By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly voted 7-0 Tuesday night to establish a Tourism Task Force with members from tourism-related and non-tourism-related segments of the community.
The resolution setting up the task force states that it will take on such issues as optimum tourism levels and reviewing funding for tourism-related city expenses.
The resolution was co-sponsored by Assembly members JJ Carlson and Chris Ystad, who said the task force was needed to take on longer-term tourism questions in light of the substantial increase in cruise ship visitors to Sitka since the pandemic.
“I think it’s the first step that’s needed,” Carlson said today. “There’s going to need to be a lot of work between now and when recommendations come forward.”
The recent forecast is for 540,000 visitors from large cruise ships this summer, up from the record 380,000 last year, the first year of a full cruise ship season after the pandemic hit in 2020. The numbers last year were so great that streets were regularly shut down to local vehicle traffic on busy cruise ship days.
The tourism commission has five main directives: explore and make recommendations on levels of tourism; make an annual review of city operations and funding for tourism; help develop a Tourism Management Best Practices program; recommend land use regulations and waterfront development policies; and develop regional strategies to advance Sitka’s tourism interests.
Ystad said he and other Assembly members have received comments about the makeup of the task force, mostly related to the balance of industry representatives and at-large members.
“Considering I’ve had complaints about how the seats are favored, one way or another, from both sides, I feel like we’ve hit a good equilibrium,” he said. “Or at least close, because no one is happy and I think that’s a good place to be.”
He hopes the result of the balance will bring on good discussion and “interesting results.”
He said some tourism industry representatives have told him they are interested in setting a limit on the number of cruise visitors to Sitka. “I think that’s the best way to find some sort of compromise, if there’s one to be had, by having the industry involved in creating that compromise,” he said.
The nine members of the panel will be appointed by the Assembly. Sitka Tribe of Alaska, the Port and Harbors Commission and the Sustainability Commission will each recommend one person for the task force. Other representatives will come from the downtown business corridor; tours and attractions; the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal; Sitka business in general; and at-large (two members).
Ex-officio members, who don’t vote, will be from the city’s convention and visitors bureau Visit Sitka, and also from the city planning department. There also will be liaisons from city staff and the Assembly.
Thor Christianson said it’s not fair to assume the appointees from the business and tourism community would be “mouthpieces for the industry.” He said he’s not sure the city can do much to address levels of tourism but could find good ways to respond, such as closing streets on high-tourism days, and adding things like crosswalks to improve safety.
Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz said he was pleased to see the task force resolution reflect changes recommended by the Assembly at the last meeting.
An application form for membership on the task force is expected to be available on-line by Thursday at cityofsitka.com, under Boards and Commissions, city officials said.
Other Business
The Assembly approved city grant applications for crosswalks and other safety improvements at two locations on state highways running through town. One is on Sawmill Creek Road at Raptor Way, and the other is on Harbor Drive in front of Harrigan Centennial Hall. Safety concerns have been identified at both locations, especially when large numbers of tourists are in town. The Assembly approved a 5.01 percent match on the projects, with the funds coming from the commercial passenger excise tax proceeds.
Some Assembly members said they weren’t sure they were in favor of the crosswalks, but said they or future Assembly members could make final decisions if the city gets the money.
“We’re not bound to this,” Kevin Mosher said.
“If we get this, a future Assembly will make the call,” Christianson said.
Ystad said he was “not a fan” of a crosswalk near Raptor Way, and thought the state’s project cost estimate of $1 million was excessive. He said today he also didn’t like the idea of a crossing across Harbor Drive, because of its location near a blind corner.
“No matter what, they’re going to cross there – it’s a natural funnel point for them,” Ystad said today.
Eisenbeisz said he was interested in improvements that will help drivers keep from hitting jaywalkers on Harbor Drive.
From the public, Chris Spivey pointed out that a new crosswalk on Sawmill Creek Road may be dangerous because some larger trucks take longer to come to a stop, and some pedestrians may cross without making sure vehicles see them.
Also from the public Richard Wein said he believes there are other ways to solve the problem of making the road crossings safe: “Again, you can solve it by reducing the number of tourists to a more appropriate and reasonable amount. The good news is it’ll be years before we see it.”
In other business, Tuesday night the Assembly:
– approved dockage and per-passenger charges for the Katlian Street sea wall dock, and for the floating dock at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park. GPIP Director Garry White and Harbor Master Stan Eliason said they made an effort to make the charges for both sites consistent with each other, and with rates at private docks in town.
The GPIP dock will have a flat charge of $3,000 per day for cruise ships 150 to 400 feet, and will charge a passenger vessel fee of $5 per person, up from $4 last season.
The port wall dock at the Marine Service Center can accommodate vessels of up to 300 feet and the fee will be $2,250 per day for vessels 185 to 300 feet. The passenger vessel fee is $5 per person.
