Assembly Retreat

Prior to tonight's regular Assembly Meeting, we had an "Assembly Retreat" - which just means we spent several 3 1/2 hours in the City Hall Conference room reviewing the "state of the Borough." This is done each year after the municipal election when we potentially have new members. There were a number of things I heard that are worth passing on.

In discussing our financial status, the Manager said our investments are very conservative, and consequently CBJ losses from the recent stock market downturn are "negligible." One exception was the independently managed Jensen Olsen arboretum endowment, which had invested less conservatively and lost about 20%. The manager also noted that if oil drops below $60 it will have an impact on our state revenue sharing allotment.

We got an update on a variety of capital projects.
1) The airport is about to engage in a three year terminal remodel and runway expansion project. There should be lots of work going on beginning next year. http://www.juneau.org/airport/projects/index.php
2) Bartlett Hospital recently completed phase 1 of their expansion and will do more remodeling and additions over the next couple years. http://www.bartletthospital.org/getpage.php?name=project
3) The Mendenhall Valley/ Diamond Park pool complex will be bid soon and be built in 2009-2010. http://www.juneau.org/parkrec/DimondParkPool.php and http://www.juneau.org/engineering/Dimond%20Park/Dimond_Pool.php
4) Work on the downtown Transit Center and Parking Garage will begin soon. The NAPA building will be demolished first and then some initial blasting will happen in early December. Site work should be done by next April and construction in 2009-10. http://www.juneau.lib.ak.us/engineering/ParkingGarageTransitCenter/ParkingGarageTransitCenter.php
5) Discussion on Cruise Ship Moorage facilities continue to go on. Currently there is a navigation study looking at the city docks, Merchants Warf, and the Subport areas. Nothing is decided about anything at this point.
6) The Consolidated Public Works Facility being built at 7 mile is about to go out for bid. Phase 1 of construction will probably be completed next year.
7) Sewer work is proceeding in the Industrial Boulevard area an on North Douglas. After those projects are completed, our intention is to continue in the Valley to Engineers Cutoff and up Pederson hill.

Other issue updates:
A) We had some discussion on the plan the Assembly approved in principle for areawide curbside recycling. Currently we are doing a rate study to figure out what kinds of rates will be needed to fund the program. Further progress depends on the results of that report. In other words, it depends on what it costs.
B) The Manager discussed a variety of ways the city is trying to conserve energy including a plan to replace many street lights with LED lighting.
C) There is a continuing problem with woodsmoke pollution in the Mendenhall Valley and EPA has again put us on notice. So restrictions will sometimes be put in force.
http://www.juneau.org/clerk/woodsmoke/woodsmoke.php

Let me remind everyone that there are 4 open seats on both the Planning Commission and the Hospital Board. Those with interest and expertise/background are encouraged to apply by November 17th http://www.juneau.org/clerk/boards/VACANCY_List.pdf

I guess that's it for now. Everyone is waiting to see how the election will shape our future.