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Taxi operator urges assembly to create a Centennial Hall taxi stand and probe ride‑hail oversight
Summary
During public comment at the Jan. 8 Sitka assembly meeting, Nalani James, owner of Bayside Taxi Tours, asked the assembly to establish a taxi sign and 2–3 parking spaces at Centennial Hall and requested review of ride‑hail services’ taxation, inspections and oversight.
Nalani James, owner of Bayside Taxi Tours and an airport shuttle operator, told the assembly during the Jan. 8 public‑comment period that taxis are increasingly squeezed for pickup and drop‑off space at Centennial Hall and asked the municipality to add a designated taxi sign and two to three parking spaces there.
James described that five years ago there were one or two taxi stands near Centennial Hall and said the absence of an official stand has left permitted taxi drivers subject to enforcement when they load or discharge passengers. She also urged the assembly to consider placing an item on a future agenda to examine how ride‑hail services such as Uber and Lyft are operating in Sitka, asking what taxes they pay and whether inspections and oversight are occurring.
The request was recorded as a public comment and no action was taken at the meeting; staff did not respond with a timeline for review during the session. James’s comment was limited by the three‑minute public‑comment rule.
