By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
In a special meeting Wednesday on the Short-term Tourism Plan, the Planning Commission went over tonight’s Downtown Business Forum.
The forum, open to the public, will be 7 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
Wednesday’s meeting was the first of what will be regular special meetings held at 6:30 p.m. prior to the regular Planning Commission meetings at 7:30 p.m.
City Planning Director Amy Ainslie followed up on research requested by commissioners at past meetings, including questions on how much staffing will be required by Sitka-based excursion and charter operators to handle the increased volume of visitors expected in the 2022 tourist season.
The Royal Caribbean Line said that according to “historical numbers,” about 30% of cruise passengers take advantage of excursions offered at ports they visit. Officials told Ainslie that for a ship carrying 3,200 passengers, about 1,300 tours are sold by the cruise company.
But Ainslie said Royal Caribbean reported relatively few charters sold in 2019 – 1,600 excursions were sold between six cruise ships over 20 weeks, and in eight different ports, one of which was Sitka.
Ainslie noted that those numbers are only the charter excursions sold on the ship, and don’t include those sold on shore.
Commissioners expressed interest in reviewing the transit services contract between Halibut Point Marine Services and the city, and in developing alternative methods of transportation from the Halibut Point Marine dock to Centennial Hall.
The commission has received numerous comments about improving shuttle service for cruise visitors while mitigating noise and air pollution.
A written comment Wednesday night from a resident, Bruce White, said the buses already negatively impact his quality of life,
White asked the commission to “consider those of us who do not benefit from the tourism” when working on the Short-Term Tourism Plan.
Two other residents, Pat Kehoe and Hugh Bevan, spoke under public comment regarding possible uses of local revenue from the cruise passenger excise tax (CPET). Policy states that a city may use the funds only in ways that benefit cruise ship passengers.
Bevan suggested the city use CPET funds to subsidize water transport to town from the Halibut Point Marine dock, noting that the funds already subsidize the buses that run between the dock and Centennial Hall.
Kehoe said it would be helpful to compile a comprehensive list of things the CPET may be used for. She said this would save time in considering whether particular projects would qualify for CPET funding.
Ainslie said the next step following tonight’s forum will be to synthesize comments given by the public, which will be condensed and submitted to the commission at a future meeting.
