City museum gets reprieve from Juneau Assembly

Throngs packed the Juneau Assembly chambers on Wednesday to testify against proposed closures including the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. (Photo by Quinton Chandler/KTOO)

The Juneau-Douglas City Museum is off the chopping block — for now. The City and Borough of Juneau had been considering shuttering the local history museum in an effort to help close a $1.9 million shortfall.

Mayor Ken Koelsch moved to remove the museum from the list of possible cuts after more than a dozen people spoke against the cuts.

“We had very compelling testimony in written and in oral form on this,” Koelsch said, “and I think it would allow the Assembly and the public to focus on the remainder of the cuts.”

The motion passed 8-1.

Deputy Mayor Jerry Nankervis, who cast the dissenting vote, argued that removing the museum from the list of possible cuts was “premature.”

Fans of the museum were visibly relieved. The possibility of losing the 41-year-old institution had raised questions over the fate of its unique collection.

Still facing closure is the Mt. Jumbo Gym in Douglas, Eagle Valley Center in Amalga Meadows and the Jensen-Olson Arboretum. The Juneau Assembly is slated to pass its final budget on June 5.

Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska

Jacob Resneck is CoastAlaska's regional news director based in Juneau. CoastAlaska is our partner in Southeast Alaska. KTOO collaborates with partners across the state to cover important news and to share stories with our audiences.

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