Sitka City Council Meeting Summary - October 28, 2025

The Sitka Assembly convened on October 28, 2025, to celebrate Indigenous heritage, honor long-serving community members, and deliberate on significant economic and land use policies. The meeting featured ceremonial proclamations for Native American Heritage Month and service awards for Annette Evans and Mike Reif. The majority of the evening was dedicated to a robust public and assembly debate regarding the petition for additional restaurant and eating place licenses, followed by the adoption of the 2026 Commercial Recreational Land Use Plan. The Assembly also finalized leadership assignments and discussed city delegations to Japan.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved the minutes of the October 14th Assembly meeting (7-0).
• Reappointments: Reappointed Thomas Dova, Deborah J. Miller, Greg Olson, and Candice Rutledge to three-year terms on the Tree and Landscape Committee, Police and Fire Commission, and Parks and Recreation Committee (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

Native American Heritage Month Recognition

• SITA (Alaska) Representative: Expressed deep appreciation for the ongoing relationship between the City and the Tribe and extended an open invitation to the community to learn about Indigenous history and culture during the month of November.

Service Awards

• Annette Evans & Mike Reif: Acknowledged for their decades of service; Reif noted his motivation for serving was to make a difference rather than for popularity or money.

Additional Restaurant and Eating Place Licenses (REPLs)

• Supporters (Luke Bruckert, Renee Jacytis Traffin, Joshua Johnson, Christian Lytton, Cambria Holmes, etc.):
  • Expressed full support for adding three REPLs, arguing it is essential for creating year-round businesses, retaining local talent, and supporting small entrepreneurship.
  • Stated strong opposition to the idea that new licenses devalue existing ones, noting the ABC board grants licenses as privileges, not property rights.
  • Emphasized that Campfire Kitchen and Wildflower Cafe are food-first establishments where alcohol is an accompaniment, not the primary focus.
  • Argued that restricting licenses disproportionately hurts year-round businesses and that community vibrancy, especially in winter, is a priority.
• Opposition (Michelle Cavores-Delag, Steven Pike):
  • Michelle Cavores-Delag (Police & Fire Commission/Alaska Alcohol Alliance): Expressed strong opposition citing public health concerns. She argued the population cap calculation is inaccurate (using seasonal visitors vs. resident population), noted rising teen drinking rates and DUI statistics, and warned that increased outlet density normalizes alcohol use for youth.
  • Steven Pike: While noting the compromise, expressed concern regarding the justification of adding licenses based on seasonal population numbers year-round and the potential impact on community safety and youth exposure.

Commercial Land Use Plan

• Supporters (John Dunlap, Bethany Laurence, Robin):
  • Expressed support for the plan as a necessary step for management but requested moderate fee increases or phased implementation to allow businesses to adapt.
  • Advocated for directing revenue generated from fees directly back into trail maintenance rather than the general fund.
  • Expressed concern regarding Baranoff Warm Springs overcrowding and questioned the enforcement capabilities of the city.
• Opponents/Concerns:
  • Ben Huey: Expressed concern that excluding guided outfitters from Goddard might lead to increased unpermitted use.
  • Community Member: Expressed concern that e-bikes on the Cross Trail pose safety risks.
  • Local Resident: Expressed concern that excluding commercial guide access to Goddard eliminates a low-impact, local-friendly tourism option.

Public Safety & Enforcement

• Rob Allen & Robin: Stated concern regarding the city's current lack of proactive enforcement resources and questioned whether adequate funding and personnel are allocated to monitor compliance in remote areas like Baranoff and Goddard.

Discussion Items

Appointment to Planning Commission

• Jackie Foss: Received the most votes after two rounds of balloting (5 votes) to fill the unexpired term. Assembly members cited her background in soil science, home building experience, and board experience as critical assets for upcoming housing studies and land use decisions.

Resolution 2025-11A (REPL Petition)

• Assembly Deliberation:
  • Supporters: Argued that the new state statute allows Sitka to request more licenses for year-round economic development. They stated the petition is not for specific businesses but to increase capacity for local entrepreneurs. They clarified that REPLs differ from bar licenses and do not involve the same capital transfer market.
  • Opponents: Raised concerns about the ethics of using seasonal visitor counts to justify year-round alcohol availability and the potential negative correlation between outlet density and teen drinking.
• Amendments:
  • Primary Amendment 1: Passed. Added factual text regarding the Sitka Police Department's capacity and jurisdiction.
  • Primary Amendment 2: Passed. Requested the ABC Board to prioritize applications from established businesses operating 10+ months per year.
  • Secondary Amendment: Passed. Modified the language to clarify that the prioritization request is conditional ("In the event the ABC board decides to grant this petition request...") to avoid pre-empting the state board's decision-making process.

2026 Commercial Recreational Land Use Plan

• Assembly Deliberation:
  • Staff Presentation: Outlined removal of group size limits, alignment of fees with the Forest Service where applicable, and specific restrictions for Goddard (water taxis only, no guided outfits, one tub per group rule).
  • Debate: Members discussed the balance between tourism revenue and local access. Concerns were raised about the exclusion of guided commercial kayak access to Goddard. The Mayor and Assembly agreed that while the plan is a