In my last post I noted the Finance committee would be considering a food sales tax exemption. The Assembly was pretty much unanimous that this was a good idea, but concerned about eliminating 5 million in revenue when our revenue is already declining across the board. No one supported my suggestion of a revenue neutral approach of cutting sales tax combined with an equivalent increase in the property tax.
Saturday I attended the dedication of the 1% for Arts projects at Thunder Mountain High School. I was really impressed by it all and encourage everyone to visit sometime to see the totem pole with its amazing base, the river floor mosaic and the other art. You can see a few pictures at the TMHS site http://www.jsd.k12.ak.us/tmhs/index.php
Our search continues for a city manager to replace Rod Swope, who retires May 1. We hope to invite finalists to Juneau next month for on site interviews including presentations to the public.
Each year we collect passenger fees from the cruise lines. Next year we have forecast collecting 4.5 million. The money must be spent on things that contribute to the health and safety (broadly defined) of cruise lines passengers. The Manager has proposed projects for the coming year. Comments will be accepted on his recommendations until February 15 and then they will go to the Assembly. The following web page lists the project proposals, the manager’s recommendations, the law, and the email address for your comments. http://www.juneau.org/manager/passenger_fees.php
Monday 1/26 we have a number of meetings. At noon the Public Works Committee meets http://www.juneau.org/clerk/PWFCAGENDA/AGENDA012609.php
At 5pm Lands Committee meets http://www.juneau.org/clerk/2009_01_26_Lands_Index.htm
Just after Lands we have a short special Assembly meeting with a few items including a discussion of Legislative priorities http://www.juneau.org/assembly/agendas/2009/2009-01-26-Assembly_Index.php
Then we have a Committee of the Whole which will hear results from the Lessons Learned Commission appointed by the Mayor after last year’s power emergency. http://www.juneau.org/clerk/ASC/COTW/2009/2008-01-26-COW_Index.php
The Planning Commission meets at 7pm Tuesday 1/27, and one item should be the continuation of a proposed 180 foot WiFi tower on Montana Creek http://www.juneau.org/plancomm/documents/STF_USE08-27_full_000.pdf
Did you know the Juneau Police Department provides a “Vacation Watch” service for residents when they are out of town for an extended period. Register with them when you head out of town for vacation. http://www.juneau.org/police/VacationWatch.php
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
There are a bunch of miscellaneous things going on.
As mentioned in my last post, Tuesday (1/13) there are meetings on landfill odor problem (Centennial Hall) and also Planning Commission consideration of the ATT towers in the Valley.
Monday night (1/12) is our regular Assembly meeting. There are a lot of ordinances being introduced, but not many for hearing. One of interest is an ordinance to cover cost overruns at the Jensen Olson Arboretum. You can see background on all this in the Agenda (click the link at the right).
The Urban Avalanche advisory website is now active. It is updated daily and you can see what the avalanche risk is given the current weather. http://www.juneau.org/avalanche/
The downtown transportation center and parking garage website http://www.juneau.org/engineering/DTC/DTC.php now includes a live video feed from atop the Sealaska building mms://live.upstreamnetworks.com/20080-49247 (requires a media player since it is a video and not just still pictures)
The Wetlands Review Board 2008 Annual Report to the Assembly is available at http://www.juneau.org/clerk/ASC/HRC/2009/documents/2008_WRB_Annual_Report.pdf
I think most of you know City Manager Rod Swope announced he will resign at the end of April. Thirty one applications have been received and the Assembly is currently in a screening process. Finalists will probably be interviewed at the end of February. The process will include a public meeting.
Finally, this Wednesday (1/14) at 5pm the Assembly Finance Committee will meet. A main agenda items will be the proposal to exempt grocery store food from sales tax. This is an issue that has caused me considerable angst. Sales taxes are the most regressive form of taxation, particularly when they include the basics of life-- food, shelter, utilities. But the exemption is predicted to cost about 4.5 million dollars and that money will either have to be replaced every year with other taxation, or have city services cut by that amount. Personally, I would support replacing the grocery sales tax with a one mill increase in property tax. But I think I am probably in a very small minority. Much more likely are proposals to cut city services to compensate and I do not think that is the path Juneau wants to take-- It is a path to decline. Additionally, this proposal comes at a time when the city budgets are already strained because sales and property tax revenues are down due to the economic recession.
