enough signatures to move the questions to the October ballot. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Pat White (left) and Sue Schrader (right), collect signatures to move a trio of initiatives aimed at curbing cruise ship visits to Juneau onto October's municipal ballot. The pair are members of a group called Juneau Cruise Control. With less than a week until the June 4 deadline to submit signatures for each question, organizers are not releasing the number of signatories to date. (Courtesy photo/Sue Schrader)

Cruising to the finish line: Initiative proponents, opponents continue work

Juneau Cruise Control holds numbers of signatures close to the vest ahead of next Friday’s deadline.

Pat White (left) and Sue Schrader (right), collect signatures to move a trio of initiatives aimed at curbing cruise ship visits to Juneau onto October's municipal ballot. The pair are members of a group called Juneau Cruise Control. With less than a week until the June 4 deadline to submit signatures for each question, organizers are not releasing the number of signatories to date. (Courtesy photo/Sue Schrader)
Third-generation Alaskan and Juneau-transplant Paul Kelly hopes to join the Juneau City Assembly and has recently kicked off his campaign for the seat. He currently serves on the board for Juneau Public Schools. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Kelly launches campaign for CBJ Assembly

He’s a candidate for the October municipal election

Third-generation Alaskan and Juneau-transplant Paul Kelly hopes to join the Juneau City Assembly and has recently kicked off his campaign for the seat. He currently serves on the board for Juneau Public Schools. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Juneauites walking the Airport Dike Trail, seen here on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, probably won’t see the monitoring wells being installed in the area around the Juneau International Airport to test for contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS chemicals. Ground water testing is set to take place over the next few years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City testing for PFAS in soil, groundwater around airport

Multi-year process.

Juneauites walking the Airport Dike Trail, seen here on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, probably won’t see the monitoring wells being installed in the area around the Juneau International Airport to test for contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS chemicals. Ground water testing is set to take place over the next few years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Starting next month, new rules will govern the use of fireworks in the City and Borough of Juneau. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)

CBJ adopts new fireworks rules

New rules ban mortar-style fireworks in neighborhoods

Starting next month, new rules will govern the use of fireworks in the City and Borough of Juneau. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)
On Wednesday night, the City and Borough of Juneau’s finance committee voted to keep the city’s property tax mill rate steady amid news of increasing commercial valuations and the associated increased tax revenue as well as an influx of federal money that has buoyed the city’s overall financial situation heading into the new fiscal year. (File Photo)

Committee votes to keep property tax rate the same

Finance Committee stands pat on mill rate

On Wednesday night, the City and Borough of Juneau’s finance committee voted to keep the city’s property tax mill rate steady amid news of increasing commercial valuations and the associated increased tax revenue as well as an influx of federal money that has buoyed the city’s overall financial situation heading into the new fiscal year. (File Photo)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire A sign reading “Masks Required” lies on the ground near a softball field at Melvin Park on Tuesday morning. In a community briefing, city officials clarified why the mask mandate changed last week and what to expect going forward.

Frequently masked questions: City shares information about when and where to wear one

Keep a mask in tow.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire A sign reading “Masks Required” lies on the ground near a softball field at Melvin Park on Tuesday morning. In a community briefing, city officials clarified why the mask mandate changed last week and what to expect going forward.
Patrick is one of the good boys and girls at Juneau Animal Rescue that need a home. The shelter is dealing with a spike in returns and worries what the return to office work may do. (Courtesy P_hoto / JAR)

Animal shelters concerned about returns as workers return to offices

Juneau Animal Rescue has seen a spike in surrenders to the shelter.

Patrick is one of the good boys and girls at Juneau Animal Rescue that need a home. The shelter is dealing with a spike in returns and worries what the return to office work may do. (Courtesy P_hoto / JAR)
A sign like this one, seen on a downtown Juneau business may soon come down as the city announced an end to the mask mandate for people who are fully vaccinated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

A breath of fresh air

City updates its mask mandate following CDC guidelines

A sign like this one, seen on a downtown Juneau business may soon come down as the city announced an end to the mask mandate for people who are fully vaccinated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
As COVID restrictions ease, assembly members are making plans to move municipal meetings back to the Assembly Chambers in city hall while maintaining the broad public access that Zoom meetings provide. During Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, pictured here, assembly members discussed the transition in advance of the May 24 regular assembly meeting, which will be the first meeting to take place in person in more than a year. (Screenshot)

Lights, camera, government: Assembly prepares for hybrid meetings

In-person meetings poised to resume later this month.

As COVID restrictions ease, assembly members are making plans to move municipal meetings back to the Assembly Chambers in city hall while maintaining the broad public access that Zoom meetings provide. During Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, pictured here, assembly members discussed the transition in advance of the May 24 regular assembly meeting, which will be the first meeting to take place in person in more than a year. (Screenshot)
Workers with City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation clear the basin at Cope Park of excess sediment and other material washed down the waterway on Sept. 16, 2020. This work is an example of one of the many varied jobs done by public servants and recognized during Public Service Recognition Week, which ends May 8. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

CBJ employees grow, pivot during an unprecedented year

City manager looks back during Public Service Recognition Week

Workers with City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation clear the basin at Cope Park of excess sediment and other material washed down the waterway on Sept. 16, 2020. This work is an example of one of the many varied jobs done by public servants and recognized during Public Service Recognition Week, which ends May 8. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)