Sitka meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Sitka Assembly interviews administrator finalists; boards take up taxi rules, planning items

Sitka's City and Borough Assembly and Planning Commission held three meetings over the past two weeks. Minutes have not yet been published for any of them, so no decisions are confirmed. The most consequential item was a special Assembly meeting to interview two finalists for the municipal administrator position.

Municipal administrator finalists

At a special meeting on August 21, the Assembly interviewed two finalists for the job of Municipal Administrator: Jeremy Marshall and Gerri Cotter. Both interviews were conducted via Zoom, at 5:00 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. respectively. After the interviews, the Assembly was scheduled to discuss, direct, and decide on the candidates, with the possibility of an executive session. Public comment was also on the agenda, with a three-minute limit per person.

Taxicab rules and other Assembly business

At the August 11 meeting, the Assembly held a first reading of ORD 26-20, which would repeal the current taxicab chapter and replace it with new commercial passenger vehicle regulations. The ordinance also amends parking rules for buses and taxicabs. This is a proposal, not a final decision.

The same agenda included a supplemental appropriation for FY2027 for a fee waiver at Harrigan Centennial Hall (ORD 26-19), approval of retail marijuana license renewals for The Joint (327 Seward St) and Weed Dudes (1321 Sawmill Creek Rd), reappointment of Darrell Windsor to the Planning Commission for a three-year term, and approval of a First Amendment to a Memorandum of Agreement with the Sitka Recreation Foundation for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Assembly also received a presentation on cruise activity and economic impacts, and held an executive session to screen municipal administrator applicants.

Planning Commission items

On August 19, the Planning Commission held public hearings on a conditional use permit for a food truck lot at 328 Lincoln Street (Lot 1, Columbia Bar Subdivision), filed by Drew Wilson. It also considered two variances and a preliminary plat for a three-lot subdivision at 1306 Halibut Point Road, filed by Randy Hughey for the Sitka Community Land Trust. The major zoning variance would reduce required parking from two spaces to zero; the platting variance would reduce minimum lot width from 80 to 43 feet and minimum lot size from 6,000 to 4,000 square feet. The commission also discussed zoning code changes for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and considered approving the August 5, 2026 meeting minutes.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next two weeks.

Sitka boards take up taxi rules, land-use requests; decisions pending

No decisions have been published from Sitka's recent government meetings. The City and Borough Assembly and Planning Commission met in early August to consider items ranging from taxi regulations to land-use requests, but minutes have not yet been released. The most consequential item on the agenda was an Assembly proposal to replace the city's taxicab rules with new commercial passenger vehicle regulations.

Planning Commission (Aug. 5)

The Planning Commission held public hearings on three land-use requests. The agenda included:

• A zoning variance to reduce the front setback from 14 to 8 feet at 414 Marine Street, filed by Michael Davidson.
• A lot merger and property line adjustment to create four lots at 1515-1547 Sawmill Creek Road, filed by Trevor Harang for Harang AK Properties, LLC.
• A preliminary plat for a minor subdivision to create two lots at 1211 Sawmill Creek Road, filed by Werner Macedo for Bell & Associates, owner Carr-Gottstein Foods Co.

The commission also had on its agenda approval of the July 1, 2026 meeting minutes. No outcomes have been published.

Assembly (Aug. 11)

The Assembly's agenda included a first reading of ORD 26-20, which would repeal the current taxicab chapter and replace it with commercial passenger vehicle regulations, and would amend parking rules for buses and taxicabs. The agenda also included:

• A supplemental appropriation for FY2027 for a fee waiver at Harrigan Centennial Hall (ORD 26-19).
• Approval of retail marijuana license renewals for The Joint (327 Seward St) and Weed Dudes (1321 Sawmill Creek Rd).
• Reappointment of Darrell Windsor to the Planning Commission for a three-year term.
• Approval of a First Amendment to a memorandum of agreement with the Sitka Recreation Foundation for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The meeting also included a presentation on cruise activity and economic impacts, and an executive session to screen municipal administrator applicants. No decisions have been published.

Coming up

The Planning Commission will meet Aug. 19 to hold public hearings on:

• A conditional use permit for a food truck lot at 328 Lincoln Street, filed by Drew Wilson.
• A major zoning variance to reduce required parking from two spaces to zero at 1306 Halibut Point Road, filed by Randy Hughey for Sitka Community Land Trust.
• A platting variance to reduce minimum lot width from 80 to 43 feet and lot size from 6,000 to 4,000 square feet at the same address.
• A preliminary plat for a minor subdivision into three lots at 1306 Halibut Point Road.
• A discussion of zoning code changes for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The commission will also consider approving the Aug. 5 meeting minutes.

