Visitor Industry Task Force (2019-2020)
Introduction
Mayor Weldon established the Visitor Industry Task Force (VITF) on October 14, 2019 with a charging document that tasked the group with addressing four major issues:
- Tourism industry management
- Revisiting the 2004 Long Range Waterfront Plan
- The concept of a ācapā on the number of visitors
- The necessity of additional public process in the form of surveys
The group held a number of public meetings between October of 2019 and February of 2020 to advise the CBJ Assembly and advance community thinking on a range of visitor industry topics.
The VITF took public testimony on January 11, 2020 and February 1, 2020 and received 43 spoken comments and 156 written comments. The testimony reflected a diverse range of viewpoints in the community and generally provided nuanced views of the benefits and impacts of tourism.
The VITF developed 45 recommendations to be completed over the next three years in response to the mayorās charging document and established a set of conditions for construction of a cruise ship dock at the Subport property. Recommendations can be found in the dropdown boxes on this page, broken out by the year they are planned to be completed. Ongoing recommendations are operational or longer-term and will be completed over many years.
The relationship between CBJ and the visitor industry has evolved over the past two decades. Through investments in infrastructure, management tools, and in programs like Tourism Best Management Practices (TBMP), Juneau has managed tourism growth. While CBJ and the visitor industry should be proud of the success of their efforts, we have reached a point where we need to work together to develop proactive tools and strategies for tourism management over the coming years.
The VITF recognizes the work done by the community and CBJ in early 2000ās that resulted in the Tourism Management Plan and the subsequent Resolution 2170.Ā Many of the findings and recommendations in the report are still applicable today and should be considered along with this report.Ā The vision established in the Resolution continues to guide the efforts of this committee and should guide future policy decisions:
CBJ seeks a healthy and vibrant tourism sector generating business opportunities and employment for Juneau citizens, protecting Juneau’s heritage and cultural values and its natural resources, and making a positive contribution to the community’s quality of life.
The VITF report recommends that the CBJ coordinate and centralize tourism functions. The final report was submitted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides the Assembly with concrete steps to establish a proactive tourism management approach as the visitor industry returns to Juneau.
VITF Recommendations
Upcoming and Past Meeting Agendas and Minutes
To see the full CBJ Meeting calendar, including these task force meetings, please click here. Ā Please check the CBJ calendar or call the Clerk’s Office 586-5278 for the most up-to-date information.
Agendas, Minutes, and Supplemental Materials will be posted on this web page below as they become available.
October 22, 2019 (TUES), in City Hall Conference Room #224 12:05 pm:Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
November 5, 2019 (TUES) , in City Hall Conference Room #224 12:05 pm: Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
December 3, 2019 (TUES), in City Hall Assembly Chambers 12:05 pm: Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
December 17, 2019 (TUES), in City Hall Assembly Chambers 12:05 pm: Ā Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
January 7, 2020 (TUES), in City Hall Assembly Chambers 12:05 pm:Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
January 11, 2020 (SAT), in City Hall Assembly Chambers 10:00 am:Ā Ā Ā No Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes-Public Testimony
January 21, 2020 (TUES), in City Hall Assembly Chambers 12:05 pm:Ā Ā Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
February 1, 2020 (SAT), in City Hall Assembly Chambers 10:00 am:Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
February 18, 2020 (TUES), in City Hall Assembly Chambers 12:05 pm:Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
March 4, 2020 (WED), in City Hall Assembly Chambers at 4:30 pm:Ā Ā Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
March 8, 2020 (SUN), in City Hall Assembly Chambers at 10:00 am:Ā Ā Ā Ā Agenda packetĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Minutes
CANCELLED – March 19, 2020 (THURS) Ā Agenda with Draft Report – CANCELLED
April 23, 2020 (THURS) Virtual via Zoom Webinar at 12:00 pm:Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Agenda packet
******************************************************************************************************************
PUBLIC TESTIMONY MEETINGS (individuals wishing to testify are asked to keep it to 3 minutes of testimony and are welcome to submit comments via [email protected] ahead of time or may submit written comments at the meetings)
- Saturday, January 11, 2020, in City Hall Assembly Chambers at 10:00 a.m.
