May 18, 2026 Regular Assembly Meeting

Bring the regular assembly meeting to order for May 18th, 2026. Miss Hall, would you, uh, do the flag salute please?

Mr. Brooks, would you do the land acknowledgement, please?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. We would like to acknowledge that the City and Borough of Juneau is on Tlingit land and wish to honor the indigenous people of this land. For more than 10,000 years, Alaska Native people have been and continue to be integral to the well-being of our community. We are grateful to be in this place, a part of this community, and to honor the culture, traditions, and resilience of the Tlingit people. Good evening.

Madam Clerk, will you call roll, please? Thank you, Madam Mayor. Deputy Mayor Smith. Here. Ms. Scandies?

Here. Ms. Wall? Present. Mr. Kelly? Here.

Ms. Atkinson? Here. Mr. Steininger? Here. Ms. Hall?

Here. Mr. Brooks? Here. Madam Mayor? Here.

You have quorum. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, I do have a voice finally. But because it is a little tentative still, I'm going to have Mr. Deputy Mayor do our two proclamations.

So first, we'll start with the recognition of Natural Infrastructure Week. And Mr. Yucatel, I know you liked this one, and you can tell us all about your projects that you're honoring when he's done. Come on up.

A proclamation for National— National— goodness— National Infrastructure Week 2026. Whereas Infrastructure Week is a national week of advocacy that brings together key public sector, private sector, and community stakeholders nationwide to highlight the importance of continued investments in roads, rail, water systems, broadband, ports, and other essential infrastructure. And whereas America's prosperity has always rested on the strength of its infrastructure, and whereas infrastructure investments transform communities by improving public health, creating quality jobs, and strengthening our nation's economic competitiveness and security, and whereas the American Society of Civil Engineers 2025 Report Card for America's Infrastructure estimates that we need to invest $3.7 trillion to bring the nation's infrastructure up to standard. And whereas ASC— ASCE estimates the current infrastructure investment levels save the average household $700 a year. And whereas the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that every $1 billion invested in highway and bridge infrastructure supports at least 1,300 jobs across multiple industries.

And whereas locally, the City and Borough of Juneau will celebrate the public ribbon-cutting events at Taku Harbor Statter Harbor and Aurora Harbor, as well as a presentation of the 2025 Alaska ASCE Report Card. Now, therefore, I, on behalf of Beth A. Weldon, Mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, on behalf of the City and Borough Assembly, do hereby proclaim May 18th through 22nd, 2026, as National Infrastructure Week.

Mr. Yucatel, will you tell us your projects?

Thank you, Mayor and Deputy Mayor. So just a little bit on Infrastructure Week. So the only thing that you consume today, uh, that didn't come through infrastructure was air. Everything else— your water system, your, uh, sewage system, the food that showed up on at Fred Meyer, everything came through some form of infrastructure, a dock, an airplane, a rail. So that's why it's very important just to recognize once a year infrastructure and the importance it is to the quality of life in the United States and also in Juneau, of course.

But we're recognizing National Infrastructure Week this, this week. Docks and Harbors has 3 ribbon-cutting events. One out at Statter Harbor at noon tomorrow for our Statter 3D project. It's followed by customer appreciation, so anybody that shows up will get a hot dog and chips and drink. The next day, weather permitting, we'll have a ribbon-cutting at Taku Harbor, and then Thursday there'll be a presentation in this room on the 2025 State Report Card, and then on Friday we will have a ribbon-cutting event at Aurora Harbor for Aurora Phase 4, followed by Customer Appreciation, hot dogs and chips again.

So the community is welcome to come to all the events. This is also Safe Boating Week, and Friday is also Maritime Week, so we got a lot going on this week, but appreciate the, um, the shout out to Infrastructure Week. Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Thank you. Uh, next we have, uh, a recognition of older Americans, which recognize all our seniors. So the Deputy Mayor would like anybody over 65 to come on up.

Come on up, there's a number of you in the audience.

Well represented tonight.

Okay, we were just informed— oh, it actually says so in the proclamation. Good representation of our older Americans here today. Um, a proclamation, Older Americans Month, May 2026. Whereas seniors represent 30% of the residents of the City and Borough of Juneau and are a growing demographic dedicated to supporting our vibrant community, and whereas seniors contribute to the strength and viability of our community through their wealth of life experience and wisdom, personal volunteerism, dedication to family, and economic contributions. And whereas seniors contribute to making Juneau an age-friendly place, making our community more livable and desirable for people of all ages through intergenerational relationships, community service, civic engagement, and many other activities.

And whereas community benefits when people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can participate and live independently. And whereas the City and Borough of Juneau honors the contributions of seniors during Older Americans Month and the entire year while supporting this year's theme, Championing— Champion— Champion Your Health, which focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. Now, therefore, I, on behalf of Beth A. Weldon, Mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, and the City and Borough Assembly, do hereby issue this proclamation, designated May 2026 as Older American Month.

And we'll give Deb a quick second to talk. Yeah, as the chair of the Juneau Commission on Aging, our byline is aging is so cool, everybody's doing it. And so the Juneau Commission on Aging continues to work to make Juneau an age-friendly place to live. Thanks so much. Thank you.

Oh, Deb, Deb, would you like—. Deb, thank you for that, uh, Mr. Deputy Mayor. Next, we have approval of minutes. Mr. Kelly.

Madam Mayor, I move that we approve the April 6th, 2026 regular assembly meeting minutes and ask for unanimous consent.

Any objection? Seeing none, that's so moved.

Um, Mr. Deputy Manager, is there any requests for agenda changes? No, thank you, Madam Mayor. Next we go to public participation on non-agenda items, and we have— we'll start with the, uh, Zoom people. So please bring over Maureen Connerton.

Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes.

You are still on mute.

You are still on mute.

On the bottom left, there should be an icon that says audio, and it may have a red slash through it. If you select that, it should unmute you. She disappeared.

Mr. Barr, while she's doing that, you want to go see if there's anything further on the non-agenda And signing up for non-agenda testimony is now closed. We have several people tonight.

If you want to speak to any other agenda item, though, you're certainly welcome to sign up. All right, please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes.

I—. Are you talking to me? I'm sorry, I'm— this is Maureen Connerton. Oh, yep, go ahead. Oh great, we finally, we finally got on.

My name is Maureen Connerton. I live in partly sunny Oak Bay right now. Uh, thank you for taking my testimony. In a recent news article, it's been reported that Huna Totem is downsizing their original development plans for the new dock facility due to cost hikes and tariffs. Both Huna Totem and Norwegian Cruise Lines would certainly qualify as qualified developers under any city RFP.

Sorry, Hoonah Totem's change of plans is what will happen to any Telephone Hill development the assembly moves forward with. If Hoonah Totem and Norwegian must downsize their original development plans, why would any other developer move forward on Telephone Hill once the actual real-time cost costs of development are calculated. Destroying Juneau's downtown historic neighborhood in the center of the tourist district doesn't make sense. It will end up like the stalled condo project near Fred Meyer Ridgeview, which the city originally invested in several years ago. All of Juneau's residents will be affected by the budget cuts you are currently making.

This is the time to table any plans to spend any more city tax dollars to destroy this historic neighborhood. Use the millions saved for the budget cuts that you are all seriously considering, and that will affect all of your constituents in the upcoming year. It's the fiscally responsible thing to do. Thank you, and thank you for all your time. Thank you.

Any questions? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony today. Next we have Caitlin Riley.

Please. Hi, my name is Caitlin, and I live in downtown Juneau off 3rd Street, um, and I'm here today to speak to you guys overall about a lack of communication between City Council and the residents. Of Juneau and the people, the people that you represent. As a member of this community, I have tried to make multiple efforts to reach out to city council with concerns regarding requests for clarification on local issues and items that I feel like need to be acknowledged and brought up. Unfortunately, I have not received any responses or even a basic acknowledgment that my emails have ever been received.

At this point, I am unable to get answers from my own elective representatives, which is both frustrating and concerning. One specific example that I wanted to highlight in an email that I sent regarding the city's budget and priorities for the next year is a message on how decisions are going to be made and addressed, including our infrastructure, which is kind of ironic that this is now, uh, this week that's being represented, and the needs in our community. I have also raised critical safety concerns involving stairs that Uh, I personally have to use to get to my property. There is no other way to use them. Um, that are continuing to deteriorate, deteriorate, including another footing which is about to fall off.

And yet the city states that these are safe and that we are okay to use these on a daily basis. And this is the only stairs that myself and my neighbors are able to use. These stairs are not optional. We're not able to use a road. We're not able to use any other points of access other than these stairs.

I bring this up because despite the urgency of this concern and a lot of other issues and items that I've tried to bring up about not just this but other issues in our community, I have not received any acknowledgement or response from City Council. The only response I have ever received is from our mayor, and there— but again, no response from anybody else. This— these are issues that directly impact our residents' safety, how the city determines budgets, the future of our town, and how where things are going to be leading. I find this sad and disheartening, especially as a resident of this community who tries to take action and show what I believe in. On community—.

Ms. Riley, your time is unfortunately up. Okay. Any questions for Ms. Riley? And I will be happy to email the rest of this to any of the city council members along with my contact information. So if you have any further concerns on this, I would love to talk to anybody individually or through email.

All right, thank you for your testimony tonight.

Uh, next we have Deb Craig, and following her we have Luke Thorington and then Tony Tangs. Taking off my, uh, JCOA hat and putting on my Juneau skier hat. Um, Deb Craig from West Juneau. Thank you for your service. I did not vote for tax cuts last year, but it seemed a vote of no confidence in terms of CBJ spending.

So I hope current petitions reinstate those taxes, but that the assembly also considers why the community voted to literally cut your budget. I listened to the Finance Committee meeting last week regarding cuts. The assembly could lead the charge by reducing the $18 million Burns Building renovation. I support the sale of the Mount Jumbo Gym, $2.5 million, and the 8th and Gold parking lot. I support halting the Lemon Creek Path and the Gas No Out projects, projects that could be reinstated in the future but save $2.5 million now.

JEDC funding has never been cost-effective, and Travel Juneau needs zero funding. In fact, many support increasing the cruise ship passenger head tax to fund support for Juneau's infrastructure. What is clear is that the community does not support chipping away at the recreational facilities that make Juneau a great place to live. I don't use the pools or the field house, but I support their continued funding. Just because I don't participate doesn't mean I can't see the value for our community.

To that end, I want to answer one of the assembly members' questions. What's so special about Eagle Crest? Before the CBJ manager's office interventions in the last 2 years, Eagle Crest was the crown jewel of our recreational facilities. In 2024, almost 10% of Juneau bought pass products, and Eagle Crest had an almost 70% recovery rate. Had the gondola project come to fruition, Eagle Crest would have been the only self-supporting recreational facility in Juneau.

The gondola is being scrapped and we lost, lost tons of revenue during last winter's snowmageddon due to poor operations management. So I hope we get the Eagle Crest board back into the driver's seat. Despite challenges, Eagle Crest is special because it's an important recruitment tool for the young families and workforce we want to migrate to Juneau, as well as a valuable retention mechanism for young families and old Juneau citizens. People love it here because of our amazing outdoor recreational opportunities—trails, waterways, etc. I urge you to continue to support Eagle Crest.

I'll be buying my pass this year as well. Thank you. Any, uh, please no clapping.

We've mentioned this before, you have to be polite to everybody, and someone might come up and say we don't support Eagle Crest, so please don't clap for anybody up here. Um, and she ran off, but hopefully there was no questions for Ms. Gray. Seeing none, uh, thank you for your testimony. Next we have Luke Thorington, Tony Tangs, and then Sharon Denton.

If folks could stand up along the side there, we can move this through a little quicker. Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Luke Thorington. I I guess I live in Juneau.

So, uh, first I'd like to thank you all for, for the, uh, hearing the community's thoughts on the budget considerations. I realize this is not a full-time job for any of you, and the pay that you do receive may not be realistic compensation for the public scrutiny and responsibility that all of you face. I get that. So again, thank you for taking on the job that not many in this community want to do. First off, I'd like to point out that Juneau has rapidly aging demographic.

The number of Juneauites over 65 has dramatically increased over the years, while the number of citizens under 35 has significantly decreased, and there are 1,000 less students enrolled in Juneau Public Schools compared to when I was a student. This is due to the 500% increase in the price of single-family homes since 1990. Currently, it takes extraordinary circumstances for any young person to become a first-time homebuyer in Juneau. Without year-round recreation, decent public schools, and the sense of community these things bring Why would you stay if you have the means? That is why I support recreation and affordable housing grants.

Currently, we are experiencing more than 1.8 million tourists this season, and that is where the tax should be levied. Juneau charges an $8 head tax for every passenger that arrives in Juneau, which adds up to $13 million. The problem is that this money can only be used to benefit cruise ship tourism by federal law. The city owns 2 of 4 cruise ship docks downtown. If the city was to lease one of the two cruise ship docks and the 8, uh, to a cruise line or cruise port developer, and the head tax fee could be waived for tourists tied to that dock, and the $8, as well as all other city fees incurred such as mortgage, could be rolled into a lease agreement, freeing up that money from all head tax regulations, allowing the city to use that money for what Juneau citizens need, not what cruise lines want.

A long-term binding contract would also stop the loss of some cruise revenue to new ports that are being built, like the one on the backside of Douglas, and head tax revenue could still be collected on all ports and city limits not under lease agreement. One more paragraph. Nope, sorry, we have to cut you off. You are welcome to send it. Um, any questions for Mr. Thornton?

Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. Uh, next we have Tony Tangs, then Sharon Denton. And then David now.

Hello, I'm Tony Tanks. I live downtown. I've spoken with you many times, as you know. Anyway, thank you. I'm talking tonight about Telephone Hill, as usual, and a lot of— there's been a lot of a vision about that place in different regards.

I'm wanting to encourage you to go with the mayor's plan that she proposed last month to sell the properties. There are people in, in town and, and elsewhere that would— we— that are interested in, in saving the hill. Turning it back into housing for people and possibly doing infill. This would kind of be splitting the baby in a sense, where the city gets housing expanded, some housing. It's like kind of like Plan D and the vision.

Now that failed by one vote, and I imagine maybe there's another vote out there where this could start happening again. You might say, well, where's this money going to come from? My My belief is there's more money in the world than good ideas, and this is a good idea. The city gets something. They get to keep their history.

They get to keep the existing housing. They get to expand on that housing a little bit, and it's a win-win. So that's about all I have to say. That's keeping it short. Thank you.

Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Tang? Thank you for your testimony tonight. Uh, next we have Sharon Denton, David Ignell, and then Larry Talley.

Hi, I'm here to support Eagle Crest. You please start with your name and area of town you live in for the record. I'm Sharon Denton. I live in the Valley. And I'm here to support Eagle Crest.

