BARANOF HOTEL WILL NOT BE OPEN THIS YEAR
The Legislative Council is awarding COVID-19 screening, testing, and quarantining services to Beacon Occupational Health and Services for the Alaska State Capitol Building during the upcoming session, for a cost of no more than $1.5 million. All who enter will pass through the screening point at the entry, which includes a temperature reading.
In addition, the Council has adopted a “Pandemic Code of Conduct Policy,” which applies to all legislators and legislative staff in Juneau.
As a condition of working or being present in the Capitol and related legislative buildings, offices, or spaces, legislators and legislative staff must:
- Provide a local address and emergency contact information to the Personnel Office.
- Make every effort to quarantine in place for 14 days before arriving in Juneau.
- Arrive in Juneau with a negative approved molecular COVID-19 test; or test upon arrival and quarantine pending results.
- Get tested as offered by the Legislative Affairs Agency (or contractor).
- Isolate in the event of a COVID-19 positive test result as directed by health authorities and cooperate with contact tracing and quarantine efforts.
- Take responsibility for your own health, the health of your staff, and the health of others in the community by adheringto guidance from LAA, City and Borough of Juneau and State of Alaska health officials, as well as the U.S. Centers for DiseaseControl.
- Complete a daily health screening (answer a series of questions and perform temperature check).
- Practice physical distancing and good hygiene, including the 6-foot rule and wearing face coverings outlined by the Legislative Council’s face mask policy, washing hands, using sanitizer, and staying home if sick.
- Socialize only in small groups and comply with enhanced social event management policies for groups and organizations.
- Avoid all essential trips out of the Capital City.
Offsite meetings will also be more problematic this year. The historic Baranof Hotel, a favorite hangout that provides rooms for legislators and lobbyists during the session and a watering hole frequented by lawmakers and lobbyists, will not be open this year.
It’s not just the Baranof that is a concern. The legislative housing situation in Juneau is generally bleak, as many homeowners are not renting out their places this year, either because they are not heading south for the winter or because they don’t want strangers staying in their homes. Those who have rented rooms out to legislators or staff in the past are not coming forward with them this year.
