City and Borough of Juneau

A ballot is placed in a drop box during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Vote-by-mail elections now permanent in Juneau

Assembly voted for the change despite some public pushback.

A ballot is placed in a drop box during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith and Christine Woll discuss the mill rate during Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting. Member voted to decrease the mill rate to 10.16. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly votes to lower property tax rate

The approved 10.16 mill rate means that for every $1,000 in property value there is a tax of $10.16.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith and Christine Woll discuss the mill rate during Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting. Member voted to decrease the mill rate to 10.16. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A wire cable stretches high above the forest ground and connects two platforms for zip lining at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Zip line tours are set to be offered again this summer at the ski area starting in late June after three years of halted operations due to COVID-19 and staffing issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Zip line tours to restart at Eaglecrest in late June

It remained out of commission for the past three years.

A wire cable stretches high above the forest ground and connects two platforms for zip lining at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Zip line tours are set to be offered again this summer at the ski area starting in late June after three years of halted operations due to COVID-19 and staffing issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
People walk along the Basin Road Trestle Tuesday evening as concrete barricades block off its entrance. The trestle is set to close to pedestrian traffic spanning from May 26 to June 11 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. while a contracted construction company repairs damages the trestle suffered in January from a rockslide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Basin Road Trestle to close to pedestrian traffic in the daytime for repairs

The closure will last from May 26 to June 11.

People walk along the Basin Road Trestle Tuesday evening as concrete barricades block off its entrance. The trestle is set to close to pedestrian traffic spanning from May 26 to June 11 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. while a contracted construction company repairs damages the trestle suffered in January from a rockslide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Board Vice Chairman Jim Becker cuts a ribbon Monday afternoon stretched across the Seawalk downtown in celebration of the city’s completion of the Docks and Harbors Marine Deckover Project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Docks and Harbors celebrates completion of Marine Park deckover project

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday afternoon.

City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Board Vice Chairman Jim Becker cuts a ribbon Monday afternoon stretched across the Seawalk downtown in celebration of the city’s completion of the Docks and Harbors Marine Deckover Project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A sign hangs outside of outgoing City Manager Rorie Watt’s office located in the City Hall downtown. On Monday the Assembly City Manager Recruitment Committee met for the first time to discuss the recruitment process to hire Watt’s replacement by the end of September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City begins search for new manager

Outgoing Rorie Watt is expected to leave his post this fall.

A sign hangs outside of outgoing City Manager Rorie Watt’s office located in the City Hall downtown. On Monday the Assembly City Manager Recruitment Committee met for the first time to discuss the recruitment process to hire Watt’s replacement by the end of September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Residents and community leaders fill the Assembly chambers during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. The Assembly made decisions on what community funding requests would receive funding and what would not. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Asked and answered: Assembly decides on community funding requests

Millions OK’d in the process.

Residents and community leaders fill the Assembly chambers during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. The Assembly made decisions on what community funding requests would receive funding and what would not. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Waahlaal Giidaak Barbara Blake (left) fans herself while sitting next to Carole Triem (right) during a warm Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday evening. The City and Borough of Juneau narrowly approved funding for a plan that could offer up to six weeks of paid-parental leave to city employees. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City funds parental leave incentive for employees

A current proposal suggests six weeks of leaves for municipal parents.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Waahlaal Giidaak Barbara Blake (left) fans herself while sitting next to Carole Triem (right) during a warm Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday evening. The City and Borough of Juneau narrowly approved funding for a plan that could offer up to six weeks of paid-parental leave to city employees. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Virginia Behrends, a parent of four student in the Juneau School District, sits next to Ted Wilson, district director of Teaching and Learning Support, as she share’s public testimony as the board of education discussed a proposal for a once-weekly change to school start times beginning in the fall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

District considers late start on Wednesdays starting next school year

The 30-minute delay will allow for teacher’s to meet together for professional development.

Virginia Behrends, a parent of four student in the Juneau School District, sits next to Ted Wilson, district director of Teaching and Learning Support, as she share’s public testimony as the board of education discussed a proposal for a once-weekly change to school start times beginning in the fall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This Monday evening photo shows the Savikko Park playground on South Douglas. The playground is set to be replaced throughout the summer as a part of the City and Borough of Juneau’s park improvement project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

New playground, improvements slated for Savikko Park

Construction at the park will begin Wednesday and last through August, city officials say.

