City grapples with long-term GLOF funding costs
Sep 3, 2026 · 9 min · 9 segments
Sep 3, 2026 · 9 min · 9 segments
The HESCO barriers protect, I believe it's like 1,800 homes.
Keep in mind, a long-term solution protects many more homes.
And one of the reasons why the HESCO barriers are not a permanent solution is because they don't protect against even close to what we, being the scientists and the engineers, think is a worst-case scenario.
City Manager Katie Kester told the Assembly Monday that Alaska's congressional delegation is working to change federal law so Juneau can receive the same 90-10 cost share available for Army Corps projects on tribal lands under the conventional process.
Deputy Mayor Greg Smith said a $400 million project would require a $40 million local match at 10% compared with $100 million at 25%.
The Army Corps of Engineers is pursuing a faster approach to controlling flooding from Suicide Basin.
Potential partners are expected to present proposals by the end of September, with a preferred project expected to be selected in December.
The selected project must keep Suicide Basin below 1,100 feet and limit flood discharges to 1,000 cubic feet per second.
Kester said Juna will likely need to consider new taxes or borrowing to cover its share.
Options include a special service area tax for properties in the flood zone or a citywide bond that would go before voters.
If we establish a service area because we're protecting these homes and this infrastructure, how big is that service area? That's another question that this body needs to weigh in on.
A service area loan will not be able to cover both the cost of short-term mitigation and long-term mitigation, right?
She said having a local funding commitment would also strengthen Juneau's case for state and federal assistance.
Meanwhile, the city faces millions of dollars in annual costs for temporary flood protection, including maintenance of HESCO barriers.
Assembly members are considering forming a small working group to develop funding options before bringing the issue back to the full assembly.
The HESCO barriers protect, I believe it's like 1,800 homes.
Keep in mind, a long-term solution protects many more homes.
And one of the reasons why the HESCO barriers are not a permanent solution is because they don't protect against even close to what we, being the scientists and the engineers, think is a worst-case scenario.
City Manager Katie Kester told the Assembly Monday that Alaska's congressional delegation is working to change federal law so Juneau can receive the same 90-10 cost share available for Army Corps projects on tribal lands under the conventional process.
Deputy Mayor Greg Smith said a $400 million project would require a $40 million local match at 10% compared with $100 million at 25%.
The Army Corps of Engineers is pursuing a faster approach to controlling flooding from Suicide Basin.
Potential partners are expected to present proposals by the end of September, with a preferred project expected to be selected in December.
The selected project must keep Suicide Basin below 1,100 feet and limit flood discharges to 1,000 cubic feet per second.
Kester said Juna will likely need to consider new taxes or borrowing to cover its share.
Options include a special service area tax for properties in the flood zone or a citywide bond that would go before voters.
If we establish a service area because we're protecting these homes and this infrastructure, how big is that service area? That's another question that this body needs to weigh in on.
A service area loan will not be able to cover both the cost of short-term mitigation and long-term mitigation, right?
She said having a local funding commitment would also strengthen Juneau's case for state and federal assistance.
Meanwhile, the city faces millions of dollars in annual costs for temporary flood protection, including maintenance of HESCO barriers.
Assembly members are considering forming a small working group to develop funding options before bringing the issue back to the full assembly.
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