City and Borough of SITKA Alaska BUSINESS VISITORS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS FAQS Press Releases and Public Service Announcements Historic Preservation Commission 12/03/2021 The Sitka Historic Preservation Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at Harrigan Centennial Hall. The Commission will discuss the Historic Preservation Plan, review projects at 336 Kaagwaantaan Street and 819 Pherson Street, and review a demolition request for 286 Tongass Drive. The Commission will also discuss the clan houses on Katlian Avenue. Public comment is welcome. Commission meetings are open to the public; for teleconference options please contact the Planning Department at planning@cityofsitka.org or call (907) 747-1814. News Release: Sitka Winter Weather Preparedness 12/03/2021 Sitka, AK – The City and Borough of Sitka (CBS) wants to encourage residents if not prepared for this winter’s weather to make preparations now. Winter weather may be accompanied by dangerously cold weather, strong winds, coastal flooding, and heavy snow. Residents must be prepared for prolonged power outages, and difficult travel. CBS encourages all residents to stay informed of changing weather conditions, build home emergency kits, have family and business emergency plans, and take some simple steps to mitigate the impacts of severe weather. Stay Informed – Monitor changing winter weather conditions and receive emergency alerts. • Monitor the National Weather Center Juneau Forecast office at weather.gov/ajk. • Have a battery-operated radio to monitor news and weather in case of a power outage. Build an Emergency Kit – Have an emergency kit in your home and car in case you lose power and/or are isolated during severe winter weather. • For Your Home – Have enough food, water, batteries, medicine and other supplies in an emergency kit to last for at least 72 hours. Make an Emergency Plan – Make a plan with your family and household members for what to do and how to communicate in an emergency. • Identify friends or family that you might stay with if you lose power during cold weather. • If you receive medical treatments or home health care services, work with your medical provider to determine how to maintain care and service if you are unable to leave your home for a period of time during a winter storm. • If you have transportation needs, work with local transportation providers to plan ahead for accessible transportation. • Provide every family member with the name, address, and phone number of the family’s emergency contact. Prepare your home – Prepare your home for severe weather by taking steps to ensure safety. • Remove dead or rotting trees and branches. • Make sure flashlights and candles are accessible in case of a power outage. • Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts). • Check that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. • Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. • Insulate your home and take other actions to prepare your home for winter weather. • Keep ice melt on hand and shovel snow to prevent ice buildup. Additionally, winter storms can cause extended power outages which can be dangerous during extreme cold weather. Have alternate phone charging methods, learn how to use your emergency generator safely, plan for your unique medical needs and take other steps to prepare for power outages. The City and Borough of Sitka encourages citizens to take precautions. For more information, visit the Emergency Preparedness portion of the city’s website https://www.cityofsitka.com/departments/FireDepartment/EmergencyPreparedness. ### Blue Lake Hydroelectric Emergency Action Plan Alert System Test 12/02/2021 The City and Borough of Sitka’s Electric Department will be conducting a test of the Blue Lake Hydroelectric Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Alert System on Wednesday, December 8 at 9:00 a.m. This test will consist of the systems and sirens that are activated within the Blue Lake Campground and Gary Paxton Industrial Park (GPIP) area. If you have questions or concerns, please contact General Systems Manager Kord Christianson at 747-1886. Electrical Outage in the Lance Drive and Eliason Loop Area 12/02/2021 At 4:15 a.m. an electrical outage was reported to the City and Borough of Sitka’s Electric Department. The outage affected approximately 15 customers in the Lance Drive and Eliason Loop area due to a primary dead-end insulator fail on Lance Drive. Electric Department Line crews were dispatched to make necessary repairs. Power was restored by 7:27 a.m. Unification Timeline Open House at City Hall 12/01/2021 You are cordially invited to an open house to celebrate the 50th year of unification of the city and borough. Join Municipal Administrator, John Leach, on Monday, December 6, at City Hall’s William Stortz Gallery at 100 Lincoln Street, second floor from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to view the past 50 years milestone timeline. Refreshments will be served. Katlian Street Open to Vehicular Traffic with Stop in the 400 Block 12/01/2021 The City and Borough of Sitka Fire Department, Police Department, and Public Works have opened Katlian Street to through vehicle traffic in the 400 block with a one-lane, two-way traffic system controlled by a stop sign. Drivers proceed when it is their turn and there is no oncoming traffic. Pedestrian traffic remains closed. Please use caution and follow all signage. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience during this timeframe. Please contact the CBS Public Works Department with any questions. 