Proposition 2 - Ship-Free Saturdays

WHEREAS, the Juneau "cruise season" adversely impacts Juneau residents' health and quality of life; and WHEREAS, the cruise industry has created a Juneau "cruise season" this year, 2024, of 195 days to run from April 9-October 24, and without pause for 142 days, from May 2-September 27; and WHEREAS, a majority of Juneau residents think that our local government is not doing enough to manage cruise tourism; and WHEREAS, city leaders and industry have had decades to act and have failed to balance the economic benefits to some against the economic and other harms of the many imposed by the cruise tourism industry; and WHEREAS, residents are displaced by cruise industry overtourism from downtown, the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, and recreation and food harvesting on area lands and waters; and WHEREAS, excess human presence and human-driven noise from overtourism sullies the sentient, sacred, divine, and living ancestral natural environment necessary for cultural and spiritual health and growth; and WHEREAS, health, learning, productivity, and enjoyment are diminished by air pollution, noise, light pollution, and traffic from cruise ships, tour buses, helicopters, floatplanes, and boats; and WHEREAS, Ship-Free Saturdays would provide one day per week, in a consistent and predictable manner, for rest, recovery, recreation, fishing, gathering, and events and activities at home, downtown, and elsewhere in the community; and WHEREAS, Ship-Free Saturdays would give businesses providing cruise industry services one predictable day per week to schedule maintenance and time off. This pause could result in safer, cleaner, and better operations and happier employees; and WHEREAS, Ship-Free Saturdays would enhance the experiences of independent visitors; and WHEREAS, The Fourth of July is a day of community celebration and festivity that extends along our waterfront and through our narrow downtown streets. Making July Fourth cruise ship free opens possibilities for additional community use and enjoyment of our downtown and harbor throughout the entire day. SHALL THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF JUNEAU CODE BE AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Title 20, Business Regulations, is amended to create a new chapter entitled CBJ 20.50 Cruise Ships, with a new section to read as follows: . 20.50.010 No cruise ship with a capacity of 250 passengers or more shall be allowed to dock, moor, or disembark passengers within the City and Borough of Juneau boundaries on any Saturday or July 4. Section 2. Effective Date. This initiative shall be effective 30 days after the election is certified.