Skagway assembly approves port tariff changes after heated debate over small‑boat‑harbor fees

The Skagway Municipality assembly voted 5–0 on Dec. 18 to approve Resolution 25‑30R, updating Port of Skagway Tariff No. 3 to reflect rate-study recommendations for the harbor, after extended public comment and a failed amendment to lower a proposed labor charge.

The action followed a public hearing and more than an hour of questions from assembly members about how the changes would affect local small-boat users. Longtime harbor user Mark Saldi told the assembly: “For the record, I'm against all the fee increases for the small boat harbor except for one,” and said his read of the draft rates suggested the package would generate roughly $64,000 for the harbor.

Assembly members and staff said the adjustments respond to aging harbor infrastructure and a multi-year planning need. “There is aging infrastructure,” Mayor Hanson said during the discussion. “And to keep up with that infrastructure, you need to plan ahead by raising rates.” Deputy Manager Kamika summarized that the broader Tariff No. 4 is in legal review and that the assembly had before it an update to Tariff No. 3 reflecting the rate-study recommendations.

Harbormaster O'Boyle explained operational details cited by users and staff. Noting the harbor’s crane has been nonfunctional since 2014, he said the draft removes the crane-use fee and instead bills harbor labor when staff use the loader and jib to help with nets and other tasks: “The crane use fee, we're getting rid of that crane use fee because we're not gonna… the intent was not to replace that crane,” he said, and described labor charges as an effort to recover staffing and payroll costs.

Assemblymember Potter, who sits on the Ports and Harbors advisory board, framed the recommended package as a compromise between a larger study recommendation and local concerns. Potter noted the advisory board reduced a study recommendation of roughly 63–68% to a more modest 25% increase for certain annual and transient moorage rates, and said a 40‑foot boat paying $592 annually would increase to about $736 under the proposed 25% change.

Assemblymember Woodell moved an amendment to reduce the harbor labor-services fee from $100 an hour to $60 an hour, arguing that $60 may reflect recent billing practice and would be easier on local, noncommercial users. The amendment failed on roll call (5 no). The original motion on 25‑30R initially failed earlier in the meeting (three yes, two no), but after members moved to reconsider later in the session, the assembly adopted the resolution by roll call (Potter, Hillis, Waddell, Pomeroy and Burnham voted yes).

The assembly’s action keeps in place several 3% cost‑of‑living adjustments elsewhere in the tariff and directs harbor staff to implement the new billing structure. Members said the assembly or ports advisory body can revisit the detailed tariff language in a future ordinance or the larger Tariff No. 4 once legal review is complete.

The assembly also recorded extensive public comment urging better notice to harbor users about rate studies and an appeal for possible local concessions for year‑round residents. Mayor Hanson and several members said the municipality will look for ways to accommodate local users while ensuring the harbor can fund long‑term capital needs.

What’s next: Harbormaster O'Boyle and staff will finalize billing procedures, and the larger Tariff No. 4 remains in legal review for substantive structural edits.