Juneau Assembly authorizes Phase 1 HESCO barriers to 63,500 CFS amid funding uncertainty

The Juneau Assembly voted to authorize work to raise and reinforce Phase 1 HESCO flood barriers to protect against a 63,500 CFS glacier outburst flood, a decision the body framed as a balance between near‑term protection and limited municipal funding.

Mayor Weldon moved the measure and the assembly approved it 7–2. The motion, described by staff as “alternative 2,” directs city staff to proceed this season to build to the 63,500 CFS threshold and to return with an appropriating ordinance at the May 18 regular meeting.

Why it mattered: engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told the committee that model updates and new data indicated a forward projection near 63,500 CFS for the coming season and that the Corps would be building to that level in phase 2. CBJ staff said a higher standard — a 90,000 CFS design — would require roughly $8 million more for this season and could push the total Phase 1 cost toward the $19.8 million range, which CBJ currently cannot fully fund.

Director Koch said the state’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) provides a hybrid loan/grant structure with 50% forgivable funding and noted CBJ already has an approved $6.8 million SRF award from 2025 and an $18 million SRF application pending. “We haven’t taken action on it yet,” she said, and staff did not include that $18 million in the immediate shortfall math because it was not in hand.

Assembly members pressed staff on tradeoffs. Some members urged moving to the 90,000 CFS standard now to buy a longer‑term protection level; others said the city would be left without reserves if it spent down the CIP to reach 90,000 CFS and that funding and contractor capacity were real constraints. Several members emphasized constructability concerns — in some areas additional height requires widening the barrier footprint, creating access and property impacts.

On the record: Deputy Mayor Smith noted staff will bring an appropriating ordinance to the May 18 meeting to authorize funding to proceed, and Manager Kester said staff will continue pursuing SRF funding and other options but recommended proceeding to build to 63,500 CFS this season.

What’s next: staff will return with the ordinance language and funding details on May 18; the Corps and CBJ will continue to refine hydrologic modeling and constructability plans during the early summer construction window. Assembly members signaled they want continued updates about SRF status and long‑term funding options for HESCO maintenance and GLOF response.