Juneau residents are able to make suggestions on what the city should do with the next year’s marine passenger fee.
The city has been collecting $5 per cruise ship passenger from 2000. These fees, which typically exceed $20 million will be used to fund projects that help tourists and minimize the impact on the local population.
“If it’s possible to do some things that are beneficial to all residents and visitors alike, and we are able to utilize the visitor industry’s financial stream to accomplish that this is a good idea for the local neighborhood,” stated Tourism Director Alexandra Pierce.
Business owners, city departments and members of the public are able to make proposals for projects up to January. 3. Pierce advised that proposals must include a description of project as well as estimates of costs. The proposals can be submitted via mail to the office of the city manager or via mail to Pierce.
The projects funded through passengers on ships generally need to be located in the downtown waterfront, Pierce said. Other towns are also eligible, but they must be popular with tourists. For instance, marine passenger fees fund the improvement of Homestead Park on Douglas.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”We always welcome the ideas of our neighbors,” Pierce said. “If we can come up with a way to implement it we will try to implement it. this .”
The previous year Capital Transit proposed adding signs at the Downtown Transit Center with information regarding how to get up to Mendenhall Glacier. Other projects funded include Marine Park construction and restroom maintenance on the docks.
Pierce revealed that she intends to propose the creation of a circulator bus in order to disperse visitors throughout the city, expanding access to public wifi in addition to expanding the seawalk starting from to the Franklin Street Dock to the AJ Dock.
“The Seawalk an excellent community asset, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to contribute towards that,” she said.
When Pierce is notified of proposals the list of projects that are recommended is open to public comments.. It is expected that the Assembly Finance Committee will review the proposed projects, as well as public comments, and the list of recommendations from the city manager. Then the Assembly will determine the projects it will fund during the budget cycles of spring.
