Understanding Ranked Choice Voting in Juneau

The City & Borough of Juneau Assembly is considering Ordinance 2025-13(c), which would implement Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for single-member races in municipal elections. 

What is Ranked Choice Voting?

Ranked Choice Voting is an election method that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference: first choice, second choice, third choice, and so on. Instead of voting for a single candidate, voters may express multiple preferences. 

How does it work? 

  • If a candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice votes, that candidate wins.
  • If no candidate has a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Votes for that candidate are redistributed to the next-choice candidates indicated on those ballots.
  • This process continues until one candidate receives a majority.

What races would it apply to? 

  • RCV would be used in races where there is only one open seat on the ballot, such as for Mayor or standard Assemblymember races.
  • RCV would NOT be used in races with multiple seats on the ballot (called multimember races), such as the Board of Education.

Potential benefits: 

  • Single-member races would look like State elections, providing more consistency for voters.
  • May increase the number of people willing to run for office.
  • Winning candidates must have support from the majority of voters.
  • Can reduce the impact of vote-splitting among similar candidates.
  • Allows voters to express preferences more fully.

Considerations: 

  • Transitioning to a new election process can be difficult on voters and election staff, requiring voter education for the public and increased training for staff.
  • Counting is more complex than our current voting system. Election staff would be able to release first round results on the same schedule as the current system, but would not be able to rank until after all ballots were counted—generally two weeks after election day.
  • RCV software would increase the cost of elections by approximately $10,000 per year.

What about the multimember races? 

  • Multimember races, where there are multiple open seats like the Board of Education, would remain the same as the current system (block voting).
  • Block voting is where all candidates appear in the same race and people can choose the number of candidates equal to the number of open seats.

Next steps

The Assembly will take public testimony on Ordinance 2025-13(c) An Ordinance Amending the Election Procedures: Ranked Choice Voting at the August 18 Regular Assembly Meeting. The Assembly will next take this up at the November 17 Regular Assembly meeting.

Agenda & packet materials: https://juneauak.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1195/files/agenda/11053 

Zoom link: https://juneau.zoom.us/j/91515424903 

Dial-in: 1-253-215-8782 

Meeting ID: 915 1542 4903 

August 18th, 2025|

Special Assembly Meeting scheduled for June 11

The CBJ Assembly will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, June 11 at 1:15 p.m. for the purposes of completing time-critical agenda items remaining from the June 9 Regular Assembly Meeting. The meeting will be held via Zoom only.

The Assembly is anticipated to take action on the following items:

Resolution 4012 A Resolution Reserving up to $3,045,800 of the Restricted Budget Reserve for the Eaglecrest FY26 Budget Deficit.
Resolution 4015 A Resolution Ratifying the Labor Agreement between the City and Borough and the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association for Fiscal Years 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Resolution 4018 A Resolution Amending the Personnel Rules and Approving Economic Terms between the City and Borough of Juneau and Non-represented Employees for Fiscal Years 2026, 2027, and 2028.

Bid Award – DH25-049 Statter Harbor Office Re-roof

The meeting agenda/packet is available online at juneauak.portal.civicclerk.com.

As the meeting will be held via Zoom, all those who wish to testify must contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office by 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 10. Please contact 907-586-5278 and indicate the topic(s) upon which you wish to testify. Testimony time will be limited by the Mayor based on the number of participants.

Members of the public are encouraged to send their comments in advance of the meeting to [email protected].

Zoom link: https://juneau.zoom.us/j/91515424903

Dial-in: 1-253-215-8782

Meeting ID: 915 1542 4903

For the complete CBJ public meetings calendar, visit juneau.org/calendar.

June 10th, 2025|

Notice of Public Hearings at April 30 and May 19 Assembly Meetings

The following items are scheduled for public hearing by the City and Borough of Juneau Alaska Assembly, on the date(s) designated below.  The agenda and packet material for the meetings will be posted on the CBJ website at https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/ by close of business the business day prior to the meetings.

