Mayor to name panel to create a new capitol

In a move to ward off threats to relocate the capital, Mayor Bruce Botelho plans to form a committee that would review building a new capitol.

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The Capitol Planning Committee would articulate a vision for a new state capitol, determine space needs and approve a conceptual design with artists' renderings.

"It's important to me that Juneau have a concept of the capitol to present to the administration, legislature and ultimately to the people of Alaska," Botelho said.

The committee would begin meeting in December or January, he said. Final recommendations for a capitol would be sent to the governor and legislative leadership by Aug. 1, 2004. The meetings would be open to the public, and welcome comments when the committee has ideas to present along the way, Botelho said. He envisions decisions being made by consensus rather than formal voting.

Botelho would chair the committee that would consist of several stakeholders: state represent- atives from Juneau, a legislative affairs director or a designee, two Assembly members and one planning and zoning commissioner. He is seeking five members of the public, two of whom should be members of the Alaska Committee and at least one with experience in public construction. Members of the public who are interested in serving may contact Botelho. He is looking for citizens who "have a perspective of the role of government" and understand the "symbolic importance" of a capitol, he said.

Botelho would appoint all of the committee members and envisions having the board in place by mid-December. He may pick Assembly members as early as next week, he said.

Assembly members said in interviews that they favor the committee concept, but question whether the state will fund such an expensive proposition. Botelho wants to fund a new building through a long-term lease with the state using revenue bonds. Lease payments would pay off the bonds.

Marc Wheeler suggested the committee look at both a new building and renovating the current facility. The committee cannot depend on funding as the state faces a deficit, he said.

"I think it's good to have those different options laid out," Wheeler said. "The state hasn't built too many new buildings over the years."

Botelho said no state has built a new capitol in about 70 or 80 years. Several have done renovation work on existing facilities.

David Stone favors a new building, but he questions whether the state will support a long-term lease. Stone said it makes sense to look at the existing facility but questioned how to expand the building and whether it would be a more expensive alternative in the long run.

Merrill Sanford said small meeting rooms and narrow hallways are among the issues that warrant a new building.

Including several stakeholders is a "thoughtful" way to start the process of reviewi•ng a new capitol, senior Assembly member Jim Powell said.

Rep. Beth Kerttula, a Juneau Democrat, said it is "critical" for Botelho to wait after the 2004 legislative session to submit a proposal because of expected budget shortfalls. She suggested that he include legislative stakeholders outside of Juneau to broaden the base of support.

• Tara Sidor can be reached at tara.sidor@juneauempire.com.