Advisory Committees - Nov. 1984
Avalanche and Mass-Wasting Position - 1996
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Position -
Feb. 1994
Charter Commission Recommendation - 2010
Education Position - 1973-74
Education Position - May 1975
Estuarine Resources-Environmental Quality - 1973
Library Position - 1981, 1988
Local Election Procedures - 1982
Local Government - 1977
Mendenhall Wetlands Boundary Consensus - 1973
Parks and Recreation - 1972
Planning and Zoning -
1970
Solid Waste Management - 2011
Water and Wastewater - 2005
ADVISORY COMMITTEES - November 1984
The Juneau League of Women Voters supports the use of advisory committees by the Assembly of the City and Borough of Juneau. We believe that citizen committees can provide a valuable means of participation in government. In order for these committees to be effective, the resolution establishing the committee should clearly state the mission and scope of activities.
Advisory committees should serve as channels for public opinion on specific, detailed issues related to the work of the Assembly. Therefore, each committee should be related to a specific subcommittee of the Assembly or the Assembly as a whole, and should report to it on a regular basis.
The frequency of this reporting will vary with the mission of the committee; semi-annual reporting would be an acceptable minimum.
In addition to reporting to its guiding Assembly subcommittee, the activities of each committee should be reviewed annually by the entire Assembly. At that time, the committee should be given further guidance by the Assembly, or should be suspended, or dissolved, as the need warrants.
Committee membership should be balanced to represent the interests which will be served by its activities. In some cases, a balance between technical expertise and affected user groups should be emphasized. In other cases, a balance of age, sex, race or other factors would be more important.
When filling vacancies on a committee, the Assembly should publicly advertise the opening. A standardized application form should be used to determine the applicant's reasons for wishing to serve on the board and qualifications that would contribute to the committee's mission and balanced composition.
While appointing members with conflicts of interest arising from the work of the committee is not desirable, excluding individuals who have occasional conflicts may not be practical without limiting the technical expertise required by some committees. All members of advisory committees should receive an initial orientation that includes recognizing and handling conflicts of interest according to the Charter of the City and Borough.
In keeping with principles of citizen participation in government, all meetings of advisory committees should be open to the public. Meetings should be held on a regular, scheduled basis, with published agenda and adequate public notice of the time and place of meeting. Formal public testimony need not be taken at all meetings of the committee, but should occur frequently. Some written record of each meeting of the committee should be made. Formal minutes are not always necessary. A summary report of the meeting and the decisions made could be an adequate substitute.
This written record should be filed in the City Clerk's office following each meeting and should be available to the public.
Support services should be provided to facilitate the work of the boards and to provide continuity in their activities. Each committee should be assigned a staff person to help coordinate its activities and to provide access to clerical support.
Standard by-laws should be provided to each committee at its inception. These by-laws could be modified and adopted by the committee to meet its own particular needs. A central file should be maintained in the office of the City Clerk containing individual files on each of the boards and committees including the following materials: the resolution or ordinance creating the committee, the by-laws adopted by the committee, the current and historic membership of the committee, and all reports filed by the committee. All these materials should be available to interested citizens on request.its activities and to provide access to clerical support.
Standard by-laws should be provided to each committee at its inception. These by-laws could be modified and adopted by the committee to meet its own particular needs. A central file should be maintained in the office of the City Clerk containing individual files on each of the boards and committees including the following materials: the resolution or ordinance creating the committee, the by-laws adopted by the committee, the current and historic membership of the committee, and all reports filed by the committee. All these materials should be available to interested citizens on request.
AVALANCHE AND MASS-WASTING POSITION - 1996
The safety of lives and property are the goals of the avalanche and mass wasting position of the League of Women Voters Juneau. The League believes that hazard zoning should be a permanent part of local planning.
The League believes studies requested and received by the CBJ from avalanche, mass-wasting and debris experts are a valuable baseline for information and decision making. These studies include those done by Swanston, Hart and LaChapelle in 1967 and 1968, as well as the two major studies in 1972 and 1992 by Frutiger, Mears, Fesler, and Fredston.
The League urges regulators and the public to recognize the range of hazards presented by snow avalanches and mass-wasting mudslides and prohibit building in geologically unsafe areas.
The League encourages the use of a full public process in efforts to implement the following items and consider additional methods to ensure the safest possible use of properties impacted by potential avalanche and mass-wasting in the borough.
