Planning Commission

CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Minutes - Final Planning Commission Wednesday, July 21, 2021 6:30 PM Harrigan Centennial Hall **Special Meeting** I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Present: Darrell Windsor (Acting Chair), Stacy Mudry, Katie Riley Absent: Chris Spivey (Excused), Wendy Alderson (Excused) Staff: Amy Ainslie, Ben Mejia Public: Kaleb Astle, Loren Olsen, Sabrina Jenkins, Jay Stillwell, Gerry Hope, Ariadne Will (Sitka Sentinel) Acting Chair Windsor called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. II. CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENDA III. PERSONS TO BE HEARD IV. THE EVENING BUSINESS MISC 21-09 Discussion/Direction on Short-Term Tourism Plan Attachments: Staff Memo_8.4.21 Ainslie introduced the tourism discussion on transportation alternatives and read comment submitted by Chris McGraw. McGraw explained the challenges of using boats to transport passengers to and from the cruise terminal and stated that buses were more effective and affordable to run. Riley commented that the tourism planning effort should be used to think for the long-term transportation and environmental needs, expressing interest in electric vehicles for passenger transport. Ainslie informed the Commission that traffic planners from the Department of Transportation would attend the tourism planning meeting on August 4th. Gerry Hope, Transportation Director for Sitka Tribe of Alaska (STA), explained that STA involvement would be critical if Katlian Avenue were used for passenger drop-off. Hope included that he had communicated with manufacturers of electric and hydrogen fueled vehicles and U.S. Congress to see costs and financing options for transportation alternatives which included light rail. Kaleb Astle of Alaska Coach Company explained the access challenges for tour buses at Petro Marine North Plant. Astle noted that electric buses were approximately $745,000 and suggested double decker buses with increased passenger capacity as a means to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 Planning Commission Minutes - Final July 21, 2021 The Commission discussed pedestrian safety near the Lincoln Street and Lake Street intersection. Mudry noted a need for a cross-walk across Harbor Drive in front of Harrigan Centennial Hall, Ainslie suggested a crossing guard, and Astle offered an all-walk signal at the intersection to facilitate unobstructed vehicle turning. V. ADJOURNMENT Seeing no objections, Acting Chair Windsor adjourned the meeting at 7:18pm. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2