News Item – Page 3 – City and Borough of Juneau

CBJ Solicits Construction Bids for Municipal Offices, Assembly Chambers at Burns Building

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) posted a solicitation for bids to perform construction work on the first two floors of the Michael J. Burns building. The project will accommodate CBJ offices for 147 personnel, an accessible Assembly Chambers and central public service counter. The cost-based bid solicitation materials include a summary of work, site layout and list of alternates should budget allow. The solicitation period closes on July 13.

The primary scope of work addresses critical updates to the building’s mechanical and electrical systems that are out of code and at risk of needing constant repairs if not updated. There will also be limited renovations to the first floor for an Assembly Chambers, public service counters and restrooms. Some office spaces will receive minor renovations, including replacing partitions and limited finishes. At this time, the current budget does not include paint and flooring updates, however, should bid come in below budget, these are included among several items that could be added as alternates to the scope.

“We took a very frugal approach to this project,” explains CBJ City Architect Liam Knecht. “We may not get updated paint or flooring, but this scope will get us to a safe, consolidated, and cost-effective workspace for municipal employees.”

The current City Hall houses about 40% of CBJ office staff and faces major renovation and repairs estimated at nearly $10 million for immediate health and safety repairs, and over $45 million for full structural repairs. Additional CBJ offices are spread throughout the city in private commercial buildings and are subject to increasing lease costs and needed repairs. In the current arrangement, annual operating costs–including for maintenance, utilities and lease–total approximately $1.3 million. Annual operating costs for municipal services to operate out of the Burns Building will be approximately half that at $650,000 and include utilities, maintenance, and capital reinvestment costs.

In September 2025, the Juneau Assembly formally approved the purchase of two floors of the Burns Building (801 W. 10^th Street) for use as the new CBJ Municipal facility. The plan structures the arrangement as a condominium association, with CBJ purchasing the first two floors while the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation retains the top floor. The building plans prioritize public accessibility and services, with the new Assembly Chambers being 3,530 square feet (versus 1,929 in the current City Hall) and a larger public counter to better receive and direct inquiries for all departments. The space will function as a one-stop shop for residents to interface with their municipal government.

The total budget to move and consolidate CBJ offices in the Burns Building is $20.5 million. This total cost includes the purchase of 46,000 square feet of commercial office space for $9.3 million and an upfront capital investment fund contribution of $2.7 million (similar to a deferred maintenance fund, to save for future capital project needs).

Interested contractors can find the solicitation and instructions on the CBJ Public Purchase website.

For more information about the future CBJ Municipal Offices and Assembly Chambers, visit juneau.org/manager/cbj-municipal-offices or contact [email protected]. For questions about the bid solicitation process, contact [email protected].

June 19th, 2026|

Mill Rate Cap Change Charter Amendment Petition Update: Review Underway

The Municipal Clerk’s Office is currently reviewing petition booklets and signatures submitted for the proposed Mill Rate Cap Change Charter Amendment Petition.

On June 17, the petitioners committee returned petition books containing 2,986 initial signatures. Under the CBJ Charter, 2,566 certified signatures are required for the petition to be certified. Clerk’s Office staff are now verifying signatures and reviewing petition booklets to determine whether the petition meets the certification requirements.

For the latest petition status and related documents, visit the https://juneau.org/clerk/elections or contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 907-586-5278 (Option 1).

June 17th, 2026|

Citizens Initiatives Update: 1% Seasonal Sales Tax Petition Certified

The Municipal Clerk has certified the proposed 1% Seasonal Sales Tax Initiative Petition as sufficient under the requirements of the CBJ Charter. The petitioners committee submitted petition books containing 3,231 signatures, and after review and verification by the Clerk’s Office, the petition met the required threshold of 2,566 certified signatures.

The Certification of Petition has been issued and is available on the CBJ Elections webpage. Pursuant to CBJ Charter Section 7.10(a), the Assembly has 45 days from the date of certification to adopt substantially similar legislation. If the Assembly does not adopt substantially similar legislation within that period, the initiative will be placed before the voters at the next regular election.

The Mill Rate Cap Change Charter Amendment Petition remains in circulation. Signature gathering is authorized through June 17, 2026, unless the petitioners committee submits the petition for certification sooner.

For petition documents, certification materials, and the latest petition status updates, visit juneau.org/clerk/elections or contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 907-586-5278 (Option 1).

June 12th, 2026|

Citizens Initiatives Update: Petition Review Underway

The Municipal Clerk’s Office is currently reviewing petition booklets and signatures submitted for the proposed 1% Seasonal Sales Tax Initiative Petition.

On June 5, the petitioners committee returned petition books containing 3,231 initial signatures. Under the CBJ Charter, 2,566 certified signatures are required for the petition to be certified. Clerk’s Office staff are now verifying signatures and reviewing petition booklets to determine whether the petition meets the certification requirements.

The Mill Rate Cap Change Charter Amendment Petition remains in circulation. Signature gathering is authorized through June 17, 2026, unless the petitioners committee submits the petition for certification sooner.

For the latest petition status and related documents, visit the https://juneau.org/clerk/elections or contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 907-586-5278 (Option 1).

June 6th, 2026|

Final Opportunity to Testify on Fiscal Year 2027 Budget at June 8 Assembly Meeting

After months of meaningful community discussion, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly will host its last public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 city budget this Monday, June 8 at 6 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers and via Zoom. Residents are invited to attend the meeting and provide comments before the Assembly adopts a final budget this month.

Residents who would like to testify can come to the Assembly Chambers and sign-up for in-person testimony. Residents can also testify remotely by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 907-586-5278 before 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting. The CBJ Assembly also welcomes community input by email at [email protected].

Learn more about the Assembly’s recent budget discussions and the process to get to the final hearing in this recent summary.

See more details about the meeting, including other topics to be discussed, on the Civic Clerk website. To view the entire public meetings calendar, visit the CBJ public meetings calendar.

June 5th, 2026|