Sitka Assembly OKs first reading of commercial-recreation permit overhaul, delays effective date to Nov. 1, 2025

The Sitka City and Borough Assembly voted 5-0 on Jan. 24 to approve Ordinance 2025-2 on first reading, a rewrite of Title 14 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places) to modernize commercial-recreation permits for municipal lands and facilities and to change the ordinance's effective date to Nov. 1, 2025.

Assemblymember Kevin Ochs, parks and recreation coordinator, and Amy Ainsley, planning and community development director, told the Assembly the main substantive change is the later effective date to allow staff time to develop a permit-administration system and a land-use plan that will guide where and how commercial recreation is permitted.

"The only real big change in the proposed ordinance is the effective date," Kevin Ochs said, adding the move gives staff more time to "establish a system for ourselves to better administer these permits." Amy…