Video Clips

Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.

Clips from City and Borough of JuneauClear

Brian O'Shaughnessy

“we anticipate there's an average of around 2.5 folks per dwelling. We have around 2,000 residences in the area, so that would come out to around 5,000 folks.”

Juneau: August 12, 2026 Unified Command GLOF Press Briefing · Aug 12, 2026

Ginu Nidolny

“major flood stage and the peak crest is expected to be tonight, so at darkness. That challenges our ability to, to see, to see risks.”

Juneau: August 12, 2026 Unified Command GLOF Press Briefing · Aug 12, 2026

Travis Eckhoff

“we will close the back loop bridge at 8:30 PM tonight, and we will be closing the pedestrian paths on the Brotherhood Bridge around 5:15, or when the lake gauge hits 10 feet.”

Juneau: August 12, 2026 Unified Command GLOF Press Briefing · Aug 12, 2026

Denise Koch

“We know that there are potentially some encampments in that area that keep popping up. There are some knife slits to the face of the HESCO barriers.”

Juneau: August 12, 2026 Unified Command GLOF Press Briefing · Aug 12, 2026

Sabrina Grubitz

“we've all come to the same conclusion that evacuation is the best way to keep yourself safe. So we do ask you to heed those suggestions and those requests from Unified Command in this response.”

Juneau: August 12, 2026 Unified Command GLOF Press Briefing · Aug 12, 2026

Ginu Nidolny

“The best thing this community and the citizens can do to maintain their safety is to evacuate as the city has recommended. Again, that's an evacuation request by 3— no later than 3 PM today.”

Juneau: August 12, 2026 Unified Command GLOF Press Briefing · Aug 12, 2026

Ryan O'Shaughnessy

“the CBJ is currently operating under an emergency declaration, and the intent and the purpose of that is to utilize resources that wouldn't be available to us as a local government ordinarily.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“We will begin closing those gaps on July— Monday, July 20th, and progressively work towards closing those right up towards the end, right up towards the release”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“last year's, during last year's event, it was, it was just, just over 1,000 homes that were advised for evacuation.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“More of the southern part of the valley is included in the evacuation advisory, and it's also a little bit, a little bit wider around the river.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

John Bohan

“The breach locations that were chosen are the potential high-impact areas. And so tree strikes and direct, you know, even though we fortified these areas, the direct impacts at the 90-degree corners just effectively to, you know, to prepare for the worst-case scenario. As Ryan said, these are sandbags, they are temporary measures.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

John Bohan

“as we saw last year, fortunately above the waterline, but a tree completely blew up the barriers behind the Field House very quickly, very easily. So we do need to be prepared for those events. So be careful. And that's also why we're requesting evacuation because they are temporary and we don't know what, you know, we don't know what force might crack one open.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“The good news, moving on to the HESCO and flood barrier work, is that it is complete. You will see crews still working on cleanup and final details, but the barriers are sealed and ready to go, with the exception of the pedestrian and the maintenance accesses. Those were left open intentionally so that people can access trails and maintenance crews can continue to get through them”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“public safety is number one, and we definitely think the evacuation is important, that there's a lot of flood barriers out in place, but if something were to happen, it would be very short notice on a breach and a flash flood.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“It is really important to heed the evacuation advisory. Life safety is our number one priority, and we've we really want to stress for folks to evacuate during this event. We have a very high level of confidence in the HESCO barriers, but this is a dynamic event. It's a natural disaster, and we can't predict every element of it.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“without them, we would not have— we would have 2 pumps in Juneau capable of pumping water from behind the Hesco flood barriers. So they have basically stripped all of their resources from the Lower 48, and also working on acquiring additional pumps outside of what their normal resources are to provide us the number of pumps we need to work to pump behind the HESCOs”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

Ryan O'Shaughnessy

“the entire system is somewhat fragile to tree strikes and things like that. So we really want to encourage folks to evacuate. For that worst-case scenario.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

Ryan O'Shaughnessy

“we have a tremendous amount of confidence in the HESCO system. We saw it perform relatively well last year and we're very confident for this year, but the entire system is fragile. And that's really why we want everyone in the evacuation area to heed that advisory and to evacuate. These are resilient structures. We do have a little bit of testing with them, but they are essentially sandbags, right?”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

