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Juneau Daily News Online

Tuesday, February 2, 1999  © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

Man who shot black bear pleads guilty
   Weapons charge dismissed
The man charged with shooting a black bear (similar to one at left) last September 7th in a residential area on the Back Loop Road has agreed to a plea bargain. Robert Peterson was in court yesterday and pleaded guilty to taking game in a closed area. A charge of misconduct involving weapons was dismissed. He was sentenced at the same time and received a three day suspended sentence, an11-hundred dollar fine, and placed on probation for a year. A trial was set to begin next Tuesday. The District Attorney's office did not buy Peterson's defense of life and property argument. He told State Troopers when he was arrest that the bear was often seen rummaging through a dumpster in the area.

Airport plan considers wildlife, flight safety
Juneau Airport officials defended the nearly completed update of the master plan on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. The plan calls for an expansion of the safety areas surrounding the runway. Concerns have been raised about the impact of expansion on the Mendenhall State Game Refuge and associated wetlands, but Airport Board Chair Mike Barton (left in photo) says the community needs a safe airport. He adds the plan will minimize the impact on wetlands as much as possible, but that there's little choice but to go forward. In the meantime, additional public comment may or may not show up in the final plan, according to Airport Manager Dave Miller (right in photo), who says the work has been ongoing for over two years now. He says they will still be sensitive to the public's thoughts even after the plan is published. The Planning Advisory Committee meets again on February 24th. The airport board also meets on Wednesday, February 10th.

Storm watch up for Wednesday
There's now a winter storm watch for heavy snow tomorrow. The front that spurred a similar watch yesterday slipped south of Juneau. This one is expected to dump eight inches or more of snow beginning tomorrow morning and lasting through the afternoon. In the meantime, expect occasional showers through tonight.

CBJ makes offer to lobbyist
Washington, D.C. lobbyist John Roots would be retained by the City and Borough of Juneau under terms of a motion approved by the Assembly last night. Roots proposed a monthly retainer of five thousand dollars plus expenses. The Assembly approved motion countered with a proposed contract of 40 thousand dollars a year, up to five thousand dollars in expenses, and one trip to Juneau at the beginning of the contract period. Funding will come from the Better Capital City Fund. Mayor Dennis Egan pointed out that just one increase in a capital improvement project budget would more than justify the expense. City Manager Dave Palmer was instructed to contact Roots today with the Assembly's offer.

Assembly will hear Richland appeal
The Assembly agreed to hear the appeal of a Planning Commission decision itself rather than appoint a hearing office. The commission decision creates eight residential lots in the Richland Manor Subdivision. Assembly member Tom Garrett was assigned to chair the appeal during last night's meeting.

New ordinance changes waterfront zone uses
An ordinance regarding allowable uses in the industrial waterfront zone was taken up on reconsideration by the Assembly last night. It was defeated initially when members became squeamish about things like junk yards showing up in waterfront areas. It was brought back on reconsideration by Deputy Mayor John MacKinnon last night who says the measure was amended to allow the continuation of a scrap metal recycling operation. Things like junk and scrap yards were made conditional use rather than allowable uses in the waterfront industrial zones. The amended ordinance was adopted unanimously.

Y2K committee reports to Assembly
The city's Y2K Task Force identified ten sectors of concern during a briefing to the Assembly last night. The panel's chair, Juneau Economic Development Council Executive Director Charles Northrip, identified those sectors of concern as utilities; telecommunications; public safety and security; transportation; medical, financial; retail; food supply; the social safety net; and technical support and information services. Northrip added that they will further refine and subdivide those sectors along the way. The various committees will meet separately and include community members on each of them. The task force will brief the Assembly once a month through January of 2000.

Community apparently likes new high school plan
School Board President Jeff Bush feels there is support for the new high school plan. The public gets another opportunity to comment on the proposal at tonight's board meeting. During the three public forums so far, Bush says they've heard general support . One difference of opinion is whether the core facility at the new high school at Dimond Park should be constructed to accommodate an expansion from 12-hundred to 15-hundred students. Bush says there's clear support for at least a minimal upgrade of the current facility.

Capital Chat goes to tv
KINY's Capital Chat is now on Juneau's television airwaves each week. This morning's program was videotaped for broadcast later this week on KATH-TV. The television station is taping one program each week for broadcast. The program airs Wednesday evenings at five and Thursday evening at ten. KATH started the new program last week. KATH-TV General Manager Charlie Ellis (right) says it's part of an effort by the television station to bring community issues to the public. Ellis says the station also airs events from around the Capital City including Crimson Bears ball games.

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