City Manager proposes how to spend cruise ship passenger fees. Submit comments on recommendations by March 4.

The public has until March 4 to comment on the City Manager’s recommendations for how to allocate cruise ship Marine Passenger Fee (MPF) proceeds. Read the draft proposal here. Read a new memo with supplemental information on the dock electrification item here.

The Manager’s draft proposal makes recommendations on expenditure of funds that come from the $5 City and Borough of Juneau Marine Passenger Fee, $3 CBJ Port Development Fee, and the $5 State of Alaska Commercial Passenger Vessel Fee. For budgeting purposes, CBJ has estimated that about 1 million passengers will come to Juneau this year. Based on that projection, the amount of revenue in fiscal year 2023 is anticipated to be roughly $13.8 million.

In December, CBJ solicited project proposals from city departments and the public, including businesses and the visitor industry, to be funded with MPF proceeds. The City Manager is recommending 15 operating, grant and capital funding allocations. They include:

  • funding for dock electrification, including design funding and a transformer that will allow multiple ships to connect to shore power once available (read the new memo that provides more information on this item)
  • funding for a study on a circulator shuttle bus service
  • a Seawalk expansion
  • refillable water bottle stations in Downtown Juneau

CBJ is also carrying a negative fund balance of $3.2 million into fiscal year 2023, which was caused by the need to continue essential services during the reduced visitor season in 2021. The Manager’s proposal would eliminate this negative balance.

Submit comments on the recommendations by March 4, 2022 to CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce by email, [email protected], or by mail to the City Manager’s Office, attn: Alexandra Pierce, 155 S. Seward Street, Juneau, Alaska 99801.

All Marine Passenger Fee project proposals and comments will be forwarded along with the City Manager’s recommendation list to the Assembly Finance Committee for review, and then to the Assembly for consideration during the upcoming budget cycle.

For more information, contact CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce at [email protected] or 907-500-8677.

February 17th, 2022|

Juneau Public Health Center offers flu shots, KN95 masks, COVID vaccine/booster & tests

In addition to COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines and boosters, the Juneau Public Health Center is now offering free flu shots to anyone ages 6 months and up every Wednesday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout February. Simply walk in or, if you prefer to make an appointment, go to juneau.org/vaccine. The Juneau Public Health Center is also distributing free KN95 masks and COVID-19 self-tests Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30. The Juneau Public Health Center is located at 3412 Glacier Highway, across the street from the Twin Lakes parking lot.

Individuals wanting to get a flu shot can do so at the same time as getting a COVID vaccine or booster, or just get the flu shot.

For individuals wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the Juneau Public Health Center offers first and second Pfizer doses, as well as Pfizer boosters. If you fall into any of these categories, you are encouraged to attend a Wednesday or Friday clinic:

  • Anyone ages 5 and up who needs a first or second Pfizer vaccine dose.
  • Individuals 12 to 17 who need a booster. Pfizer boosters can be administered at least 5 months after the initial Pfizer series.
  • Individuals ages 18 and up who received an initial Pfizer or Moderna series, and need a booster. Pfizer boosters can be administered at least 5 months after an initial series.
  • Individuals ages 18 and up who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and need a booster. Pfizer boosters can be administered at least 2 months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
  • Individuals ages 5 and up who are moderately or severely immunocompromised and received the Pfizer primary 2-dose series. An additional Pfizer primary shot can be administered 28 days after second shot.

For more information, call the Juneau Public Health Center 907-465-3353.

February 10th, 2022|

Juneau Assembly introduced ordinance to allow for subport cruise ship dock. Public can comment Feb. 28 & March 14.

The Juneau public will have two opportunities to provide public comment on an ordinance amending the Long Range Waterfront Plan to allow for the creation of a cruise ship dock facility at the subport in Downtown Juneau. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly introduced the ordinance Monday night and the public can testify on the ordinance during the February 28 Regular Assembly Meeting and again during the March 14 Regular Assembly Meeting when the ordinance will be up for public hearing.

While this ordinance allows for a cruise ship dock, it does not guarantee that one will be permitted or will be allowed to be constructed. Rather, the ordinance allows for a dock proposal to go through a complete public process and is the first of several permitting decisions the Juneau Assembly and Planning Commission must make regarding Norwegian Cruise Lines’ proposed development at the subport.

How to read the ordinance

The introduced ordinance, which is seven pages, includes the actual amendment language to the Long Range Waterfront Plan on pages 1 – 4. The amended language would allow for the creation of a dock facility at the subport capable of accommodating one large cruise ship as well as docking facilities for U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA vessels.

The ordinance, on pages 5 – 7, adds an Appendix B to the Long Range Waterfront Plan. The appendix includes two things:

  • Page 5 lists the recommended criteria – established by CBJ’s Visitor Industry Task Force – for constructing a cruise ship dock at the subport.
  • The Long Range Waterfront Plan, as is, establishes a framework for amendment. Pages 6 – 7 of the ordinance describes how aspects of the framework have been met.

How to provide public comment

Details on providing public comment at the February 28 Regular Assembly Meeting are here; details for the March 14 Assembly meeting are forthcoming. In the meantime, the public can email their comments in advance of the meetings to [email protected].

Learn more about the ordinance

For more information, contact CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce at [email protected] or 907-500-8677.

February 9th, 2022|

Juneau’s community risk level lowers to Moderate

Due to sustained declines in COVID-19 cases in Juneau, improvements in workforce capacity, and the increasing availability of therapeutics to treat high-risk cases of COVID-19, the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is reducing the overall community risk to Level 2 Moderate. At Moderate, the mask requirement changes. Juneau has been at the Modified High level since January 3.

This community mitigation measure on masking is effective immediately:

  • If you’re not fully vaccinated, you must wear a mask or face covering in indoor public areas and crowded outdoor events, like a live performance, parade, sports event. If you are fully vaccinated, masking is highly recommended in indoor public areas. (Fully vaccinated is defined as 2 weeks after an initial 2-dose Moderna/Pfizer series or initial 1-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.)
  • Businesses and organizations may choose to require masking in their facilities. Masking remains required in CBJ facilities.

Here are the other mitigation measures at the Moderate community risk level, effective immediately:

  • Indoor gatherings must be limited to 50% of indoor capacity or 50 people, whichever is greater, and include safety measures. There are no size limits if all individuals at the gathering are fully vaccinated. Outdoor gatherings are recommended.
  • ​Restaurants are recommended to ensure distancing between parties. Patrons who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks when not actively eating or drinking
  • Bars cannot exceed 50 percent capacity. Patrons who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks when not actively eating or drinking
  • Personal services are by appointment only; waiting areas at 50 percent capacity.
  • Gyms are limited to 50 percent capacity. Indoor classes are limited only to fully vaccinated individuals.

Read CBJ’s COVID-19 Risk Metrics and Mitigation Strategies here for more details.

In accordance with CDC guidance, the EOC urges residents ages 12 and up to get a booster. Go to juneau.org/vaccine or call 907-586-6000 to find availability.

For more information, contact CBJ Emergency Operations Center Incident Commander and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr at 907-586-5240 or [email protected], or email [email protected].

February 9th, 2022|
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