Aaron Jacobs

“this year, in conjunction with the USGS, we were able to improve our monitoring so we have more redundant information. And one of that more redundant information is a camera that looks over the overflow channel. So from the monitoring page, if you go to latest images, and now you will see this overflow channel to the right. And so this is a new camera for us so we can see when water is starting to go over this overflow channel.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“Alaska statute Title 26, Chapter 23 grants very specific evacuation authorities to the governor's office. And allows for the Governor's Office to compel an evacuation. It does not provide the same language or authority to local governments.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“absent the Governor compelling an evacuation for the Mendenhall Valley, the evacuation notice will remain an advisory.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“this year we're advising evacuation for just over 1,900”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

Aaron Jacobs

“we are kind of with the volume estimate, we're going to be very close to the same volume as last year, just due to the conditions of the lower end of the overflow channel to less icebergs in the basin, and then the lateral expansion of the basin. So we're going to see a very similar volume estimate that we're anticipating, maybe a little bit of an increase, but very similar to last year. And so we are also anticipating a flood if it releases at a full basin capacity, something very similar to last year, to maybe a little bit lower, but still a major flooding event.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

Ryan O'Shaughnessy

“Once the state resources you know, primarily the drone monitoring and public assistance support and those kinds of things come into play, the CBJ will be requesting that the Governor also declare a state disaster. So that is, we're working really closely with the SEOC to move that process along, and at this point, all indications that we've received are that the state will very seriously consider a pre-event disaster declaration again.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“we will start deploying pumps later next week. You will see people, our city crews as well as our contractors, working on setting up the pumps, the piping, and the connections to the HESCO barriers to pump across the top of the barriers to get the water back into the river.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“last year we strictly used inundation maps to guide evacuation notice,. And this year we've broadened our perspective a little bit. We saw, we did see ponding last year behind some of the HESCO barriers and to take into account where roads may become blocked and access may be limited by first responders or those evacuating, we've broadened our criteria for the evacuation area a little bit.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

“those were designed to the same capacity to which the HESCO barriers are built, so 63,500. Also, as a function of creating the maps, we also overlaid, we took a no HESCO model, and so what would be inundated without the HESCOs. We also looked at several different breach points and tried to identify where the worst or most impactful breach locations would be and overlaid those things so that we made sure that we encompassed any area that could be impacted.”

Juneau: July 9, 2026 CBJ Media Availability · Jul 9, 2026

Paul Kelly

“Jordan Kessler to a term ending in 2028. Any objections?”

Juneau: June 24, 2026 CBJ Special Assembly Meeting 2026-14 for Empowered Board Appointments · Jun 26, 2026

Paul Kelly

“Seeing none, those appointments are made.”

Juneau: June 24, 2026 CBJ Special Assembly Meeting 2026-14 for Empowered Board Appointments · Jun 26, 2026

Paul Kelly

“I move that the assembly appoint to the Eagle Crest Board Kevin Krine to a term ending in 2029, Sandy Hussein to a term ending in 2029, and Sean O'Neill to a term ending in 2026.”

Juneau: June 24, 2026 CBJ Special Assembly Meeting 2026-14 for Empowered Board Appointments · Jun 26, 2026

Paul Kelly

“I move to appoint Tyler Emerson to the Docks and Harbors Board to a term ending in 2029, uh, Shem Scooter to a term ending in 2029, and Steve Fox to a term ending in 2029. Uh, the only correction is it Shem Suter, there's no C. Um, any objection to that? Uh, seeing none, so moved.”

Juneau: June 24, 2026 CBJ Special Assembly Meeting 2026-14 for Empowered Board Appointments · Jun 26, 2026

Paul Kelly

“for the Airport Board, I move that we appoint Nolan Davis as the tenant liaison to a term ending in 2027. Thank you for that. Any objection to that? Seeing none”

Juneau: June 24, 2026 CBJ Special Assembly Meeting 2026-14 for Empowered Board Appointments · Jun 26, 2026

Paul Kelly

“we just finished our Human Resources Committee meeting, at which time we forwarded the appointments, uh, for 3 boards: the Airport, Docks and Harbors, and Eagle Crest. For the Airport Board, I move that we appoint David Epstein to a term ending in 2029. Uh, Mike Newell to a term ending in 2029. Jerry Godkin to a term ending in 2027.”