The League believes the City and Borough of Juneau has a responsibility to:
1. Educate the public about local geophysical hazards (avalanche and mass-wasting) on an ongoing basis;
2. Regulate use and building in the hazard areas;
3. Notify those who might buy, lease or rent in a severe hazard area;
4. Prevent or reduce existing hazard danger to private or City-owned lands and properties;
5. Explore the possibility of rectification as a tool for addressing existing situations of homes currently located in severe hazard geophysical areas.
Amplification
1. Educating the public should include:
a. Determining clear and coordinated boundaries of the severe and moderate hazard avalanche and mass-wasting areas as noted in the 1972 and 1992 studies. Indicate on all CBJ land use planning maps clear designation of severe and moderate geophysical hazards.
b. Making available to the general public the studies commissioned by the CBJ.
c. Making greater use of the city-commissioned studies.
d. Updating the building codes to include hazard specifications.
2. Regulating use and building in the hazard areas should include:
a. Regulating building and additions.
b. Regulating building on steep slopes.
c. Regulating building in run-out zones of gullies.
d. Creating engineering design standards for structures within hazard areas
e. Stamping all affected building permit plans and subdivision plats within the severe and moderate avalanche and mass-wasting zones with the appropriate hazard designation ("Avalanche Zone" or "Debris Slide Zone")
3. Notifying those who might buy, lease or rent in severe hazard areas should include:
a. Each real estate agent/salesperson/broker/private party must provide, upon first inquiry and prior to viewing, written notice of severe hazard.
b. Requiring severe hazard notice on deeds.
c. Requiring owners or person responsible to provide renter/tenant/subtenant/leaser with written notice of severe hazard zone.
d. Posting signs in the public right-of-way to reasonably identify boundaries of severe hazard zone.
4. Preventing or reducing existing hazard to private or City-owned severe hazard lands and properties should include:
a. Preventing clear cuts uphill.
b. Selling no CBJ land in severe hazard areas.
c. Ensuring rescue planning, training and coordination.
d. Alerting the public to conditions of severe hazard for snow avalanches and mass-wasting mudslides with Public Service Announcements (PSAs), weather reports, etc.
5. Discussing rectification of existing situations of homes currently located in severe geophysical hazard areas should include full and open public process for consideration of any methods proposed.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT - as amended February 19, 1994
The Juneau League of Women Voters believes all individuals have the right to live in a fear free environment, and to be safe from sexual assault; psychological, emotional and physical abuse; and neglect. A special degree of protection is needed for vulnerable, dependent people of any age.
Intervention by public agencies should take place when there is evidence of sexual assault, or of physical, psychological or emotional abuse of one family member by another. When necessary to separate family members, it is preferable to remove the perpetrator rather than the victim from the home, particularly if the victim is a child. Physical or sexual assault should be prosecuted whether or not the victim presses charges.
Federal, state, and local governments should share responsibility for the health and safety of family members, with primary responsibility at state and local levels. Costs should be shared by all levels of government, private charitable contributions, and a special fund into which perpetrators are required to pay. To the maximum extent possible, perpetrators should be held financially responsible for these costs, and no victim should ever be required to pay any costs associated with a domestic violence or sexual assault incident.
Domestic violence and sexual assault require a coordinated response by law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, social service/victim agencies, and the medical community. All people who work with domestic violence and sexual assault incidents should receive special training.
Public services available in an urban center the size of Juneau should include, regardless of the person's ability to pay:
Preventive education, especially age-appropriate curriculum beginning early in schools, on the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault, and anger control management, including conflict resolution, safety training, problem identification, and available assistance;
Responsible, knowledgeable and informed policy intervention and protection;
Rehabilitation and treatment for incarcerated offenders;
Alternatives to incarceration, when appropriate;
Shelter for victims and their dependents;
Sufficient numbers of social workers and available foster care;
Adequate counseling of victims, perpetrators, and other affected family members;
Medical care and legal aid for victims;
Alcohol and drug abuse treatment for all age groups, including teens;
Coordinated social services delivery;
Anger control training; and
Alternative housing for perpetrators.
Special attention should be paid to groups who have been inadequately served in the past, such as adolescents, people who experience disabilities, and the elderly.
