[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6648190,"mediaKeyId","3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698","parentId",3395915,"title","Assembly approves hosting‑platform rules: platforms must collect sales tax, report listings; fines increase","audioSeconds",979,"startMs",1988000,"endMs",2967000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698&start=1988&end=2967","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698/thumbnail_1988000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6648190/Juneau-City-and-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-approves-hostingplatform-rules-platforms-must-collect-sales-tax-report-listings-fines-increase","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648190-6cf82813289b3174d1575ce9bd598804/orig.mp4?Expires=1775366636&Signature=gKwPPFTlKiBfZIbmJJ7-n~GgnXu-CNlTj9W1HVNBbQqgXYxDo58F-Gh6sqN52294UEJq8Em3rjjRPJVD76xM56XcUW30a6JznOgnbk3PyZIfFxMf43sD0J~W2SXx59L-phCxWtkEoOTyRuoGHGPuVGzYoqvxXra~gBby1Pw6LlsOg4c5HviXWkZ1X6mXEQHx5mxwF52kqbu1esH2z7zYmvmEp9XVqk8U4ejoVc9WANw642eSpSUqpZUhNnu63pZtkNWfCq6v3GPhpzzu-qZ44qHG0DgpJdsWs0jFcrAqJWE6Y3ZQbxkibLOeim0--ayxho7TG88KCUH94dKNopjx~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Juneau City and Borough","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Juneau City and Borough Assembly on May 19 adopted ordinance 20 25‑23b to update local code governing hosting platforms and marketplace facilitators.

Under the ordinance, marketplace facilitators such as Airbnb, VRBO and similar services must collect and remit sales tax on behalf of local short‑term rental owners who operate exclusively through a facilitator. Platforms must also require operators to include CBJ‑issued registration permit numbers in listings and provide CBJ with a monthly report of Juneau‑based short‑term rentals and permit numbers so staff can reconcile listings against the city’s registration database.

The code change raises the per‑violation penalty for noncompliance with the registration program from $25 to $100. The ordinance exempts short‑term operators from the collection requirement when a marketplace facilitator is collecting and remitting the tax on their behalf.

The assembly approved multiple amendments before final passage. The body adopted a Bryson amendment changing two 48‑hour notice provisions in the draft code to five days to give platforms more time to act when staff requests removal of a noncompliant listing. The assembly also approved a staff‑recommended amendment clarifying that issuing registration permits is mandatory and that hosts may begin using permit numbers with platforms immediately.

Public testimony was split. Michelle Norman, a short‑term rental owner, said she supported shifting collection responsibility to platforms and adding reporting but criticized the short‑term rental task force for not holding public forums before forwarding the ordinance and questioned raising fines before measuring enforcement effectiveness. “Why are we looking to change a regulation to increase a penalty when the efficacy of the current regulation is not known?” she asked.

Rhonda Heimbigner, who said she manages several rental properties, opposed the new rules and warned that regulation can unduly restrict owners’ choices. Several assembly members disclosed prior involvement with short‑term rentals; Deputy Mayor Smith said he had once operated his home as a short‑term rental but was not currently doing so. The assembly ultimately passed the ordinance with the amendments and directed staff to implement permit issuance and reporting.

The ordinance was recommended by the short‑term rental task force and reviewed by the Lands, Housing and Economic Development Committee and the Systemic Racism Review Committee. Assembly members said further public forums will be scheduled by the task force to gather community feedback.

Motion and outcome: The ordinance was moved and adopted as amended; the sponsor sought unanimous consent and no sustained objection prevented adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 19, 2025 Regular Assembly Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Juneau City and Borough Assembly on May 19 adopted ordinance 20 25‑23b to require marketplace facilitators to collect and remit sales tax, report Juneau listings and register short‑term rentals.","taxTitle","Juneau City and Borough, Alaska","taxId",13703,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648196,"Juneau residents urge action on growing encampments, cite safety and sanitation concerns",630,468000,1098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698&start=468&end=1098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698/thumbnail_468000.jpg","/articles/6648196/Juneau-City-and-Borough/Alaska/Juneau-residents-urge-action-on-growing-encampments-cite-safety-and-sanitation-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648196-626a2d077813f7a3bc8c0ba5b14055e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775366636&Signature=U9uRZQY1ZblEO~7n68F3Hlx5D7ZgPd8DGeg08zvSVkyfGr6XZ2zWd3AIG6J0-tkq5pyVZaVEd-EcCMnuV~6-D4cvZ37hC4hPWMWE72yfZULoMqMCVPF12Vx8BBYjCAcGlQ2bT1NjBGInyl7JOiON5Qzkj9EDUx4BN86kwKFcZSm2R6azzK8mwGYRcrzhvaekscKuhcey80VttD1rNIsVYRK2MmJahlfTguVeMRh4KdXlLRLLr2vP0uGKDKtayL3NX5krLdGMAmcaGwzAFdT7midD7fVgbfv5uzWwXNBQHKyM5nldUloFZlJ6WZdFVHUn5VBlEDAoWAJJmFAKUwTe9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May 19 meeting of the Juneau City and Borough Assembly, multiple residents and business owners urged city leaders to address what they described as an increasing homeless encampment problem in downtown Juneau and the Valley.