I came to Juneau in 1971, uh, when I was 23. I learned to ski and met my husband at Third Cabin before Eagle Crest. When we had children, skiing became something, a family thing we did on Sundays because it was much cheaper on Sundays. And Eagle Crest has always been more affordable than any area down south. Our kids grew up skiing, and every drive down the mountain they would chant, "Eagle Crest is the best!" And I really attribute those years at Eagle Crest with helping our children grow up with grit, a love for the outdoors, learning time management when they started traveling with the ski team, and having a sport that helped to create healthy adults.

And they're all skiers. I honestly can't imagine a winter in Juneau without Eagle Crest. I thank you for funding to keep it going next year, but we have to look further. I do not agree with Ordinance 2026-18 to terminate the agreement with Goldbelt. You have 2 more years, and I think Eagle Crest is a hidden gem that should be capitalized.

We need to keep our youth here, and it is something that young people really enjoy, and old people too. I mean, I will pay for my pass even though I could get a free one now because I'm that old. Um, should we ever figure a way to have the gondola, I think that would be wonderful because it will attract revenue. Um, and I don't want to see a death knell for Eagle Crest. Thank you.

Thank you. Any questions for Ms. Denton? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. Next we have Dave Ignell, Larry Talley, and Bruce Garrison.

Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Thank you. Good evening, Assembly. My name is David Ignell from West Juneau. Your decisions regarding Telephone Hill are the latest reiteration of an assembly that has lost its way.

Sorry to say. Tonight I have a recommendation on how you can find the right path. A few years ago, I was adopted into the Raven Coho Clan, the Luknahadi. My Tlingit name is Yande K'neesh. One of my grandfather's people, Andrew Johnson, gave a speech back in Sitka in 1975 and offered this wisdom.

He said, quote, our people are monotheists. They believe in one Almighty. And we are the only people who believe according to the Jewish belief. We have the Jewish culture, the first 5 books in the Old Testament, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, all that. When I started reading the first Jewish books, there isn't anything in the book that I could not understand because everything is in my culture.

According to the Downhovers, Mr. Johnson was raised as a traditional Tlingit educated in the old ways, and received instruction in clan history from many distinguished forebears. One of my favorite passages from the Old Testament is Proverbs 3:3-4, which reads, quote, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths smooth," unquote. The land acknowledgment that you read at the beginning of every meeting point you in the wrong direction. Juneau is not on Tlingit land, it's on God's land.

That is what Tlingit tradition teaches. Tonight I request you change the wording of your acknowledgment to put God first, to acknowledge it is the Creator who owns this land through which all of us Americans gain life, whether we're Tlingit, Irish, Filipino, German, Japanese.

Any questions for Mr. Ignell? Thank you for your testimony tonight. Uh, next we have Larry Talley, Bruce Garrison, and then Nona Diamond.

My name is Larry Talley and I live in the Flats. Once again, I want to thank you for doing this difficult job. Tonight I want to invite your attention to pages 41 to 43 of a document titled Juneau Telephone Hill market analysis, feasibility analysis, and development strategy. I provided you with annotated copies of pages 41 to 43. I'm sorry, Alicia, your name wasn't stuck out there and I didn't give you a copy.

Um, the reason for my focus this evening is that I understand that the consultant who produced this market analysis, Leland Consulting Group, may be bidding on your recent solicitation to develop an RFQ for the Telephone Hill redevelopment. On pages 41 through 43, subtitled Feasibility Analysis, Leland Consulting showed that the project envisioned would require tens of millions of dollars of additional subsidy above the $9 million already planned. And yet the market analysis remains upbeat and apparently convinces you and staff that this is a feasible project. Please take a moment, look at the attached and the amount of the subsidies in the red boxes: $18 million, $10 million, $900,000, $29 million, $21 $40 million, etc. I ask you to please recognize the infeasibility demonstrated by the market analysis, and if you engage Leland Consulting again, please ask them to make the facts obvious and not just tell you what they know you want to hear.

I understand that some of you may feel like a developer can make up a feasibility gap over time. Feasibility gap, also known as development cost gap, comes from our project pro forma, and the concept of over time is already built into analysis. Banks and investors know this, and they aren't going to invest their money in an infeasible project. That part is up to you. Please direct your consultant to specify that RFQ responses should include a complete pro forma for project proposals.

I would love to meet with any of you to talk about the market analysis. Thank you very much. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Talley? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony.

Next we have Bruce Garrison, Nona Diamond, and then Jill Still.

Hi, my name is Bruce Garrison. I live in the valley.

I'm an almost 72-year resident of Juneau, born and raised here. 63 Years of skiing, starting in Evergreen Cemetery. 8 Years on the Eagle Crest board, 2 as the president. I understand the work that you guys do and how much time it takes. Thanks you for what you do.

You know my support of Eagle Crest. Thank you for supporting Eagle Crest. I would like to extend my support to all the other recreational and cultural facilities that have been listed for closure. The process the assembly has used to address the revenue shortfall has been divisive between user groups. I feel all of the facilities make Juneau livable and are needed and should be supported.

Please listen to the folks that have come and testified. Read the written correspondence that's been sent to you. Less than a decade ago, my wife and I testified here in this chamber about another contentious issue, the senior tax exemption. With the loss of the exemption both upsetting both my wife and I, many others testified that the senior tax exemption was sunsetting then all Juneau residents should be exempted from food and utility city taxes. The assembly was addressing an aging population, and we're looking at the dollar signs from increased tax revenues.

The revenues were used, I'm sure, for existing programs, expanding others, and new programs. Please remember, the decisions you make today have far-reaching consequences for Juneau's future. Made it. You did. Any questions for Mr. Garrison?

Thank you for your testimony. Next we have Nona Diamond, Jill Still, and then Ben Still. Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Thank you. My name is Nona Diamond and I'm from Douglas, but I currently live in Mountainside.

Uh, you may or may not recognize me as the person that sat here last Tuesday dressed as a 1935 Juno Ski Club member. That outfit was meant to grab your attention and specifically remind you of the deep and longstanding history the Juneau ski community holds here in this town. I'm not just speaking tonight as someone who appreciates ski history. I grew up skiing here as a Juneau Ski Club racer, and I later became a coach, a parent, a board member, and a longtime volunteer. Did you know Ski Club is one of the oldest ski clubs in North America?

Skiing here is not just some trendy recreational hobby that appeared overnight. It's woven into our cultural and community fabric of Juneau across generations. Eagle Crest is not just a ski area. It's where kids learn resilience, where families spend time together, where friendships are built, and where many young people first develop confidence, independence, and connection to the outdoors and their community. I also think it's important to acknowledge that many of the issues facing Eagle Crest today did not happen overnight.

They're the result of years of accumulated infrastructure strain, difficult budget decisions, inconsistent snow years, management challenges, and shifting and diversified recreational opportunities in Juneau. What concerns me is that sometimes this conversation around Eagle Crest becomes too narrowly focused on profit and spreadsheets.

I understand the financial concerns. I understand the frustration. But I hope that we can approach this as a community asset worth improving and sustaining, not simply eliminating when times become difficult, because once something like this is lost, it is extraordinarily difficult to get it back. My hope is that the ski community, the Eagle Crest Board, CBJ leadership, and other interested partners can be given the time and the opportunity to work together toward a sustainable solution, one that both maintains a balanced budget and preserves a healthy future for Juneau ski community. Thank you.

Thank you. Any questions? Go ahead, Ms. Wall. Ms. Diamond, you have a question.

Ms. Diamond, because— thank you for being here, and thanks for your testimony. Because you sat through that whole meeting, you heard a lot of discussion up front about potential revenue increases we could look at and other cuts that we could look at to balance the budget. Did you have any thoughts on you know, any of those items, you know, as a means to, to keep Eagle Crest whole. That is so hard as a lifelong Juneau resident. Like, every single thing that you brought— I'm— I don't envy your position.

Every single thing that you brought up, like, means something to me. Jumbo Jim, I played there as a kid. The museum means something to me. I just— I— those are all reasons that people live here. Um, I, I don't, I don't have the solution.

I'm sorry.

That's okay. So next we have Jill Still, Ben Still, and then Tara Stark.

Good evening, everybody. My name is Jill Still, and I'm so happy to live in the Flats.

We're here to support Eagle Crest. William, how old were you when you skied at Gilcrest for the first time? Wan? You were 1 years old. But let me go back just a little bit.

2007, I'm living in Anchorage and I meet this young man named Ben Still. And he says he's from this town called Juneau. And I go to Juneau often for work. I was doing legislative work at the time. And it was 2007.

And does anybody remember the ski year in 2007? It was deep. And so when I was down here for work, Ben said, hey, how about I meet you down there? We— I'll take you to Eagle Crest for the first time. And we came down, met his family, went to Eagle Crest for the very first time, and it just stayed with me.

So not only did I start to fall in love with Ben, but I started falling in love with the idea of becoming a Junoite. And when the opportunity came for us to decide where we wanted to raise our family, we wanted to raise our family near Eagle Crest. And so I myself am a small business owner here in Juneau. Ben is an engineer. Our friends are nurses, teachers, um, gosh, physician assistants, accountants, finance.

Every single person that is up at Eagle Crest is a working professional. And it is the strongest community. It is the livelihood of our weekends. It is the thrill of our year. And what do we say when we get to ski Eagle Crest?

What?

And we get french fries.

Because Eagle Crest is so much more than the skiing. And just being at the lodge is like the highlight. How many friends do we get to see in the lodge?

Hi. Hi. So thank you for supporting Eagle Crest, and thank you for hearing our testimony. Thank you. Any questions?

Seeing none, thank you. Uh, next we have Ben Still, then Tara Stark, then Brock Tabor.

Uh, please say your name and area of tiny living for the record, and you have, uh, 2 minutes. I'm Ben Still. I live in the Flats. I was born and raised here in Juneau. I lived in Douglas and I grew up here skiing at Eagle Crest since I was a little kid.

My older sister skied at Eagle Crest with a ski club with Hillary Lind, and remember that produced a silver medalist at the Olympics. Part of what Eagle Crest— it just makes Juneau a really cool place to live and it makes the winters here survivable for a lot of people. Eagle Crest is I mean, I know as a kid it probably kept me out of a lot of trouble. I was up there every weekend, had season passes all through my childhood, and then we as a family get season passes every year. And I really would like to keep Eagle Crest—.

Would be great if it was fully funded, but at least at the $1.68 million, which is just a million— which is a million less than what they were originally asking for. Um, and yeah, that's, that's what I'm about to say. Thank you. Any questions? Mr. Kelly.

Thank you. I missed being able to ask Lillian a question, um, last time, so thank you for double dipping. So I, I too come from, uh, from a skiing family, and, um, my, my dad sometimes brags that he taught my little brother how to ski before he taught him how to walk. Um, my question to you is, how long have you been skiing at Eagle Crest.

6 Years. Very nice. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh, next we have Tara Stark, Brock Tabor, and then Bruce Simonson.

Hello, my name is Tara Stark. I live in West Juneau. Um, thank you for your service to our community. I really appreciate all the work that you do. I'm here this evening to ask about the recommendations of the Historic Resources Advisory Committee, known as the HRAC, in relation to the Telephone Hill development situation.

Um, I wanted to read the establishment of this committee was in 1987 to meet the requirements of the Certified Local Historical Government Program established by the National Historic Preservation Act. The HRAC is compromised— sorry, excuse me— comprised of the following: archaeologists, historians, architects, people knowledgeable in the customs and language of the Tlingit and Haida people, owners of locally recognized historic property, people familiar with the operations and issues relating to the city museum, teachers, and the general public. The duties of the HRAC are to review and make recommendations about local projects that might affect properties identified in the local historic preservation plan, to review and develop nominations to the National Register— National Registry of Historic Places, and to cooperate and consult with the assembly, the Planning Commission, and the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer. I'm sharing this tonight because I have been able to find recommendations from the MATRAC from 2024 and dating prior to that. The most recent one I found was October 19th, 2024, and I'm not finding anything that shows what has occurred from these recommendations.

And so I just wanted to bring this back into your awareness and the awareness of the public. Um, I'd like to share some recommendations since I still have a moment. Um, no, I don't. Any questions for Ms. Stark? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony.

Thank you. Uh, folks, we can't have you standing in the doorway, so could we get you to come all the way into the room? Thank you, appreciate that.

Um, next we have Brock Tabor, then Bruce Simonson, then Molly Emerson.

Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Thank you. Brock Tabor, downtown. Um, full disclosure, I'm a parent of a young athlete. I've been involved with Eagle Crest Snow Sports since 1997 when I came to town.

But, um, that's not what I want to talk about. I want to thank you for your thoughtful discussions regarding city services, budgeting challenges, and potential opportunities. Um, I think it's important that we focus on finding a path to a more livable, sustainable Juneau. Many of us are acutely aware of the fiscal challenges ahead. I've spoken with coaches, parents, organizers of the various clubs and facilities in towns, and we're all acutely aware of the fact that we're going to need to raise fees, and that's going to be hard.

But we recognize that, and we're willing to take that on. Um, we also recognize there may be changes to services. That's hard to accept, but we recognize that may have to happen. But at the same time, I challenge both the assembly and the community to seek out innovative solutions to our budget challenges so that our recreational facilities, the museum, other factors, you know, that are in your budget thoughts and discussions right now can be taken into consideration. We want Juneau to remain a place where families can grow and prosper, which is my definition of livability.

You may have noticed I put— I penned an op-ed this morning, and I put it into the paper regarding 1% for Juneau. Miss Wall, you asked what we can bring to the table. That's my part. Now I ask you to do yours.

Thank you. Any questions for Miss Adkisson?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just wanted to ask quickly, when you're talking about raising user fees, are you talking in addition to what's already in the manager's budget on top of that, or just what's already in the interest budget. I think all of the facilities— people who buy pool passes, people who buy Eagle Crest passes, people who are going to be paying fees for the clubs that are going to use the field house— we recognize there's going to be fiscal challenges that are going to be ahead of us. That's how we keep facilities operating, but we also don't want to have to bear the entire burden of that cost on ourselves. Those facilities were built for community purpose, long-term community purpose and investment.

So that's what we hope you'll consider. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Next we have Bruce Simonson, then Molly Emerson, then Julie Bednarski.

My name is Bruce Simonson. I live on Star Hill. Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you folks tonight. I'd like to give my thoughts about the content of the planned upcoming RFQ for Telephone Hill. It is my sincere hope that it will be written to provide better answers than were received in the one tepid response to the CBJ's RFI last August.

As I asked in the assembly meeting in January, I still feel responses to at least 3 questions should be addressed in this RFQ. Number 1, how many units? Number 2, at what total cost to the taxpayers?

Number 3, how will the city manager guarantee that the project is fully completed after it started?

In addition, I would like to add that it would be great if the RFQ would be open to a full spectrum of alternatives. For Telephone Hill, including maintaining the existing homes as viable housing in downtown.

Thank you for your work for the community. I appreciate it. I really do. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Simonson?

Thank you for your testimony tonight.

Next we have Molly Emerson, Julie Banarski, Elena Sayuba.

Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Good evening. My name is Molly Emerson. I live in the Flats, and I'm here to talk about Telephone Hill, but want to echo the beautiful testimony you've heard tonight about Eagle Crest. Um, Eagle Crest is definitely the major factor I moved back to Juneau, and any reason I would consider staying.

Um, so members of the assembly, thank you for your work. I know it's an incredibly challenging time with a lot of competing priorities here in Juneau. Um, I just want to remind you all that in 1984, the state of Alaska assembled Telephone Hill using eminent domain for a clearly stated public purpose: to support an expanded capital complex and the associated government facilities, not for speculative private land development. At the time, the hill was viewed as a strategic land for state buildings and public infrastructure, and that public purpose was the legal justification for forcing the sale and displacing owners. Today, 40 years later, we are being told that it is acceptable to pivot from that original public purpose and that Telephone Hill is a vehicle for private redevelopment.

This is a serious policy and ethical problem. Eminent domain is a powerful tool that depends on public trust. Government can only compel people to sell their homes because the use is truly public. Not because the land might someday be flipped for private profit. If we normalize taking land by eminent domain for a public reason in one decade and then convert it to private projects in another, we undermine that trust.

Given the city's current budget crisis, the fiscally responsible course is also the most principled one. Please restore this land to the private tax base by selling it on transparent, competitive terms or at minimum abandon plans that require significant new public spending. Uh, I urge you to respect the spirit of eminent domain and protect public trust and choose a path that returns Telephone Hill to private ownership and strengthens Juneau's financial position. Thank you. Thank you.

Any questions? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony tonight. Uh, Julie Bednarski. Valena Zayuba, and then Mary Alice McKean. Good evening.

Good job on my name. My name is Julie Banarski, and I live in North Douglas. Thank you guys all for your work and your time. I'm just talking about Eagle Crest because I'm a mom, a fish biologist, and a skier, and I'm in Juneau because of Eagle Crest. It's the heart and soul of my community.

I moved to Juneau in my 20s and stayed here because I learned to ski at Eagle Crest. I'm raising my kids at Eagle Crest. It's the only place in Juneau where you can comfortably spend 8 hours outside recreating in the winter. And in addition, my kid also skis in the Juneau Ski Club and the Nordic Ski Club, where he's developing confidence and lifelong love of winter sports. We love Eagle Crest and we support Eagle Crest.

Thank you for your time. Thank you. Any questions? Thank you for your testimony. Next we have Alaina Zuba, Mary Alice McKean, and then Renee Colt.

Hi, my name is Olena Zuba. I live in the Valley. I would like to start my testimony with a little story from Eagle Crest from this winter. When a person next to me talk on the phone and I kind of overheard part of the conversation, when he finished, I asked him, so what do you actually do? And he said, I have a company, I sell airplanes.

And then after we stopped chuckling, he said, "Yeah, charge me more, people like me more for this day pass because it's really amazing." But since we in such a dire situation, maybe it's a good time to sell our pools, our fire station, Eagle Crest, close everything down. Will that really make Juneau more diverse? Will that really boost local economy, create more jobs when hundreds of families move out of town looking for better places to live?

Um, it was really surprising last week to see how assembly, how easily assembly, uh, removed from consideration the tax-exempt item and I'm not talking about St. Vincent de Paul, and I'm not talking about Girl Scout cookies, and, you know, hundreds of other nonprofits that where a bunch of adults get together and create something meaningful, something great, wake up at 5 in the morning and go time for their kids' swim meet, or nonprofits that, I don't know, race, build trails, or garden clubs, ski clubs. I'm not talking about those nonprofits. I'm talking about enterprises that have millions in payroll, enterprises that have multiple properties around town, enterprises that can cover their failures with federal grants. And since we're in such a dire situation when we're considering closing swimming pool and fire station, maybe it's time to look again at that exemption list. There's a room to dig.

Thank you. Thank you. Uh, any questions? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. Next we have Mary Alice McKean, Renee Culp, and then Susan Clark.

I have written testimony. I'm sorry.

Please state your name and area of town you live in, and you have 2 minutes. Hello, Mary Alice McKean, downtown Juneau. Initially, I want to thank the CBJ staff for the excellent job they do in putting public documents on the website. It's amazing what you can find, and it's flawless. I now want to talk about Telephone Hill.

From what I know, the proposed development on Telephone Hill of 155 units with 25 affordable is not financially feasible. The first question in the city manager's telephone FAQ was, why is CBJ moving forward with evictions and building demolition without a developer in place? And the answer was, quote, Telephone Hill has been carefully analyzed through the market analysis, and the assembly has been chosen— has chosen to develop the property But she did not cite any specific numbers or pages from that market analysis. And on page 41, using construction per square foot of $550 without parking and with no short-term rentals, the construction feasibility gap is $136,000 to $187,000 per unit. The critical thing that the RFQ must enable the city assembly is to answer 3 questions.

One, how many units will be built if the development plan goes forward as proposed? Two, how many units will be affordable? And three, the most important question, how much public subsidy will be required? The maximum subsidy in the Juneau Affordable Housing Fund is $50,000. If the gap for this project is greater than $50,000, the project should not go forward, and any money that would have been spent on this project should be available for other housing projects that meet what the city has determined is a feasible public subsidy for developing housing units in Juneau.

If every other housing project— if every other development project only goes forward if it gets $50,000 from CBJ. Why should this get triple that amount? Thank you. Any questions for Ms. McKean? Mr.

Brooks. Thank you, Madam Mayor. And that was, uh, based off $50,000 per unit cost gap. The $50,000 per unit is the maximum amount that a project can get from the Juno Affordable Housing Fund. And so when a developer comes to the city and says, we want to develop even on city land, that's the maximum they should— they can get.

So my opinion is that that should be the maximum this project should get. But the development feasibility gap in the market analysis was $136,000 to $187,000. Thank you. Welcome.

Thank you for your testimony. Thank you. No further questions.

Ms. Culp, I apologize, you're actually an agenda item, so if you could wait till that agenda item came. Next we have Susan Clark.

My name is Susan Clark. I live in the Flats. Money is being prepared to be bulldozed off of Telephone Hill as we speak tonight. What is Telephone Hill? What has Telephone Hill cost us to date?

$100,000 In 2022 to started off. $2 Million from our 1% sales tax over 5 years through 2028. $1.4 Million only for the main consultant, First 40 Feet, out of Oregon, to suggest and then to design ways to demolish the homes, including the required geotech and core samples that are still not done 3 years later. Over $3 million for Phase 2 of utilities that will need to go under, um, Dixon. In spite of the budget crises the Assembly is experiencing, CBJ has put out to bid just a week and a half ago to spend another $550,000 for yet another additional consultant, and this one would be tasked to write an RFQ for it to find a developer, a request merely for qualifications, not proposals.

In that bid is the language that this work is, quote, to provide financial relief for a future developer, not Juno, for the developer. This is all money out from the city instead of going toward the important and dearly held programs and facilities that make Juno worthwhile living, worth living here. This newest consultant would be paid from, quote, allocated funding to pursue site demolition and preparation work, rock blasting to widen and flatten, um, Dixon Street.

Last month, the city did halt the April bulldozing of the vintage homes and their weather-appropriate four-sided roofs and their berry bushes and fruit trees that make the hill so calm, so calm and inviting and accessible for locals and tourists alike. Thank you. Any questions for Ms. Clark? Seeing none, thank you. And I apologize, Ms. Culp, I was right the first time.

You're on the consent agenda, so we won't be taking action on that. So you're welcome to testify tonight. Apologize.

Yep. And after that, we'll have Eleanor Colum.

So, uh, just be clear, the LID is on the consent agenda, um, so we won't take action on it tonight other than introduce. Yeah, thank you.

Please state your name and area, town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Good evening, Renee Kulp. I live in the Valley, um, uh, GLOF 2024, uh, Ground Zero, I think is what we call it.

Again, I'd like to say gunasheesh to Madam Mayor, um, our manager, and our assembly. You all have had hard decisions throughout your entire tenure, and witnessing, um, you work in the last several years has been nothing short of a miracle. It, it's interesting coming in to testify at the— after many of my citizens have already testified. And real listening to their testifying and realizing that I'm here to talk about lives, and I mean actual breathing lives. Recreation is so important, and if we're not, if we're not enjoying life, um, it, it's, it's not worth living.

I see that the manager has made a recommendation to remove the 60 the 4060 on the lid, and I want to say thank you for that. I'm here not just to say thank you for making a tough decision when we all had to vote to get support from our government to come in and help us, but also to make a suggestion. When I testified or spoke during, during a meeting, I, uh, I indicated I don't know the rules. This is not the area that I'm aware of, and so I'm going to make a suggestion that I have no idea if it is even possible. But you only have to look at the glacier behind you to recognize the damage that our visitors are making to it every year.

And we're here trying to find money. Where's that money going to come from? Comes in every year. Thank you for your testimony. Any questions?

Thank you for your testimony tonight.

So Eleanor Cullum, please state your name and area, town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Hi, my name is Eleanor Cullum and I live in the Valley. Eagle Crest is a staple in our community. It provides a safe and welcoming skiing environment. If you aren't a skier, I see how you could not realize what a huge role Eagle Crest plays.

As someone who has grown up skiing, most of my best memories are from our little ski area. Juneau wouldn't be the same without Eagle Crest. A lot of people live here for a ski area, and I am one of them. It provides the safest way to ski since it has avalanche control and ski boundaries. The way I see it, most people are going to ski no matter what, and Eagle Crest is the safest and best option for our community.

If Eagle Crest were to close, I know people would still hike up and use the area, but a lot of people that would do that don't have the proper avalanche training and gear to do so safely. And there would be a lot more injuries and rescues. Juneau is 100% a ski town, and you can't have that without a ski area. It provides jobs in our community and a great way to meet people. I have met so many incredibly interesting people through skiing, and I know I'm not the only one.

Eagle Crest offers numerous things in our— for our community, including but not limited to everything from lessons to parties. As someone who did the ski lesson program through Eagle Crest and then moved to the ski team, I wouldn't be the same person. If I wasn't a skier. Personally, I think closing Eagle Crest would have a huge negative impact on our community. A lot more people than you would expect would leave Juneau, and that could be detrimental to our town.

Plus, Eagle Crest provides a way for all of the town and Southeast to have a way to ski. Closing Eagle Crest wouldn't just affect the people that live in our town, but everyone in Southeast Alaska. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions?

Mr. Brooks. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Are you, uh, better at skiing than your parents? Yes, I am.

Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Uh, with that, um, since it's after 7, let's take a 9-minute break.

And the answer is yes, it will be after our assembly reports. And if I didn't call your name when I was going through the list, that's because you signed up for an agenda topic rather than non-agenda items. So hopefully that clears everything up for everybody.

Uh, so we will bring us to the consent agenda. Is there any public request for consent agenda changes other than ordinances for introduction? Is there any assembly requests? Seeing none, we will bring it to the assembly. Mr. Smith.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I move the consent agenda as presented and ask for unanimous consent. Uh, thank you, Mr. Smith. Any objection?

Seeing none, we will move to public hearing. Item number 1. Madam Clerk. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance 2026-02, an ordinance appropriating funds from the treasury for FY27 school district operations.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Deputy Manager. This ordinance will appropriate to the school district an FY27 operating budget of just over $97 million. This is an overall increase in the budget of $2,270,000 from the FY26 amended budget. The FY27 school budget is supported with a combination of funding sources, including the CBJ local funding of $37,910,900, state and federal funding of $47,554,500.

The local funding consists of $35.8 million for general operations and $2.1 million for programs and activities not subject to the state funding cap. State statute requires the Assembly determine the total amount of local educational funding support to be provided and provide notification of the support to the school board within 30 days of the school district's budget submission. The school district's budget was submitted on April 1st of this year. During the April 29th special assembly meeting, the Assembly approved the local funding portion of $35.8 million for school district general operations. At its May 6th meeting, the Assembly Finance Committee reviewed and forwarded to the Assembly Ordinance 2026-02, which includes the $2.1 million for programs and activities not subject to the state funding cap.

By charter, the Assembly is required to appropriate the school district's budget no later than May 31st.

I recommend the Assembly take public testimony and adopt this ordinance.

Thank you, Mr. Barr. I have no members of the public signed up for this. Does anybody in the audience want to speak to this? Seeing none, um, we do have Superintendent Hauser here if we have any questions. Miss Youskandis.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I move that the assembly adopt Ordinance 2026-02, and I ask for unanimous consent. Any objection? Seeing none, that motion passes. Thank you for being here, Mr.

Superintendent. Uh, next we have Item 2. Madam Clerk. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance 2025-01, lowercase b, uppercase I A, uppercase A, uppercase I, an ordinance appropriating up to $270,000 to the manager for a grant to Southeast Childhood Collective for Juneau summer child care programs, funding provided by general funds.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Deputy Manager, this ordinance would appropriate up to $270,000 of general funds for a grant to the Southeast Childhood Collective for summer child care programs in Juneau. This one-time appropriation is intended to establish a targeted grant program to stabilize 3 existing school-age care sites— Oak Bay Elementary, Harborview Elementary, and Glacier Valley Elementary— and support the startup of up to 2 additional sites. Stabilization funds would cover personnel and program development, updated classroom materials, updated classroom materials, materials and scholarships for low-income families while programs are awaiting licensing so that they can accept childcare assistance.

Recommend you take public testimony and adopt this ordinance. Uh, thank you, Mr. Deputy Manager. Is there any member of the public who wish to speak to this ordinance? Seeing none, we'll bring it back to the assembly. Ms.

Wall. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I move the assembly approve Ordinance 2025-01B-AI and ask for unanimous consent. Any objection? I will object, uh, just briefly, um, I think that this benefits a sole proprietor, so I have a little difficulty with that.

And at the time that we're looking to cut places in the city and perhaps lose some jobs in the city, I think starting something new is inappropriate, especially for $270,000. So, Madam Clerk, we have objection. Would you call roll?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. For Ordinance 2025-01 lowercase b uppercase A I, Ms. Wall? Yes. Mr. Brooks? Yes.

Ms. Hall? Yes. Mr. Steininger? Yes. Ms. Adkisson?

Yes. Mr. Kelly? Yes. Ms. Hughes-Scandies? Yes.

Deputy Mayor Smith? Yes, Madam Mayor. No. Motion carries, 8 yeas and 1 nay.

Uh, item number 3, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance 2026-18, an ordinance authorizing the manager to enter negotiations to terminate the revised revenue sharing agreement authorized by Ordinance 2023-08.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Madam Manager, this ordinance authorizes the City Manager to terminate the revised revenue sharing agreement with Goldbelt related to the gondola project at Eagle Crest Ski Area. The project is not feasible to complete with public funds due to significant cost increases. Under the terms of the RSA, the city and borough may terminate the agreement provided that notice is given and the $10 million capital contribution, along with just short of 3 years of interest at 7%, is repaid in accordance with the agreement. Recommend you take public testimony and adopt this ordinance.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Deputy Manager. We do have one person signed up for testimony on this. Uh, please bring— he's on Zoom, so please bring over Matt Davis.

Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Hello, my name is Matt Davis. I'm Douglas. Real quick, does the agreement have to be terminated to be renegotiated, or can it be renegotiated before being terminated? Unfortunately, this is your time to do testimony, not ask questions.

It's okay. So if that's the case, like, if, if the agreement can be renegotiated, I think it really you know, all efforts need to be tried, and I know you guys have tried, um, but I think it's a shortfall of the assembly to basically cut and run from the money that's been spent, uh, like towards this project and the benefits that could be, um, uh, realized from this opportunity, both for the betterment of the community, the future sustainability of Eagle Crest, and also the, you know, the boon to the tourist economy. You know, I think approaching Goldbelt with as many, you know, bargaining tools as possible could really set everybody up for success here. And maybe it means CBJ is completely removed from the operation of Eagle Crest, but they have a, you know, 99-year lease, as an op-ed writer pointed out today. Because, you know, commonly Forest Service lease land to ski areas, but the Forest Service does not run that ski area.

And a similar application could warrant here. And I think terminating this agreement and just cutting and running is a real mistake, and it's a real shortfall of the Assembly to pursue that today. So I would encourage you to vote no on this resolution. And also, you know, to fully fund Eagle Crest to what they're asking is also going to be huge. Not just 1.68 million, but as you heard tonight from the numerous testimony, you know, give them what they need, what they're asking for.

And I think it's only going to help Eagle Crest. And I think there are some shortfalls in the assembly and the project management, you know, of the gondola project so far. It's become this kind of financial—. Your time has gone off. So, I'll look for questions.

And maybe seeing them, maybe my question will assist you. Do you realize that ending the RSA with Goldbelt does not mean that we still cannot negotiate with Goldbelt or another third party? Okay, yeah, I appreciate that. Yeah, that I think big picture, you know, it's not about the field house, Eagle Crest, you know, all these parks and parks and rec apparatus. You know, they're, they're important to the community overall.

Your time is done. I think, I think, thank you. Looking at revenue, uh, is there any member of the audience that wishes to speak to this ordinance?

That's just speak to this ordinance. I seen this on someone's phone before, Daddy.

Yeah, it's just for this ordinance, it's not just for support Eagle Crest. Mr. Harris, do you understand? Okay, come on up. Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Uh, thank you, Madam Mayor and assembly members.

I appreciate the, uh, hard work you're doing, and I want to offer a little bit of a comment. Um, as you know, Eagle Crest has got into a difficult financial situation, but historically it's had an extremely high ability to, with just the ski area, to have a 70% cost recovery. And that's not considering summer opportunity. There was an assembly member— I was a month ago, I think— suggested perhaps that Eagle Crest is open for bond financing and bond financing opportunities. But you need to have a marketing study, and your marketing study is now coming forward and I believe that that marketing study will give you a bigger picture of what the opportunities are.

So I think that this particular ordinance at this point in time may be premature, and that you shouldn't— the city and, and the city manager and assembly should, uh, uh, not make consequential decisions that there's no return until you get your marketing study done, because I think that guides both your ordinances. That, thank you very much. Thank you for your testimony. Questions? Thank you for your testimony.

Any further comment on the RSA?

Uh, please state your name and area, town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Thank you, I'll be brief. Liam Carnahan, North Douglas High— North Douglas, sorry, uh, right off the U Crest or Fish Creek Road. I'm the only person in Juneau that calls it Fish Creek Road. Um, look, I don't have too much specific to this ordinance.

Your back is against the wall. Um, I do want to ask 2 things. One is not to blame Eagle Crest. You know, this is purely a difficulty of your own making. You agreed to a 7% interest rate with Goldbelt.

I mean, Can I loan you some money?

Anyway, the bigger point is that the financial futures of Eagle Crest is, you know, we're on the verge. And as you can tell where my sympathies lie, and that's the Eagle Crest app.

Think that the burden of these financial, uh, encumbrances should lie solely with the responsibility of Eagle Crest. You know, it's really the assembly that's brought this unfortunate situation to bear, and I understand you're making the hard choices to, to figure out how to come out of this, but, you know, Again, don't blame Eagle Crest for things that are outside the control of Eagle Crest. Thank you. Said I'd be brief. Uh, Miss Wall, we have a question for you.

Miss Wall, I, I have to— thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, thanks for your testimony. I just have to ask because I feel like we get this a lot. Are you aware of how many people sitting up here were, were sitting up here when that decision was made? You're still the assembly, you know, whether, whether you actually were sitting there or other people were there It's a Juneau assembly that has to take responsibility for the acquisition of that gondola.

Eagle Crest didn't buy that gondola, you did. So, I mean, yeah, no, I'm not— I, I know, you know, man, I know a lot of you aren't, but, you know, I want to be respectful of your time. I really don't know the answer to that, but it's still your burden. You can. Any further questions?

Until I'm waiting to get on—. See you, Nat. Thank you. Any other thing on this RSA? Go ahead, Miss Emerson.

Please state your name and area you live in again for the record. You have 2 minutes. Hi, I'm Molly Emerson. Again, I live in the Flats. Um, I just impromptu wanted to speak on this agenda item.

Um, the city was, uh, repaying— is repaying, um, the loan effectively that Gold Belt gave the city. 7% Interest is, is a high interest rate, but, um, you know, it's a $2.7 million mistake. That's okay. Um, the city can, can take that and, and learn from it. Um, as Mayor Weldon, you so elegantly reminded us, doesn't mean that the city can't move forward after terminating the RSA and think creatively about what to do with Eagle Crest and what to do with the gondola.

I don't know if there's anything you can do with, with the gondola at this point, but I would encourage the city to approve the ordinance, move forward, cancel the RSA, and think creatively about the future. Thank you. Any questions? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. Okay, anybody else?

Going once, going twice, going 3 times, and where are we? Mr. Brooks.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I, uh, move Ordinance 2026-18, um, and I will, uh Object.

All right, do you want to speak to your objection? Yes, I, I think with the, um, you know, with the current circumstance and direction that we gave Eagle Crest and everyone knowing that it's an all hands on deck type situation, um, you know, I think when things go for one more year to see what comes of it, um, would be in a better interest. I know that the interest will, uh, gain during that time, but we have the possibility of not depleting our fund balance and having a little bit of grace for these, uh, tough times and this, uh, current year. So I would just like to see a little more time on it, see where things go, and then, you know, still keep us in a position to where we have funds available for other things. Thank you, Mr. Brooks.

Miss Youskandis. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, with objecting for a question, um, this is for the Deputy Mayor. Or sorry, Deputy Manager, you're off the hook, Mr. Smith. Um, Mr. Barr, um, I know that, you know, we have this ordinance and then we have the next ordinance that, uh, is our appropriating one that draws up the money.

This just is to negotiate— I— or authorizing the ending of it. I feel like I've said multiple times, I don't have the RSA right here with me to reference So maybe I should just start bringing the RSA, but I'm looking at line 19 or 18, and it provides or requires CBJ provide notice to Gold Bell and repay the $10 million plus an agreed-upon termination fee within 60 days of that. So do we have— does anyone over there have the agreed-upon termination fee?

They're looking great. And then I'm wondering if that's cared for in the— or appropriating ordinance.

Madam Attorney, thank you. Through the chair, so it is that, that interest rate and fee, it is encompassed in this. This is the entire amount plus that termination fee has already been calculated. What it is referring to. Okay, perfect.

Great, thank you. Are you removing your objection and you're maintaining it? I'm with— I'm removing my objection. Thank you, Ms. Wall. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I'll speak in support of this. I mean, I think we've been over where we are with the project and why we can no longer afford to move forward. But I wanted to speak to Mr. Brooks's comments in particular. You know, I am I think we will— we should continue to talk to Goldbelt about the future of Eagle Crest. I think there's plenty of things that we've discussed that could be mutually beneficial in a future partnership, but we don't know what— but there is a lot to figure out if that goes forward.

And I don't know why we would do that while there is interest continuing to accumulate. By my math, it would be almost another million dollars if we were to spend a year going down that road, and we would be doing it under duress because we want to do it quickly. And so I think we should do it carefully and on equal footing with Gold Belt. And so the only way we get there, in my mind, is we end this agreement and we try again if that is the will of both parties. I thank you, Ms.

Wall. Anybody else? Mr. Kelly.

Thank you. I think I largely agree with the comments for Ms. Wall, so I will speak in support of this motion. I think when it comes to regarding the future of Eagle Crest, that, um, that members of the public should also You know, it is really all hands on deck. And so I think in addition to engaging with us, looking for future opportunities for Eagle Crest, please also engage with the members of the Eagle Crest board.

Thank you. We have a motion and objection. Madam Clerk, will you call roll?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. For Ordinance 2026-18, an ordinance authorizing the manager to enter negotiations to terminate the revised revenue sharing agreement authorized by Ordinance 2022-1. Ordinance 2023-08. Mr. Brooks? No.

Miss Hughes-Candies? Yes. Miss Wall? Yes. Mr. Kelly?

Yes. Miss Adkisson? Yes. Mr. Steininger? Yes.

Miss Hall? Yes. Deputy Mayor Smith? Yes. Madam Mayor?

Yes. Motion carries with 8 yeas and 1 nay. Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. Item 4, Madam Clerk. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Ordinance 2025-01 lowercase b uppercase AL, an ordinance appropriating up to $12,200,000 to the manager to repay— to repay Gold Bell Inc. for the installation and associated infrastructure of a gondola at the Eagle Crest ski area and deappropriating $2,700,000 from the manager for the Eagle Crest Gondola capital improvement project, funding provided by general funds and Goldbelt Inc. Investment funds. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Deputy Manager, the ordinance you just passed authorizes the city manager to terminate the revised revenue sharing agreement between the CBJ and Goldbelt.

As part of this termination, CBJ is required to repay Goldbelt's $10 million investment plus interest. This ordinance appropriates the $12.2 million for that repayment. Funding is provided by the following sources: $2.7 million in deappropriated funds from the Eagle Crest Gondola CIP, and $9.5 million in unrestricted general funds. I recommend you take public testimony and adopt this ordinance. Thank you, Mr.

Deputy Manager. I don't have anybody signed up for this ordinance. Is there any member of the public that wishes to speak to this ordinance?

Come on up.

Please state your name and area, town you live in again, and you have 2 minutes. Liam Kernaghan, North Douglas. Um, I was agnostic on the gondola when we bought it. Um, I need the pro, no, no against. I offered Dave Dave Scanlon, general manager, Eagle Crest, that I would build the gondola or construct the gondola.

I worked in construction for DOT. I'm a civil engineer. I have the skills to do that. He said that's what the board wanted him to do, uh, to find someone else to, uh, his board— sorry, the Eagle Crest board— wanted him to do, and, um, uh, wanted him to find someone to take on that burden instead of him dealing with it. I had a plan of action I presented to him.

I would— an hour-long meeting in his office up at Eagle Crest. I would do the dirt work, clearing, grubbing, concrete work first, and then hire someone else to do the construction, the erection. It doesn't matter what the plan was. I wouldn't like say this like, like boost myself up, make myself feel better, because I'm really sad that it's come to this, you know, whether it was a viable plan, it was a plan and something that could have gotten Ucrest out of its dire financial situation. And I'm just so sad it's come to this.

I mean, it's, it's, it's a tragedy for this town. I totally understand where Nano— I don't know Nano, but Mr. Brooks is coming from. Um, you know, beyond a wasted opportunity.

Thank you. Thank you. Any questions? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. All right, we'll bring it back to the assembly.

Ms. Atkinson. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I move ordinance 2025-01, version B, capital A-L, and I ask for unanimous consent. Any objection? Mr. Brooks, do you need to speak to your objection?

Objection for the purpose of a question. What kind of interest would we be subject to if we paid off half of the amount?

Miss— Madam Attorney, thank you. So, um, the interest is 7%, uh, monthly. Um, so, so if you, if you only wanted to pay half, it would be half.

Um, Ms. Huskanes and then Mr. Kelly. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm objecting just for a brief comment because as somebody who was here at the time that this all happened and now has seen through, uh, what I agree is an unfortunate process, and I'm not happy that this is where we are, even as I am glad to be coming to some kind of clean resolution so that we are no longer, um, no longer in a position where we're earning interest, but also no longer in a position where perhaps we are not making the most rational decisions because, uh, we are falling prey to a sunk cost fallacy. I think that it's going to be really important because this process involved people at every level, involved the Eagle Crest board, involved the Eagle Crest manager, involved the assembly at the time and the city manager at the time. And I have talked about— I have talked to the current city manager, but it, it really behooves us to go back and look at this when we are fully clear and free and study what went wrong and when it went wrong so that we avoid a situation like this again.

I voted against the assembly— or I voted against the gondola when we took that initial vote, and I was an outspoken critic at the time of moving forward. But when the assembly makes a decision, I do believe it's our responsibility that it is then the will of the collective assembly, and we try to see that project become a success. So I really did, um, do what I could to see that as success in the years that were in between. And we all know I don't need to revisit, so I am— I do not mean to point fingers or to assign blame, but given the amount the magnitude of a mistake this was. I feel like I have to say this, um, just as someone who sits in a position where we spend public funds and we earn or lose public trust, um, that sincerely I am sorry that things went this way.

And I think it's really important that we study it after it is over so we know that we're not going to make a magnitude of the same, or a mistake of the same size. More importantly, I think in the here and now, I agree, we focus on where we are, and we, we're all pulling together as always, because blame doesn't really have a part in, in what we do here. Um, and I know that is the case, that, uh, that will continue to be, but I just wanted to, uh, object for a moment to say that But I very much think this is the right thing to be doing, and I'm glad to be here now. So I would remove my objection. Thank you, Ms. Hughes-Caniz.

Mr. Kelly.

Thank you. I was going to object for the purposes of a question, but also take a moment to, to say I agree with Ms. Hughes-Caniz. I think we do need to take the opportunity to, uh, to study this in the future and learn from, uh, learn from this situation. Um, my question relates to Mr. Brooks' objection, uh, or he was asking if we— about paying a different amount. It would be my understanding though, I think I'm directing this to the attorney, that we would not be able to terminate the agreement if we paid less than the full amount.

Is that correct, Madam Attorney?

Thank you for the question. So, um, the, the termination agreement has several ways that we can initiate a termination, one of which is that the assembly has failed to appropriate the necessary funds to do so. That is why the previous ordinance was based on that failure to appropriate the funds. I don't, I don't I don't specifically recall what the number was. I remember it was, you know, about $37 million for the total project.

So your failure to do that means it's a complete, complete failure to meet that term of the agreement. The way this is set forth is it would be in its entirety. That, that being said, you know, you have options to talk to Goldbelt afterwards, or to negotiate things afterwards. But the way it's been presented is a full completion of the— of the— a full use of that termination and that provision.

