Juneau tourism task force puts up to $30 million price tag on Seawalk extension

Juneau's tourism task force has put price tags on most of its 41 recommendations, from up to $30 million to extend the downtown Seawalk to up to $500,000 a year for crossing guards. The group meets Thursday at 5:30 pm for what its agenda calls "pre-finalization" of the list.

Mayor Beth Weldon created the Visitor Industry Task Force 2.0 late last year to revisit the city's 2020 tourism recommendations and take on downtown crowding, flightseeing noise and whale watching, among other issues. The costs in its Oct. 16 tracker are estimates that still need to be validated, the tracker says.

The biggest is $15 million to $30 million to continue the Seawalk from the AJ dock through the Wharf to Aak'w Landing. Separately, the city has steered an unrequested $6 million state grant toward the Seawalk, Alaska News reported Sept. 19.

Setting up a city whale-watching license would cost $105,000 to $290,000 in legal and program work. The license would come with limited entry, a moratorium on new operators, a cap and what the tracker calls "future tapering." Juneau's fleet is about 75 boats run by 24 companies, by NOAA's count, Alaska News reported Sept. 5.

Other estimates include $125,000 to $300,000 for a study comparing the noise of current and older tour helicopters with the H130 model, and $300,000 to $500,000 a year to keep and add downtown crossing guards.

Fees are off the task force's table. Visitor Industry Director Alexandra Pierce told members Oct. 15 that the fee discussion will happen at the Assembly, at the direction of Chair Ella Adkison and Weldon, according to draft minutes.

A draft in Thursday's packet would also open the city's stalled $1 million tourism loan fund to any for-profit or nonprofit business operating in Juneau, for vehicles or equipment that measurably cut emissions or noise. The Assembly set the money aside from Marine Passenger Fees in the fiscal 2025 budget for tour operators, but staff "struggled to stand the program up as described," Pierce wrote this month, Alaska News reported Oct. 14. The draft's terms are still placeholders: loans of $5,000 to $500,000 covering up to 80% of a project, at 2% to 4% interest for up to seven years.

The task force's second public testimony session, once set for Oct. 15, is now Nov. 5 at 5:30 pm at the Mendenhall Valley Library, the city announced in September. The city plans to post the draft recommendations after Thursday's meeting and is asking for written comments before Nov. 12, when the recommendations are to be finalized. The task force plans to send its report to the Assembly after a Dec. 17 meeting.