Capstone Clinic no longer providing COVID-19 testing on weekends

Capstone Clinic’s private COVID-19 testing site in the Mendenhall Mall Suite 307 will no longer be open on the weekends. Its new operating hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Saturday and Sunday starting tomorrow, April 9. The testing site offers testing to all individuals. Rapid and send-out tests are available:

  • Asymptomatic individuals are welcome to test inside – enter through the main mall door to the left of NAO and immediately turn right in the foyer, then walk down a short hallway, and turn left where a big testing station floor sign is located. When in doubt, look for the Capstone Clinic signs.
  • Symptomatic individuals are asked to stay in their vehicle, call 907-694-9523 option 2, and someone will come outside to administer the test.

As a reminder, the City and Borough of Juneau’s COVID-19 hotline and drive-thru testing facility operates five days a week, closed on Wednesday and Sunday. To schedule a COVID-19 molecular test and get results within 24 hours, register online or call the COVID-19 hotline at 907-586-6000 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Testing is also available at SEARHC Ethel Lund Medical Center, SEARHC Mountainside Urgent Care, Juneau Urgent & Family Care, and private providers around town.

April 8th, 2022|

Assembly begins budget review process at April 6 Finance Committee meeting

The Juneau Assembly will begin its multi-week process to review the City and Borough of Juneau’s budget for fiscal year (FY) 2023 at the Assembly Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, April 6 at 5:30 p.m. Join the committee meeting in person at City Hall, online at https://juneau.zoom.us/j/93917915176, or call 1-253-215-8782 with webinar ID: 939 1791 5176.

The City Manager introduced the proposed budget during the Regular Assembly meeting on April 4. The manager’s proposed citywide budget, including the school district, hospital, and all city enterprises, totals $408 million, which is down $26.9 million from the FY22 Amended Budget. The budget proposes a property tax increase of 0.1 mills, resulting in a total mill levy rate of 10.66 mills. Prior to the 10.56 mill rate established in 2021 for the FY22 budget, CBJ’s property tax rate was 10.66, or higher, for 8 years straight.

The budget reflects increased projections of sales tax revenues and cruise ship passenger fees in anticipation of cruise tourism returning to near pre-pandemic levels this summer. The budget also includes higher property tax revenues as a result of a 6.2% increase to total borough-wide property valuation. This is primarily reflective of the robust residential home sales market during the pandemic in response to high demand and low supply of homes. These revenue increases are offset by inflationary cost growth in both the operating and capital budgets, as well as shifting costs for education funding from the State to the City as a result of property valuation increases. These factors contribute to a general fund deficit of $3.4 million in the FY23 proposed budget.

The budget includes the following major components:

  • $86.7 million for the Juneau School District, a decrease of $5.7 million (6.2 percent) over the FY22 Amended Budget. This decrease primarily reflects one-time expenditures in FY22 associated with the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grant to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, as well as a reduction to the Public Employees’ and Teacher retirement systems on-behalf contributions.
  • $179.4 million for Enterprise Funds (hospital, airport, water utilities, docks, and harbors), an increase of $18.5 million (11.5 percent). This change is primarily due to higher anticipated patient volume at the hospital as a result of increased capacity.
  • $87.3 million for general government, an increase of $705,600 (0.8 percent) from the FY22 Amended Budget. While total budget change is relatively small, the budget reflects a big shift from federal pandemic relief revenues back to local taxes and other revenues.
  • $36.5 million for capital improvement projects, a decrease of $32.3 million (47 percent) from the FY22 Amended Budget. This decrease is a result of significant supplemental appropriations made in FY22 to the capital budget, as well as the Hospital issuing $20 million in revenue bonds for which the proceeds were fully appropriated to capital projects.
  • $10.9 million for the debt service budget, a decrease of $4.2 million (27.7 percent) over the FY22 Amended Budget. This reflects a reduction in outstanding school construction debt, as multiple bonds were fully paid off during FY22. However, unreimbursed school bond debt from FY22 will be paid off with property taxes collected in FY23, which keeps the debt service portion of the mill rate flat.

Read CBJ’s proposed Biennial Budget for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. The City Manager’s Budget Message is on pages 19-22.

For more information, contact Finance Director Jeff Rogers at 907-723-6907 or [email protected].

