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Deb Craig urges CBJ to reconsider role in Eagle Crest gondola as costs rise
Summary
At an April 1 special assembly meeting, resident Deb Craig criticized the City and Borough of Juneau’s handling of the Eagle Crest gondola project, warned taxpayers could face about $12 million in additional costs, and urged the manager to let the Eagle Crest board seek alternative funding.
Deb Craig, a Juneau resident who signed up for the public comment period at the April 1 special assembly meeting, criticized the City and Borough of Juneau’s handling of the Eagle Crest gondola project and urged city leaders to reconsider the municipality’s role in the project.
"The gondola project's price tag increased since initially approved in 2023," Deb Craig said, adding that the project’s delays followed the departure of the previous general manager in May 2024 and resulted in the hiring of an external project consultant in May 2025. She said procurement delays within CBJ and increased material costs tied to what she referred to as "Trump's tariffs" have cost the project two construction seasons and left taxpayers exposed to about a $12,000,000 bill unless alternative funding is found.
Craig contrasted the gondola funding with other CBJ capital outlays, saying the city paid $15,000,000 for the Diamond Park Aquatic Center in 2010 and about $8,000,000 to renovate the Augustus Brown pool, and that CBJ had budgeted $18,000,000 to renovate an office building and $14,000,000 for Jackie Runinger Park. "None of Juneau's recreational facilities are self sustaining," Craig said, "and their cost recovery pales in comparison to Eagle Crest's almost 70% when functioning under competent management." She also raised safety concerns at Eagle Crest and broader questions about prioritizing projects and potential areas for savings.
Craig urged the manager's office to "let the Eagle Crest board of directors stay the course and look for alternative funding options," saying the board had recently demonstrated capability and that taxpayers should not be left to bear the full burden of the gondola shortfall.
The assembly did not take questions from members after Craig's remarks; the acting deputy mayor ended her time and asked whether any members had questions, and none were raised on the record.
The special meeting then moved on to consent business and adjourned after approval of the consent agenda. The meeting record shows a clerical correction announced earlier in the meeting renaming a listed resolution from 4039 to 4044; the manager presented that as an administrative correction.