- Thursday, January 16, 2020, in City Hall Assembly Chambers at 5:30 p.m.-cancelled due to extreme weather/high winds
- Saturday, February 1, 2020, in City Hall Assembly Chambers at 10:00 a.m. Immediately followed by the Regular Visitor Industry Task Force Meeting
*****************************************************************************************************************
Visitor Industry Task Force Members
Carole Triem, Chair – Assemblymember
Wade Bryson – Assemblymember
Public Member of the Task Force
Craig Dahl, Vice-Chair
Paula Terrel
Bobbie Meszaros
Holly Johnson
Alida Bus
Kirby Day
Meilani Schijvens
Dan Blanchard
If you wish to send comments to the task force, please email [email protected] and they will be forwarded to the entire task force.
CBJ Tourism Information previously worked on can be found on the City Manager’s web page: General Information – Tourism
Resolution 2170 A Resolution Adopting Tourism Management Policies
Juneau Tourism Management Plan Final Draft April 2002
The following documents are provided to the Visitor Industry Task Force (VITF) members:
October 14, 2019 Mayor’s Charging Document creating the VITF
2020 Cruise Ship Calendar from Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska
Long Range Waterfront Plan – Adopted November 22, 2004
April 19, 2019 Assembly Child Care Committee Report to the Mayor (to be used as an example of the final report to be submitted by the VITF). Transmittal Memo from Child Care Committee Chair Loren Jones.
2019-10-24 Cruise Industry News Article: Carnival Increases Alaska Capacity with Freedom in 2021
2019-10-31 Juneau Empire Opinion Letter: Tourism Task Force is a Great Way to Give Constructive Feedback
2019-11-05 SeaTrade Cruise Article: Norwegian Reveals New Icy Strait Draws Including Travel by Gondola
2019-11-06 Cruise Industry News Article: RCL Announces 3 Ships for 2021 Alaska Program
JEDC-Juneau Hourly Cruise Passenger Volume Analysis
2019-11-9 Grist Article: Oslo Wants to Build the Worlds First Zero Emissions Port
2019-11-21 KTN-KDN More to Come
2019-11-23 JCOS Letter to VITF on Dock Electrification
2019-11-23 JCOS CBJ Dock Electrification Backgrounder Fact Sheet from 1-2-2019
2019-11-23 JCOS Royal Princess Environmental and Electrification Tour Report 8-14-2019
2019-12-17 Docks & Harbors VITF Presentation
2019-12-17 USFS Mendenhall Visitor Center VITF Presentation
2019-12-17 NOAA Whale SENSE VITF Presentation
2019-12-17 Drew Green of CLAA VITF Presentation
2019-12-23 Petersburg Pilot CVB Discusses Tourism Best Management Practices
2020-01-07 Captain White, USCG Presentation
2020-01-14 Juneau Empire Opinion-Tourism Is a Locals Business
2020-02-04 Juneau Empire Article-Juneau Could Clear 1.5 Million Cruise Ship Tourists by 2021
The final day the public can submit comments to the Visitor Industry Task Force to be considered for its report is this Friday, February 21.
Following the February 21 deadline, the public can still submit comments to the Borough Assembly.
Public Comments sent to the [email protected] or [email protected] email addresses or City Clerk’s office at 155 S. Seward Street, Juneau, AK 99801, to the Volunteer Industry Task Force will be posted below in chronological order:
2-25-2020 Thane Neighborhood Wake Wave Request to MSTF and VITF
2-21-2020 Kate Glover and Rob Cadmus email to VITF
2-21-2020 John McConnochie letter to VITF and Assembly
2-21-2020 Allen Shattuck email to VITF
2-21-2020 Sharon Denton email to VITF
2-21-2020 Tom Rutecki letter to VITF