Definitions:
"Domestic violence" means physical, psychological, or emotional harm or the threat of physical, psychological or emotional harm between household or family members;
"Household or family members" include spouses or former spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, foster parents and children, members of a social unit comprised of those living together in the same dwelling, or persons in a dating, courtship, or engagement relationship;
"Physical, psychological or emotional harm" includes abuse, neglect and sexual assault;
"Sexual assault" means engaging in sexual contact without consent or in violation of law, as provided in Alaska Statutes 11.41.410 - 460.
CHARTER COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION - 2010
The League of Women Voters of Juneau, Alaska, reaffirms its support of the Charter of the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, and recommends a “no” vote on the 2010 ballot question:
“Shall there be a Charter Commission to review or amend the Charter?”
The League supports the mayor/assembly/manager form of government as established by the Charter.
We further support the following objectives of a local Charter and believe they are met by the Juneau Charter:
- It should be flexible, concise and adaptable to changing needs
- It should provide for a government that has accountability, appropriate representation and decision-making
- It should provide for the basic procedures and practices of the assembly and administration
- It should provide popular controls over the government
The League finds that where there are criticisms of the Juneau government, the problems are not with the Charter and its provisions but with the implementation of the provisions. The League supports the Charter of the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska. The League consensus is that issues brought forward can rely on the amendment process for needed changes.
Approved: March 20, 2010
I. Classroom Loads
The League believes that maximum pupil/teacher rations should be established at 20/1 for kindergarten through third grade and 25/1 for grades four through twelve.
Resources personnel and other support staff should not be included in computing the pupil/teacher ratios.
Classroom loads may be adjusted on the basis of the availability of instructional classroom aides, teaching methods and techniques, and room and furniture size. Considerations of subject matter and plant construction, i.e., sound barriers, should also be taken into account.
II. Testing
The League favors the use of an ongoing District-wide testing program in the elementary schools.
The League advocates the use of annual diagnostic-prescriptive tests as the primary testing program. Diagnostic-prescriptive testing should be given to all students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade with options available for individual students in seventh and eighth grade.
The League places a high priority on early identification testing in order to detect potential problem areas and ensure accurate student placement.
In addition to diagnostic-prescriptive testing, the League considered other testing programs and concluded:
Aptitude testing for academic and vocational purposes should be administered on a request basis for ninth through twelfth grade students.
Achievement testing, including SATs and PSATs should be available upon request for high school students at District expense.
National Norms testing is considered a low priority since its primary function should be to furnish administrative data.
The League feels that it is important that parents be kept informed by the District about the testing programs, both regular and optional, and should be notified when the tests are to be administered.
III. Inservice
The League advocates a multi-faceted in-service program as an effective means to promote quality education. It should include, but not be limited to:
A. Individual teacher release time, at District expense. This would enable teachers to observe other teachers and methods, and to participate in workshops or seminars of special interest or concern.
B. Student release time to enable teachers to participate in group workshops or seminars on a school-wide or district-wide basis. Parents should be given maximum advance notice of planned student release time in-service dates to facilitate making arrangements for their children.
C. A Master teacher program to provide ongoing in-service training. A full-time master teacher would not function as an administrative evaluator, but would act as a consultant to classroom teachers on methods and techniques.
League believes in-service programs can be most effective if they are responsive to District needs. Input from administrators, teachers, and the community should be considered in setting up in-service programs. Whenever possible, individual in-service days should be scheduled before or after regular school holidays or vacation periods.
IV. Evaluation
The League advocates that the District establish performance criteria for teachers to be used in the evaluation program. A uniform set of objectives will give teachers a valid basis for self-evaluation and will insure consistency and continuity in the evaluation program throughout the District.
Although the master-teacher would play an important role in promoting improved teacher skills, the League believes it is essential that the master-teacher function independently of the administrative evaluation process. This insures that teachers will feel free to take full advantage of the services of the master-teacher.
V. Libraries
The League endorses the multi-media resource center concept for the school library program as instrumental in furthering individualized instruction.
The League advocates employing full-time librarians for each school library to effectively implement the multi-media program.
The League believes the librarian should catalog the school-owned supplementary instructional materials presently kept in individual classrooms. These materials should be available for sharing both within and between schools. Their distribution should be coordinated by the librarian.
1. The League of Women Voters of Juneau advocates a multi-faceted special education program to meet the needs of exceptional children. We endorse mainstreaming as one of the major components of such a program if, and only if, the necessary support services and staff are available not only to help the children but also to provide consultative services for the regular classroom teachers. In mainstreaming the responsibility for educating the exceptional child is a shared task: to function well as a team the classroom teacher and special resource teachers must have adequate opportunities to meet and confer about the children they serve.
