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.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
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.
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 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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