April 5th, 2022|

Around 1,225 people took CBJ’s public information survey. Here’s how they responded.

The City and Borough of Juneau conducted a community-wide survey to better understand how CBJ can deliver information quickly and effectively. It asked respondents to answer how they currently get information from CBJ and how they would like to get it in the future. The survey yielded 1,225 responses between January 18 and February 6. Of the people who took the survey, respondents most want the Public Information Office to utilize a website, an opt-in email service, radio ads and PSAs, and the newspaper. Read the full report on the survey results.

When asked how people currently get information from CBJ, the top replies were the website (50.95%), newspaper (44.4%), radio and PSAs (42.07%), and Facebook (41.83%). Respondents over the age of 65 were disproportionately represented. When looking at those under the age of 65, the majority of respondents currently get their information via the website (53.29%), Facebook (50.27%), followed by radio ads and PSAs (43.29%), and newspaper (32.6%).

CBJ also wants to better understand what public opinion is on Facebook, which CBJ currently utilizes as a primary communication tool. Of all respondents, 42.5 percent wanted CBJ to continue to use Facebook as a primary tool for communication, 31.1% did not want CBJ to continue using Facebook as a primary communication tool, and 26.4% were unsure. The “No” and “Unsure” replies make up 57.5% of respondents together. Facebook, nor any other social media platform, was among the top methods for preferred communication moving forward.

CBJ appreciates everyone who took the time and effort to complete the survey – thank you. These results will be considered as CBJ crafts communication strategies in the future.

For more information, contact Deputy City Manager Robert Barr at 907-586-5240 or [email protected].

April 4th, 2022|

Ages 50 and up can get a second COVID-19 booster

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago to get another mRNA booster – Pfizer or Moderna – to increase their protection against severe disease from COVID-19. The Juneau Public Health Center offers free Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines every Friday through April. Make an appointment at juneau.org/vaccine or call 907-586-6000, or walk in and register on site from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.

“This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time. CDC, in collaboration with FDA and our public health partners, will continue to evaluate the need for additional booster doses for all Americans,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a March 29 media statement.

In addition, based on newly published data, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Data continue to show the importance of vaccination and booster doses to protect individuals both from infection and severe outcomes of COVID-19. During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21-times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and 7-times less likely to be hospitalized, according to CDC. CDC continues to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting an initial booster when eligible.

Other COVID-19 vaccine providers in Juneau are Capstone Clinic at the Juneau airport, Costco Pharmacy, Genoa Healthcare, Juneau Urgent & Family Care, Safeway, and SEARHC.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 907-586-6000.

March 31st, 2022|

Juneau schools go mask optional starting Monday

Starting Monday, April 4, masks will be optional for most people in the Juneau School District and on school buses. The City and Borough of Juneau’s overall community risk level is currently Level 1 Minimal, and has been since February 28. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Juneau is at a Medium COVID-19 Community Level.

The Juneau Board of Education approved the following mask policy language on March 10:

“Effective April 4, assuming CDC community level remains Medium or Low, masks, or similar facial coverings designed to mitigate COVID-19 transmission and are well-fitted covering the mouth and nose, are optional for all persons indoors in Juneau School District facilities and on school grounds. The Superintendent has the authority to require face masks in certain situations consistent with CDC guidelines.”

Please note the following:

  • Optional Mask Wearing: People may choose to mask indoors in JSD facilities or outdoors on school district grounds at any time. It is an individual decision that students, staff members, and visitors are free to make without judgment. Parents who wish their child to wear a mask should communicate directly with their child about the expectation. In general, staff members are not able to enforce different rules for different students. If an individual is at high risk for severe illness, they should contact their healthcare provider about the need to wear a mask or take other precautions.
  • Masks Required: Masks will remain required in settings where the COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available for students. This includes the Integrated Pre-K classes, Kinder Ready, and Montessori Borealis’ Children’s House.
  • Mitigation Practices: The school district will continue to operate symptom-free schools, provide testing for all staff and student activities, follow test to stay protocols and provide masks to individuals who choose to wear them. Everyone is encouraged to test if they have symptoms.

See the complete JSD Mask Policy to see guidance for confirmed cases and for exposure or close contact situations.

For more information, go to juneauschools.org, or contact your school.

March 30th, 2022|
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