Assembly tentatively set to review Juneau resolution on board service during work hours

A Juneau Human Rights Commission resolution urging employers to let workers serve on city boards during work hours is tentatively set for an Assembly Committee of the Whole work session in November or December, according to the commission's Nov. 3 agenda.

The commission sent the resolution to the Assembly in December 2025, and it was presented April 6. It cites 33 vacancies among Juneau's 26 boards, committees and commissions as of January 2025. It asks that board service during work hours be coordinated between employees and supervisors. If adopted, it would commit the city to provide training, guidance and resources for board members.

Commission Chair Haifa Foroughi likened the proposal to jury duty in a Dec. 2, 2025, letter, calling it "a logical and practical extension of a civic norm we already uphold."

On March 9, the Assembly Human Resources Committee unanimously removed five practices from the resolution, with members saying they had reservations about making the recommendations too specific. The removed items, including board funding, recruiting from underrepresented groups and an outreach campaign, moved to an addendum to the commission's letter.