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After vigorous debate, Ketchikan council delays Berth 1 expansion study for one year
Summary
Councilors debated whether to expand Berth 1 to accommodate larger cruise ships — citing downtown congestion, maintenance backlogs and who would pay — and ultimately voted to postpone further work on the design and cost study for one year.
The Ketchikan City Council on June 4 voted to postpone by one year further design and study work for a proposed Berth 1 expansion intended to accommodate larger cruise vessels. Council discussion ranged from pro‑expansion arguments about shifting industry trends to repeated concerns that expansion would worsen downtown crowding and that maintenance of existing berths should take priority.
Temporary City Manager McLaren and ports staff had presented a proposal to hire PND Engineering for a 30% design and initial cost estimate to test feasibility and bring the council a clearer price tag. McLaren told the council the intent was to return a 30% package and an estimate so members could decide whether to proceed to full design. "What I'd like to do is be able to utilize PND... to come up with an initial design... to 30% and do an estimate as well," he said.
Opponents argued the community is nearing a saturation point for cruise visitors downtown and that the city should pause expansion while prioritizing maintenance of existing docks. One council member said: "People are at their wit's end with it," pointing to congestion and visitor experience concerns. Others warned that major expansions shift costs onto taxpayers unless private partners contribute.
A motion to postpone the Berth 1 design and expansion work for one year passed by roll call. The city will revisit the project in a year if council directs.
The council also discussed possible revenue or partnership models including offering preferential berthing rights to a private cruise line in exchange for contribution; staff said such arrangements would require a formal agreement if pursued.
Next steps: the motion postpones additional design funding and requires no immediate procurement; ports staff will not proceed with further design work and will report back if the council requests the item be restored sooner.
