Juneau Daily News Online

Tuesday,  May 7, 2002

Assembly approves new funding plan for  waterfront project
The Assembly has tossed aside the recently negotiated Steamship Wharf-Marine Park project-based agreement with the Northwest Cruiseship Association.

The association offered to contribute not more than $3.6 Million towards the estimated $5.4 Million cost of the project's first phase

The industry group proposed that the $3.6 Million be collected through a fee assessed on a per-passenger per-day basis. The resolution approved by the Assembly, Monday night, will impose a $1.73 per-passenger, per-day fee on cruise ships for four years and will raise over $4 Million.

Assembly member Jeannie Johnson offered the alternative proposal. Johnson said that, under the NWCA $3.6 million proposal, she couldn't vote to commit Juneau to the remaining unknown costs of the project, estimated at $1.8 Million. She called her proposal "middle ground".

Under the alternative resolution approved Monday night, passenger fees will be deposited into the Port Development Fund and pay for 75 percent of the design and construction of the first phase of the Steamship Wharf-Marine Park project.

Proceeds of the fund will pay for at least three other items. They include 50 percent of the waterfront comprehensive plan, design of phase two of the Marine Park project, and a feasibility study, preliminary design, and construction of a dock extension.

Assembly member Dale Anderson, an advocate of project based agreements, said the Cruiseship Association has not had any input into the alternative. And he said that's not a partnership. Assembly member Ken Koelsch agreed with Anderson, saying the city is now dictating terms to the industry. Assembly member Marc Wheeler spoke in favor of the Johnson plan. He said it was a compromise he could live with. He said if it were up to him, the industry would pay for the entire project. Assembly member Jim Powell also spoke in support of the alternative. He said it's a reasonable approach that "speaks to certainty."

The alternative was approved on a 6 to 3 vote after an amendment by Anderson was approved setting an effective date of May 16th. The delay will give the association time to take a look at the new resolution and make their views known.

Anderson, Koelsch, and Don Etheridge voted against the alternative.

Assembly member Randy Wannamaker served notice of reconsideration so the resolution could come up for another vote before it goes into effect.

Tourism plan up for public comment

The Assembly will take public comment on the final draft of the long range tourism plan tonight. Mayor Sally Smith says the plan is a work in progress and invites public comment.

The plan is available at local libraries and on the city's web page at Juneau.org.

The public hearing gets underway at 5 p.m. in Assembly Chambers at City Hall.

School board takes up math and salary survey agenda items
The Juneau School Board is scheduled to take final action during its meeting tonight on the revised elementary math curriculum. Also up for final action is the classification study salary survey.

The board meeting begins at 6 this evening in district offices on Glacier Avenue.

Sealaska in the "red" again this year
Southeast Alaska's regional Native corporation is reporting a loss for 2001. Juneau-based Sealaska lost $21 Million on revenue of $146Million.

In its annual report, Sealaska attributes its 2001 losses to bad investments, mainly from TriQuest Corporation, a plastics company with offices in Mexico and Washington state that lost $24 Million.

It's only the second year finishing with a loss in the history of the corporation but the second year in a row for red ink. The company lost 122 million in 2000.

Company officials see a bright future. Sealaska President and CEO Chris E. McNeil, Junior, says the corporation has rounded a difficult corner at a pivotal point in its history.

Corporation Board Chair Albert Kookesh thinks Sealaska is heading in the right direction. He says based on current information, they expect next year to be profitable.

Since it was formed by Congress in 1971 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Sealaska's core business has been timber.

In February 2001, Sealaska invested $40 Million in Alaska Native Wireless, a consortium of three regional Native corporations with AT&T Wireless that successfully bid on broadband licenses in major cities.

But the government auction resulted in a legal challenge that has yet to be resolved. The annual report says Sealaska earned $8 point 8 Million in interest on its wireless investment.

Big King takes lead in Juneau fish derby
There's a new leader in the Spring King Salmon Derby sponsored by the Tlingit - Haida Central Council.

The 32.8 pound King was turned in late Monday night by Jerry Fulkerson.

Derby organizers say there are now 28 fish entered. There are prizes for the top 30 fish. First place is valued at $8,000 with $5,000 in cash and $3,000 in prizes.

There are three weigh-in stations. They are Jerry's Meats and Seafoods, Alaska Seafood Company, and Taku Fisheries. Entries must be gutted and gilled before they can be weighed.

Bill changing abortion regulations wins Senate approval
The State Senate approved a bill today that tightens rules for state-funded abortions.

The measure is in response to some lawmaker's frustration with a state Supreme Court decision requiring Medicaid to pay for some abortions if it also provides other pregnancy related services.

The Senate measure would allow therapeutic abortions only in cases where there is a danger to the mother or fetus. Current regulations allow such abortions ease a condition harmful to the woman's physical or psychological health.

Some Senate Republicans, including Fairbanks Senator Pete Kelly, say that's too loosely drawn and allows for state-funded abortions on demand.

State officials deny that Medicaid is paying for abortions on demand and oppose the bill. Juneau Senator Kim Elton supported that view during today's debate. He argued that the bill substitutes "political judgment for medical judgment."

