Juneau assembly advances ordinance to authorize lease negotiations with Huna Totem for new dock; navigability, traffic and shore-power remain focal points

The Juneau City and Borough Assembly Committee of the Whole on Feb. 24 reviewed draft legislation authorizing the manager to negotiate a lease for CBJ submerged tidelands with Huna Totem Corporation and accompanying language committing the city to apply to the state for tidelands in the same area. Discussion focused on navigability and traffic studies, shore-power timing and Coast Guard access, and whether the assembly should add conceptual amendments before ordinance introduction.

The draft ordinance would allow the manager to negotiate and execute a 35‑year lease; the annual rental rate would be set at fair market value after an appraisal, the manager said. Manager Koester noted that the ordinance contains “whereas” intent language to capture community desires (year‑round businesses, shore power and negotiated agreements) and a planning commission conditional use permit (CUP) that requires a seawall, minimum dimensions and a navigability and traffic study before issuance of a building permit.

Why this matters: the project would move one cruise vessel dock from an anchorage in the channel to a shore facility, altering vessel traffic patterns, onshore passenger movements and long‑term dock use. Assembly members said they need more certain commitments on navigability (including…