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Aircraft noise is focus of meeting
Group says "satellite heliports" may be necessary
The newly formed Assembly Planning and Policy Committee charged with addressing issues of concern related to tourism met over the noon hour today (below, right) and listened to a series of recommendations onaircraft noise presented by a group of aircraft operators. Bob Engelbrecht represented the operators at the committee meeting. In the short term the operators recommended the continued review and refinement of routes and altitudes which includes the identification of new areas to be avoided by tour flights. A review of the times of operations is also recommended. Engelbrecht said that needs to be done in concert with
encouraging the cruise lines to adjust port schedules to allow for changes to flight schedules. In the short to mid term, the group recommended research on satellite heliports. A list of suggested sites includes a barge that could be easily moved to areas of low impact. A long term recommendation involves the use of quiet technology when it becomes available. The list of recommendations calls for development of incentives to assist operators in financing the more expensive technology. The committee meets again next Monday beginning at 5pm. The Assembly's Committee of the Whole takes up tourism issues during a meeting Wednesday evening. That's scheduled from 5:00 to 7:00 in the Assembly chambers at City Hall.
Haida Corporation pled guilty in Federal Court today on two counts related to the cutting and removal of timber in the Tongass National Forest. Forest Service Special Agent Jack Davis said the illegal operation came in a 4.8 acre parcel in the Sulzer Portage Area on Prince of Wales Island. The corporation agreed to pay a fine of $43,250 for cutting the timber without authorization. A similar amount for removing the timber was suspended subject to a one years probation. The corporation also agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $155,000 to the federal government.
The City and Bureau of Juneau and State of Alaska reported no major fallout from the Y2K computer bug on the first business day of the year. Just a couple of minor problems were reported, according to CBJ Y2K Coordinator Ann Stadnychenko (right). She said one fax machine showed 1900 instead of 2000. A minor glitch was reported by the police department with its record management system. In that case, the date of birth for people arrested showed up in the 21st rather than the 20th Century. She says that problem was being fixed today. State Administration Commissioner Bob Poe reports smooth operations the first day back to work following the New Year. He says all the mainframe systems are operating correctly A few minor problems were found today, he added.
An ordinance up for action at tonight's Assembly meeting amends current code to shorten the time it now takes for a regulation to become effective. Public notice would be reduced from 30 to 10 days and the minimum time required for the regulation to become effective shortened from 30 to 20 days. The city administration complains that it currently can now take 60 days to enact a regulation which does not count the time required for Assembly review.
Three appropriation ordinances are on tonight's Assembly agenda. One authorizes the issuance of up to $750,000 of the bond approved for the high school last fall. The bonds will be sold in $1,000 increments directly to Juneau residents. The sale will be held in mid to late February. The interest rate will be determined the day before the bonds are offered. The amount and maturity of the bonds will be determined by buyer interest at the time of the sale. The Assembly will take up another measure proposing to appropriate $25,000 in Passenger Fee revenues to hire a financial consultant to conduct a study on the financial impacts of cruise ship operations on city operations. The information gathered in the study will be used to help determine the amount of those revenues that could be allocated for operations. The other appropriation ordinance earmarks a $2-million loan from the state construct a 1-million gallon reservoir and pump station in the Lena Point area. The reservoir will meet fire flow demands in the Lena Loop and Tee Harbor areas and provide service to various neighborhoods.
The National Weather Service says just over 79 inches of rain fell last year in Juneau which is nearly 25 inches above normal. Last year trailed only 1990 and 1991, according to Forecaster Jim Smith. He says measurable rain was recorded on 277 days which was the most ever. The previous record was 260 days set in 1992. That figure includes the 49 consecutive days from September 29 to November 16 which also broke a record for consecutive days with measurable rain. There were 13 days in the year with one inch or more of precipitation. The top amount for a given day came came on December 27 with 2.67 inches making it the eighth wettest day on record in Juneau. The average temperature for the year was 42.2 degrees. That's 1.4 degrees above normal, but it was still the coolest year since 1996. (In photo at left, a Valley parking lot during one of December's rainy days)
December contributed to the wet year in Juneau. A total of 10. 3 inches of rain was recorded at the airport which was 6 inches above normal making it the second wettest ever. During the unusual warm spell from the 20th to the 28th, the forecaster says 7.52 inches fell which constituted nearly three-quarters of the monthly total. The average temperature last month was 35.9 degrees which is 8.8 degrees above normal making it the fifth warmest December on record. The warmest temperature was the 54 degrees recorded on the 23rd.
A maintenance agreement with the State Transportation Department is up for the Assembly's okay during tonight's meeting. The agreement calls for the city to maintain the Channel Drive Wayside next to the DIPAC Hatchery. The wayside will consist of an accessible fish pier, restrooms, about 55 new off-street parking places and a small park area.
The Sitka Assembly has approved a lease with a company that wants to build a water bottling plant at the old Alaska Pulp Corporation mill site. Sitka Beverage Corporation wants to bottle water from Sitka's Blue Lake. It's still awaiting financing.
A research center that opened in Sitka last year to identify opportunities for a viable forest products industry in Alaska is now fully staffed and open for business. Team Leader Ken Kilborn says the center's missions include identifying ways for wood that is harvested in Alaska -- and used in Alaska. The center is sponsoring two workshops next spring: a special forest products workshop in Sitka in March in conjunction with the Alaska Cooperative Extension and the Sitka Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, and an interior value-added forest products workshop in Fairbanks in April. The facility receives funding through the US Forest Service.
The class schedule for the Spring semester of the University of Alaska Southeast went out in the mail today in advance of the start of classes January 18. University official Scott Foster (right) says registration will be available in person or via telephone beginning Wednesday. Advisors will be on the Juneau campus to answer questions about degree programs and classes, he says.
Lamont's Apparel Incorporated says the company has opened talks with its lenders because of what it calls "liquidity constraints." Lamont's has 38 stores in the Northwest, including 7 in Alaska. For the 6 months ended July 31st, Lamont's had a loss of $5.7-million.
Two federal programs that provide employer tax savings have been extended until December 31, 2001, according to the Alaska Department of Labor. Credits of up to $2,400 per worker are available under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program. The Welfare to Work Tax Credit provides as much as $3,500 in the first year and up to $5,000 in the the second year. Forms are available at Alaska Job Centers or Internal Revenue Service Offices.
British Columbia is undergoing a big change. Smoking is no longer permitted in the province's workplaces, including pubs, restaurants and bingo halls. The ban was imposed despite warnings it will lead to layoffs in the hospitality industry. It's aimed at protecting employees from second-hand smoke.
Juneau's first baby of the New Year was born early New Year's Day morning. Noel Samuel Brakel entered the world at 2:27am. He weighed in a 8 pounds and 6 ounces. The proud parents are Morissa Williams and Aaron Brakel. The birth took place at the Juneau Family Birth Center attended by two midwives.(Captions for our photographs can be viewed by hovering over them with your mouse pointer)
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