Thank you. I remove my objection. Thank you. Anything further? Mr. Brooks.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. And just to, uh, give further context to my reasoning. It's, it's not that I don't— I don't think it's good that we're in this position and, um, you know, occurring that type of, uh, interest. But in the big picture of where we're at in circumstances, we have, um, a lot of things, a lot of potential emergencies, things more related to health and safety within the community. And getting out of these loan terms isn't a health and safety-related issue.

I would much rather have some of that money available in the circumstance, God forbid, that we would need it to address an issue related to Glacial Outburst or any more infrastructure failures that might happen this coming year. Oh, thank you, Mr. Brooks. I'll just weigh in here too. I'm supporting the ordinance. And Ms. Youskany, thank you for saying what you did.

That was well spoken.

I was one of the votes that voted for the gondola, but the 5 of us, because it was a 5-4 split, saw the handwriting on the wall with Eagle Crest. And here we are with Eagle Crest that we saw more and more general fund going into more and more subsidy. And, uh, for those out there, we did not come up with the idea for the gondola. That was totally the general manager and the board at the time. And, uh, we grasped at the straw trying to save Eagle Crest.

So call us gullible, call us naive, but that's what we were trying to do. So that was our intent. But I agree with Ms. Hugh Scandies, we need to go back and, uh, study this and see what we can do to make things different so we don't get ourselves in these kind of predicaments again. But, uh, with that being said, Madam Clerk, we have a motion and objection. Please call the roll.

I'm assuming, Mr. Brooks, you're maintaining your— okay.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. For Ordinance 2025-01, lowercase b, uppercase A-L, Mr. Brooks. No.

Ms. Adkisson? Yes. Mr. Steininger? Yes. Ms. Hall?

Yes. Mr. Kelly? Yes. Ms. Wall? Yes.

Ms. Hughes-Candice? Yes. Deputy Mayor Smith? Yes. Madam Mayor?

Yes. Motion carries, 8 yeas, 1 nay. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Item 5, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance 2025-01 lowercase b uppercase A-G, an ordinance appropriating up to $558,000 to the manager for the National Resources Conservation Service View Drive buyout program. Planning funding provided by general funds or restricted budget reserves. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Deputy Manager.

During your March 9th meeting, the Assembly directed staff to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service, NRCS, to participate in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which would buy out private properties on View Drive located in the Mendenhall Valley. Due to View Drive's unique location along the Mendenhall River, flood prevention measures such as HESCO barriers and bank stabilizations would not be effective in protecting private properties properties from damage caused by Glacial Lake outburst flooding. This appropriation would provide funding to determine the cost estimates for the buyouts of— for the buyout of private properties on View Drive. Recommend you take public testimony, decide a funding source, and adopt this ordinance.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Manager. We do have a couple people signed up to do this testimony. Let's first go to Randy Hurt on Zoom.

Okay, can you hear me? Yep. Please state your name and area of town you live in. Great. Hi, Randy Hurt.

I live on 9324 View Drive, Juneau, Alaska, and I apologize, I'm actually back east, so it's a little late here. But all I wanted to do is just kind of go over a little bit about the plight of our family, just so people know. Ramifications of living in a house that's been flooding on a regular basis. We were flooded along with several other houses in View Drive in 2023, you know, 2, 2.5 feet in the house, you know, of course the ruins of everything, as you can imagine. The following year, 2024, which was the worst flood for the Minnehaha Valley, we actually had a little less water, in most of the houses on View Drive, but so it wasn't— it was still severe, but it was a few inches lower.

After the HESCO barriers and, you know, maybe more of the release, of course, we had another 3 feet or whatever in the house. So that's been going on for View Drive now 3 years in a row. Obviously, this buyout program could be beneficial Although, you know, we're looking at having to come up with 25% plus some unknown cost of the 25% to tear the house down. From what I understand, this all— we have to be out of the house and the buyout has to be complete, maybe not the house tore down, before the next flood. I think that's part of the program.

So I don't know if we're going to have time for all this, but I just would like you to consider that and where we're at and the 4 or 5 houses. I think there were 6 in 2025 that were inundated. Maybe 5 of them were on View Drive. And again, you know, there's no value of the house when this is all done. If it did go through and a few houses did okay it, the city would end up with some additional parkland, I guess, if they needed it.

So there is some value coming back to the city, and that's about all I have to say. But, uh, thank you for considering, uh, your consideration. Well, thank you. Mr. Brooks has a question.

Go ahead. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Mayor, and thank you, Mr. Hurt, for being here and giving us testimony. If the money was made available for the buyout and the same amount made available for raising the foundation of your home, which would you choose? Um, I, I think the, um, looking at the previous cost of raising the houses, um, it looked like it wouldn't be beneficial.

But, you know, I've— people have looked at whether this program would support raising the houses, and I think the answer back was no. So, um, you know, but if we could raise it and stay there, it'd be great. But I don't think that's going to be a a viable option. Ms. Wall.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, thank you, Mr. Hart, for being here. Just to be crystal clear, I, I think what I'm hearing from you is, is support for this ordinance and that you, your family, may consider it. Um, we would certainly consider it, correct? Yeah, that is correct.

I mean, we have no value of the house at all at this point. I mean, I don't think anybody would want to buy it, and if even if you rented it, you'd have to have people move out for months at a time to clean it up and cut out the sheetrock and everything else. So right now, you know, I think we'd— it's not a very good place to live.

All right, thank you for your testimony tonight. Welcome. Thank you. And next we have Angela Smith.

Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Hi, I'm Angela Smith, also living on View Drive. So let me not get emotional. Um, yeah, it's, it's tricky because nothing's been done to protect View Drive homes from the relentless flooding. We bought our home when it mapped above the 100-year floodplain, and no flood insurance was required.

I did send a detailed email to everyone, what we've been through, and spoken a couple times, conversations in the newspaper, yeah, with Jazz, Juneau Independent. So my story is out there, but besides all of that, I just want to say in person that it is a really— yeah, I'm glad I've got to talk with a number of you too, but it's really a horrible option to destroy our home after a buyout. But the basin floods regularly, destroying it. Since the federal government sees our case as hopeless, and is willing to issue 75% funding towards getting rid of our homes. I want to see the full details of our 25% cost.

I want to get the opportunity to look at and, uh, you know, maybe I hope accept the buyout proposal, hopefully be able to make it work. Um, I hope the city will communicate individually with each of us View Drive residents, even steps along the way, understandings. We just really need to know what everyone thinks and learns about, particularly our area, since the federal government— let's see. So anyway, and I, I'll just say this, since the Army Corps in Sin Dee can't help us, I just hope you'll accept the No, I mean proceed with it. Proceed with it.

That's all. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Brooks? And then, Ms. Hall.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. And I understand that, you know, the NRCS program doesn't quite apply for raising foundations, but there are lots of other federal and state programs that are— that do have that capability, even one that DOT had a recent meeting with, with Valley residents, did a little community town hall type meeting. So my question would be the same as I gave to Mr. Hurt. If the money was made available for either the buyout program or raising the foundation of your home, which would you choose? Um, yeah, I did hear last that as we've been looking into it, like the— I think it's the BRICS, uh, some kind of program.

Um, they estimated, um, you would kind of get on a list and it'd be like 10 years Yeah, like if they could do it and it would be immediate, which we haven't seen any indication for that at all. And then also deciding how high and how to predict how high to go. I've heard houses have been raised. I heard a podcast, a house was raised 17 feet.

We would certainly hope nothing like that needs to happen. And then I hear that there's the government programs, you know, because of the coast all over the country, the houses are needing it. That anyway, it doesn't seem to be a viable option. But yeah, if you say, I'll raise your house and here's the money for it, that might work faster than trying to find a place to live, you know. I don't know.

Ms. Hall. Yeah, thank you, Madam Mayor, and thank you, Ms. Smith. And I just want to acknowledge incredible stress that you're all under right now. It's, you know, seeing your properties right after the flood, talking to you, and just knowing this must be pretty, you know, just awful to have to wait for something to happen and, you know, for the buyout. So we're with you on this.

Yes, yeah, I appreciate it. You have all listened, and, um, and I do appreciate the communication we've had, and we just got to figure it out. Thank you. Thanks a lot. Does any other member of the public wish to speak to this ordinance?

Seeing none, we'll bring it to the assembly. Mr. Steininger. I move the assembly adopt Ordinance 2025-01BAG.

And ask for unanimous consent. Um, Mr. Steineger, which funding source would you like that from? Restricted budget reserve. Thank you for that.

Any objection? Ms. Wall and Ms. Shuskanis. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'll object for an amendment, um, to change that, um, uh, funding source to general funds. And if I could speak to the amendment, and I'm interested in this discussion because, um, I forgot that this was a piece of what we were discussing tonight.

But, um, why I would, um, at this time move this amendment unless I'm convinced otherwise— I, I believe that, you know, the intent of our restricted budget reserve is to use it in times of emergency with a plan for how we Um, we'll refill it. We have used this many times throughout the GLOF when we knew there were other opportunities, um, either federal or state funding. Um, our restricted budget reserve policy says that we are, um, not supposed to lower our mill rate, um, when our, our, when our restricted budget reserve is not full. And in a time where we have a cap on our mill rate, that we are currently taxing people at. I don't know how we would pay this back, and maybe others have thoughts.

I know we're thinking about future funding for GLOF because we know there will be lots of expenses, but right now, not having a plan, I would say it would make more sense to take this from the general fund because of that intent of what a restricted budget reserve is for. I'd hate to have us get in the habit of just taking it out when we need it, as opposed to taking it out with a plan of how to keep that reserve whole. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Huschke, and then Mr. Kelly.

Thanks, Madam Mayor. I was going to object with 2 questions. Questions for Mr. Barr. Um, Mr. Barr, earlier we talked on the phone and I was, uh, calling to make sure that I understood, um, how this would work in a hypothetical setting if I were a homeowner on Jew Drive. And we, uh, you talked me through that, uh, using some pretty simple numbers to, um, go through the math.

So could you do that again, please, for the record? Mr. Barr. Thank you for the question, Councilmember Hughes-Scandies. Yes. So, um, what this appropriation would do is fund, uh, two things.

It would fund our, uh, appraisals of each individual property, which is required under the NRCS's program. Um, and those appraisals would be backdated to, uh, right before the 2024 glop. Um, it's tied to that federal disaster declaration. And it would also fund some level of, of design to enable cost estimating for demolishing each individual house on each individual parcel and estimating the costs to care for any environmental concerns and return that land back to kind of a natural state. With those 2 numbers in hand, Each individual homeowner would have a decision to make as to whether or not they would participate in— make a final decision about whether they would like to participate in the buyout program, and there would be a real estate transaction that would occur, right?

NRSC would pay 75% of that appraised value of the house. They will also pay 75% It's a little bit more complicated than that, but in general, they would also pay 75% of the project costs to demolish and return those properties to that natural state that I refer to. If you want to use the big round numbers that I used with you earlier today, where if you— let me make sure my math is right really quick. Um, sorry to put you on the spot. Yeah, I think it is.

So if you, um, just go with a $500,000 appraised value, um, 75% of that would be $400,000. Um, that would leave the homeowners responsible for the final 25%, assuming a different funding source was not identified for that local cost share. Um, similarly, if you want to use those same numbers and assume that demolition costs and environmental costs and project costs also amount to perhaps $500,000 per parcel, and that is just for illustration, that is not at all an estimate, then again NRCS would pay for 75%, again in general, of those costs, $400,000, and the other $100,000 would be the cost to the homeowner again, unless another funding source was identified. Um, so at that real estate transaction, uh, the, uh, that local share, that 25%, um, needs to be, uh, paid at the time of transaction. Um, and then after that happens, the buyout portion from NRCS comes into play.

Okay, thank you.

Next is Mr. Kelly and then Mr. Steininger. Thank you. Um, it's a good thing that Mr. Steininger is following because my question is actually directed to him. Um, so I would be curious as to why you chose that funding source and if you had a means to repay it in mind.

Well, um, so I'll speak to why I chose a restricted budget reserve. And first I'll say, you know, I don't really disagree with, you know, anything that Ms. Wall stated in her comments on her amendment. But really, I'm looking at the, you know, item in our packet from our most recent Assembly Finance Committee that shows our unrestricted projected unrestricted balance of our general fund at almost negative $1 million at the end of fiscal year '27. And I know we have a lot of decisions later this week that's going to change that, and I really hope we don't land with a negative balance at the end of our budget process. This isn't a, like, projection of pessimism there, but just looking at that, seeing that this is, you know, responding to an emergency, responding to a disaster, I think fits justification, and I think for just practical reasons, there's— there is no projected balance in the unrestricted budget reserve right now, and that will force more and harder decisions in our budget process.

And that, that's why I chose the restricted budget reserve. I'm not going to— I will vote for this underlying ordinance regardless of what fund source it comes from, but I just think at this point, for practical reasons, and because it still fits within the idea of emergency response, that the restricted budget Reserve is the right choice. Well, thank you, Mr. Steineger. And you were next on list to speak. You want to speak on something else besides that explanation?

That was exactly all I was going to say anyway. But oh, and to answer, uh, answer Mr. Kelly's question, no, I don't know how we'll pay it back. Hopefully, hopefully some of the revenue discussions we're having separately might help with some of those decisions and, and directions. I thank you, Mr. Steiner. Miss Atkinson.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm going to speak in support of this amendment. Um, I don't disagree with the previous speaker that this is going to force more and harder decisions this budget cycle, but I also find with the financial situation we're in, being very protective of an already reduced restrictive budget reserve, uh, especially with no plan to repay it, uh, it is going to force us to make hard decisions because as we learned in the last last finance meeting where our decisions have put our fund balance at, what, negative $1.7 million. But that's our responsibility as the assembly to balance our budget. And if we are going to fund this, which I believe we should, we might just have to balance our budget in a more difficult way.

Uh, thank you. Um, Ms. Wall— oh, sorry, Mr. Brooks first, and then Ms. Wall. I'll cross out that list and start my other list. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, is there any value added to the homes or covered in any way for the utility infrastructure of the street?

Or once all the homes get demolished, does the value behind that infrastructure disappear as well?

Mr. Deputy Manager. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, no, I don't believe there would be any continuing value in the utility infrastructure, and, and it is possible, um, probable even, uh, that we would need to, um, do some work, uh, to the utility system to, to return, uh, those parcels back to its natural state, whether that's capping or removing, I'm not sure. And since I'm on mic, I'll just correct my previous math where I was— 25% of $500,000 is not $100,000, it's $125,000. So math on the spot.

You are a librarian, not a mathematician. Uh, Ms. Wall. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'll just I will just speak again in support of my amendment after hearing you all speak. You know, not only are we supposed to have a way of paying the restricted budget reserve back, what I heard in Mr. Sininger's comments are, you know, a desire to not pull from the general fund because of its negative balance, but instead to pull from the restricted budget reserve.

