City and Borough of Juneau

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Bartlett Regional Hospital Board President Kenny Solomon-Gross sit next to each other during a joint meeting between the Assembly and hospital’s senior leadership team and board to discuss the hospital’s current multi-million dollar deficit and financial state.

Joint meeting addresses hospital’s growing deficit

Bartlett Regional Hospital officials outline measures to fix projected shortfall.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Bartlett Regional Hospital Board President Kenny Solomon-Gross sit next to each other during a joint meeting between the Assembly and hospital’s senior leadership team and board to discuss the hospital’s current multi-million dollar deficit and financial state.
This is a concept design drawing that was included in the request for proposal sent out by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities seeking outside engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

DOT takes steps toward potential Cascade Point ferry terminal facility

It would accommodate the Tazlina and or Hubbard, shorten trips to Haines and Skagway

This is a concept design drawing that was included in the request for proposal sent out by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities seeking outside engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
A large crowd listens to public testimony at Monday night’s Assembly meeting about a resolution on whether the Assembly should formally adopt the 2020 Visitor Industry Task Force’s cruise ship tourism policy recommendations. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City adopts tourism task force recommendations

Assembly commits to five-ship limit, dock electrification and Seawalk construction.

A large crowd listens to public testimony at Monday night’s Assembly meeting about a resolution on whether the Assembly should formally adopt the 2020 Visitor Industry Task Force’s cruise ship tourism policy recommendations. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Carla Casulucan, shareholder relations manager for Huna Totem Corp., gives public testimony Monday night in support of the Huna Totem development and urged the city to vote against an ordinance that would have allowed the city to spend $300,000 to help plan the location of a proposed cruise ship dock at the downtown subport. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City decides against spending on cruise ship dock planning

Assembly votes down ordinance after more than a dozen public comments against it.

Carla Casulucan, shareholder relations manager for Huna Totem Corp., gives public testimony Monday night in support of the Huna Totem development and urged the city to vote against an ordinance that would have allowed the city to spend $300,000 to help plan the location of a proposed cruise ship dock at the downtown subport. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau This is a photo of the current site plan of the proposed Capital Civic Center. Thursday evening the city was given an update on the project’s concept design which is expected to cost up to $75 million and would include amenities like a theater, community hall, gallery, ballroom and business center.

City OKs steps toward proposed Capital Civic Center

Advocacy group to seek state and federal funds for the project.

City and Borough of Juneau This is a photo of the current site plan of the proposed Capital Civic Center. Thursday evening the city was given an update on the project’s concept design which is expected to cost up to $75 million and would include amenities like a theater, community hall, gallery, ballroom and business center.
A resident and his dog walk past the taped off portion of the Basin Road Trestle after it suffered damaged from a rockslide earlier this week. The trestle is open to pedestrians, but will remain closed to vehicular traffic until structural repairs are made, according to city officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Rocky road: Basin Road Trestle open to pedestrians, remains closed to vehicles

City officials say repairs are currently being assessed after damaging rockfall

A resident and his dog walk past the taped off portion of the Basin Road Trestle after it suffered damaged from a rockslide earlier this week. The trestle is open to pedestrians, but will remain closed to vehicular traffic until structural repairs are made, according to city officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau’s municipal and state legislative members, their staff, and city lobbyists gather in the Assembly chambers Thursday meeting for an overview of how the Alaska State Legislature and politicians in Washington, D.C., are affecting local issues.

Local leaders, lawmakers and lobbyists discuss political plans for coming year

Morning meeting looks at local impact of state, national political climates.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau’s municipal and state legislative members, their staff, and city lobbyists gather in the Assembly chambers Thursday meeting for an overview of how the Alaska State Legislature and politicians in Washington, D.C., are affecting local issues.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Residents wear matching T-shirts advocating for the proposed off-road vehicle riding park at 35 Mile which was up for permit consideration and later approved at the Tuesday evening planning commission meeting.

City OK’s permit for new off-road vehicle riding park

The planning commission approved a conditional use permit for the project at 35 Mile

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Residents wear matching T-shirts advocating for the proposed off-road vehicle riding park at 35 Mile which was up for permit consideration and later approved at the Tuesday evening planning commission meeting.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Little chairs sit in stacks after the temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. Now, providers are speaking out about the dire situation the industry finds itself in and what needs to be done to fix it.

A child care conundrum: Closures make local shortage worse, and providers say solutions may take a while.

“The crisis that we are having and experiencing right now, we are not alone in it.”

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Little chairs sit in stacks after the temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. Now, providers are speaking out about the dire situation the industry finds itself in and what needs to be done to fix it.
This image is a screen grab of an interactive online map that outlines the different pieces of vacant and underdeveloped property in Juneau. According to the map website, privately owned vacant parcels are highlighted yellow, CBJ Lands and Resources owned vacant parcels are highlighted pink and private developed properties below maximum allowable housing density are highlighted green. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)

City hopes new interactive map of vacant properties will expand housing opportunities

“It’s one more tool in the toolbox.”

