Each year the Assembly approves a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) plan that lists the capital projects we will undertake during the year. This is what we propose to “build” in the next year. One file shows Projects, Costs and Funding Sources. The second file shows Project Descriptions. The funding is either from sales taxes or from grants from the State or Feds or from user fees (Airport, Hospital, Water/Sewer fees). These are fairly easy to read files
Another area we have been moving forward on is to establish a downtown parking management plan that will try to maximize our facilities by adjusting the cost of parking. The proposed Parking Management Plan suggests a return to parking meters for on-street parking. I tend to think this is a good plan, but there will be lots of screams from people who don’t like parking meters.
I mentioned previously about our tabling the mandatory universal trash collection ordinance. On Saturday April 3 the Assembly will have a day long meeting to try to reach consensus on how we want to move forward on this issue that everyone is concerned with. The way it appears now—the choices are - do we move towards an emphasis on collection and recycling or on some kind of incinerator. The session is open to the public, but no testimony will be taken.
Next Tuesday March 23 the Planning Commission takes up the draft Wireless Communication Facility Ordinance which has been debated in several previous meetings. Assuming it is passed in some form, it will then go to the Assembly for public hearing. You can also testify on it in the Planning Commission meeting. This is the ordinance that was generated after citizen efforts to stop building more towers in the Valley.
As the legislative session enters its final month (adjournment scheduled for mid-April) things are starting to heat up. Odds are that little will get done besides the budgets. Currently there is a big focus on the capital budget that will determine what “projects” the state will fund. Juneau has a number of possible projects, including the proposed Mental Health Trust state office building, the new Libraries/Archives/Museum (SLAM), building, revamping the Johnson Youth Center, some road work and several others. We won’t know the final outcome until the bill passes both houses and Governor wields his veto pen. Currently oil is around $81 a barrel, which makes it likely that we will have available dollars.
If you are really a state government junkie, I encourage you to follow the blog “What do I know” by retired UAA Public Administration professor Steve Aufrecht. He moved down here for the session (along with his much better half, Joan) and has been hanging out in the capital taking videos and typing away. I think you’ll enjoy it.
If you have any interest in serving your community through a city Board or Commission, there are a number that have openings. Take a look at the Board Vacancy List and consider.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
The big issue recently has been the proposed Mandatory Refuse Collection ordinance.
About 17% of Juneau residents take care of their own trash rather than having Arrow Refuse pick it up. This ordinance would have required everyone to have commercial pickup and that drew down the wrath of many citizens who responsibly take care of their own and want to keep it that way. In our 2/22 Assembly Meeting and again in the 3/1 COW meeting we discussed the ordinance and have backed off imposing it. My issue was that it was not clearly articulated why we had to do this. Some said to discourage illegal dumping. The testifying citizens responded that we should enforce the laws against illegal dumping rather than passing new laws that punish responsible citizens. Another argument that was not made clearly was that we needed total participation to make curbside recycling work. Yet, we are still far from having such a program. And if we go to an incinerator everything changes. So the Assembly basically said we (the Assembly) need to clearly articulate our direction on the whole issue of solid waste management. We know citizens want this resolved one way or another.
The Planning Commission has been discussing revising the Table of Permissible Uses
This table identifies just what is allowed and not allowed in each zoning district. This is an important issue and worth keeping our eye on. The Planning Commission is also working on a Wireless Communications Ordinance which would regulate towers (among other things)
Docks and Harbors is struggling with what to do in Douglas Harbor. In my 12/21 post I noted that the Harbor floor is rising and unless it is dredged it will slowly become unusable. The problem is that dredging stirs up the bottom and that results in mercury levels mixed into the water that are considered unsafe. The EPA says they oppose the open dump and recommend a more technologically sophisticated (and expensive) containment of the dredged material. One solution is to dig a hole in the channel bottom and put clean fill on top of the dredged material to slow leakage to acceptable levels. Complicated stuff.
I mentioned in my 2/11 post that the proposed use of Juneau cruise ship head tax dollars was out for comment. This is the final list that will be presented to the Assembly
There is a fascinating little effort going on to bring super high speed broadband to Juneau. Google has recently announced a competition for a limited number of communities across the United States to participate. Applications are due by March 26.
Google’s announcement gives us until March 26th. JEDC is coordinating Juneau’s application. We would love to have lots of people weigh in.
Finally, Parks and Rec is having a contest to create a graphic logo for the Diamond Park Pool currently being constructed. Applications due by the end of May.
About 17% of Juneau residents take care of their own trash rather than having Arrow Refuse pick it up. This ordinance would have required everyone to have commercial pickup and that drew down the wrath of many citizens who responsibly take care of their own and want to keep it that way. In our 2/22 Assembly Meeting and again in the 3/1 COW meeting we discussed the ordinance and have backed off imposing it. My issue was that it was not clearly articulated why we had to do this. Some said to discourage illegal dumping. The testifying citizens responded that we should enforce the laws against illegal dumping rather than passing new laws that punish responsible citizens. Another argument that was not made clearly was that we needed total participation to make curbside recycling work. Yet, we are still far from having such a program. And if we go to an incinerator everything changes. So the Assembly basically said we (the Assembly) need to clearly articulate our direction on the whole issue of solid waste management. We know citizens want this resolved one way or another.
The Planning Commission has been discussing revising the Table of Permissible Uses
This table identifies just what is allowed and not allowed in each zoning district. This is an important issue and worth keeping our eye on. The Planning Commission is also working on a Wireless Communications Ordinance which would regulate towers (among other things)
Docks and Harbors is struggling with what to do in Douglas Harbor. In my 12/21 post I noted that the Harbor floor is rising and unless it is dredged it will slowly become unusable. The problem is that dredging stirs up the bottom and that results in mercury levels mixed into the water that are considered unsafe. The EPA says they oppose the open dump and recommend a more technologically sophisticated (and expensive) containment of the dredged material. One solution is to dig a hole in the channel bottom and put clean fill on top of the dredged material to slow leakage to acceptable levels. Complicated stuff.
I mentioned in my 2/11 post that the proposed use of Juneau cruise ship head tax dollars was out for comment. This is the final list that will be presented to the Assembly
There is a fascinating little effort going on to bring super high speed broadband to Juneau. Google has recently announced a competition for a limited number of communities across the United States to participate. Applications are due by March 26.
Google’s announcement gives us until March 26th. JEDC is coordinating Juneau’s application. We would love to have lots of people weigh in.
Finally, Parks and Rec is having a contest to create a graphic logo for the Diamond Park Pool currently being constructed. Applications due by the end of May.
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