Haines Borough ports-and-harbors panel backs ordinance shifting appeals to harbor manager, sends recommendation to assembly

The Haines Borough Ports and Harbors Advisory Committee voted Feb. 26 to recommend that the borough assembly adopt a draft ordinance amending Haines Borough code 16.16 to clarify permit appeals and vest initial appeal authority with the harbor manager.

Committee members discussed two draft language options that either streamline manager decisions or allow additional manager discretion for hardship cases. Committee member (speaker 6) moved to recommend the ordinance to the assembly; the motion was seconded and approved by the committee during the meeting.

Clerking staff described the core change as procedural: the draft replaces a prior provision that left exception and appeal conditions with the assembly and instead directs that manager decisions be made with the harbor master’s consultation and that dissatisfied parties may appeal to the assembly. The clerk noted the ordinance in the packet is a draft and that, if recommended, it will proceed through the borough’s public process.

Committee discussion stressed that the change is primarily procedural rather than substantive. One member emphasized the need for public process and cautioned members that the ordinance will return to additional meetings before any final assembly vote.

The committee instructed staff to transmit the committee’s recommendation to the borough assembly for its review and public hearings. No formal assembly-level adoption occurred at the Feb. 26 meeting; the committee’s action was limited to recommending the draft ordinance for assembly consideration.