Daily Sitka Sentinel

Tour Season to Close With a Citizen Survey

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

With the tourism season wrapping up, the city is looking for feedback.

To that end, the city posted the End-of-the-Season Tourism Survey on cityofsitka.com with questions about how the city did and seeking suggestions for improvements in areas such as the Lincoln Street closures, restrooms, traffic flow and cleanliness.

The survey is up through October 15. 

“We’re getting information for how residents were impacted, primarily with traffic and city amenities,” Planning Director Amy Ainslie said. “We also are getting feedback on things the city did this summer: street closures, bathrooms, cleanliness....” 

The last large ship of the season, Quantum of the Seas, arrives Thursday with up to 4,200 passengers. A smaller vessel will stop in Sitka Sunday, the Silver Wind.

Ainslie designed the survey and will give a short report at the beginning of tonight’s Assembly meeting. The multiple-choice survey asks questions related to the Short-Term Tourism Plan, which was implemented in light of the expected record-number of cruise visitors. 

The questions include how those surveyed were impacted by traffic, buses and other traffic, intersections, jaywalking, parking, use of the Crescent Harbor boat launch, street closures, restrooms, and litter. A number of questions relate to suggestions for changes, and some will be used in the traffic study by Kittleson & Associates.

One asks: “What modifications (if any) have you made to your commutes in light of traffic changes/impacts?” Options, including detours and modes of transportation, are listed.

A few questions ask for preferences with the closure, including hours and the threshold number of passengers that would trigger the closure.

Two broad questions at the end ask participants to suggest “actions, programs or operations” they’d like to see, as well as  “other feedback.”

So far, 34 have responded, Ainslie said today. With the season still fresh in everyone’s mind, and most of the season over, this is a good time to comment, she said. 

“We’re using this as a way to give information from the public to the Assembly and the Planning Commission, for them to have that consideration as they make decisions for next year,” Ainslie said. “It seems really early in the year to start thinking about next season but this is the time we have to start thinking about next summer, especially if things are going to change, which could mean putting things out to bid, or ordering things. And it’s a good time to do it because things are fresh in people’s mind.”

Most of the programs under the Short-Term Tourism Plan were funded with the anticipated revenues from the Commercial Passenger Vessel excise tax paid by cruise visitors. A total of $1.3 million was budgeted by the city for the 2022 visitor season programs, including purchase and maintenance of the restrooms, extra garbage pickups and containers, and temporary personnel.

After all the results are received, Ainslie will write a report and give the raw data set. The traffic study is a separate document and will involve resident recommendations for changes, but Ainslie said any changes involving state roads will depend on the response by the Department of Transportation.

Results will be shared with the Assembly and Planning Commission at a joint work session scheduled for October 27.

Those with questions may call the planning department at 907-747-1814 or email planning@cityofsitka.org.