2. The League of Women Voters of Juneau advocates accountability in local education.
We advocate development of district-wide curriculum goals and objectives and the establishment of criteria by which the program as a whole may be judged. Further, we urge that specific goals, objectives, and criteria be developed and used to evaluate special programs within the general curriculum.
ESTUARINE RESOURCES-ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - 1973
The concern about water quality led the LWV to consider U.S. river basins and estuaries in the nation study of water resources. The League position which resulted from this study states that the nation regions and river basins should be planned for, and that their water resources should be developed and administered as entities, in differing ways, suitable for each basin or region.
Expanding on this, the LWV of Juneau recently developed a statement of position on estuarine resources in Southeast Alaska.
The League supports a re-zoning study of the Mendenhall Wetlands and stresses the importance of planning and zoning other estuarine areas in a careful manner. As an ideal, estuarine areas should be left in a natural state. Uses must be adjusted to control estuarine alteration; overdevelopment of the area must not be allowed. Also, the League encourages all concerned agencies to research estuaries, and to correlate this research in order to have a basis for comparison of the effects of development, particularly industrial development on a specific estuary
The members of the League of Women Voters of Juneau believe that public library services should be provided to all area residents. Juneau libraries need continued support for space, staff, collections and patron services. The libraries should be accessible, visible and located where they can best serve population centers. There should be sufficient staff and budget to provide adequate library hours to meet community needs and provide for special programming.
Collections should be both broad based and complete with continuous upgrading. The public library system should serve as a point of access to the collections of special libraries but the community's major use should be of the public library's own collections.
Financial support of the library should come primarily from area wide city/borough support with supplemental funding from state grants.
The League supports the regional library concept and location of the southeast regional center within the Juneau Borough Public Library system. As a regional center the library has the potential for larger resource collections which benefit the local community and receives a state grant which employs local residents.
The League supports the American Library Association's "Bill of Rights" which provides for free and full access to library material to meet the educational, informational, recreational, and cultural needs of all people.
AMPLIFICATION
LIBRARY SERVICE IN JUNEAU SHOULD INCLUDE:
1. Centrally located branch libraries with adequate parking. The storefront library is a viable option.
2. Increased children's programming and collections.
3. Services to institutions such as jails, nursing homes and hospitals. Services to state institutions should be a shared function supported by both the local community and the state.
4. Outreach service to the handicapped and shut-ins.
5. Cooperative activities between the major libraries in Juneau.
Other service needs may become apparent in the future, but overall, we should strive for special services for special constituencies, including ethnic minorities, the elderly and any others not now served by the public library.
The following factors are necessary to adequate library service in Juneau and need to be evaluated regularly:
1. Space should be sufficient to provide reading and study room for patrons, staff work areas, book storage, study, listening areas and media, audio-visual centers. Future expansion needs should be considered regularly.
2. Accessibility and parking for all, including the handicapped.
3. Visibility of the library is important, including adequate signage.
4. Location of the libraries should facilitate use by the population and should be examined periodically as population centers change.
5. Collections development should meet the needs of Juneau's literate and varied population. Because school and special libraries exist to service particular clientele, they should not be depended upon to serve the broader needs of the general public. The LWV supports the cooperative collection development activities undertaken by the Capital Cities Libraries.
6. Staff should include specialized professional personnel such as: children's librarians, reference librarians and a collection development librarian. In addition, the League believes that the library should be administered by a qualified librarian with a Masters in Library Science.
7. Free and full access includes access to the library for the handicapped and for all without age or residency limits. The library may require on-site use by non-residents and may prohibit circulation of certain rare books or fragile materials.
Consensus was also reached on the following points:
1. School libraries serve primarily curriculum needs and their collections are not adapted to the broader public. The private schools now in Juneau use the public library heavily since they do not have their own libraries. All schools create a heavy demand on the public library for additional library materials in support of curriculum.
2. Support of libraries should be an area-wide responsibility since the library services the entire community. There should be continued city financial support to ensure local control. Because user fees are discriminatory, we are opposed to them unless they are fines or penalties, for damage to library materials.