The public may participate in-person or via Zoom webinar. Testimony time will be limited by the Mayor based on the number of participants. Members of the public that want to provide oral testimony via remote participation must notify the Municipal Clerk prior to 4pm on the day of the meeting by calling 907-586-5278 and indicating the topic(s) upon which they wish to testify. For in-person participation at the meeting, a sign-up sheet will be made available at the back of the Chambers and advance sign-up is not required. Members of the public are encouraged to send their comments in advance of the meeting to [email protected]

Wednesday, April 30, 2025
5:30pm: Special Assembly Meeting to Introduce Budget Legislation – Immediately followed by AFC, Assembly Chambers/Zoom
https://juneau.zoom.us/j/93917915176  1-253-215-8782 Webinar ID: 939 1791 5176

Ordinance 2025-03 An Ordinance Establishing the Rate of Levy for Property Taxes for Calendar Year 2025 Based Upon the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

Ordinance 2025-01 An Ordinance Appropriating Funds from the Treasury for FY26 City and Borough Operations.

Ordinance 2025-02 An Ordinance Appropriating Funds from the Treasury for FY26 School District Operations 

Summary of City & Borough of Juneau’s
Revised FY26 Operating Budget
(Including the Juneau School District)

      Estimated Revenues:     

State Sources                                                                                       $ 57,329,000
Federal Sources                                                                                       11,675,700
Local Taxes                                                                                             143,099,300
User Fees and Other                                                                             242,956,600
Fund Balance Usage                                                                               25,363,000
Total Estimated Revenues and Fund Balance Usage                 $480,423,600

Estimated Expenditures:    

General Governmental Funds                                                             $107,082,300
General Government – School District                                                   94,977,500
Enterprise Funds                                                                                   201,367,600
Internal & Debt Service Funds                                                               15,743,600
Capital Projects                                                                                       61,115,200
Special Assessments                                                                                   137,400
Total Estimated Expenditures                                                       $480,423,600

 Resolution 3090 A Resolution Adopting the City and Borough Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2026 through 2031, and Establishing the Capital Improvement Project Priorities for Fiscal Year 2026. [This notice is provided in accordance with CBJ Charter Section 9.6 Hearing on budget and capital improvement program]

Preliminary Capital Improvements Program Fiscal Years 2026 – 2031 Plan
Summary of City & Borough of Juneau Revised FY26 Capital Projects
Summarized by Committee/Department Recommendations

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Total FY26 Revised Budget

Administration                           $8,121,500
Bartlett Regional Hospital           3,000,000
Capital Transit                               740,000
Community Development              482,700
Docks                                         6,700,000
Eaglecrest Ski Area                        350,000
Harbors                                       4,350,000
Juneau School District                1,000,000
Lands & Resources                    3,100,000
Parks & Recreation                  11,322,000
Streets                                       9,912,000
Water Utility                               3,911,000
Wastewater Utility                     8,126,000
Total CIPs                           $61,115,200

Monday, May 19, 2025
7p.m. Regular Assembly Meeting, Assembly Chambers/Zoom Webinar
https://juneau.zoom.us/j/91515424903 or 1-253-215-8782 Webinar ID: 915 1542 4903 

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(AF) An Ordinance Appropriating $10,000 to the Manager for the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Truck Capital Improvement Project; Funding Provided by Airport Capital Reserve Funds.

 Ordinance 2024-01(b)(AJ) An Ordinance Appropriating $4,000,000 to the Manager for the Bartlett Regional Hospital Emergency Department Addition Capital Improvement Project, and Deappropriating $4,000,000 from the Manager for the Bartlett Regional Hospital Emergency Department Addition Capital Improvement Project; Funding Provided by United States Department of Health and Human Services. 

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(AK) An Ordinance Appropriating $150,000 to the Manager for Marie Drake Property Planning; Funding Provided by General Funds.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(AL) An Ordinance Appropriating $200,000 to the Manager for Contingency Federal Staffing Support Related to Tourism; Funding Provided by State Marine Passenger Fees.