A negative general fund balance is our decision to make, and if we're trying to maintain it because of decisions that we've made that are not emergencies, then it, in my mind, a really inappropriate, um, uh, use of restricted budget reserve funds in this, in this case. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Wall. Mr. Smith. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um, I do wonder if something like, you know, we are going to address at some point looking at different ways to fund flood response and, you know, repair of HESCOs and those type of things. I mean, that may be a way to repay the restricted budget reserve as we go forward, but even with that, I'll actually still support pulling it from the general fund. So thank you. Thank you. So we have an amendment.

Do we have objection? Sorry, I lost track. There was lots of objection and then polling in their objection. So are you— maintain your objection?

Thank you, Mr. Steininger. Uh, we have an amendment and we have objection. Would you, uh, tell us what our amendment is just to make sure we're all following along?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. For Miss Wall's amendment for the funding source provided by general funds for Ordinance 2025-01B AG.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Please call roll. Miss Wall. Yes. Mr. Steininger.

No. Miss Hall. Nope. Mr. Brooks? Yes.

Miss Adkisson? Yes. Mr. Kelly? Yes. Deputy Mayor Smith?

Yes. Miss Hughes-Scandies? No. Madam Mayor? No.

Motion carries with 5 yeas and 4 nays. Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. So now we have a motion as amended. Any objection? Ms. Hughes-Candies.

Uh, thank you, Madam Mayor. I am going to, uh, object to the underlying ordinance itself, although it is, uh, extremely hard to do so. We referenced in the comments, uh, during discussion of the funding source the projected fund balance of the general fund as it stands now. I agree with the comments of my colleague that the— what those projections show and what ultimately that ending fund balance is, is a result of our decisions, and those decisions still need to be made. Um, and because of that, it is a very pliable number.

That is not a static number. At any time we can choose to make larger decisions and change what that fund balance looks like. That being said, um, as we have worked through this budget process, I feel like I have not seen thus far us make the decisions that we need to to match our ongoing expenses to our ongoing revenue. And because of this, I have concerns about adding another half a million, um, to funds that we will need to figure out how to make balance in the budget. I think that speaks to my overall dollar amount concern with this choice.

I think as we have worked through getting more information about this program and as we have made other hard flood decisions, both related to funding and to moving forward with a course of action, this has been one that We wanted to leave an option open for these residents because these are residents that we have not been able to, uh, provide any real assistance to. And we know how much, uh, all residents in the GLOFF-affected, uh, region of town are suffering and how much, uh, stress and, uh, true damage, both financial and, um, and emotional, that they suffer each year with the flood. Um, so it's because of that, it makes it a very hard decision, uh, to make.

That being said, it is also something that as we have gone on, we have tried to make the best decision that we could with the information that we had at that point. And as we have made decisions that affected larger numbers of residents, I find myself a little bit tangled between our current funding situation and the policy decision of when government steps in, uh, and makes an intervention and why they make that intervention. And, uh, this is hard personally for those, uh, residents that live there and, uh, hard to do. But between the financial decision and the policy decision of whether it makes sense for government to step in, um, and the cost to the number of parcels, for myself, I feel like I need to object. Uh, thank you.

We have Mr. Kelly and then Ms. Wall.

Thank you. I was going to just object for the purposes of a I was wondering, I think one of our testifiers, Mr. Hurt, brought up the question of timing and how it'd have to be a pretty quick turnaround. Do we have a timeline in mind for how, like, when things would— like, when the assessments would take place? When— yeah, just general timeline for when we would proceed.

Go ahead, Mr. Burr. Thank you, Assemblymember Kelly, for the question.

It's a tricky question to answer, so I can tell you that NRCS, per their program mandate, desires for lots of good and understandable reasons for these projects to happen quickly. You know, as quickly as, as Mr. Hurt mentioned, I think as before the next flood this summer. I can, I can tell you that I have extreme doubts about our, you know, our ability, the ability of the local appraising industry, the ability of contractors that we would use and the capacity and availability of those contractors and designers and architects to do the cost estimating work and to do the actual, you know, deconstruction work before August. I would be amazed if that speed was actually possible. So I hope that answers your question from a timing perspective.

I think that's probably the best I can do. Thank you, Mr. Maher. Ms. Wall. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I'll speak in support of this ordinance, though, um, I will acknowledge, um, Ms. Huskandy's comments.

This, this is a really tough one, and it was a tough one for me. I've been going back and forth, and, you know, for lots, lots of reasons. There's lots to pull out of this. Um, you know, on one hand, I Um, you know, share her concerns about the budget decisions that we've made so far and the financial position that puts us in. Um, and, um, I also share concerns that, you know, um, we cannot predict what the future looks like of the Gloff right now.

We're doing our best, but, you know, we hope that the HESCOs It, you know, if we were in a situation where we knew the HESCOs were gonna hold and, or we were gonna get a long-term solution quickly, you know, we'd be in a different place. We don't have that certainty, and I do worry that we will be looking at more buyouts in the future. You know, if, if we, if, if the HESCOs, if the river has a different plan than we have it. For it. So that makes me nervous about moving forward without a, a plan.

Um, that being said, you know, this— I think this is a worthwhile investment to try to see if there's something that can be done. I do not— we don't have money to fund more than this. Um, we don't really even have money to fund this right now, but I, I feel confident that we have the decision-making power to put ourselves in a financial position where we can afford to do this and give, you know, some hope to those folks that there's something that can be done. We don't know if it will work, but that's how I feel about the whole valley. We're— it's a risky proposition, this expensive proposition, but what else are we going to do?

So I will support it. I don't know what will happen after if it passes, but But to me, it's a worthwhile investment given the community situation we're in. Thank you, Ms. Wall. I'll object for purposes of a question, probably 2 questions.

When we last met with the homeowners, it was a little unclear whether the homeowners were going to have to come up with the money separate, or if they could take it out of the value of what the NRCS was going to pay. Could you be clear on that now? Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, we've had an opportunity to follow up directly with NRCS since then, and they have confirmed that the homeowners would have to come up with that money up front, cannot be taken out of the equity. Okay, and then this isn't a nice question, but Madam Attorney, is there any way we can condition this that we would only do an appraisal if, um, the homeowner has the means to pay the money up front.

Madam Mayor, there's no way for us to condition participation in the NRCS program. All right, thank you. Then I remove my objection. All right, we have a motion— amended motion— and I believe we have objection. Madam Clerk, will you call roll?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. For Ordinance 2025-01 lowercase b uppercase A-G as amended, an ordinance appropriating up to $558,000 to the manager for the National Resources Conservation Service View Drive Buyout Program funding, funding provided by general funds.

Mr. Steininger? Yes. Ms. Hugh Scandie? No. Miss Wall?

Yes. Mr. Kelly? Yes. Miss Atkinson? Yes.

Miss Hall? Yes. Mr. Brooks? Yes. Deputy Mayor Smith?

Yes. Madam Mayor? Yes. Motion carries, 8 yeas and 1 nay. Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk.

I'm looking at the assembly. Do we need 5? Okay, I hear yes, so 5 minutes.

That was a, that was a long 5 minutes.

Item 6, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance 2026-16, an ordinance amending Chapter 20.40, Commercial Passenger Vehicles, to add an allowable fee related to the Glacier Visitor Center. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Deputy Manager. This ordinance updates the Commercial Passenger Vehicle, CPV, code to allow taxicabs operating under a U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service special use permit at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area to add the official daily use fee to their passenger rates, which is paid directly to Forest Service by taxi operators.

Because current CB regulations do not account for these US Forest Service permit fees, this amendment aligns, aligns CBJ code with Forest Service requirements. Recommend you take public testimony and adopt this ordinance. Thank you. Mr. Deputy Manager, any member of the public wish to speak to this ordinance? See none.

We'll bring it to the assembly. I think I'm on. Ms. Hall, I move assembly adopt Ordinance 2026-16 and ask for unanimous consent. Thank you, Ms. Hall.

Any objection? See none. That ordinance passes. Item 7, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance 2025-01, lowercase b, uppercase A, J, an ordinance appropriating $80,000 to the manager for the ramp improvements and remain overnight airport parking apron capital improvement project, funding provided by airport capital reserve funds.

Uh, thank you, Madam Clerk. Master Deputy Manager, this ordinance appropriates $80,000 from airport capital from the Airport Capital Reserve to the ramp improvements and remain overnight parking apron CIP. Funding will provide for grant ineligible expenses and support final project closeout. This project is expected to be completed later this year. The Airport Board of Directors approved this request at their March 12th meeting.

Recommend you take public testimony and adopt this ordinance. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Manager. Is there any member of the public who wishes to speak to this ordinance? Seeing none, we'll bring it to the assembly.

Mr. Kelly, I move that the assembly adopt Ordinance 2025-01B— lowercase b, excuse me, um, uppercase AJ— and ask for unanimous consent. Any objection? Seeing none, that's so moved. Item 8, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Ordinance 2026-17, an ordinance authorizing the manager to convey less than 1 acre of property the legal description of ASLS 78-171 LT3AFR on Mendenhall Peninsula Road to Mark Sams for fair market value.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Deputy Manager, the applicant requests a property disposal review purchase of less than 1 acre of city and borough of Juneau-owned land. At the regular Planning Commission meeting on January 27th this year, the Planning Commission adopted the director's analysis analysis and findings and recommended approval of the proposed property disposal to the Assembly with an additional finding to address drainage. The director's findings conclude that the proposed land disposal is in general conformity with the 2013 Comprehensive Plan, the 2016 CPJ Land Management Plan, and that the proposal received a motion of support from the Assembly Lands, Housing, and Economic Development Committee on September 29th of last year to proceed to the full Assembly for review. I recommend you take public testimony and adopt this ordinance.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Barr. So we do have people testifying. Uh, first we'll have Mac Minors. Please state your name and area of town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes for the record. Herman M. Minors Jr.

I live at 1120 Menon Hall Peninsula Road. I built my new house there. I lived there, and that's when I hope to retire. But before I get going, I want to ask you to consider what I have to say. I have several points about the Menon Hall Peninsula that need to be addressed.

First is drainage. Second is low water pressure, which we didn't get to bring out in the Planning Commission, uh, access through my property. And, uh, properties such as this 240 acres should not be piecemealed, I don't think, because to cut— start cutting little chunks out of a big chunk with no plans isn't really good, because it's going to come back and get you in the end, because all of a sudden you're going to plot this thing out And all of a sudden realize that you made a mistake. You gotta remember the drainage on the Mendenhall Peninsula is very, very bad. There is not a lot of ground cover, and the trees blow over really easy.

Ask Christine, she lives there. My piece of property is locked in like Christine's, where we don't border. This 240 acres, so we are not eligible to purchase land from the city. The other thing is access.

He has access through my property, and he has a flag lot which he has a driveway plotted. He has a tremendous amount of acreage left. He's got 2/3 of an acre left on his property that he could build on. He refuses to use his road and somehow he has access to my road. I gave him water and electricity, but still, with this traffic going back and forth, it creates a lot of dust.

I spent a lot of money on my property to get it bulletproof. So I hope you consider the things I have to say. The other thing is, I have— don't— unfortunately, a lot of money to town. So think about that. Um, that's my line.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Reiner, for your testimony, for being here tonight. Um, when you— could you please elaborate when you said the access through your land? Oh, I've lost 4,200 square feet by his just being able to him not use his driveway access, so it's permitted, so he can drive through my property. It's about 120 feet by 40. So when property is valuable, I lose a bunch of my property to his access, and I have to watch him and his wife go up and down, up and down, up and down.

And so it's It's kind of sad that I got myself into this mess. Follow-up question on that. So was that an easement when you bought your land? Was that easement part there? Was that—.

It was plotted in for that, and I completely did it right. So I guess I should have bought the lot before, but I didn't want to at the time. But, uh, I didn't think it was going to be that big an issue. Now it's become an issue because now we have another construction project going on. So that means truck traffic, that means dust, that means running up and down the road.

All of his friends think it's the Hill Climb 700. They just haul ass up there and, you know, it's like, whoa, dudes, this is my house, so please slow down. Other than putting in speed bumps, I don't know what to do. Thank you. Oh no, sorry, Mr. Brooks.

I just saw a hand over there. Mr. Brooks. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Did you say he had his own driveway access? Is that something that he's currently working on developing?

He'll never do it. He told me it's not in his plan. He— it's an axe handle lot that goes straight up the hill, and they— when the Thomas boy put it in there, he just took total disregard and then it got plotted. So I fixed all the drainage and everything and made it bulletproof and even made it really nice for him by putting— I put 360 loads of rock in there so it drained. I spent over almost $200,000 on my lot just to make it bulletproof, and I wouldn't have trouble.

I won't have potholes in the road. And so we can just take it nice and easy and enjoy it. Christine walks by there every day. She's seen it. Any further questions?

You mentioned low water pressure. Could you elaborate on that? Oh yeah. When you look in the fire department and you look at Fritz Cove— I'm using that as an example— there was two fires at the end of the road that the houses burnt down. Now I stepped it off from the from the fire hydrant to the top of where he wants to build, it's almost 750 feet.

That means the truck has to set down, and it's actually a safety issue that I have not much problem, you know, water pressure. It was a big deal when I permitted the house and had to make sure that I had enough water pressure that I could get it to the house and have adequate pressure. For the house. Now if you add that to more people living up there, and the sewer is also an issue too because he set his septic tank right behind my— right behind— we can't talk about— talk about— no, okay, sorry. We'll talk about water pressure.

When it comes to water pressure on the Middenhall Peninsula, there is hardly any. I might have 20, 25 pounds. What needs to be done is to have a tank on the top. If they ever permitted that stuff, they put a large tank, either that or continue the loop so there's a significant pressure, because these houses, as they get up, up and up, have less pressure. All right, thank you.

Um, any further questions? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. Thank you very much. Uh, next we have Mark Sams.

Please state your name and area, town you live in for the record, and you have 2 minutes. Hi, my name is Mark Sams. I live at 1110 Meninal Peninsula Road. Um, so, you know, I proposed this, uh, this, this land sale because I'm looking at trying to put an addition on my house. And to do that, you know, my current house is close to the existing setback for property line.

So, my goal is to try to put an addition on to, you know, provide a little bit more living space in the existing house, you know, and stay within required setbacks for property lines.

They're, you know, I bought this property, you know, a few years back. Um, you know, it's got platted easements and right-of-ways to get up, up the driveway, um, to the lot. Um, it's, uh, you know, I, I don't know what more I can say about that, but, you know, I, I, you know, the property has been developed for for quite a while.

But, you know, I'm just looking to try to expand my house. I've got, you know, a growing family. I want a few more bedrooms. And currently, you know, the house sitting there has been fine. I know there's been talk about the water pressure, but I don't have any problems with pressure in my place.

So, um, I think that's about all I have to say. All right, any questions? Mr. Brooks. Thank you, Madam Mayor. The, uh, your planned additions, uh, how close do they get to the property line or within the setback areas?

