Assembly to discuss flood solution funding, View Drive buyout, e-bike regulations Monday

Local funds for long-term flood fix ‘should be borne by the entire borough, and not a service area of projected homes,’ memo for Committee of the Whole meeting states

People observe a Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

A recommendation that residents citywide help pay for a long-term glacial flooding solution in the Mendenhall Valley, rather than just residents in the affected area, is being made to the Juneau Assembly by three members working as a "strike team" with the city manager’s office.

A memo scheduled to be presented during a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday addresses questions raised during an Aug. 31 meeting about how the city will pay a matching fund requirement for a flood project in the initial proposal stages by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Juneau will likely have to pay 10% or 25% of a project that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

"There was consensus that any local match should be borne by the entire borough, and not a service area of projected homes," the memo by City Manager Katie Koester states. "Rationale informing this decision was the commercial and public infrastructure protected by a long-term solution included many services that are used by the entire community and not just homeowners located in that sector.i Furthermore, a loss of homes in the valley would deepen the housing shortage and be negative for the entire community."

The Army Corps isn’t likely to have an initial cost estimate of the project until at least spring or summer 2027, Koester noted.

"This puts a question to the voters on the October 2027 ballot," she wrote, noting it would likely be in the form of a bond/debt proposition.

The memo also addresses issues about existing short-term protection, including whether compensation should be provided to property owners that have HESCO barriers placed there by officials, but not make recommendations to the full Assembly, stating further evaluation and knowledge about implementing a long-term solution are needed.

The recommendations came after Assembly members Maureen Hall, Nano Brooks and Neil Steininger met with city officials earlier this month.

Also scheduled to be discussed at Monday’s meeting is a possible buyout of homes on View Drive vulnerable to flood dangers, since officials have determined HESCO barriers are not a practical short-term solution there due to the area’s geography. Koester, in a separate memo, states "Participation remains voluntary and 16 out of 18 eligible homeowners are moving forward with the appraisal and cost estimating process."

She states the current estimated cost of the buyout is about $27 million, 75% of which would be reimbursed by the federal government.

"The Assembly has thus far indicated that participating property owners, rather than CBJ, should ultimately bear the 25% share of the full project cost," Koester wrote, noting officials are also seeking ways to assist homeowners in covering those payments.

Other agenda items for Monday include an update on proposed regulations for e-motorcycles and peer-to-peer rentals aimed at cruise ship passengers.

Monday’s meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. in the Assembly chambers. Because it is considered a work session the Assembly cannot take final action on matters such as approving ordinances and public testimony is not allowed.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.