Juneau tourism task force takes final public testimony Oct. 15

Juneau residents get a second chance to weigh in on the Visitor Industry Task Force 2.0's tourism recommendations at a public testimony session set for Thursday, Oct. 15, moved so the public can first read the draft recommendations. The first session was June 18; CBJ has extended the task force's mandate, launched in December 2025, through October 2026.

In an Aug. 11 memo, Visitor Industry Director Alexandra Pierce wrote that the public will have "one more opportunity to provide testimony" before the report goes to the Assembly.

The task force is developing criteria for future cruise-passenger cap changes and finalizing seven downtown crowding recommendations for the Assembly, from benches to the Red Dog Saloon roundabout. The current limit of five large ships and 16,000 passengers a day (12,000 Saturdays) traces to the original 2020 task force recommendations; the port handled about 1.7 million cruise passengers in 2025.

Resident Barb Mecum has said the city must "decide 5-boat limit is it, and enforce that," citing strain on wastewater, sewer and landfill capacity.

Residents may attend in person at City Hall or via Zoom.