This image is a screen grab of an interactive online map that outlines the different pieces of vacant and underdeveloped property in Juneau. According to the map website, privately owned vacant parcels are highlighted yellow, CBJ Lands and Resources owned vacant parcels are highlighted pink and private developed properties below maximum allowable housing density are highlighted green. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A handful of workers clean the floors of the Centennial Hall ballroom Wednesday evening as renovations continue. According to project’s manager, the renovation are expected to be completed in early August.

Ballroom blitz: Centennial Hall space takes on a new look amid closure for renovations.

Rennovations expected to complete in early August

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A handful of workers clean the floors of the Centennial Hall ballroom Wednesday evening as renovations continue. According to project’s manager, the renovation are expected to be completed in early August.
The only electric bus enters the City Borough of Juneau Capital Transit’s bus barn in late August. Capital Transit is preparing for the addition of seven electric buses which are slated to hit Juneau’s roads sometime in summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Bus down: City preps for incoming electric bus fleet as its current electric bus remains out of commission

Capital Transit expects the new fleet to arrive during the summer of 2024

The only electric bus enters the City Borough of Juneau Capital Transit’s bus barn in late August. Capital Transit is preparing for the addition of seven electric buses which are slated to hit Juneau’s roads sometime in summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Pieces of the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria sit scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. would invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project.

Gondola project on track for $10M investment

It is expected to open in the spring of 2027

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Pieces of the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria sit scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. would invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project.
Cruise ships line the downtown docks during a dark evening in late August. On Monday the Assembly voted to delay adopting cruise ship tourism policy objectives recommended by the Visitor Industry Task Force’s final report to allow for further public input. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

City puts off adopting tourism task force recommendations, allows more public input

Move made to allow for additional public input.

Cruise ships line the downtown docks during a dark evening in late August. On Monday the Assembly voted to delay adopting cruise ship tourism policy objectives recommended by the Visitor Industry Task Force’s final report to allow for further public input. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The privately owned 107-foot tugboat named Tagish sits submerged in the water next to the National Guard dock south of the downtown cruise ship docks Tuesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sunken tugboat owner on tight deadline to recover vessel

According to the owner, the effort is expected to cost around $300,000.

The privately owned 107-foot tugboat named Tagish sits submerged in the water next to the National Guard dock south of the downtown cruise ship docks Tuesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Rorie Watt and Finance Director Jeff Rogers discuss a package of proposals addressing recruiting and retaining city employees during the Wednesday evening Assembly Finance Committee meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City mulls package of perks to fill vacancies

It includes bigger sign-on bonus, retirement fund match and child care contribution.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Rorie Watt and Finance Director Jeff Rogers discuss a package of proposals addressing recruiting and retaining city employees during the Wednesday evening Assembly Finance Committee meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The City and Borough of Juneau will host its annual holiday tree recycling program Friday or Saturday, Jan. 20-21, from 10am - 4p.m. (Courtesy Photo / City and Borough of Juneau)

Free your tree after the holidays: CBJ offers free holiday tree recycling program Jan. 20-21

JDHS Cheer will also offer a pick up option

The City and Borough of Juneau will host its annual holiday tree recycling program Friday or Saturday, Jan. 20-21, from 10am - 4p.m. (Courtesy Photo / City and Borough of Juneau)
Juneau resident Denny DeWitt looks at the options for a second Douglas crossing during an open house as part of the evaluation process in early December at the Juneau Arts Humanities Council building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Second crossing’s 1st phase receives $7M in federal funding

City official says project is still long way from fruition

Juneau resident Denny DeWitt looks at the options for a second Douglas crossing during an open house as part of the evaluation process in early December at the Juneau Arts Humanities Council building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
James Snookes plays with his son Harry in the pool at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center as part of the SAFE Child Advocacy Center’s free sponsored event Family Day at the Pool. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

A resilient ripple: Pool day held to promote positive childhood experiences

SAFE Child Advocacy Center hosts family day at the pool.

James Snookes plays with his son Harry in the pool at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center as part of the SAFE Child Advocacy Center’s free sponsored event Family Day at the Pool. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Telephone Hill neighborhood is seen at center right, beneath the State Office Building, on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. The neighborhood, owned by the state of Alaska, is being transferred to the City and Borough of Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)

Historic neighborhood, once envisioned for new Alaska Capitol, is given away by the state

Order signed transferring Telephone Hill to the capital city.

Juneau’s Telephone Hill neighborhood is seen at center right, beneath the State Office Building, on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. The neighborhood, owned by the state of Alaska, is being transferred to the City and Borough of Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)