Cars and people move past the City and Borough of Juneau current City Hall downtown on Monday. The Assembly Committee of the Whole unanimously OK’d an ordinance Monday night that, if passed by the full Assembly, would again ask Juneau voters during the upcoming municipal election whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the construction of a new City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Cars and people move past the City and Borough of Juneau current City Hall downtown on Monday. The Assembly Committee of the Whole unanimously OK’d an ordinance Monday night that, if passed by the full Assembly, would again ask Juneau voters during the upcoming municipal election whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the construction of a new City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Voters could see proposal for a new City Hall back on the ballot this fall

City signals support for $27 million initiative, after $35M bond last year fails.

After Juneau voters narrowly shot down a ballot proposal last election to approve $35 million in bond debt to fund the majority of the construction cost for a new City Hall, the city is considering putting the question back on the ballot — with a lower price tag.

At the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole on Monday evening, Assembly members unanimously OK’d an ordinance that, if passed by the full Assembly, would again ask Juneau voters during the upcoming municipal election whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the construction of a new City Hall — $8 million reduction from the previously voted-down proposed amount last fall.

Prior to the vote, City Manager Rorie Watt said he would advocate for the Assembly to put the revised question to voters, saying it’s not uncommon for larger ballot proposals to take multiple attempts and alterations.

“Do it right, do it once and use it for 100 years,” Watt said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

In mid-May, the Assembly Finance Committee previously OK’d $10 million in funding toward a City Hall project in the city’s spending plan for the next fiscal year. The final approval of the budget is expected in mid-June.

If approved, the $10 million would be in conjunction with $6.3 million appropriated by the Assembly for the project back in June of 2022 for a total of around $16 million in cash ready to be allocated for a new City Hall project or to go to the current City Hall. The city pays $820,000 in rent annually for the current City Hall, which is expected to need multi-million dollars in repairs in the coming decade.

Assembly member Wade Bryson made a motion to lower the $27 million ask down to $23 million, stating the $4 million reduction would cut the proposed underground parking currently included in the construction of a new City Hall.

He said the reduction would signal the city has “listened to voters” who opposed the high price of last year’s proposal, and the reduction is “one action” the Assembly can take now to make it easier to convince voters to approve the proposal during the upcoming election.

Assembly members Michelle Bonnet Hale, Carole Triem and Maria Gladziszewski disagreed, citing the already limited number of parking spaces downtown as the reason behind their support for the underground parking despite the $4 million cost associated with it.

“It’s a different year and we have more information,” Gladziszewski said. “I think this is a building we’re going to use for a long time and it’s going to need parking.”

Triem agreed and said she was “torn,” but argued if the city hopes to have the new City Hall be used in perpetuity it “should do it right the first time” by including the parking, which she noted cannot be built in retroactively.

According to Katie Koester, the city’s engineering and public works director, if the new City Hall was built at the same location proposed last election — along Whittier Street, across the street from the Alaska State Museum — it would reduce the parking in the area by 63 spots. The proposed underground would add 38 new spots, but there would still be a net loss of 18 spots if the site is chosen and passed by voters.

This is an artist depiction of the proposed City Hall building voted down by Juneau residents during last fall’s municipal election. The project would have cost an estimated $41 million with an underground parking garage. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)

This is an artist depiction of the proposed City Hall building voted down by Juneau residents during last fall’s municipal election. The project would have cost an estimated $41 million with an underground parking garage. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)

Bryson’s motion failed 1-8, with him being the only member voting in favor of the reduction.

The Assembly vote, which will ultimately determine if voters will indeed see the question back on the ballot for the October election, is scheduled to take place at the July 10 regular Assembly meeting. Residents will be able to share public comments on the proposal during that meeting as well.

• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of April 13

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau), left, confers with Rep. Alyse Galvin (I-Anchorage) during a break in a House floor session on March 10, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau lawmaker’s bill allowing ‘snow classics’ as statewide charitable gaming activity passes House

Local Nordic ski club among groups hoping to use snowfall guessing contests as fundraisers.

The chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives are seen on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska House votes to cut proposed dividend, but huge deficit remains unresolved

Surpise vote with three Republicans absent drops proposed dividend to about $1,400 per recipient.

A school bus passes in front of the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Legislature passes $1,000 per student funding boost, despite governor vowing to veto it

The Alaska Legislature on Friday passed a major increase to K-12 education… Continue reading

Workers begin to install an airport-style security system inside the front entrance of the Alaska State Capitol on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Installation of airport-style security system underway at Alaska State Capitol

Most visitors will need to pass through screening starting around April 21, officials say.

Workers install HESCO barriers along the Mendenhall River. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Lawsuit by property owner seeks to ban CBJ from installing HESCO barriers

Plaintiff argues city didn’t get proper federal authorization; municipal attorney says claims are errant.

Lucy Nieboer brings an audience member to the stage at the Crystal Saloon in Juneau Tuesday night for an imrpomptu speech about the Haines Pool. That was during the set of relevantly-named Keep the Pool Open (Will Steinfeld/Chilkat Valley News)
Musicians travel to Juneau to play for ‘Haines Night’ at 50th Folk Festival

Festival continues through Sunday at Centennial Hall and JACC, along with related music around downtown.

The emergency cold-weather warming shelter is seen in Thane on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Warming shelter closes Tuesday, with staff highlighting its improvements this winter

A solution is needed for the summer as people using the shelter will return to dispersed camping.

A sign seen on Wednesday advertises rental availability at an apartment building in Anchorage’s Turnagain neighborhood. Residential rental costs in Alaska are now on par with the national median, a change from the past, when Alaska was had the most expensive residental rental prices, state economists have found. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
In turnaround, median rental cost in Alaska is now down to the national median

Rental costs have risen nationwide, but the increases in Alaska have been slower than elsewhere.

Most Read