Uh, currently right now, the, the addition— or my current house is up against the 25-foot setback on the back of lot. Um, so I would be looking at expanding maybe another 30 feet or so uphill towards, towards that property line, um, if I could.

Did you have a question, Mr. Kelly? Um, I'll ask my question. So I'm looking at, um, the director's finding. It says, uh, you have to address drainage.

I don't live there and I know there's a drainage problem out there, so how are you addressing that drainage? Um, you know, currently, um, all the water that comes down onto my lot above me, um, hits a ditch and is, is kind of split on either side of the lot. Um, that ditch was put in well before I bought the lot. Um, you know, and then everything else kind of drains down ditch in the driveway.

Which then matches into his, um, my lower neighbor Max right away, which then drains back into my property, which is actually the driveway at the bottom of the hill. So, you know, it's all kind of— everything is kind of contained and draining in existing ditches. Okay, I guess I need to be specific. So that's what's happening now, but it— your finding says was to address it. So what are you doing to address the drainage?

Um, my— I'm willing to work with, you know, whoever on doing drainage improvements, and I'm willing to work with the City Planning Department. But I— my— right now, I don't see a drainage issue. I'm not draining— water's not draining from my lot onto somebody else's lot and causing an issue on their Okay, I'm sorry, Mr. Sams. I'm just reading my thing and it says director's analysis and findings and recommended approval of the proposed property disposal to the assembly with an additional finding to address drainage.

So you got permission, but you had to address the drainage to complete that. So, but you don't have a plan to address drainage. I'm really waiting to figure out what I can build and then I can, you know, address that, that plan. Plan as I go. Um, you know, when I, when I understand I have the ability to put this addition on, I can go through and develop a full-on drainage plan.

If I, if I can't build this addition, I can't get this additional piece of property, then I'll be looking at doing something different on the side. Uh, Mr. Brooks. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Is it possible to do, uh, your addition by requesting a variance to build out to the property line?

We could potentially do something like that. Um, you know, there is a potential to do that. It would limit the size of the addition I can do and limit, um, you know, what I can do for that, for the house currently.

Any further questions?

Seeing none, thank you for testifying. Thank you. I'm going to take a 2-minute at ease.

We'll bring this back in. Sorry, that was a little longer than 2 minutes.

Mr. Smith, did you have a question?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. We did. We have more. We did have more testimony or anything. No.

Did you want me to move the ordinance first? I wanted to see if you had a question before we move the ordinance. Otherwise, you can move the ordinance. Your preference. It's all on you.

Okay, I do have a question. Um, and I don't know if there's any from CDD on. I'm just reviewing the minutes of when this was before the Planning Commission. Um, and there was an interesting comment I found that I that I unfortunately just found in there, and it was from Director Lawhorn. There were— there was— there was a— I attended the meeting when it was there.

I remember, you know, this was 4 months ago. I remember, and there was— there was a lot of concern about drainage. There were other neighbors who brought up a drainage issue. Just, I mean, anyway, so from a question from the Planning Commission, The about the drainage concerns would be addressed when they go to obtain a building permit. Well, Director Lawhorn agreed that this is correct.

She noted that public comment and concern about the drainage is taken seriously, and like the assembly would make a note to appoint the applicant work on those issues and care for them.

That's from the— so that's from the minutes of the January 17th Planning Commission meeting. I'm just confused, like, how do we do that? Or at what point in, you know, the sale process or something do we—. Madam Attorney General. Excuse me, Mr.

Barr. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So we do have Lands Manager Blythorn, who is more familiar with the specific project and the path that it has taken than I am. He is available online if you want to seek, uh, if he knows the answer to that specific question. I will say that I don't know, um, what Director LaHorn was referring to regarding what action the Assembly could take to care for drainage.

I can say that it is typical for those sorts of issues, especially if they were called out in the Planning Commission's decision, to be cared for during the building inspection process after a permit has been issued and work is being done and inspections are being conducted.

Could we hear Mr. Blidorn? Could you bring Mr. Blidorn over?

Oh, Mr. Blidorn, Mr. Smith, you want to ask your question again?

I don't know if you've heard my reading of the minutes from the Planning Commission. Um, in that, Director Lawhorn mentioned that the Assembly could appoint something to deal with drainage. I guess if you know how we do that, or another question, I guess that's one. The second would be, would any building permit in this new area— I mean, I guess it might depend what it is— would there be a drainage plan or some type of drainage review during the permitting process for building at this new site or site? Mr. Blinder.

Thank you, Madam Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Yes, so at this time, I'll just say that selling property doesn't trigger the need for a drainage plan because no physical work will be on the property by taking this action. But anytime something is going to get built on the property, drainage would be looked at. But also, I know that the city has an additional piece of property just north of these lots that has road frontage on the highway— excuse me, along the road there. And so there is an option as we negotiate the final footprint of this and have surveys done to grant drainage easement through that city lot that would go from the applicant's property and have access all the way to the road frontage where you have the traditional streets side drainage.

So that's something we can look at. It's kind of premature to think about that now, only because there's no plan submitted for the build of this, and we don't have authority to dispose of it yet. But it's something that we'll watch closely and can be included when we go to survey the final lot lines for this proposed disposal.

Thank you.

Ms. Wall. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, because the one of the, um, testifiers mentioned me and my property, I just wanted to make clear on the record that I do live on that street and I do walk down that street, but my actual property is a good quarter to half mile away and does not abut this. So I do not think I have a conflict, but wanted to state that on the record. That—.

Thank you for that. Any further questions? Uh, Mr. Smith, you want to move it?

Yes, Madam Mayor, one moment. I move ordinance— oh, I move ordinance 2026-17 and ask for unanimous consent.

Apparently I might be the only one objecting to it. I have 2 problems with this, and I apologize to Mr. Sams. Um, I really struggle with the drainage, and I heard Mr. Blydorn, but again, just looking at what we have in our packet, it doesn't say anything about what you're going to build. It just says is with the proposed property disposal, you'll deal with the drainage, and you haven't dealt with the drainage issue at all, from what I understand. And I appreciate the fact that you want to, um, make your house bigger, but it sounds like you could do it in other ways, variance.

And, uh, so I think an acre of land is a lot of money— is a lot of land for just an addition. So I'll object.

Uh, we have a motion and objection. Please call the roll. Thank you, Madam Mayor. For Ordinance 2026-17, Deputy Mayor Smith? Yes.

Ms. Hughes-Candies? Yes. Ms. Wall? Yes. Mr. Brooks?

No. Ms. Hall? Yes. Mr. Steininger? Yes.

Miss Adkisson? Yes. Mr. Kelly? No. Madam Mayor?

No. Motion carries with 6 yeas and 3 nays. Thank you, Madam Clerk. So that moves us on to new business, um, number 1. Madam Clerk?

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Lead exemption request for CBJ offices, interior improvements, Burns Building. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Mr. Deputy Manager, I'm assuming this goes to you. Yes, thank you, Madam Mayor.

So you have a memo in your packet from the Commission on Sustainability, sustainability on this topic.

CPJ code requires any time that the city is doing a major construction project greater than $5 million in cost, or renovation greater than $5 million in cost, that we do a formal LEED certification process for that, for that new facility or that renovated facility. There is an exception process also laid out in code that we can pursue when we believe that that formal process is unnecessary for whatever reason. And the reason in this case is we have an extremely tight project budget, and we believe the LEED costs, the costs associated with that formal LEED process would, you know, be problematic from a project budget perspective. We went to— I went to the last Commission on Sustainability meeting to discuss this with them, and they concurred, right? One of the key pieces, I think, of information is that we believe and presented evidence and documents to the Commission to talk to them about that, that the mechanical and electrical system upgrades that we're planning to do in the Burns Building definitely would get us the LEED credit that we would need to qualify for LEED, but that the, you know, the documentation process, the extra design work, the extra materials tracking that an eventual contractor would have to do, and all the costs associated with those things would challenge us strictly from a financial perspective, not from a sustainability perspective.

I'll, I'll just note that only somewhere less than 4% in our current cost estimates, somewhere less than 4% of our total project costs are allocated to interior improvements in the Burns Building. And of those interior improvement costs, the lion's share of that 4% are going to the Assembly Chamber's renovation, because we have to take out a significant wall to to expand the assembly chambers to make it sufficiently large for its purpose, and to the public counter area. Very, very little of the project cost is going to interior improvements outside of those 2 areas, and most of what we're spending money on are mechanical system upgrades and electrical system upgrades, because the mechanical system and the electrical system on the first 2 floors of that building are are largely original and need to be upgraded, and we'll be upgrading them with, you know, modern LEDs and, you know, air handling systems that would qualify for LEED if we were, you know, going down that process. I'll just note one other thing is that LEED does not take into account the sustainability improvements, the energy efficiency improvements that we get by moving out of a building. But if we did take those into account, this building is pretty abysmal from a sustainability perspective.

During the winter, we are regularly heating the outside because some offices are simply too hot in order to heat the rest of the building, and so windows are open. It's just, you know, the net gain to sustainability overall would be significant, will be significant. That's— I think that's all I have on this topic. I'm happy to answer questions. One of the things that I committed to doing during the JCOS meeting that I'm— will, will do is go back to the Commission as the project proceeds to talk specifically about what we are doing from a sustainability perspective, specifically on those mechanical and electrical upgrades.

Uh, thank you for that. Um, any member of the public wishes to speak to this or this exemption? I guess, Ms. Hughes Gannis, it's coming to you anyway, so you can. Great. Uh, thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh, I have a question for Mr. Barr. I believe that the last LEED exemption was for the airport, just off the top of my head. And at the time, it was a similar situation, or the exemption that I have since seen was, it was more the tracking process, but we were making major sustainability improvements. I am wondering, I like obviously the spirit and the intent, I do think as the assembly, you know, large infrastructure projects are large projects that the city is doing. We should be considering the sustainability of how we're spending our money because it saves us money into the long time.

Have we, since that has been, that code's been in place, have we ever done an over $5 million project and not applied for an exemption?

Mr. Burr, I don't know. Okay, I will just say to the body, it's maybe worth revisiting, or maybe we feel good leaving it in place, and, and each time we should have to make sure that there's a good reason to exempt. Mr. Brooks, do you have a question?

Go ahead. Thank you, Madam Mayor. And, you know, I've definitely, you know, not shied away by my vocalness on the topic by any means, but knowing that, you know, where we're at with what that LEED certification requirement would be over the years of this, of these funds being around and then being used for the purpose of moving into a new facility, it was always under the premise of, we're going to do it, we're going to do it the right way. And now we're finding that we might not have enough even with that to do it the right way. So what is actually needed to do it the right way?

Mr. Barr. Thank you for the question, Assemblymember Brooks. Um, I won't have a a specific answer to that question until after we go out to bid and get bids back. Right now, the cost estimates that we're getting— we're at about 65% of design right now, and the cost estimates that we're getting do indicate that we have sufficient funding for the— to do the project per the recommendations of our architects and our mechanical and electrical engineer. I will tell you that when I look at that cost estimate, and I am not a cost estimator, nor an engineer, nor a project manager, but when I look at that cost estimate, it looks low to me.

The per square foot renovation numbers are, again, when I look at them and I think about other projects that we've done in recent memory, I am concerned. But, you know, we have all of the things included. I have a list in front of me from, from our project manager on the sustainable elements that we're doing in the building, and that's upgrading to digital controls. It's doing full LED replacements, which cuts lighting energy use by around half. It's expanding, expanded building automation to provide real-time monitoring and better performance.

Visibility for our maintenance staff as they, you know, have an understanding and fine-tune the building systems. It's using carbon dioxide-based ventilation controls so that we're not ventilating the building unnecessarily. We're only ventilating the building when the CO2 metrics say that we should be ventilating the building. It's all those things that we do. I will say one of the things on here is zero VOC paint.

I don't know that we're going to be able to afford the paint building. That might not be one that we do, or that might be something that we come back and we say, hey, like, here's the impact here, you know, do we want to make a hard decision? But, but as, as we sit right now at 65% of design, the current cost estimates indicate that we are on target.

All right, um, we'll bring it back to the assembly. Ms. Huskandies, would you move the request? I think we have to okay that exemption request. Uh, I would move that the assembly exempt, uh, this project from LEED certification and ask unanimous consent. Any objection?

Mr. Kelly. Thank you. I would object for the purposes of an amendment. I would move that in lieu of this requirement, that CBJ staff prepare a closeout sustainability report documenting the achievement of building improvements intended under the project as planned, and ask for unanimous consent.

Mr. Kelly, could you please restate that? Yeah, it's basically the, uh, the JCOS recommendation on the next page, on page 120. Um, so JCOS recommended that CBJ offices exempt from LEED certification, but in lieu of that, that CBJ staff prepare a closed-out sustainability report documenting the achievement of building improvements intended under the project as planned.

Uh, thank you for that. Uh, Ms. Adkinson, I'm sorry, I guess I'll just point of order and say maybe I didn't make the clearest motion, but but I don't— I believe that based on my understanding of what Mr. Barr committed to doing, committed to the JCAAS, um, and maybe I should have stated that whole thing, and— but that would be contained in my motion because it sounded like Mr. Barr was proposing similar, or maybe Mr. Barr can clarify if this is one step extra. Can you clarify that? There is some confusion.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, thank you for the opportunity to clarify. Uh, yeah, I'm— I've committed to JCOST that, that we will be, um, providing this closeout report that they wish. Also, if the assembly wants that, I don't think there's any harm in formalizing it. Either way is fine.

Okay, thanks. Um, Ms. Hughes, you want to treat that as a friendly amendment even though we don't have those? Sorry, Madam Attorney. Yeah, I No such thing, but I will, uh, thank you for clarifying my motion, Mr. Kelly. All right, any objection to the motion?

Seeing none, so moved. Uh, item number 2 under new business, Madam Clerk.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Alder Nett requests to purchase CBJ property located at 2nd Street and Franklin Street. Street. Uh, thank you, Mr. Deputy Manager.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm getting back there. Okay. The Manager's Office received a completed application from Saldaña LLC for the purchase of CBJ property located at 2nd Street and Franklin Street. The proposal consists of 27 parking spaces and 55 to 60 apartments.

According to CBJ code, quote, the proposal shall be reviewed by the Assembly for a determination of whether the proposal should be further considered, and if If so, whether by direct negotiation with the original proposer or by competition after an invitation for further proposals, on direction of the Assembly by motion, the manager may commence negotiations for the lease, sale, exchange, or other disposal of city and borough land. End quote. If it is determined by the Assembly to consider this disposal through direct negotiations, it's important to consider that the proposal submitted provides a preliminary concept which would be updated pending Planning Commission and further Assembly Committee review. Any substantial changes to the proposal would be brought back to the Lands Housing and Economic Development Committee for discussion, and the committee would receive regular updates from the applicant and staff.

I recommend the Assembly pass a motion of support to enter into direct negotiations with the original proposer. I'll also note that Lands Manager Blighthorn is likely still available. Available if I can't answer your questions. Uh, thank you, Mr. Barr. Any questions on this one?