Juneau: June 24, 2026 CBJ Special Assembly Meeting 2026-14 for Empowered Board Appointments · Jun 26, 2026

Beth Weldon

“Thank you for all your work, because I do know that that is time-consuming to go through all those signatures.”

Juneau: June 18, 2026 Special Assembly Meeting · Jun 18, 2026

Beth Weldon

“this is a short meeting. We are adjourned. Thank you all for coming at noon.”

Juneau: June 18, 2026 Special Assembly Meeting · Jun 18, 2026

Beth Weldon

“we had 3 resolutions on our consent agenda, one for declaring a local emergency for the glacier outburst flood, another appropriating $3.5 million for school roof repairs, and another resolution supporting the homeporting of two major United States Coast Guard cutters, including the CGC Storis. And those all just passed.”

Juneau: June 18, 2026 Special Assembly Meeting · Jun 18, 2026

Speaker B

“We have certified the 1% seasonal sales tax initiative petition, so we forwarded that off on Friday to the Assembly to notify them of the 45 days if they would like to enact similar legislation. And then we received the mill rate cap initiative petition back to our office, and we are currently reviewing signatures and started that work yesterday.”

Juneau: June 18, 2026 Special Assembly Meeting · Jun 18, 2026

Beth Weldon

“I know Mr. Steiner said he might be a couple minutes late, so we'll proceed onward.”

Juneau: June 18, 2026 Special Assembly Meeting · Jun 18, 2026

Beth Weldon

“any objections to the consent agenda Being approved. Seeing none, it is approved.”

Juneau: June 18, 2026 Special Assembly Meeting · Jun 18, 2026

Speaker A

“All community members vote for all assembly seats, which include at least 3 positions on the ballot each year, with terms lasting 3 years. Members can serve up to 3 consecutive terms, and local elections are nonpartisan. To serve in the assembly, candidates must be: 18 or older, registered voters in Juneau, and residents for at least 1 year before the election. To run for office and appear on the ballot, candidates must file paperwork with the CBJ Clerk's Office in mid-June. July, including a declaration of candidacy and a nominating petition with at least 25 signatures.”

How To Run For Office In Juneau, Alaska · Jun 16, 2026

Speaker A

“They also need to file campaign and financial disclosures with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Running for the assembly involves significant visibility and engagement with residents, events, and media on local issues. A successful campaign requires strong organization scheduling, fundraising, volunteers, and communications. Appointing a campaign treasurer for financial reporting to the Alaska Public Offices Commission is advisable.”

How To Run For Office In Juneau, Alaska · Jun 16, 2026

Speaker A

“Members typically attend 5 to 9 meetings per month with varying workloads throughout the year. Staying connected with the community, listening to residents, and addressing time-sensitive issues outside of regular meetings are also essential parts of the role. The assembly consists of 9 members: the mayor and 8 assembly members. 6 Members must reside in their elected districts, while 2 can live anywhere in the community.”

How To Run For Office In Juneau, Alaska · Jun 16, 2026

“This ordinance appropriates $545 million for the entirety of the city and borough of Juneau's FY27 operating budget, excluding including the school district.”

Juneau: June 8, 2026 Regular Assembly Meeting · Jun 8, 2026

“At this level of funding reduction, the museum would not be entirely closed to the public. Hours would be reduced, but there would still be some public hours.”

Juneau: June 8, 2026 Regular Assembly Meeting · Jun 8, 2026

“We gave ourselves the task of cutting $2 million out of the budget, plus finding revenue of $2 million. We did not cut $2 million out of our budget. We barely scraped by with $1 million, and then we added a bunch of other things.”

Juneau: June 8, 2026 Regular Assembly Meeting · Jun 8, 2026

“there is no doubt that the cuts and reductions that we have made and have proposed to make, of which there were at least 34, probably more added after, have impacts. And that's just the reality of having less revenue to fund, and less recurring revenue, I will say, to fund recurring expenses.”

Juneau: June 8, 2026 Regular Assembly Meeting · Jun 8, 2026

“The assembly proposes to cut $261,000, and that's like a 39% reduction, I think.”

Juneau: June 8, 2026 Regular Assembly Meeting · Jun 8, 2026

“When I look at the things that we do have on our reduction list, you know, JDC, Travel Juno, Eagle Crest, and the City Museum being the big ones that we reduced here, my heart breaks.”

Juneau: June 8, 2026 Regular Assembly Meeting · Jun 8, 2026

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