2-21-2020 Peter Ord email to VITF
2-21-2020 Marcy Larson for Alaskan Brewing Co letter to VITF and Assembly
2-21-2020 Steve Box email to VITF
2-21-2020 Nancy Davis and Joe Newman email to VITF
2-21-2020 John Ellenbecker email to VITF
2-21-2020 Laura Lucas letter to VITF
2-20-2020 Jean Shannon letter to VITF
2-20-2020 Diana Rossmiller email to VITF and Assembly
2-20-2020 John Joyce letter to VITF and Assembly
2-20-2020 Douglas Mertz email to VITF
2-20-2020 Gene Whiting email to VITF
2-19-2020 Zia Boccaccio email to VITF and Assembly
2-17-2020 Joshua Adams letter to VITF and Assembly
2-16-2020 Jerick Ibias email to VITF
2-16-2020 Susan Schrader email to VITF
2-14-2020 Sealaska Heritage letter to VITF and Assembly
2-14-2020 Suzie Teerlink re NOAA Whale SENSE letter to VITF and Assembly
2-12-2020 Russell Dick for Huna Totem Corp letter to VITF
2-11-2020 Howard Sherman with NCL email to VITF and Assembly
2-6-2020 Bob Janes email to VITF re Alaska Ocean Center
2-4-2020 Reed Stoops Franklin Dock Enterprises letter to VITF
2-3-2020 Alan Corbett email to VITF and Assembly
2-2-2020 Tom Paul email to VITF
2-1-2020 Bruce Weeks letter to VITF
2-1-2020 Bridget Smith letter to VITF
2-1-2020 Page Bridges letter to VITF
2-1-2020 Angie Thrower letter to VITF
2-1-2020 Laura Stats email to VITF
2-1-2020 Jeremy Bauer email to VITF
2-1-2020 Arne Ellefson-Carnes email to VITF
2-1-2020 Ann Metcalfe letter to VITF
2-1-2020 Dave Klein email to VITF
2-1-2020 Karla Hart email to VITF and Assembly
1-31-2020 Aaron Blust email to VITF
1-31-2020 Wayne Carnes email to VITF
1-31-2020 Merry Ellefson email to VITF
1-31-2020 Heidi Pearson letter to VITF and Assembly
1-31-2020 Brenda Weaver email to VITF
1-31-2020 Linda Blefgen letter to VITF and Assembly
1-31-2020 Juneau Chamber of Commerce letter to VITF
1-31-2020 Emily Kane email to VITF
1-31-2020 Anne Fuller email to VITF
1-31-2020 Judy Sherburne letter to VITF
1-30-2020 Zak Kirkpatrick of Allen Marine letter to VITF and Assembly
1-30-2020 Steve Bradford email to VITF
1-30-2020 Jayleen Bydlon letter to VITF
1-29-2020 Fred Hiltner letter to VITF
1-29-2020 Cam Byrnes letter to VITF
1-29-2020 Ray Preston letter to VITF and Assembly
1-27-2020 Jennifer Strumfeld email to VITF
1-26-2020 Steve Morley email to VITF
1-24-2020 Stephanie Hoag email to VITF
1-24-2020 Win Gruening My Turn
1-23-2020 Mike Wallisch letter to VITF
1-22-2020 Chris Meier letter to VITF
1-21-2020 Midgi Moore letter to VITF
1-21-2020 Joyanne Bloom email to VITF
1-20-2020 Holly Reeder email to VITF
1-20-2020 Sue Schrader email to TBMP and VITF
1-17-2020 David Summers email to VITF
1-17-2020 Unplugged Adventures letter to VITF
1-17-2020 Bill Hagevig letter to VITF
1-17-2020 Larri Spengler email to VITF
1-17-2020 Trenton English letter to VITF and Assembly
1-16-2020 Corey Baxter email to VITF
1-16-2020 Hilary Young letter to VITF
1-16-2020 Jeff Arnold My Turn Letter
1-15-2020 Laura Martinson email to VITF
1-15-2020 Eric Forst-Red Dog Saloon email to VITF
1-15-2020 Aspen Suites Hotel letter to VITF
1-15-2020 Joanie Waller email to VITF
1-15-2020 Clay Good email to VITF
1-15-2020 Sandy Warner email to VITF with article link
1-15-2020 Robert Deering email to VITF
1-15-2020 Bruce Conant email to VITF and Assembly
1-15-2020 Thane Neighborhood Assn Tourism Suggestions
1-15-2020 Thane Neighborhood Assn Thoughts on Tourism Limits
1-15-2020 Anne Sutton letter to VITF
1-15-2020 Alaska Coach Tours letter to VITF
1-14-2020 Terry Hoskinson email to VITF
1-14-2020 Mike Ward letter to VITF
