By WIN GRUENING
The unsuccessful effort to gather sufficient signatures for three proposed initiatives limiting cruise visitors to Juneau was a welcome relief to many.
Cruise Control, the group seeking these changes to the Juneau City Charter, claimed they gathered a “substantial number of signatures” but declined to reveal how many. The group blamed their failure on the pandemic, the weather, and what they termed “an intense suppression campaign” by Protect Juneau’s Future, a group supported by a wide range of individuals and organizations opposing the measures, including local businesses, a number of Juneau Assembly members, Native corporations, unions, and civic leaders.
The excuses offered overlook the initiatives’ harmful economic consequences that weighed heavily on voters’ minds and surely influenced their decision not to sign the petitions.
Most Juneau residents understand that a healthy economy requires trade-offs, and solutions won’t be found by going backwards as it appears Cruise Control prefers to do.
Now Cruise Control wants the Assembly “do the right thing” by adopting ordinances restricting hours for cruise ships and not allowing ships on Saturdays and in evenings, the very same ideas that were summarily rejected by the community. Cruise Control also continues to refuse to acknowledge the work done by the Assembly-appointed Visitor Industry Task Force or by the Tourism Best Management Practices program.
Indeed, the Visitor Industry Task Force report recommendations, including whether a fifth cruise ship dock should be built in Juneau, would address concerns expressed by Cruise Control. Several recommendations, in particular, are worth noting.
It may seem counterintuitive, but the Norwegian Cruise Line dock proposal, endorsed with a variety of caveats, will help reduce congestion downtown. If properly permitted with a Memorandum of Understanding, a fifth dock would divert passengers from the downtown core and reduce bus traffic through the center of town.
The new dock will accommodate a single cruise vessel on one side of the pier with the Coast Guard and NOAA utilizing the other side. The dock will be built perpendicular to shore so as not to obstruct the view plane and would be equipped with electric shore power. As envisioned, it will be a world class venue, incorporating the long-planned Alaska Ocean Center, a connecting seawalk, and local retail and cultural activities. Below grade parking for buses will provide for public green space and waterfront access.
As important, associated recommendations signal that “hot berthing” of large cruise vessels would no longer be allowed and capacity in Juneau’s harbor will be limited to 5 large cruise ships per day – with the requirement that an additional ship at anchor be limited to a small ship – the currently proposed definition of which are those carrying fewer than 500 passengers.
Effectively, this means, even with an additional dock, there would be no net increase in large cruise ship capacity.
Other recommendations, including prohibition of cruise ships docking in Auke Bay’s Statter Harbor and the potential permitting of tourism activities to avoid over-crowded venues, will serve to moderate growth during peak periods.
All the recommendations in the Visitor Industry Task Force report deserve consideration and the Assembly should waste no time evaluating and acting on them. Cruise ship itineraries for 2023 are being finalized now so 2024 may be the earliest schedule that can realistically be influenced. Even before deciding on a detailed plan to address cruise ship capacity, the Juneau Assembly can, at a minimum, pass broad resolutions that state their intentions, so businesses and the cruise industry have time to adjust.
While action on these recommendations is important, the public should recognize that, ultimately, long term solutions include creating additional experiences and activities for visitors to enjoy. This will require the Assembly to continue improving and expanding infrastructure to allow Juneau’s entrepreneurial spirit to flourish elsewhere in the borough.
As an example, enhancing summer activities at Eaglecrest, building the second channel crossing and completing the West Douglas Road would all serve as catalysts for new recreational and cultural opportunities for the benefit of both residents and visitors.
The best solutions will always be attained by moving forward, in a positive, not punitive way That’s how Juneau will not only remain a great place to visit, but more importantly, a great place to live.
After retiring as the senior vice president in charge of business banking for Key Bank in Alaska, Win Gruening began writing op-eds for local and statewide media. He was born and raised in Juneau and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970. He is involved in various local and statewide organizations and currently serves on the board of the Alaska Policy Forum.
My dream is to build a ride with an animatronic grizzly bear that tries to attack you while you are in a canoe..
“The best solutions will always be attained by moving forward, in a positive, not punitive way That’s how Juneau will not only remain a great place to visit, but more importantly, a great place to live”.
Unfortunately, I think cruise ships are hurting the Spotted Owl (Grey Wolf, Salmon, etc., etc..).
Oh yes, Juneau, the amusement park of Alaska where tourists flocked to see all the weird species in one locale. It adds nothing to the visitor about what true Alaska is. To do just that you have to travel by plane off the road system.
It has been nice not having the cruise ships here again. The Disney land part of town didn’t open and all the seasonal people aren’t here but it really doesn’t look like to many local people have been affected. Juneau was here before the cruise ships and did just fine. The golden faucet got turned off for a lot of people but get over it and earn money another way. Sitting around for two years expecting the government to bail you out as you whine is absurd.
Apparently Andrew hasn’t met or dealt with the many people and businesses in Juneau, from Caribou Crossing to Allen Marine, who are still struggling to survive.
I’m curious how quickly Andrew would adapt if his income stream and profession were suddenly shut down by the government. Especially is a small town with a minimal industrial and economic base.
Service industry people aren’t looking for government bailouts. They want the government to get off their necks so they can get back to work.
But hey. He’s not affected so everything must be fine.
Is Andrew the male version of Karen?
Cruise Control to Assembly before petition drive: “We don’t respect your opinions or your authority as representatives of Juneau voters; consequently, we are totally bypassing you with our initiative for a charter amendment.”
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Cruise Control to Assembly after petition drive: “That didn’t work out too well so we now come groveling back to you after being slapped down by Juneau voters. Please accept our two-page, single-spaced, unapologetic letter of demands as if the rejection of the initiative by Juneau voters did not happen. We will be pouting in the corner with our platinum-plated state-government retirement incomes and health care plans… as we are served champagne by tourism workers.”
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