This Monday evening photo shows the Savikko Park playground on South Douglas. The playground is set to be replaced throughout the summer as a part of the City and Borough of Juneau’s park improvement project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Snow covers the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria as it sits scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area in February. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. will invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Gondola project to get $10M boost by July

Assembly OKs revised revenue agreement with Goldbelt, construction expected next summer

Snow covers the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria as it sits scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area in February. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. will invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Fallen trees line the beginning of the West Douglas Pioneer Road in late April. On Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal for the second time from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly votes down proposed Pioneer Road e-bike tours — again

The proposal was orginally rejected in late April.

Fallen trees line the beginning of the West Douglas Pioneer Road in late April. On Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal for the second time from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr chat during a break at the Wednesday night Finance Committee meeting. Community groups were invited to give presentations that explained their community funding requests sent to the Assembly for the fiscal year 2024 budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City mulls community funding request amid budget-making process

The requests range from $2,000 up to $1.4 million.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr chat during a break at the Wednesday night Finance Committee meeting. Community groups were invited to give presentations that explained their community funding requests sent to the Assembly for the fiscal year 2024 budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Travel Juneau President Liz Perry (left) and board member McHugh Pierre (right) discuss it’s budget at the Assembly’s Finance Committee Meeting last Wednesday. According to City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, the largest portion of the organization’s annual budget (around 80%) comes from the city’s hotel bed tax revenue. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City forecasts record-breaking bed tax revenues — again

Assembly discusses reallocating some of the funds for affordable housing.

Travel Juneau President Liz Perry (left) and board member McHugh Pierre (right) discuss it’s budget at the Assembly’s Finance Committee Meeting last Wednesday. According to City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, the largest portion of the organization’s annual budget (around 80%) comes from the city’s hotel bed tax revenue. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors board members discuss a lease extension agreement with the University of Alaska Southeast during its Thursday evening meeting. The agreement would include the city offering a variety of “education benefits” to university students in exchange for a less than fair market value annual lease cost. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Board approves hefty benefits to UAS in exchange for land lease extension

Free Eaglecrest lift tickets, bus passes to students OK’d by Docks and Harbors.

City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors board members discuss a lease extension agreement with the University of Alaska Southeast during its Thursday evening meeting. The agreement would include the city offering a variety of “education benefits” to university students in exchange for a less than fair market value annual lease cost. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Michelle Bonnet Hale, Greg Smith and Christine Woll listen to discussion Wednesday night from other Assembly members about the community funding requests for the 2023 fiscal year budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Several community asks are on the outs following Wednesday night city meeting

Assembly members makes some tough calls as it works through the budget process.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Michelle Bonnet Hale, Greg Smith and Christine Woll listen to discussion Wednesday night from other Assembly members about the community funding requests for the 2023 fiscal year budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Carole Triem, Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Wade Bryson listen to City Clerk Beth McEwen as she speaks about election code changes Monday night at the Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting where member’s OK’d the city to move an ordinance to make vote-by-mail elections the default in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City moves to make vote-by-mail elections the default in Juneau

The ordinances are set to be introduced in May and open for public hearing in June.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Carole Triem, Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Wade Bryson listen to City Clerk Beth McEwen as she speaks about election code changes Monday night at the Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting where member’s OK’d the city to move an ordinance to make vote-by-mail elections the default in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr speaks to the Assembly meeting as the Committee of the Whole Monday evening. The Assembly OK’d the city to begin soliciting proposals to offer funding for one to two child care start-up grants to local providers and facility owners.

City OKs funds to create startup child care grant program

Program intended to fund the opening of one to two new child care centers in Juneau.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr speaks to the Assembly meeting as the Committee of the Whole Monday evening. The Assembly OK’d the city to begin soliciting proposals to offer funding for one to two child care start-up grants to local providers and facility owners.
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski, City Manager Rorie Watt and SHI President Rosita Worl laugh together during a speech at the dedication ceremony of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí, Totem Pole Trail, held Saturday in downtown Juneau at Heritage Plaza. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown’s Seward Street could soon have a new name

SHI President called for the change during a recent public gathering downtown.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski, City Manager Rorie Watt and SHI President Rosita Worl laugh together during a speech at the dedication ceremony of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí, Totem Pole Trail, held Saturday in downtown Juneau at Heritage Plaza. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith, chief financial officer Sam Muse and board Vice President Deborah Johnston sit before the Assembly to present the hospital’s 2024 fiscal year budget. The hospital is requesting an additional $5 million in funding from the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City moves forward with $2.5M one-time funding to hospital

An additional $2.5M is pending.

From left to right, Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith, chief financial officer Sam Muse and board Vice President Deborah Johnston sit before the Assembly to present the hospital’s 2024 fiscal year budget. The hospital is requesting an additional $5 million in funding from the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)