Planning Commission

CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Minutes - Final Planning Commission Wednesday, May 5, 2021 6:00 PM Harrigan Centennial Hall **Special Meeting** I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Present: Chris Spivey (Chair), Darrell Windsor, Stacy Mudry, Wendy Alderson, Katie Riley Absent: None Staff: Amy Ainslie, Ben Mejia Public: Jay Sweeney, Hugh Bevan, Keren Zhu, Ariadne Will (Sitka Sentinel) Chair Spivey called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. II. CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA III. PERSONS TO BE HEARD IV. THE EVENING BUSINESS A MISC 21-09 Discussion/Direction on Short-Term Tourism Plan Attachments: Background Information Review_Staff Memo Sitka Gateway Plan Sign Transit Services OSD to HCH 2020 CPET Information Cruise Calendar 2022 Ainslie detailed the discussion for the evening regarding the tourism plan and the decisions requested from the Commission, categorized into data needs, identification of a title for the plan, a list of collaborators and public outreach, and a standing meeting time for the meeting. Ainslie described the preliminary work schedule for the year. Spivey suggested that waste be considered as part of direct-use infrastructure. Riley asked if the coach company would be included in the transportation discussion and suggested that public outreach might be necessary for businesses and people potentially impacted by bus route redirection, and requested for delivery companies to be included in the traffic discussions. Ainslie explained that, as the coach services was annually contracted, participation in discussions would likely come after the 2022 contract was awarded. The floor was opened for public comment. Hugh Bevan suggested that a letter be written to Department of Transportation (DOT), copied to state senators and the city's D.C. lobbyist as the DOT may have resources and traffic engineering expertise that CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 Planning Commission Minutes - Final May 5, 2021 would benefit the plan. Jay Sweeney spoke on behalf of the Island Artists Gallery, requesting to be included as Downtown Business collaborators. The Commission moved to adopt the title Short-Term Tourism Plan for the planning effort. The Commission discussed schedule availability and agreed to hold special meetings at 6:30pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month to discuss the tourism plan followed by their regular meeting which would be moved to 7:30pm. Ainslie stated that as this would require a change to the Commission's regular meeting time, the change should be discussed at the following meeting to allow for the change to be advertised and opportunity for public comment. Spivey directed staff to identify appropriate meeting dates for the excursion/attraction forum and the downtown business forum. Riley requested that staff provide data on the number of daily excursions and any expected increase to number of excursions as a result of increased cruise passengers. Riley also requested that staff find estimates for the number of additional support staff as a result of increased excursions. Riley suggested that Icy Strait in Hoonah might be an appropriate reference to find impacts from increased tourism. The Commission requested that staff find data on the impact charter fleets might have on local fish stock, as well as the taxation of charter companies and what those taxes fund. Sweeney, former finance director for the city, explained that fish box tax was previously split between the general fund and the harbor fund but now all tax revenue from fish tax boxes were transferred to the harbor fund. Riley asked staff to provide a list of all applicable taxes on charters. M-Windsor/S-Riley moved to adopt the title "Short-Term Tourism Plan" for the tourism planning effort. Motion passed 5-0 by voice vote. V. ADJOURNMENT Seeing no objections, Chair Spivey adjourned the meeting at 6:51pm. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2