3. The League of Women Voters of Juneau supports the following basic policies:
a. As a responsibility of library service, books and other library materials selected should be chosen for values of interest, information and enlightenment of all the people of the community. In no case should library materials be excluded because of the race or nationality or the social, political or religious views of the authors.
b. Libraries should provide books and other materials presenting all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times; no library materials should be proscribed or removed from libraries because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
c. Censorship should be challenged by libraries in the maintenance of their responsibility to provide public information and enlightenment.
d. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
e. The rights of an individual to use the library should not be denied or abridged because of his age, race, religion, national origin, social or political views.
f. As an institution of education for democratic living, the library should welcome the use of its meeting rooms for socially useful and cultural activities and discussion of current public questions. Such meeting places should be available on equal terms to all groups on the community regardless of the beliefs and affiliations of their members, provided that the meetings be open to the public.
LOCAL ELECTION PROCEDURES - 1982
The League of Women Voters of Juneau supports election procedures which balance the ease of voting with protections for the integrity of the election process. We believe that as much as possible procedures of local elections should be consistent with state procedures to eliminate confusion among voters and election officials.
Amplifications:
1. Ease of voting includes, but is not limited to, clarity of ballot wording, accessibility of the polls, and simply written forms and directions.
2. Integrity of the election process includes, but is not limited to, safeguards in counting or processing ballots to guarantee valid election returns.
3. Consistency of procedures between state and local elections includes, but is not limited to, the use of the same polling places as well as similar forms, procedures and voting requirements.
4. Punch card voting and machine counting is endorsed by the LWV to ease the burden of work on election officials and to make municipal procedures consistent with the State's.
5. Filing deadline: The LWV recommends the filing deadline for candidates be moved back 10 days (to 30 days before the election) to facilitate the use of punch card voting, to provide more time for the mailing of absentee ballots, and to make media deadlines easier to meet.
6. Absentee voting: For ease of voting, we recommend local absentee balloting procedures be made consistent with state procedures so that applications can be made up to six months before the election and so that two signatures by witnesses is sufficient for balloting.
7. "I Voted" tags should be available for voters to wear.
8. Staggered hours for poll workers should be permitted to ease the burden of long hours, especially if hand counting is done.
9. Poll hours: No consensus was reached on what hours the polls should be open. The convenience of voting provided by a 7:00 a.m. opening was balanced by consistency with state polling hours and the convenience of election workers.
Representation and Reapportionment
The League of Women Voters of Juneau supports our present system of Assembly representation which requires that Assembly persons live in prescribed districts but be elected at large and that the Mayor be elected at large. However, the League believes that our present districts need to be reapportioned. The main criteria for reapportionment should include size of population, sense of community and geographical continuity.
Prevailing Vote
The League believes the Charter provision requiring five affirmative votes for Assembly action should be revised to state, "A majority of those qualified to vote." This change would be similar to the requirements of the Municipal Code for non-home rule municipalities. An Assembly person would not be "qualified to vote" if he/she had a conflict of interest.
The League believes the prevailing vote requirement for Boards and Commissions should be the same as that of the Assembly.
Charter Revision
The League believes that the Assembly should revise Sections 3.6 and 3.7 of the Charter providing for forfeiture of office and vacancy.
The League believes that the Assembly should adopt a rule defining incapacity for medical reasons and should make provision for a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy created during the incapacity.
The League urges the Assembly to revise the forfeiture rule for absenteeism by discontinuing the present system provided for in Section 3.7 (failure to attend three consecutive regular meetings unless excused by the Assembly) and replacing it with a system requiring Assembly persons to attend a certain percentage of all meetings (regular meetings, committee of the whole meetings, etc.) And eliminating the categories of excused and unexcused absences.
Recall
The League of Women Voters believes that the Municipal Code Section 29.28.160 which states that the "municipal clerk shall review the petition for content and signatures" is unclear as to the role of the clerk in determining the acceptability of the recall petition because the word "content" is subject to varying interpretations. We urge that appropriate action be taken to clarify this section.
The League does not support term limit for local government officials. This includes members of the assembly, school board, and boards and commissions. The local election process allows voters ample opportunity to make changes.
The League believes that the mayor/assembly/manager form of government established by the Charter meets the criteria enumerated in the LWV Principles which provide for a government responsive to the will of the people. We further support the following objectives of a local charter:
It should be flexible, concise, and adaptable to changing needs.
It should provide for a government that has accountability, representativeness, and decision-making.
It should provide for the basis procedures and practices of the assembly and administration.
It should provide popular controls over the government.
