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Assembly asked to take up Historic Dalton Trail RMSA commercial user fees
Summary
Committee asked staff to draft an ordinance to make the assembly (not the RMSA) responsible for setting commercial user fees under HBC 7.08.050, and to place the item on the Feb. 10 assembly agenda with public input scheduled.
The Haines Borough Commerce Committee asked staff to draft an ordinance amending Haines Borough Code 7.08.050 so the assembly — rather than the Historic Dalton Trail RMSA board — would set commercial user fees for the RMSA. The committee agreed, absent objection, to place the draft as ‘other new business’ on the Feb. 10 assembly agenda for public input and possible introduction later.
Chair (speaker S1) summarized past RMSA meetings that considered a head tax to cross the Killehine Bridge and other commercial user-fee options. Committee members and RMSA representatives described a persistent difficulty: commercial users such as tourist buses and heavy equipment cause disproportionate wear and long‑term maintenance costs (plowing, resurfacing), but the RMSA has struggled to design an enforceable, equitable fee structure that the board can adopt.
RMSA member George (speaker S3) urged action: the board has previously presented proposals that repeatedly stalled in committee, and he encouraged the assembly to adopt or take responsibility so the RMSA can move forward. He noted borough staff already collect RMSA revenues and administer contracts, which would reduce the administrative burden of adopting a fee.
Assembly members discussed design options (per axle, per trip, tonnage, head tax) and enforcement challenges, noting differences between seasonal residents, recreational users and commercial operators. One committee member recommended shifting the duty to set commercial user fees to the assembly to break years of deadlock; another suggested the assembly could adopt past RMSA proposals to expedite action.
Committee leadership asked staff to draft an ordinance amending HBC 7.08.050 to make commercial-user-fee establishment an assembly responsibility, and to place that draft on the Feb. 10 assembly agenda for discussion and public input. If the assembly supports the draft, the ordinance could be introduced at a later assembly meeting for formal adoption.
Next steps: staff to draft the ordinance, post materials for public review, and place the item on the February assembly agenda as directed by the committee.
