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 Ainsley said the ordinance aims "to streamline and modernize the way that we issue commercial recreational land use permits on municipal lands and for municipal facilities" and to create "more objective measures" as the industry grows.

Local operators who rely on access to municipal lands urged revisions. Bethany Lorenz, owner of High Output Tours (formerly Sitka Bike and Hike), said a mandatory 60-day application-processing period and nontransferability of permits would create practical problems for businesses, particularly those trying to expand toward year-round operations.

"Seasonal operators depend on timely permit approvals to prepare for the busy season," Lorenz said, asking the Assembly to "streamline the process for returning operators with proven track records" and to allow transfers in rare cases such as a permit-holder's death. She also criticized a proposed requirement that employees carry physical permit copies and wear visible badges as burdensome and ineffective.

Assembly members pressed staff about the transferability provision and whether an emergency or administrative flexibility could address a sudden, rare event such as an owner's death. Ainsley said current permit terms are one year only, consistent with existing code, and staff's stated goal is to move toward multi-year permits in future seasons. "I don't think this provision prevents us from providing some flexibility" in emergency circumstances, she said.

Legal counsel and staff explained the nontransferability language is intended primarily to prevent transfers that circumvent tax or compliance reviews (for example, transfers to entities with unpaid sales tax). Rachel, identified in the meeting as legal counsel, said code or an internal policy could establish an emergency review process handled by the municipal administrator.

Assemblymembers and members of the public discussed appeals and staff workload under annual permits; staff said they have historically seen few appeals per year and expect the forthcoming land-use plan to reduce subjectivity in reviews and appeals.

The first-reading motion passed 5-0. Because the ordinance is on first reading, staff and the Assembly said changes could still be made before final adoption, and the later effective date gives time for a public process and land-use plan development.

What's next: Staff will continue work on the related land-use plan and permit administration procedures; Assemblymembers said they expect additional public input and possible code adjustments before the ordinance takes effect for the 2026 season.