September 25, 1992 - Local Government Study Juneau League of Women Voters' Local Government Study, chaired by Karen Crane on August 29, 1992 held a panel discussion on two issues concerning local government. (1) City Manager/ Full Time (compensated) Mayor, and (2) Term of Office Limits for Elected and Appointed Officials. Susanne Williams invited former members for their experience. Lois Stiegmeier moderated the panel in the assembly chambers. Past mayors attending were Ernie Polley, Wayne Johnson, and Bruce Botelho. Former assembly members were represented by Kay Diebels, Alexander Hoke, Peter Freer, Ed Kalwara and Fred Baxter.
Robyn Boysen and Sandy Villars gave out the reprints gathered by Karen from other municipalities on both sides of term limits and manager/full time mayor/assembly government. Members’ issue questions responses were gathered and complied by Karen. The following consensus was reached and approved by the board.
1. A recommendation to the assembly:
The League recommends that the borough assembly undertake a formal review of the mayor's required and perceived duties. The review should include the issue of compensation. Should the assembly recognize the need for additional compensation, the issue should be taken to the voters.
MENDENHALL WETLANDS BOUNDARY CONSENSUS - 1973
In considering the question of a boundary for the Mendenhall Wetlands area, League members noted the dynamic nature of the forces at work on the land. The Mendenhall River changes its course imperceptibly but constantly, and deposits material on the wetlands as the river's current decreases at its mouth. The land is also rising at the same subtle, imperceptible rate as glaciers recede. Tidal effects and long shore currents also affect land boundaries. Land accretion as affected old surveys and has clouded the boundary question. The League notes the need for new surveys.
One of the great values of the wetlands area is its diversity of habitat with tidal mudflats, salt marshes rich in vegetation, especially sedges, and in its higher reaches, freshwater marsh. In an ecological sense, one particular tidal level will not serve as a boundary throughout the entire area.
The 22.7' tide line is acceptable in most areas, but the League would like to urge inclusion of land and this line in two areas. These are the marshy area (both salt and freshwater marsh) west of
Mendenhall River and the pocket of marshy land above the present Switzer Creek bridge. We believe that the boundary should be drawn according to botanical guidelines. In the latter area we believe that the spruce-hemlock tree line is a better boundary than a tidal level could be. These two areas are important for their value as fish and wildlife habitat and for their value as outdoor laboratories for biologists and students of all ages from elementary school on. One provision of the
Coastal Zone Management Act calls for establishment of outdoor laboratories for study of the coastal zone. (However, authorized funding has been frozen at the present time.)
The League also points out the need for access areas to the wetlands at, or adjacent to, the 22.7' tide line.
Some of the area within the 22.7' line has been altered by development and no longer retains its estuarine nature. Specifically, this includes the areas on the east bank of the Mendenhall River in the vicinity of the small-plane tie-down area.
We feel that retention of the Mendenhall Wetlands area at the 22.7' tide line except I n special areas as noted above, should be considered as a long-term savings to Juneau. The area is used by hunters, especially by young hunters who are not able to visit areas farther away. Family groups enjoy recreation on the wetlands during all seasons. Overlook areas with interpretive signs would be appreciated by tourists. The value of the area to students and teachers has already bee^poted.
All avenues of land acquisition should be explored that will be fair to property owners. The concept of land swapping has precedence here in our borough and has been an important tool for coastal zone management in other areas of the United States. The Juneau League of Women Voters is willing to work for equitable and reasonable funding measures based on national expression.
The League of Women Voters of Juneau takes the position that public agencies have a responsibility for planning for the recreation needs of the community, for seeing that sufficient open space and parkland is reserved for this use, and for programming activities for its citizens.
Development of recreation areas should be compatible with the environment.
Members of the Juneau League are in agreement on these particular points:
Land Acquisition
Concerning land for open space and recreation, the League feels strongly that land acquisition should have priority over development of lands already obtained.
Juneau is in a period of rapid growth and development. In this time of land selection and planning, and in this way, the Borough will be able to purchase land which meets the requirements of planning for present and future recreational needs.
Coordination
We believe that there should be coordination between the various agencies involved in recreation in the use of facilities and in programming for all citizens of the community.
Trails
The League believes that trial maintenance and development should have a greater emphasis in the Juneau area. We feel trails should be developed that will eliminate conflict of uses and that will consider the safety of all users of the trails. We favor limited development in remote (off the road system) areas, primarily in additional trail development and maintenance.
