Juneau assembly debates narrow "shelter safety zone" near Teal Street services; motion to introduce ordinance fails 4-4

A proposal to create a targeted “shelter safety zone” around the Teal Street service campus drew extended discussion at the Aug. 4 meeting of the Juneau City and Borough (CBJ) Assembly Committee of the Whole and failed on a tie vote.

Assemblymember Bryson moved to direct staff to draft a Juneau protection ordinance patterned on Bellingham’s approach and return it to the committee for discussion. The motion failed 4–4 after a roll call vote: Assemblymembers Bridal, Hall, Wall and Deputy Mayor Smith voted yes; Assemblymembers Adkisson, Kelly, Steininger and Hughes voted no.

Supporters said the measure was aimed at protecting patrons and staff at providers clustered on Teal Street from drug dealing, aggressive behavior and other criminal activity that, they said, has reduced access to services. “We haven’t protected the patrons. We haven’t protected the staff,” Assemblymember Bryson said when introducing his motion.

But the city attorney cautioned that ordinances drawn to exclude or restrict conduct in a way that targets people experiencing homelessness risk legal challenge. City Attorney Wright told the committee she had legal concerns about selective enforcement and cited recent litigation involving similar ordinances, including the Grants Pass litigation and Ninth Circuit considerations about camping and sleeping bans. She said narrowly tailored restrictions (for example, prohibiting sitting or lying on a public sidewalk in a very small area, as Bellingham did) have been less likely to be challenged than broad anti-camping codes.

Assembly members raised competing policy and practical questions. Several members — including Adkisson, Steininger and Hall — said they worried a protection zone would simply displace people to residential greenbelts and other neighborhoods and could worsen public-safety and health problems. Others, including Bridal and Deputy Mayor Smith, argued that a narrow zone could reduce predatory criminal activity that providers say occurs near the campus.

Staff described ongoing work with the provider community to explore alternatives. City staffer Barr said a multi-agency group has been identifying potential summer low-barrier shelter locations, and that the city’s winter shelter operator (St. Vincent de Paul) is under contract negotiation and typically opens Oct. 15 each year. Barr said one potential land purchase in the Teal Street area had early indications of being on the market and could be considered for purchase, renovation or redevelopment as shelter.

The committee also discussed practical, interim steps: adding porta-potties and sharps containers; increased monitoring or presence near the campus; and private security or augmented Juneau Police Department (JPD) patrols. Staff said JPD is providing extra patrols as capacity allows but cannot staff an officer on-site continuously. Staff offered a range of options for next steps, from informal outreach and small capital improvements to requests for proposals for private security, or a grant to a nonprofit to manage security or outreach.

After the failed motion, an assembly member gave notice of reconsideration. The committee later directed staff to return with options to increase safety around the shelter area that do not rely on displacement as a first response — including costs and partners for private security, low-barrier summer shelter sites, and small sanitation and harm-reduction measures.

The discussion reflected recurring tensions the assembly has faced: protecting nearby residents and commercial uses, protecting shelter patrons and staff, avoiding constitutional exposure, and finding alternatives for people who would be displaced. Several members urged continued work with providers and a focus on locating viable shelter options instead of a narrow exclusion zone that could be challenged in court.

What’s next: staff will provide follow-up information including rough cost estimates for options discussed, possible sites for a summer or low-barrier shelter, and model ordinance language that minimizes legal risk. Assemblymembers may reconsider the failed motion at a future meeting.