Speakers pressed the assembly for clearer enforcement, more resources for cleanup, and better coordination with police and service providers. They described trash and human waste in public spaces, threats to employee and resident safety, and encampments near private properties and businesses.

The testimony included specific complaints about camps near the Glory Hole and along the river near businesses on Mallory Street and the Valley. Scott Jenkins, who said he lives on Highland View Drive, told the assembly the “encampments around the Glory Hole are growing every day” and that he has observed needles, trash and drug use near residential property. He asked the city to “take action and allow our police to do the job they want to do.”

Tiffany Kieveman, director of HR and compliance for Alaska Glacier Seafoods, told the assembly that employees and company property have been threatened and that trespass enforcement efforts have failed to result in prosecution. “We partnered and we do trespass orders only to find out last month that the city attorneys will not prosecute,” she said. Kieveman said her company had provided surveillance video and license plates to police but that she still fears for employee safety.

Several downtown business owners and property owners described an uptick in visible drug use, broken windows, rummaged dumpsters and assaults near businesses. Josh Anderson, a Parks and Rec Advisory Committee member and local contractor, said he routinely cleans trash from downtown and sees the CARES van and fire crews responding daily to the same locations.

Other residents highlighted park and facility maintenance concerns they said are related to seasonal closures and staffing: Pete Karen said restrooms at Cope Park are locked ‘‘for the season’’ after the last cruise ship leaves and asked the city to provide off‑season portable facilities and restore trash cans to limit debris and human waste. He also asked the city to repaint a cross in Evergreen Cemetery and to address a pedestrian bridge that has not been installed.

Property owners outside downtown said encampments behind senior housing and business parks have made seniors uncomfortable and disrupted business operations. Marty McKeown, who identified himself as a property owner in Vintage Business Park, said an encampment 50 yards from senior housing has made residents fearful to go outside.

Speakers repeatedly asked for stronger, faster action from the Juneau Police Department and the city attorney’s office, and for clearer local policy on how and when to clear encampments on public and private land. Assembly members asked follow‑up questions of witnesses; staff and the city attorney later described the existing process for trespass notices and for pursuing criminal charges, noting limits set by evidence standards and prosecutorial discretion.

The assembly did not take an immediate vote or direct a single new policy during the public comment period. Several members asked staff and the police chief to brief the body on current enforcement options and to return with recommendations on operational and legal steps the city could take.

The breadth of testimony reflected concerns from both residents and businesses and signaled continuing pressure on the assembly to clarify enforcement, public‑space maintenance and interagency coordination as encampments persist.","Multiple Juneau residents and business owners told the City and Borough Assembly on May 19 that encampments around downtown and the Valley have grown, raising concerns about public safety, human waste and impacts on businesses and parks. Speakers asked the assembly and staff to take clearer enforcement and cleanup steps.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648180,"Assembly affirms public ownership of Mendenhall area and approves contingency funds for visitor‑center staffing",0,6200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698&start=6200&end=6200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698/thumbnail_6200000.jpg","/articles/6648180/Juneau-City-and-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-affirms-public-ownership-of-Mendenhall-area-and-approves-contingency-funds-for-visitorcenter-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648180-25138b0701ab1fc586924d723842077a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775366636&Signature=f~6WTmSfcWN5W7aTHZeE657eFzZgniN7UVYrkamteLG2hHSwjfbBpSKdaWwY1jt2qmr9xcyBtmVgQAc9vOCAoCs4QvFHsTtEQvgEoIkoFY9pQF7bNGHJpFFX39aS0ovL6uaDfObzMNCtS5Slm~1mG4MtRbzpwYr9mLkBhd5g7hB~bc7FLhLGtX7-dsB-Fes8gHsEHzh6Yfxxwa0w6hTsg47SDNU7An~pC3SK8zX0opqVP9f6JS4FX0KOei51mWJuDQAkv09UWW8yixhswUzHa1AL6FSEhk1lMtRod9kHPWa4QKlmxvXrbFgBXPA6vvlg1erXSJMO-2~dQEgsGW65eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Juneau City and Borough Assembly on May 19 adopted a resolution affirming support for continued public ownership of the Tongass National Forest and the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area and separately approved an ordinance to appropriate $200,000 in contingency funds to support staffing continuity at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.

The resolution (4 0 1 0 b) was discussed with an amendment adding express recognition of the co‑stewardship agreement between the U.S. Forest Service and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Kelby Randall, a glacier guide and homeowner along Glacier Highway, told the assembly that privatizing access could put Mendenhall at risk of restricted access and paywalled guiding and urged the body to protect public access.

Separately, staff presented an ordinance appropriating up to $200,000 in state marine passenger fee funds as a contingency to support organizations operating at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center if federal staffing and operating capacity were reduced. Manager and staff described the situation as evolving: the Forest Service has been operating on reduced staff and has relied on partner organizations, but there is uncertainty whether the Forest Service will have full access to funds it collects. The appropriation would be used “as needed and at the discretion of the city manager” to supplement partners with operating agreements to ensure visitor safety and facility operations and to help keep the facility in public operation.