Facilities for the Older and Handicapped
The Juneau League supports and encourages, including in public planning, consideration for our older and handicapped citizens. League members believe there is an unmet need beyond recreation needs for them. We recommend supplying facilities for their rest, comfort and safety.
The League of Women Voters of Juneau supports planning policies of balanced development which improve the physical environment in the interest of the community at large.
To achieve this, long range considerations must be injected into short range actions.
Members were in agreement that the following points should be a part of planning in Juneau:
Public Education and Enforcement
1. Promote public education and information about planning and planning projects. This will encourage public participation at all stages of planning. In addition, an educated public should be more ready to support zoning and other controls to achieve a better community for all.
2. Support present system whereby the Assembly serves as the Board of Adjustment, so that the ultimate responsibility of government will not be divided as it would be if a separate Board performed this function.
Equal Opportunity
1. Encourage planning to provide a just and healthy answer to our social, racial and economic needs. Two current needs are scattered low cost and public housing, and increased public transportation over the entire area.
Open Space
1. Encourage acquisition and designation of open space and recreational lands in the urban areas, as well as the outlying area. To encourage this, the borough should:
a. be prepared to purchase land as it becomes available
b. insist upon open space in multi-lot development
c. prohibit building in geologically unsafe areas
d. provide for retention of natural terrain and screening trees along main roadways
2. Retention and acquisition of public access to public waters, including streams through presently developed areas.
Subdivisions
1. Support requirements in subdivisions ordinance for:
a. underground utilities
b. set back and screening of subdivisions from materials. Trees should be saved or replanted.
c. drainage-provision for storm runoff.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT POSITION –as amended November 19, 2011
Solid waste management is an important environmental and public health issue for the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ). Economic issues are also a factor in solid waste management. The CBJ needs a collaborative approach that seeks long-term solutions including the use of disposal as a last option after waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and remanufacture (when feasible). The CBJ should continue its efforts to pilot integrated solutions and continue its priority on hazardous wastes as it works to strengthen its recycling program for a variety of solid wastes.
AMPLIFICATION:
1. The CBJ’s Responsibility for Solid Waste Management: Ideally, assuring effective waste management is primarily a municipal responsibility for which the municipality must control the “waste stream.” If the local jurisdiction does not own solid waste management facilities and/or does not control the “waste stream,” then it must exercise as much control as possible through contractual agreements. Additional appropriate roles include incentives, taxation, coordination, and public education.
2. The Need for a Long-Term Comprehensive Plan for Solid Waste Management: A CBJ comprehensive waste management plan should consider at least the following components: high priority on hazardous waste, waste reduction, recycling, remanufacturing, reuse, landfill usage, variable rate costs, collection, drop-off sites, state-of-the-art equipment and processes, and treatment modalities.
This Comprehensive Plan should examine all environmental impacts of solid waste management and mitigation strategies that might be needed. Every management option must be measured against a standard taking into account the full costs of that option, including the energy costs and environmental impact. New technology should be reviewed and evaluated on this basis.
The CBJ should allow tax incentives, through property and business inventory tax reductions or rebates, for businesses directly involved in recycling. Other businesses should benefit from similar incentives if, while not necessarily recycling, they can document waste reduction efforts. Residents should also be offered incentives for waste reduction and recycling; these incentives might include property tax reduction, an increased number of drop-off sites for recycling, and other factors that would increase public awareness.
The Comprehensive Plan should include continuing public education efforts to increase local recycling and waste reduction. Goals and benchmarks for waste reduction and recycling volume should be set and periodically reviewed as well as communicated to the public. Tracking public perceptions of solid waste management should be done by periodic public surveys to determine public understanding, attitudes, disposal habits and expectations for solid waste management infrastructures.
The Comprehensive Plan should consider treatment options for other components of the waste stream. For example, Juneau might benefit from a bio-fuel facility and a facility that could treat other specific parts of the waste stream such as oil and polluted soils. Composting of wood, fish, and garden waste could produce a product suitable for local gardens.
3. The Need for a Management Plan Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan: Multiple options for solid waste management should be developed and should include independent contracts and collaborative agreements. CBJ should consider an appropriate indemnification agreement between the CBJ and other entities under contract for solid waste management. This agreement may include the disposal of industrial hazardous waste that is the responsibility of the entity generating such waste.
