By ARIADNE WILL
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Planning Commission gathered information from Sitka’s tourism industry players Thursday night at a public forum at Centennial Hall.
The event, which drew a couple dozen participants, was part of the commission’s data collection for its Short-Term Tourism Plan.
Another forum to collect information for the Short-Term Tourism Plan will be held 7 p.m. June 3 at Centennial Hall. Downtown businesses will be given the floor.
To submit comment on the Short-Term Tourism Plan, or to receive updates on meetings related to the plan, individuals can email planning@cityofsitka.
Representatives from 24 tourism-based businesses and organizations attended the Thursday forum, both in person and over Zoom.
Entities represented included Visit Sitka, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and Halibut Point Marine Services, among several others.
Attendees were asked by Planning Director Amy Ainslie to take some time to write down ideas on whiteboards placed around the room.
Each of the five whiteboards were used to brainstorm for a different topic, which included tourist dispersion points (as well as points where tourists should not be dropped off), general concerns, infrastructure, and processes, systems, and communications.
Discussion of the topics took about an hour, and began with the possible tourist drop-off points.
Some suggested tourist dispersion points be at places like Fortress of the Bear. As it is now, tourists have to pay for a ride out to the end of the road, or walk to attractions such as the Alaska Raptor Center.
Camille Ferguson, of Sitka Tribal Enterprises, suggested dropping off tourists near Katlian Street and close to the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.
Others suggested dropping off tourists under the O’Connell Bridge.
Alana Peterson, a business owner and executive director of Spruce Root, suggested buses drop off tourists at Baranof playground.
A representative from Alaska Coach Tours said that although Sitka school buses navigate that parking lot without a problem, the Coach buses are not built to make the turns required of the small parking lot.
An independent tour operator raised concern that other dispersion points make it harder for him and businesses like his to meet up with clients.
Other topics that sparked debate included restrooms in the downtown area.
Laurie Booyse, director of Visit Sitka, suggested a revamp of the Crescent Harbor restroom facility.
Jay Sweeney of the Island Artists Gallery added that many tourists have trouble finding a restroom in the area between St. Michael’s Cathedral and City Hall. Sweeney suggested placing clear signage in stores with tourist-friendly restrooms.
Teal West of Sitka Lighthouse suggested the city look into trailer-type restrooms, which she said she’s seen at big concerts she’s attended. She said that kind of facility would be somewhat mobile, meaning the city would only have to find a place to park it, rather than a place to build additional restrooms.
Rachel Roy, of the Sitka Chamber of Commerce and Visit Sitka, recommended that the small, sandy ballfield attached to the Baranof playground be converted to parking for downtown employees.
Another attendee suggested bike racks be placed downtown, so locals would have an easier time biking to work. That would help if Lincoln Street is closed on on big tourist days, and could be a solution to already-tight downtown parking.
Attendees also raised concerns about Sitka’s internet and cell service capacities in the summer. Many said improving those services could help tourists navigate Sitka efficiently.
Commissioner Katie Riley suggested the city look into federal aid for the expansion of broadband infrastructure.
Water shuttles also were proposed, which could help provide transportation in addition to the Coach buses, which routinely go between the Halibut Point Road deepwater dock and Centennial Hall.
A representative from Alaska Coach Tours said that water shuttles could be tricky if the O’Connell Bridge lightering dock is being used by the cruise ships. He said that for security purposes, no other entity would then be allowed access to the dock.
The Planning Commission conducted no business during the forum.