1-14-2020 Mike Hekkers email to VITF
1-14-2020 Carol Coyle email to VITF
1-14-2020 Patricia White email to VITF and Assembly
1-14-2020 Robert Young email to VITF and Assembly
1-14-2020 Auke Bay Slow Down Marker Petition
1-13-2020 Leslie Dahl email to VITF
1-13-2020 Chris Dimond email to VITF
1-13-2020 Wendy Wolf email to VITF
1-11-2020 Martha Stey letter to VITF
1-11-2020 Linda Blefgen letter to VITF
1-11-2020 Kimberly Metcalfe letter to VITF
1-11-2020 Matt Boline letter to VITF
1-11-2020 Laura Fleming letter to VITF
1-11-2020 Laurie Sica email to VITF
1-11-2020 Linda Vallie email to VITF
1-11-2020 Vicky McLaughlin email to VITF
1-11-2020 Bob Bartholomew letter to VITF
1-10-2020 JCOS Memo to VITF Clean Port Initiative Comments
1-10-2020 Scott Bergmann email to VITF
1-10-2020 Jim Powell Summary of Neighborhood Assn Mtg to VITF
1-10-2020 Patricia White email to VITF
1-10-2020 Michael Wilson letter to VITF
1-10-2020 Dennis DeWitt email to VITF
1-10-2020 James Baldwin letter to VITF
1-10-2020 Kerry Kirkpatrick email to VITF
1-10-2020 Phil Wheeler email to VITF
1-10-2020 Mike Pilling email to VITF
1-9-2020 Bev Ingram email to VITF
1-8-2020 Greg Pilcher letter to Assembly
1-7-2020 Liz Perry letter to VITF
1-7-2020 Margo Waring letter to VITF
1-7-2020 Pat Race email to VITF
1-7-2020 Sara Willson email to VITF
1-7-2020 Elizabeth Figus email to VITF and Assembly
1-6-2020 Emily Kane email to Assembly
1-6-2020 Patricia White email to Assembly
1-6-2020 Laura Steele email to VITF and Assembly
1-6-2020 Gretchen Bishop email to VITF and Assembly
1-6-2020 carolyn v Brown email to VITF and Assembly
1-6-2020 Larri Spengler email to VITF and Assembly
1-5-2020 Jan Moyer email to VITF and Assembly
1-5-2020 Judy Crondahl email to VITF
1-5-2020 Nanci Spear email to VITF
1-4-2020 Grantley Moore letter to VITF and Assembly
1-3-2020 Deobrah Craig email to VITF
1-3-2020 Gretchen Bishop email to VITF
1-3-2020 Stuart Cohen letter to VITF
1-3-2020 Mariann Cummings email to VITF and Assembly
1-3-2020 Auke Bay Neighborhood Assn Lisa Greenough email to VITF
1-3-2020 Auke Bay Neighborhood Assn Kathleen Samalon email to VITF
1-02-2020 Alan Corbett email to VITF
1-1-2020 Mike Bethers email to VITF
12-30-2019 Kevin Burchfield letter to VITF
12-20-2019 Sierra Gadaire email to VITF
12-17-2019 Bill Leighty email to VITF and Assembly
12-16-2019 Ray Preston email to VITF
12-15-2019 Kevin Elliott email to VITF
12-10-2019 Karla Hart email to Assembly
12-10-2019 Brian Flory email to VITF and Assembly
12-7-2019 Jan Trigg and Peter Naoroz email to VITF and Assembly
12-4-2019 Steve Bradford email to VITF
11-14-2019 Brian Flory email to VITF
11-10-2019 Emily Kane email to VITF
11-07-2019 Kevin Elliott email to VITF
11-06-2019 Bill Leighty email to the Assembly and VITF with attachments
- Bill Leighty Attachment A: CarryingCapacity Juneau-FGS EconAnal-25Apr19 – Tab 1
- Bill Leighty Attachment A: CarryingCapacity Juneau-FGS EconAnal-25Apr19 – Tab 2
- Bill Leighty Attachment A: CarryingCapacity Juneau-FGS EconAnal-25Apr19 – Tab 3
- Bill Leighty Attachment A: CarryingCapacity Juneau-FGS EconAnal-25Apr19 – Tab 4
- Bill Leighty Attachment A: CarryingCapacity Juneau-FGS EconAnal-25Apr19 – Tab 5
- Bill Leighty Attachment A: CarryingCapacity Juneau-FGS EconAnal-25Apr19 – Tab 6
- Bill Leighty Attachment B: April 23, 2019 letter to Assembly re: Carrying Capacity
- Bill Leighty Attachment C: Climate Central Flooded Future 2019 Coastal DEM ReportĀ
- Bill Leighty Attachment D: Presentation to 2018 JEDC Innovation Summit