Uncategorized – Page 10 – City and Borough of Juneau

Docks & Harbors wants public participation on downtown waterfront planning

City and Borough of Juneau Docks & Harbors is in the process of planning how to develop the waterfront from Marine Park to the Taku Smokeries Dock. Should the area have more eating establishments, more public space, more parking areas for the visitor industry? These are just a few of the options being considered by the Docks & Harbors Board. The public has an opportunity to weigh in with ideas and visions at a meeting on Wednesday, September 6 at 5 p.m. in Assembly Chambers.

When the two new floating cruise ship berths opened this spring, cruise ship embarkment and disembarkment moved offshore, freeing up prime waterfront space that wasn’t there before.

“Our goal is to work with the Docks & Harbors Board and the public to see what kinds of things they want, what makes sense, so that we have a map forward as we make changes,” CBJ Port Engineer Gary Gillette said.

Given its proximity to the cruise ships, the waterfront between Marine Park and the Taku Smokeries Dock is popular during the visitor season. Gillette would like the planning process to allow even more use of the area.

“What we’re really hoping is that it’ll become a year-round place. Hopefully we can come up with some ideas – whether its food trucks, public space or whatever – that attracts people to come down during the off-season,” he said.

At the 5 p.m. meeting on Sept. 6, the public will hear an economic analysis from Rain Coast Data and start brainstorming ideas with Corvus Design. On Sept. 7, the design team is holding a day long “Open Studio” in the Senate building’s fourth floor boardroom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members of the public can drop in and talk one-on-one with the design team about ideas and visions. At a Sept. 28 meeting at 5 p.m., the Docks & Harbors Board will hear a presentation on preliminary plan concepts.

For more information, contact CBJ Port Engineer Gary Gillette at 586-0398 or [email protected].

October 11th, 2017|

2017 One Percent Sales Tax info

October 11th, 2017|

Juneau has a shoplifting problem; CBJ Law came up with a possible solution

Shoplifting in Juneau has increased dramatically over the past couple of years. Research has shown that incarceration for petty theft doesn’t stop people from offending again. So the City and Borough of Juneau Law Department, which prosecutes these crimes, has come up with an alternative – a program that uses motivational interviewing, one-on-one support services and behavioral therapy to end the cycle of repeat petty theft.

“As criminal reform has gotten underway in Alaska, we as prosecutors have had to rethink how we approach certain cases, especially misdemeanor property crimes. There is very little data on how to best address this population of offenders in a way that reduces the risk of recidivism, but preliminary findings suggest that motivational interviewing and moral recognition therapy may be beneficial. We are hopeful that this pilot project will serve as a model for other communities struggling with the same issues,” said CBJ Municipal Attorney Amy Mead.

The one-year program – Juneau Avert Chronic Shoplifting Pilot Project – is a collaboration between CBJ Law, Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribe of Alaska’s Second Chance Reentry Program and Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Inc. Program participants will go through motivational interviews with Second Chance case managers in order to identify a small, measurable goal that they commit to achieving. The goal could be any number of things, from securing housing to filling out job applications. Participants will also go through an 8-hour shoplifting treatment therapy program through JAMHI.

The pilot program is estimated to cost around $67,000. Funding comes from a federal grant through the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The program hopes to start taking participants in October.

For more information, contact CBJ Municipal Attorney Amy Mead at 586-5340 or [email protected].

(Corrected September 12, 2017)

October 10th, 2017|

Dunn Street Reconstruction

Starting next week, contractors for the City and Borough of Juneau will be reconstructing Dunn Street in the Mendenhall Valley. Work is expected to finish by mid-October.

Arete Construction will be working Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work will include storm drain improvements, water main replacement, new water service, partial sewer replacement, new asphalt pavement and sidewalk, and new curb and gutter.

During the construction period, people will still be able to access the businesses on Dunn Street. Please pay attention to traffic control.

During the reconstruction, contact project inspector PDC Engineers’ Mark Pusich at 780-6060 for any questions. For further information, please contact Paul Beck, Engineering and Public Works Department, at (907) 586-0882.

October 10th, 2017|

Cultivating our way to food security

Alaska is one of the least food secure states in the country. The Juneau Commission on Sustainability wants to examine how the capital city can become more self-sufficient when it comes to local food supply and less dependent on importing. Partnering with local organizations, the commission is kicking off a series of talks exploring food security. The first session is on Thursday, Sept. 14, 5:30 p.m. at Juneau-Douglas High School.

“Agriculture, like mining and other sectors, are bases of an economy, and the stronger any of those are, the stronger your community is. The Juneau Commission on Sustainability looks at what Juneau can do that’s renewable and locally produced so our community is more resilient,” commission chair Duff Mitchell said. “How do we do a better job of integrating locally-produced, locally-grown products into our community and economy?”

The first session in the series will focus on Juneau’s community gardens. A panel of local experts will present and discuss how gardening affects food security in Juneau. The session, also sponsored by UAF Cooperative Extension and Juneau Community Garden, is for the entire community, not just gardeners. “Not everyone wants to garden, but you may want to know how to support those that do and how to help promote Juneau food security. We’ll discuss what the local gardening community does well, what can be done better and what issues they need more involvement and support in,” Mitchell said.

Upcoming sessions on food security in Juneau will occur throughout the fall and winter. Topics include composting, livestock and local entrepreneurs in food production.

The Juneau Commission on Sustainability was established in 2007 to research and advise the City and Borough of Juneau on community sustainability. The commission consists of nine Assembly-appointed public members, one Assembly member and one Planning Commissioner. Commission duties include coordinating sustainability initiatives, making recommendations to the Assembly on policies and programs that promote sustainability, and acting as a liaison between the public and the Assembly on sustainability-related issues.

For more information, contact Tim Felstead, Community Planner and CBJ staff liaison to the Juneau Commission on Sustainability, at 586-0466 or [email protected].

October 10th, 2017|