The full cost of solid waste management should be distributed equitably among public, private, consumer, business, and other entities that create waste. This cost should not be subsidized by public entities with the exception of household or common hazardous waste disposal and problematic items such as computers and tires. A full cost approach will create a natural incentive for waste reduction. The CBJ should require mandatory collection service consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
The CBJ should establish and regularly contribute to a contingency reserve fund for current and future needs concerning solid waste management. The current mandatory environmental surcharge should be directed to the reserve contingency fund.
Policies and procedures for solid waste management should have involvement with the general public beyond periodic public surveys. This can be accomplished through a Public Advisory Board for solid waste management similar to other advisory boards within the CBJ. Should ownership of specific components of solid waste management come to the CBJ, consideration should be given to creation of an additional enterprise board for solid waste management.
4. Creation of Sufficient Energy to Manage Waste Streams: Creation and maintenance of the energy requirements for the disposal of the various solid waste streams requires a flexible energy infrastructure to manage short- and long-term operations and day-to-day management as well as contingency operation plans for emergencies.
5. Collaboration with Regional, State, and Federal Government Entities: The role of state and federal governments should be to regulate and mitigate environmental hazards and to provide appropriate guidelines and regulations to enable creative partnerships and infrastructure for solid waste management. Regional cooperation is appropriate when cost-effective.
Original 1991; Revised 2011
(2011 Study Committee: Jim Powell, carolyn Brown, Judy Andree)
The League of Women Voters of Juneau supports area-wide water and sewer/wastewater systems in the City and Borough of Juneau that meet national and state standards. The City and Borough of Juneau must provide a water system with adequate quality and sufficient pressure for fire fighting. The City and Borough of Juneau should be vigilant in protecting designated watersheds. The City and Borough of Juneau wastewater and treatment plants must address public health and marine environment issues while complying with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation permitting process, monitoring, and operational requirements.
The League believes that:
1. City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) planning documents, such as the Comprehensive Plan, Land Use Code, and Watershed Control Programs, should be reviewed and/or updated on a realistic and required schedule.
2. Designated watersheds should be protected as stated in the CBJ Comprehensive Plan.
3. The community should maintain an Urban Service Boundary (USB) which defines the limits within which the full range of urban services, such as water and wastewater, will be provided by CBJ. The CBJ wastewater lines and centralized treatment plants should be extended or expanded within the USB, completing urban service where CBJ water service already exists. Extensions or exemptions should be discouraged.
4. Future CBJ water system extensions should only be done in concert with a CBJ wastewater line extension and vise versa.
5. Water quality and water pressure, including adequate pressure for firefighting, are important for the health and safety of our citizens.
6. Further development that compromises existing water supplies beyond CBJ on-line source capacity should be restricted.
7. Any development, including private or city planned, needs to plan for wastewater disposal and long term maintenance of its system.
8. If the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) does not meet its obligations to monitor and address wastewater problems, CBJ must provide adequate oversight of wastewater discharges.
9. CBJ failed marine wastewater outfall systems should be corrected and functional before similar subdivision marine wastewater outfall systems are planned.
10. Criteria for decisions related to the extension of water and wastewater services should include: 1) public health first and foremost; 2) whether or not it falls within the USB and meets other CBJ established guidelines; 3) whether or not it meets ADEC standards, 4) population density, 5) a process for regular reports and monitoring.
11. CBJ water and wastewater systems should be funded through special assessments such as Local Improvement District (LID) funding passed by the property owners affected, general obligation bonds passed by the voters, annual Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding, and/or grants and low interest loans from the State and Federal agencies.
12. Whenever the CBJ contemplates on any water or wastewater work, it must provide information regarding conditions which could affect water quality and quantity to: (a) all affected property owners, (b) the general public, and (c) all governmental agencies with jurisdiction over the proposed work.
13. The CBJ Public Works Advisory Committee should be continued.
14. For centralized plants and subdivision outfalls, all discharge reports should be posted on a public website (for example CBJ and/or ADEC websites).
15. CBJ should improve water and wastewater education so that individual owners can more readily respond to failed and compromised wells and wastewater systems on private property.
16. ADEC should improve monitoring and compliance efforts, as well as public education.
Effective: February 19, 2005
Note: This position replaces the 2003
Water and Wastewater Position that was
a combination of two outdated LWV Juneau
positions: 1969 entitled Water and Sewer
Program in the Greater Juneau Borough
and 1980 entitled Water System.