It will be an interesting discussion.
As mentioned in my last post, Tuesday (1/13) there are meetings on landfill odor problem (Centennial Hall) and also Planning Commission consideration of the ATT towers in the Valley.
Monday night (1/12) is our regular Assembly meeting. There are a lot of ordinances being introduced, but not many for hearing. One of interest is an ordinance to cover cost overruns at the Jensen Olson Arboretum. You can see background on all this in the Agenda (click the link at the right).
The Urban Avalanche advisory website is now active. It is updated daily and you can see what the avalanche risk is given the current weather. http://www.juneau.org/avalanche/
The downtown transportation center and parking garage website http://www.juneau.org/engineering/DTC/DTC.php now includes a live video feed from atop the Sealaska building mms://live.upstreamnetworks.com/20080-49247 (requires a media player since it is a video and not just still pictures)
The Wetlands Review Board 2008 Annual Report to the Assembly is available at http://www.juneau.org/clerk/ASC/HRC/2009/documents/2008_WRB_Annual_Report.pdf
I think most of you know City Manager Rod Swope announced he will resign at the end of April. Thirty one applications have been received and the Assembly is currently in a screening process. Finalists will probably be interviewed at the end of February. The process will include a public meeting.
Finally, this Wednesday (1/14) at 5pm the Assembly Finance Committee will meet. A main agenda items will be the proposal to exempt grocery store food from sales tax. This is an issue that has caused me considerable angst. Sales taxes are the most regressive form of taxation, particularly when they include the basics of life-- food, shelter, utilities. But the exemption is predicted to cost about 4.5 million dollars and that money will either have to be replaced every year with other taxation, or have city services cut by that amount. Personally, I would support replacing the grocery sales tax with a one mill increase in property tax. But I think I am probably in a very small minority. Much more likely are proposals to cut city services to compensate and I do not think that is the path Juneau wants to take-- It is a path to decline. Additionally, this proposal comes at a time when the city budgets are already strained because sales and property tax revenues are down due to the economic recession.
It will be an interesting discussion.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year to all. The bad news is that capital creep continues unabated and the Governor no longer seems embarrassed about it. She is pretty straight forward about where she thinks the government should be. The best thing we can do is to keep being a good host to the legislature where we have some influence.
Several things are upcoming in the next couple weeks. On Tuesday, January 13, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Hickel Room at Centennial Hall the Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation will hold a Public Information Workshop on Juneau landfill odor issues,
Also on Tuesday the 13th beginning at 7pm is the next Planning Commission meeting at City Hall. ATT is applying for a permit to put up a 150 ft "wireless communications facility" at 3921 Loop Road. There is another application for a 180 ft. antenna tower on Montana Creek Road. Be there if you want to testify.
The approved Comprehensive Plan has been finalized and is available for download at http://www.juneau.org/cddftp/documents/2008CompPlan_Adopted_Final_000.pdf
The next Assembly Meeting is Monday the 12th.
Several things are upcoming in the next couple weeks. On Tuesday, January 13, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Hickel Room at Centennial Hall the Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation will hold a Public Information Workshop on Juneau landfill odor issues,
Also on Tuesday the 13th beginning at 7pm is the next Planning Commission meeting at City Hall. ATT is applying for a permit to put up a 150 ft "wireless communications facility" at 3921 Loop Road. There is another application for a 180 ft. antenna tower on Montana Creek Road. Be there if you want to testify.
The approved Comprehensive Plan has been finalized and is available for download at http://www.juneau.org/cddftp/documents/2008CompPlan_Adopted_Final_000.pdf
The next Assembly Meeting is Monday the 12th.
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