Last Monday was a long meeting with a lot of different issues. After much discussion, the Assembly unanimously rejected the effort to rezone the MRV property across from the HS that I talked about last post. Everybody agreed it had the appearance of gamesmanship and favoritism. My point was that the Assembly should not exempt themselves from their own city code unless there is a REALLY good reason. It’s nice when things work like they should.
We also had a hearing on the mandatory garbage collection ordinance, and people came out of everywhere testifying about how they took care of their own garbage and how we should not punish them for being responsibile. I had a hard time getting too upset at $25 a month for one can. But OK. We deferred action and will have a hearing Monday night at 6pm before discussing this at the Committee of the Whole at 7pm. So if you have two cents to put in on garbage, come on down. See http://www.juneau.org/clerk/ASC/COTW/2010/2010-03-01-COW_Index.php for more info.
Several things going on in the capital budget at the state. It looks like there is a 10 million project for the Johnson Youth Center. The new Mental Health Trust/subport building is not there yet, but many are still pushing. There is also interest in funding a new Museum, Library, Archives building—known as SLAM—across from Salvation Army. Finally, the state bought the old Christian Science church building across Main street from the capital and will renovate that for offices. I like to see the legislature invest in capital infrastructure.
Next Wednesday night March 3 at Centennial Hall from 5:30-8:00 there will be a community reception for the finalists for University of Alaska statewide President. Rumor has it that UAS Chancellor John Pugh and Senate Majority leader Gary Stevens are among the finalists. The announcement on that will come out Sunday night and we’ll see how accurate the rumors are.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Well, we avoided the layoffs by taking 1 million from our reserves and another 1 million from the ANTICIPATED new revenues resulting from the increase in cigarette taxes. This solves the immediate problem – but as the months go on the shortfalls may increase. We are in a wait and see mode. Future sales tax returns will tell us if our revenue forecasts were accurate. At this point, however, the most evident result is that no new money is likely to be approved for anything this year.
At our next Assembly meeting February 22, there will be a public hearing on the proposed ordinance to have mandatory garbage collection. Right now 10-20% of Juneau does not have commercial pickup. Partially as a result of that – we have a dumping problem in our wooded areas. The mandatory policy is also seen as necessary to carry out a comprehensive waste management system for Juneau. I have heard no reason not to support this proposal. http://www.juneau.org/assembly/agendas/2010/2010-01-25/documents/2010-03.pdf
Here is a great example of some of the small complex issues that come to the Assembly. At our next meeting we are supposed to hear an ordinance to rezone a small area between JDHS and Evergreen cemetery from D18 to Light Commercial to accommodate a retail establishment that MRV Architects wants to put in their building (former Akiyama office). The Land Use code says you can’t rezone short of 2 acres, so they added a chunk of the cemetery to the proposed rezone. That brought out a lot of objections, particularly from the native community. The neighbors in the condo to the northeast objected – and to accommodate, Staff recommended prohibiting restaurants—but the Commission rejected that protection. It looks like an attempt to spot zone to accommodate one commercial property owner—but their argument is that this follows the revised Comprehensive Plan (it does) which said this should be General Commercial. Throw in that the proposed retail establishment will be partially owned by the Troxels who run the Breakwater and are in a clash with neighbors because of noise and disturbance problems at their bar. What is before the Assembly is just a proposal to rezone – we are not supposed to judge the Planning Commission decision unless there is a formal appeal. But still…….
Juneau collects 8 dollars per passenger from the cruise lines – 3 for port development and 5 for the general Marine Passenger Fee that must be spent on projects that directly affect cruise ships and their passengers. There is a proposed list of expenditures out for public comment until February 27 The city consults closely with the industry, which is one of the reasons why we have not been sued like the state for how we use the money. To review and comment see http://www.juneau.org/manager/passenger_fees.php
Anyone who uses the harbors—there is a public comment period on raising those rates. Comments should get in before the next Docks and Harbors Board Meeting February 25th http://www.juneau.org/law/regulations/regulations.php
Tuesday February 16 at 5:15 pm the Planning Commission will be talking about a proposed Wireless Communication Facility (towers) policy. http://www.juneau.org/plancomm/documents/STF_TXT09-07_003.pdf
At our next Assembly meeting February 22, there will be a public hearing on the proposed ordinance to have mandatory garbage collection. Right now 10-20% of Juneau does not have commercial pickup. Partially as a result of that – we have a dumping problem in our wooded areas. The mandatory policy is also seen as necessary to carry out a comprehensive waste management system for Juneau. I have heard no reason not to support this proposal. http://www.juneau.org/assembly/agendas/2010/2010-01-25/documents/2010-03.pdf
Here is a great example of some of the small complex issues that come to the Assembly. At our next meeting we are supposed to hear an ordinance to rezone a small area between JDHS and Evergreen cemetery from D18 to Light Commercial to accommodate a retail establishment that MRV Architects wants to put in their building (former Akiyama office). The Land Use code says you can’t rezone short of 2 acres, so they added a chunk of the cemetery to the proposed rezone. That brought out a lot of objections, particularly from the native community. The neighbors in the condo to the northeast objected – and to accommodate, Staff recommended prohibiting restaurants—but the Commission rejected that protection. It looks like an attempt to spot zone to accommodate one commercial property owner—but their argument is that this follows the revised Comprehensive Plan (it does) which said this should be General Commercial. Throw in that the proposed retail establishment will be partially owned by the Troxels who run the Breakwater and are in a clash with neighbors because of noise and disturbance problems at their bar. What is before the Assembly is just a proposal to rezone – we are not supposed to judge the Planning Commission decision unless there is a formal appeal. But still…….
Juneau collects 8 dollars per passenger from the cruise lines – 3 for port development and 5 for the general Marine Passenger Fee that must be spent on projects that directly affect cruise ships and their passengers. There is a proposed list of expenditures out for public comment until February 27 The city consults closely with the industry, which is one of the reasons why we have not been sued like the state for how we use the money. To review and comment see http://www.juneau.org/manager/passenger_fees.php
Anyone who uses the harbors—there is a public comment period on raising those rates. Comments should get in before the next Docks and Harbors Board Meeting February 25th http://www.juneau.org/law/regulations/regulations.php
Tuesday February 16 at 5:15 pm the Planning Commission will be talking about a proposed Wireless Communication Facility (towers) policy. http://www.juneau.org/plancomm/documents/STF_TXT09-07_003.pdf
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