Senate Bill 364 was approved 12 to 7, but held for reconsideration. So another Senate vote is possible.

Action on gas line measure still on hold
The House delayed action again today on the bill that would give tax breaks on a North Slope natural gas pipeline.

While reporting progress in work on House Bill 519, Speaker Brian Porter says more work still needs to be done. The bill was sent back to the Rules Committee again.

Committee Chair Pete Kott says he had the votes to pass the bill. But he wants to address some members' concerns about access to the pipeline if it's built. He's working on language to make sure smaller producers of natural gas would be able to put their gas in the line.

Kott says he doesn't plan to address concerns that the bill gives away too much in tax breaks. The bill would provide a tax exemption worth about $600 Million, according to Department of Revenue estimates. Opponents, including Governor Knowles, have argued the taxes should be deferred, but not forgiven entirely.

Kott says the bill is needed to spur construction of the pipeline. The three big oil companies in Alaska - BP, Phillips and Exxon-Mobil -- have said they don't think they can make enough money on the project now to justify the risk.

Halford predicts Senate vote on House fiscal plan
Senate President Rick Halford believes the package of bills comprising the fiscal plan approved by the House will be brought to the Senate floor.

They include bills to implement an income tax, use permanent fund earnings, and increase the alcohol tax. Halford referred them all to the Finance Committee and expects all three will receive hearings.

During a press availability today, he reiterated that there still is not enough support for a broad base tax or use of permanent fund earnings in the Senate. He's confident that Senators will eventually approve an alcohol tax at the level suggested by the House.

Ruling on English only law will be appealed, but not by state
The state of Alaska isn't appealing a judge's ruling throwing out Alaska's official English law.

But the group that got the issue on the ballot in the first place, Alaskans for a Common Language, is taking the case to the state Supreme Court on its own.

In 1998, Alaska voters overwhelmingly passed the initiative mandating that government use only English. But in March, Superior Court Judge Fred Torrisi threw it out. He says the rule violates constitutional guarantees of free speech.

Knowles Press Secretary Bob King says the governor agrees with the judge's decision and has chosen not to appeal.

Judge in redistricting case rejects idea of drawing map himself
An Anchorage judge could decide this week if a revised redistricting map passes constitutional muster.

In March, the state Supreme Court overturned the first version of a redistricting plan, calling most of the new districts unconstitutional. The five member Redistricting Board submitted a new plan last month, but two challenges to the new plan remain. One is from the Prince of Wales Island community of Craig, and the other from Eagle River in the Anchorage area.

During deliberations yesterday, Attorney Ken Jacobus argued against the plan on behalf of some Eagle River residents. He asked Judge Mark Rindner to fix the map himself if he found against it.

He says the constitutional amendment that created the Redistricting Board gave the judge that authority. Board Attorney Phillip Volland says the board should make any changes.

Judge Rindner said during yesterday's hearing that he doesn't think the court has the authority to draw maps, although he recognizes time is running short. The goal is to have a final map complete in time for candidates to file for office by the June 1st deadline.

The judge will either rule on the new plan this week or call for a hearing next Monday.

Change in lingcod regulations aimed at protecting large fish
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has changed the bag limit and season for the lingcod sport fishery in the northern Panhandle and along the outer coast of Prince of Wales Island.

Area Management Biologist Mark Schwan says the bag limit is one fish per day and two in possession for all anglers. What is called a "slot" limit will be in effect for guided and non-resident anglers. They will be able to keep lingcod between 30 and 40 inches. Schwann says that is designed to protect the really big fish which are females. There will be no size limit for resident anglers.

Additionally, guided and non-resident anglers will only be able to land lingcod by hand or with a landing net. They won't be allowed to use a gaffe.

The season was originally scheduled to run from May 16th to November 30th. But that has changed to two periods now. They run from May 16 through June 15 and August 16th through November 30th.

Schwann says the changes are needed to ensure that the harvested weight of sport caught lingcod does not exceed the allocations established by the Board of Fisheries in 2000.

Clean up set for this weekend in Juneau
The annual Community Clean Up Day sponsored by Litter Free is this Saturday.

Litter Free President John Logan was among the guests on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. He says the bag sites will be open from nine until Noon. There are seven sites this year. They're at the Foodland Center parking lot, Super Bear, the UAS Student Activity Center, Duck Creek Market, Fred Meyer, Western Auto and at the Douglas Fire Station.

Logan says an estimated 21-hundred school kids will get a jump on the rest of the community and begin picking up trash on Friday.

For more information call Litter Free at 789-5601.

Ice jam threatens Southwest Alaska village
An ice jam on the Nushagak River is flooding the village of Ekwok in southwest Alaska. Alaska State Troopers say the village of 130 people is under about one and a half to two feet of water. Ekwok is 43 miles northeast of Dillingham.

Group moves to protect Anchorage creek
Anchorage's only city creek with an intact tidal marsh may be protected by a conservation group. The Great Land Trust has raised three-fourths of the money it needs to buy and preserve the 32-acre Fish Creek Estuary. Great Land plans to begin a public campaign today to seek donations for the rest.

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