Laurie Craig, a retired Mendenhall Glacier park ranger, urged the assembly to approve contingency funds to ensure trained staff are present for bear management and visitor safety. Several assembly members expressed concern about substituting local funds for federal responsibilities and stressed the need for clear metrics and limited use criteria; others argued emergency contingency funding was prudent to avoid rapid privatization or loss of public access.

The appropriation passed on roll call 6‑3. Members voting no said they were concerned about using local funds to backfill federal responsibilities and the precedent that could set; supporters said the contingency would likely go unused unless needed and would protect public lands and visitor safety if federal staffing dropped further.

Actions: The assembly approved resolution 4 0 1 0 b (supporting public ownership) with a technical amendment, and adopted the appropriation ordinance (20 24‑01 b AL) to provide up to $200,000 for contingency federal staffing support related to tourism, funding provided by state marine passenger fees. The ordinance directs the manager to disburse funds only as needed and at the manager’s discretion.","The Assembly adopted a resolution supporting continued public ownership of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area and approved a $200,000 contingency appropriation, funded by marine passenger fees, to support staffing at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center if federal operations are disrupted.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648185,"Assembly backs continuity of ownership for Snettisham hydropower assets amid interconnection dispute",3200,7400000,10600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698&start=7400&end=10600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3395915-19bfcd9e2f7cdca5638d86e39ceb4698/thumbnail_7400000.jpg","/articles/6648185/Juneau-City-and-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-backs-continuity-of-ownership-for-Snettisham-hydropower-assets-amid-interconnection-dispute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648185-81ae4ad145987c33b6f90d790fc61880/orig.mp4?Expires=1775366636&Signature=AlWZwHa1eeNUP6vuXPW5HH0YBaI58wpkOTalFdYr9XQWbj-7mUn57KyEjEsjL9RZZ8OHsJqrrc317cKrCE3vhFBTCWsZEBRQlc9sSuqKQ3wQW8NWj1IsUNwF2wc2CQxbi2TBXqJWy9~JeI4gsigU6m2csWfgiRZaxAxZgy7R7~Ii5Ni8VjPRiAXsdAgjcnqmCK6yyfyToSOb8If86z8miTIZLde6ME4ygLkhReW3-FA1EbCLA-qmKlPlMqVyuW9tHWvyZsujqjveF9mLXW-lAMu7O9HN5hox-NSed6Jjizb14NI0TlntV9mCC7S4nTCTakYtwDgEQu6jjlBund5-Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Juneau City and Borough Assembly on May 19 adopted Resolution 4 0 1 1, expressing support for continuity in ownership of assets directly connected to the Snettisham Hydroelectric Project.

The resolution was requested by Mayor Weldon on behalf of Alaska Electric Light & Power (AEL&P). Testimony at the meeting emphasized that the Snettisham project supplies roughly two‑thirds of Juneau’s electricity and that changes in ownership or title to equipment connected to the Snettisham transmission line could risk reliability and raise costs.

Alec Mesdag, president and CEO of AEL&P, said ownership of the switchyard and assets that connect to the Snettisham transmission line should remain with the current state authority that holds title (Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority) to avoid creating operational risk. Mesdag told the assembly that only AEL&P holds the full obligation to serve Juneau customers and that allowing a third party with no experience in utility operation to own the interconnection equipment “is an unacceptable risk.”

Representatives of Juneau Hydro Power, including Chris Hart and Duff Mitchell, spoke in favor of their project and said the proposed interconnection equipment would be configured with bypass and redundancy. They said the project has engaged expert consultants and is structured to operate safely and reliably; they urged the assembly not to use the resolution to block development of local generation.

Other witnesses supported keeping Snettisham infrastructure in public ownership, citing the project’s long history as low‑cost generation and its importance to local rates and economic stability.

Assembly members debated the balance between protecting a critical utility asset and not pre‑judging a pending Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) docket. Several members said the resolution was narrowly framed to urge continuity of ownership for equipment directly connected to the Snettisham line while allowing the RCA process to continue. The assembly approved the resolution by roll call: 8 yes, 1 no.

Motion and outcome: Resolution 4 0 1 1 was moved and adopted by the assembly. The vote on the record was 8‑1 in favor; one assembly member voted no.

The RCA was scheduled to rule on related interconnection issues on June 11. The resolution is a formal expression of the assembly’s view on continuity of ownership and reliability risk; it does not change title or regulatory authority.","The Assembly adopted Resolution 4 0 1 1 on May 19 urging that ownership of assets directly connected to the Snettisham Hydroelectric Project remain with the current owner to ensure uninterrupted service to Juneau. The item followed extensive testimony from Alaska Electric Light & Power and representatives of Juneau Hydro Power.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly approves hosting‑platform rules: platforms must collect sales tax, report listings; fines increase

Juneau residents urge action on growing encampments, cite safety and sanitation concerns

Assembly affirms public ownership of Mendenhall area and approves contingency funds for visitor‑center staffing

Assembly backs continuity of ownership for Snettisham hydropower assets amid interconnection dispute