Ordinance 2024-01 (b)(AM) An Ordinance Appropriating $500,000 to the Manager for the Lead Water Service Line Inventory Capital Improvement Project; Loan Funding Provided by the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Drinking Water Fund State Revolving Loan Fund.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(AN) An Ordinance Appropriating $1,115,654 to the Manager for the Taku Harbor Improvements Capital Improvement Project; Grant Funding Provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

 ADA accommodation available upon request: Please contact the Clerk’s office 36 hours prior to any meeting so arrangements can be made for closed captioning or sign language interpreter services depending on the meeting format. The Clerk’s office phone number is 586-5278, TDD 586-5351, e-mail: [email protected]

 

April 22nd, 2025|

April 14 Assembly Committee of the Whole and Lands, Housing, & Economic Development Committee meetings cancelled

The Assembly Committee of the Whole (COW) and Lands, Housing & Economic Development Committee (LHEDC) meetings scheduled for Monday, April 14 have been cancelled.

The next meetings for both those bodies will be held on Monday, May 5 in the Assembly Chambers and via Zoom webinar as follows:

  • 5 p.m. – Assembly Lands Housing & Economic Development Committee
  • 6:30 p.m. – Assembly Committee of the Whole

(Note: this meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. to allow enough time between meetings for the annual Assembly photo shoot.)

Please check the CBJ calendar at juneau.org/calendar for meeting and participation updates. For more information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 586-5278 or [email protected].

April 10th, 2025|

Ordinances up for Public Hearing at April 7 Regular Assembly Meeting

Notice of Public Hearing – April 7, 2025

The following items are scheduled for public hearing by the City and Borough of Juneau Alaska Assembly, on the date(s) designated below. The agenda and packet material for the meetings will be posted on the CBJ website at https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/ by close of business the business day prior to the meetings. The public may participate in-person or via Zoom webinar. Testimony time will be limited by the Mayor based on the number of participants. Members of the public that want to provide oral testimony via remote participation must notify the Municipal Clerk prior to 4pm the day of the meeting by calling 907-586-5278 and indicating the topic(s) upon which they wish to testify. For in-person participation at the meeting, a sign-up sheet will be made available at the back of the Chambers and advance sign-up is not required. Members of the public are encouraged to send their comments in advance of the meeting to [email protected]

Monday, April 7, 2025
7p.m. Regular Assembly Meeting, Assembly Chambers/Zoom Webinar [Location subject to change if a larger venue becomes available.] https://juneau.zoom.us/j/91515424903 or 1-253-215-8782 Webinar ID: 915 1542 4903

Ordinance 2025-07 An Ordinance Amending the Procedures and Requirements Related to Abandoned, Junked, Wrecked, and Impounded Vehicles.

Ordinance 2025-11 An Ordinance Repealing CBJC 75.01.210 Thawing and Other Miscellaneous Charges, Related to the Water Utility Code.

Ordinance 2025-15 An Ordinance Amending the Title 49 Land Use Code Relating to Rules of Construction, Permits, Equivalent Use Determinations, Determination of Minor Versus Major Developments, Accessory Dwelling Units, Caretaker Units, and Transition Zones.

Ordinance 2025-18 An Ordinance Amending Title 42, Penal Code, Relating to Crime Involving Domestic Violence by Adding Language Consistent with State of Alaska Statutes and House Bill 66.

Ordinance 2025-20 An Ordinance Addressing Tax Exemptions Spanning Multiple Construction Seasons.

Ordinance 2025-21 An Ordinance Exempting the 2025 Fireworks Display Purchase from Compliance with the Procurement Code.

Ordinance 2025-22(b) An Ordinance Authorizing the Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Tidelands Lease for the Purpose of Waterfront Commercial Activities.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(AG) An Ordinance Transferring $375,000 from the Community Development Department Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget and $80,000 from the Manager’s Office Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget to the Comprehensive Plan Capital Improvement Project.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(AH) An Ordinance Transferring $200,000 from CIP D23-060 Waterfront Museum to CIP H51-125 Aurora Harbor Improvements.

Ordinance 2024-01(b)(AI) An Ordinance Appropriating $10,000,000 to the Manager for the Juneau Douglas Treatment Plant Clarifier Building Repair Capital Improvement Project; Funding Provided by General Obligation Bond Proceeds.

ADA accommodations available upon request: Please contact the Clerk’s office 36 hours prior to any meeting so arrangements can be made for closed captioning or sign language interpreter services depending on the meeting format. The Clerk’s office telephone number is 586-5278, e-mail: [email protected].

March 18th, 2025|
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