Uh, seeing none, uh, Ms. Wall— oh, excuse me, is there any member of the public that wishes to speak to this ordinance? Seeing none, Ms. Wall, go ahead, Ms. Wall. I move, um, the assembly pass a motion of support to enter into direct negotiations with the original proposer and ask for unanimous consent. Any objection?

So I moved. Sorry you had to wait so long. Um, with that, any staff reports?

No, thank you, Madam Mayor. All right, thank you. Um, so for the mayor's report, um, I apologize, I was sick for about 10-12 days, so many of you and many of the staff covered my obligations. I appreciate that. And I believe, Ms. Huskanes, you'll talk about your Arbor Day that you did earlier in your report.

The only thing that I will say is, uh, we lost a little different type of community member today— or not today, but last couple days. Um, we said goodbye to Tango, who was 12 years old. And if you don't know who Tango is, that means you weren't— had She didn't have to come search you out because she was one of our sea dogs, and if the results weren't good, she was also a quasi-therapy job. So Tico has big paws to fill at the loss of Tango. With that, we will go to Mr. Smith for Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. I believe you're all there at the Committee of the Whole. Um, we discussed GLOF efforts, including had a presentation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, um, and another couple items that I can think about later. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh, Ms. Wall, Finance.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. We all know what we're doing on Finance. We have a meeting on Wednesday. The intent will be to pass the budget out of committee ideally and send it to the full assembly. So that's our goal, and we do have another meeting technically on the calendar on the 27th.

And so I don't think we will need that, but it depends how things go on Wednesday. One thing I will flag, if you haven't looked at your packet yet, in addition to Passing the budget out, we do have time on the agenda to talk about bonds because we are coming down to the wire on timing. So we will, in order to not hold any special meetings, we would want to pass bond ordinances out of committee and get them introduced. On Wednesday, um, start that process in motion. So just so you guys are aware, that's all I got.

Thank you for that. Uh, Lands, Housing, Economic Development. Thanks, Madam Mayor. At the last Lands, Housing, Economic Development Committee, we worked on amendments to short-term rentals. Uh, there is a generic ordinance, and we looked at, uh, started working our way through amendments.

We did not make it through all, so that is still in committee. Uh, if you haven't been tracking that, feel free to join us as we work through those. Uh, we also received a report update from Mr. Blythorn on, uh, Coast Guard and the need for housing there, and he— we are keeping that as a regular agenda item. So he is tracking that very closely and will continue to update us. I think that's all we worked on.

Thank you, Ms. Hughes. Can these Public Works—. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Uh, Public Works has done its part to help with the overwhelming amount of meetings by canceling our last meeting. But, um, I will also say that the Visitor Industry Task Force did meet last week to discuss, um, metrics for measuring, uh, cruise impacts on the, uh, city, which is super easy to do, as I'm sure you're all aware.

Um, but we also have a meeting this coming week with— where we'll be hearing from and talking to the cruise line representatives. Thank you for that. Human Resources.

Um, so, uh, this evening we passed an ordinance out for, uh, that had been referred back to us about resisting or interfering with, uh firefighters and performing of their services. It gave us a little more time to ask questions to get more details on that. We also heard an update from Chief Boss. He'll be making his next quarterly update. Since we don't have a meeting in October, he'll be coming back to us in November.

It's been a valuable experience to hear him give updates on training, to give updates on, communication and engagement with community and with the tribes. We did start a discussion on the systemic racism review committee because that sunsets August 31st if we don't take any action. We are holding that in committee at the moment. We are looking forward to hearing what might come out of the discussion that the systemic racism review committee is going to be having with the Human Rights Commission. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um, so yeah, we'll be discussing that at our next committee meeting. Um, and we did pass out Resolution 4047, which was in our consent agenda today and has already been approved.

Thank you for that. Any committees that I'm forgetting? With that, we will go to liaison reports and comments and questions. Miss Yuskan Thank you, Madam Mayor. I will start by speaking to the one you referenced.

I got to fill in for the mayor today at the cemetery, uh, and read an Arbor Day proclamation, uh, on her behalf. So happy Arbor Day to you all. Um, 3 trees were planted. Uh, it was a very nice ceremony. Uh, CBJ parks and landscaping folks were there, a 3rd grade class, 3rd and 4th grade class, came to help plant the trees themselves and dig the holes.

One new species, which I have forgotten the name to, a maple of some kind, is being planted, and we don't have any of those yet. I also learned that, which tells me I need to learn more about what constitutes an arboretum, that the cemetery is a certified arboretum because we have so many different species of trees there. So I will definitely be better dressed for the weather and in attendance next year to help, uh, bury some trees. Um, I attended the Chamber, uh, uh, meeting last week. Uh, they reported they took part in a plaque and key ceremony.

There's been several recently that we do those every time we have a new ship to the port. Part. Uh, so they were glad to participate in that. And really, our conversations of late have been me updating on the budget and answering questions about where we are in the budget process. Um, we have talked about, and I will raise to this body, they have a real interest and have been doing work on their own, uh, looking, uh, at our past audits and are very eager to weigh in on when we get to— I know we got to finish our budget process, but as we know, those are super tied.

So I do look forward to having that conversation with them when we get there. And also, they shared that they feel like the greatest value of a budget is looking at it right after it's done. So they recognize our fatigue, and I'm sure we will continue to keep talking about the budget even after we pass the budget. I was out of town for the Bartlett board and wasn't able to join that. I did attend the National Association of Counties Western Interstate Regional Conference, which is the West Coast states, and there was a real emphasis on natural disasters.

So we are not the only ones going through it, and a lot of it was very relevant. And they were also talking about short-term rentals. So a lot of good useful stuff at that conference. And I will say really quickly for the comments and questions section, I just want to— because this is the only way we can all talk to one another, um, I heard it in some of the comments tonight in public testimony, and I've really been picking up on a thread in my email and in conversations I'm having in the community that I've had a lot of conversations about head tax. And the limitations around that.

And I do think there's a large portion of our residents who are savvy on why it's limited to what it's limited to, and there is interest in us revisiting that. Um, I know that's not a simple matter. I was on the assembly when we were still engaged in a lawsuit with them, so I'm not saying that casually, but I do think that there is a real desire from the community for us to revisit that. And, you know, that can start with conversations, and maybe it moves to something beyond conversations. But, and that would need to be something, a conversation that we have with the public.

Do you want us to get sucked into a lawsuit? But it may be that the will is there. It's just something I'm hearing more and more in the community. So So I just wanted to say that there.

I would agree with that, and I think Ms. Pierce is already starting those conversations, but it's good to put it out there in the air that we are looking for different ways, especially I know at the hospital, um, as well as other places, but the hospital comes to mind. Ms. Wall. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, Airport Board just met. Um, they have been discussing their last few meetings the airport master plan that has been developed.

It's still in draft phase but nearing the end. So if you're interested in the big future for that campus and all the large dollar amounts that come with that, you can go view that. The PRAC met last week, 2 weeks ago now, and their focus was on— they got an update on Jackie Renninger Park. So the 35% design of that project is complete. It's very cool.

Yeah, I definitely go check it out there if you want to check out the design for that project as well, where that landed after lots of public input. On June 6th, they are having a— I believe at Jackie Redinger Park— an opportunity to check out their designs. It's going to be a barbecue. And a skate jam. So should be a fun community event in the Valley.

That's all for me. Oh, thank you, Miss Wall. Mr. Brooks. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

The local emergency preparedness group had got together and had updates from all the partnering agencies and seeing where everyone was at. The, the big item for that meeting was discussing a new program or software that was, uh, being implemented that does real-time tracking during flood events and gives valuable information that can be used in the response. Um, so they were going over the specifics of that and how it can be applied. The Commission on Sustainability's last meeting was with, uh, Mr. Barr here and discussing the LEED requirements and implement implications for the new City Hall and the possible exemption and what they'd like to see in lieu of exemptions. All the things that we discussed here tonight.

The school board finalized their budget. They were able to get the language arts allocation to make sure that that program had all the funding and support to provide something that has been requested by, you know, many of the parents and teachers alike to maintain. They're also refining all their policy and procedural ruling and language within the bylaws, and, and then have some events coming up here for, um, I guess you could call acclimating for the new superintendent.

Thank you, Mr. Brooks. Ms. Adkinson? I have no report today, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Mr. Steininger?

Um, I'll also be brief. I feel like, uh, any update on Eagle Crest is kind of redundant because everything we talk about in Eagle Crest board means we've been talking about in our finance committee. And also SRRC has met and they continue to have discussions about recruitment and trying to find people both for their board but boards in general. Thank you. Ms. Hall.

Yeah, thank you. Um, Duxton Harbor, I missed their April 30th meeting due to being out of town for a conference, and they meet again on the 28th. And again, uh, We had the rare event of no Docks in Harbor legislation on our agenda tonight. As Mr. Yucatel reminded us, this is National Infrastructure Week and the ribbon cutting at Satter Harbor at noon tomorrow, and then there is a Taku ribbon cutting at Taku Harbor.

So I believe reservations need to be made for that in advance if you want to go down to that. And then noon on Friday there will be another ribbon cutting at Aurora Harbor.

And let's see, I'm also liaison to JEDC, and Maritime Festival was a resounding success despite the drizzly weather. We were supposed to have our board meeting on the Monday following, and I didn't get the memo. I showed up there and saw tarps draped all over the conference room and every other space in their office. So that meeting is rescheduled till the 27th. And with Ms. Hugh Scandies out of town, I did—.

You know, being a nurse, I did attend Bartlett's last meeting because we are hearing a lot, particularly about Head Tax dollars and how we might be able to use them for our local hospital, and one thing that stood out in the meeting, you know, it used to be the census of the hospital would be really high in the winter months with everyone colds and flus, and then in the summer it would drop way down. Now with our aging population, at that meeting, you know, the end of April, they were full. They were in, I don't know if they called it code triage mode, but I thought, wow, you know, we haven't even really gotten into the tourism season, but with our elder population and more people needing hospitalization and lack of bed space in our long-term care facilities, we're kind of at a bit of a crisis point with our community capacity. So I'm sure that can help inform the decision or the conversation with with how we might be able to tap into some of those support from our cruise industry. Yeah, and that's all I have to say.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Kelly. Madam Mayor, I've had— Mr. Brooks, thank you. Just to add to yours, I did tune into the Docks and Harbors most recent meeting, and they were talking about CIPs and long-range project goals that they have, different dock infrastructure that is older, different fingers and things need being replaced, the horseshoe out at Statter Harbor, and some other breakwater projects. Thank you for that.

Mr. Kelly.

Thank you. I did go to the Police Memorial last week. It's attended by, uh, I recognize quite a few members of the community also in attendance, and we remembered officers, both Junos and the states, who have been lost throughout the decades. It was a somber but quick ceremony. I agree with Ms. Hughes-Candee that if we do revisit what the marine passenger fees are put towards, that the community should be fully communicated what the impact impact potentially could be, and so I'd be interested in having that discussion with the public.

SISWA met on May 6th. They are pretty enthusiastically moving forward with expanding their, their impact in, in Southeast Alaska. Let's see. And then see, the Downtown Business Association met today. A big part of their discussion, of course, at least the parts that was directed towards me as the liaison, was discussion about the Ambassador Program.

And I think we all got a letter to that effect. So I would ask members to read that. The Juno Commission on Aging met a few weeks ago. A big topic— this was before we, of course, discussed anything about, made any sort of decisions about recreation, and so there were a lot of concerns about how the recreation facilities, if any, were closed, how that would affect our aging community. Also a topic of concern, there have been some anecdotal reports about capital access and, and the how that's performing with the new contractor issues reported.

And maybe I, maybe I shouldn't go into the issues that were reported, but I think it might be worth checking in with people if we can, can find some way to do that and make sure that they're meeting the full terms of the contract. So, I'll leave it there. Thank you, Mr. Kelly. Um, Miss Smith. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I'll keep it short. Um, Planning Commission met last week. Uh, they just had one item on consent, so a quick meeting there. Um, the Title 49 Advisory Committee has met either maybe once, possibly twice since we've last met. Um, but we have just been continuing discussions on a a proposed revision to the table of permissible uses.

Um, the Alaska Committee has not met, and the Juneau Coalition on Housing and Homelessness meets on Thursday. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you for that. Um, and Mr. Barr, as what Mr. Kelly said, I'm not sure who would follow up on checking with Capital Access to see. So happy to follow up offline.

Thank you. Um, next we're going to go to continuation of public participation on non-agenda items. You've been missed, very patient, Mr. Harris. First we had Katie Bosner, but I don't see her in the room anymore, so we'll go to Mr. Harris.

So please state your name and area, town you live in for the record again, and you have 2 minutes.

Uh, thank you, Madam Mayor. My name is Rick Harris. I live in the Valley, um, and I, uh, again, appreciate all the hard work you're doing. And I feel like you're here, I'm obligated to be here as well, hearing all the challenges that you face. So I do appreciate that.

Um, what I still want to talk about is the rest of Eagle Crest. And, and I wanted to say, you know, it's— first of all, it's indisputable that it's a world premier recreation, winter and summer recreation facility. It helps retain residents in our community during the winter season. And I know because I'm one of them. I have many options, but I choose to reside in Juneau on a year-round basis, and I contribute to the economy fully during the winter.

I can guarantee that. That. And I also am part of the aging community. I'm, uh, I'm 78. I still ski 4 days a week.

My ski buddy is 88. So I can assure you that that mountain is keeping us out of the hospital because we're, we're going to be there. I want to say I support the Eagle Crest request for the $1.7 million. I think there are a couple of future forward-looking things that I believe Eagle Crest needs to be, and the assembly needs to pay great attention to. The Eagle Crest is undertaking their financial planning with SE Group, which will provide an unbiased insight into the business and financial opportunities Eagle Crest offers.

I've been able to travel a lot of places and I've seen the opportunities are there, including riding— almost riding with Bruce Garrison on a mountain coaster in Jackson Hole in the winter. I— he didn't talk me into it, but there is a large opportunity in that mountain. And I think that this report will, will highlight the opportunities that exist. So I encourage the city manager and his assembly to make, uh, you know, make Be careful making your decisions, and, uh, from which there'll be no return. And I want to say one last thing: Eagle Crest Board of Directors is an A-team, and you ought to have confidence in them to help lead you through the challenges that Eagle Crest has right now.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Any questions? Seeing none, thank you for your testimony and for your waiting that long. Uh, so next we have executive session.

Mr. Smith, will you bring us into executive session? Of course, Madam Mr. Chair, I move that the assembly enter into executive session to discuss collective bargaining negotiations, the immediate knowledge of which would adversely affect the finances of the municipality, and I ask for unanimous consent. Thank you, Mr. Smith. And we are only going to break long enough for the clerks to get us there because it's 9:30.

So with that, our regular session is done. Are you coming— Zoom coming back on? Zoom is not coming Back on.