Sitka Assembly, Planning Commission consider budgets, leases, and zoning requests

The Sitka City and Borough Assembly and the Planning Commission met in late July and early August to consider a range of items, including supplemental budgets, industrial park leases, and zoning adjustments. No decisions have been published yet; minutes for these meetings are pending.

Assembly meeting (July 28)

The Assembly's July 28 agenda included several ordinances and resolutions:

• **ORD 26-17**: Supplemental appropriations for FY2027, specifically for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Additional Sitka Recreation Foundation Support).
• **ORD 26-18**: Authorizing a lease of Block 4, Lot 1 of Gary Paxton Industrial Park to the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association.
• **ORD 26-19**: Supplemental appropriations for FY2027 for a Harrigan Centennial Hall fee waiver.
• **26-127**: Approval of a Request for Proposal for a long-term lease of Lot 16B at Gary Paxton Industrial Park for private sector development.
• **26-128**: Approval of a Request for Proposal for a long-term lease of a portion of Lot 6 at Gary Paxton Industrial Park for marine vessel and marine services.

The Assembly also discussed providing direction on next steps for recruiting a new municipal administrator. The consent agenda included approval of previous meeting minutes.

Planning Commission meetings

The Planning Commission held three meetings during this period:

• **July 28**: The agenda contained placeholder text and listed only "ZA 26-02 TEST," with no specific decisions or discussion topics.
• **July 30**: A routine meeting with no substantive items; the body considered the agenda, minutes, and public comments, but no decisions or discussions on zoning, contracts, or ordinances were listed.
• **August 5**: Public hearings were held on three land-use items:
• A zoning variance to reduce the front setback from 14 to 8 feet at 414 Marine Street.
• A lot merger and property line adjustment at 1515, 1533, 1535, 1537, 1545, and 1547 Sawmill Creek Road.
• A preliminary plat for a minor subdivision to create two lots at 1211 Sawmill Creek.

All items listed are from agendas only; minutes have not yet been published, so no outcomes or votes are available.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Sitka Assembly Tackles Budget Items, Industrial Park Leases; Planning Commission Sets Land-Use Hearings

The Sitka City and Borough Assembly had a busy late July, with a work session on child care and a regular meeting covering supplemental budgets, industrial park leases, and the search for a new municipal administrator. Minutes for these meetings have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Assembly Reviews Child Care System

On July 21, the Assembly held a work session focused on Sitka's child care system. Members were scheduled to review several documents, including a memo from Assembly Members Mosher and Christianson, the 2026 Sitka Child Care Report, an executive brief on the child care system, the ECC Survey, and career pathway cost information. The discussion centered on the current state of child care in Sitka and associated costs. Minutes from this session are not yet available.

Assembly Considers Budget Appropriations and Industrial Park Leases

The Assembly's July 28 regular meeting included several new business items with financial and economic implications:

• **ORD 26-17**: Supplemental appropriations for FY2027 for additional Sitka Recreation Foundation support tied to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
• **ORD 26-18**: Authorizing a lease of Block 4, Lot 1 at Gary Paxton Industrial Park to the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association.
• **ORD 26-19**: Supplemental appropriations for FY2027 for a fee waiver at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
• **26-127**: Approval of a Request for Proposal for a long-term lease of Lot 16B at Gary Paxton Industrial Park for private sector development.
• **26-128**: Approval of a Request for Proposal for a long-term lease of a portion of Lot 6 at Gary Paxton Industrial Park for marine vessel and marine services.

The Assembly was also set to discuss next steps for recruiting a new municipal administrator. The consent agenda included approval of previous meeting minutes. Because minutes have not been published, vote tallies and final outcomes for these items are not yet confirmed.

Planning Commission Meetings Yield Few Details

The Planning Commission met twice in late July. The July 28 agenda listed a single item, "ZA 26-02 TEST," with no further detail provided. The July 30 meeting was described as routine, with no substantive agenda items beyond agenda approval, minutes, and public comment. No zoning, contract, or ordinance decisions were listed. Minutes for both meetings are not yet published.

Coming Up

The Planning Commission will hold public hearings on August 5 on three land-use matters:

• A zoning variance to reduce the front setback from 14 to 8 feet at 414 Marine Street.
• A lot merger and property line adjustment at 1515, 1533, 1535, 1537, 1545, and 1547 Sawmill Creek Road.
• A preliminary plat for a minor subdivision creating two lots at 1211 Sawmill Creek Road.

These hearings will determine how land is divided and used at the listed addresses. Residents affected by or interested in these properties may want to attend or submit comment.