The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Dec. 15 introduced Ordinance 20-94 to adopt the borough’s 2035 comprehensive plan and amend Title 18, setting a work session and a second public hearing on Jan. 5, 2026.

Planning Director Frank Maloney described a multi-year outreach process and key community priorities identified in the plan — increased affordable housing, K–12 funding stability, balancing residents' needs with tourism, historic preservation and food security. Maloney emphasized the comprehensive plan is advisory (not regulatory), intended to inform the borough’s strategic plan and annual prioritization, and proposes a governance structure including annual reporting by the Planning Commission to keep the plan a "living document."

Public testimony included requests from the Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) that several properties (notably Salmon Falls and other KIC parcels) be designated commercial rather than 'public management' or education on the future land-use map; KIC asked staff to facilitate timely rezoning. Several assembly members and planning staff discussed options to schedule additional public hearings and an assembly work session to compile and review formal amendment requests using a standard amendment form.

Assemblymember Dial moved an amendment to strategy language that would have restricted the borough’s expansion into social services to only occur after voter approval (citing Alaska Statute Title 29). The amendment prompted debate about timing, attorney review and process; it failed on a 2–4 roll call. Members asked staff to circulate the official amendment form to assemblymembers ahead of the work session so edits can be compiled before the hearing. The main motion to introduce the ordinance and set the Jan. 5 hearing after a work session passed 6–0.

Staff said they will bring the amendment forms to help the assembly prepare targeted revisions at the work session and that planning staff remain available to consult with members and KIC about specific map/designation language.

The assembly did not adopt the plan at this meeting; next steps are the scheduled work session, a second public hearing on Jan. 5, and potentially a third public hearing in February if the assembly chooses to add one.