907-747-1804. Climate Action Task Force 12/01/2021 The Climate Action Task Force will meet on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. VIA Zoom. Agenda items include: ETIPP updates, Working Groups: Climate impacts in Sitka, GHG emissions inventory, Policies / grant opportunities, City Requests, and 2022 Climate Action Task Force Priorities Sheet. The meeting is open to the public. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and state health mandates encouraging residents to practice social distancing, and limit group gatherings, individuals that would like to participate by videoconference can contact jessica.earnshaw@cityofsitka.org or call 747-1826 by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to obtain information to join the meeting. Tree and Landscape Committee 12/01/2021 The Tree and Landscape Committee will meet via teleconference and videoconference at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec 8th, 2021. Agenda items include: 1. Future projects for 2021. The meeting is open to the public however, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and local/state regulations requiring residents to stay at home, practice social distancing, and limit gatherings, the CBS has created a process to hold commission meetings via teleconference and/or videoconference. Those who would like to participate can email jessica.earnshaw@cityofsitka.org or call 747-1826 by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to obtain information to join the meeting. Library Commission 11/24/2021 The Library Commission will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall, 330 Harbor Drive. Agenda items include: 1. Discussion on Commission structure and opportunities for streamlining Commission duties. 2. Discussion of FY23 budget. The meeting is open to the public however, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and local/state regulations requiring residents to stay at home, practice social distancing, and limit gatherings, the CBS has created a process to hold commission meetings via teleconference and/or videoconference. Those who would like to participate remotely can email Jessica.Ieremia@cityofsitka.org or call 747-4021 by 12:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to obtain information to join the meeting. Planning Commission 11/24/2021 The Planning Commission will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at Harrigan Centennial Hall. More information on these agenda items can be found at https://sitka.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or by contacting the Planning Office at 100 Lincoln Street. Individuals having concerns or comments on any item are encouraged to provide written comments to the Planning Office or make comments at the Planning Commission meeting. Written comments may be dropped off at the Planning Office in City Hall, emailed to planning@cityofsitka.org, or faxed to (907) 747-6138. Those with questions may call (907) 747-1814. Second update on public access for the Construction on Critical Secondary Water 10/25/2021 Construction on the Critical Secondary Water plant intake continues. Construction activities include rock excavation, blasting, and heavy machinery and trucking access. In order to safely construct the new intake structure, public access to Sawmill Creek in the Gary Paxton Industrial Park area upstream of the ADOT bridge will be closed through December 31. Please avoid the area and obey all project signage. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience during this timeframe. Please contact the City and Borough of Sitka Public Works Department with any questions. 907-747-1804. Seasonal Sales Tax Rate Change and Bed Tax 9/30/2021 The City and Borough of Sitka Tax Office would like to remind all citizens of changes to the seasonal sales tax effective October 1. The seasonal sales tax returns to the winter rate of 5%, though March 31, 2022. Bed Tax rentals less than 30 days remains at 6% year-round. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Tax Office at 747-1810 or tax@cityofsitka.org. City and Borough of Sitka Assembly Ordinance requiring Use of a Face Covering in Certain Indoor Settings and Providing a Penalty 09/29/2021 On September 28, 2021 the City and Borough of Sitka Assembly passed ordinance 2021-32 requiring the use of a face covering in certain indoor settings and providing a penalty until March 22, 2022, when the risk level as defined by the Sitka Emergency Operations Center is in high risk level. The following is required: All individuals must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when they are indoors in public settings or communal spaces outside the home. The ordinance expires when the risk level as defined by the Sitka Emergency Operations Center drops below high. If the risk level return to high, before this ordinance permanently expires, this ordinance will reactivate. This ordinance shall permanently expire on March 22, 2022. Click here to read details on conditions, settings, employment requirements, exceptions, and enforcement policy. Katlian Street in the 400 Block Closed Until Further Notice 09/07/2021 The City and Borough of Sitka Fire Department, Police Department, and Public Works closed the 300 to 500 Block of Katlian Street from pedestrian and vehicular traffic and will be closed until further notice due to a vacant home that has partially collapsed. Kaagwaantaan Street is a one-way street and not to be used as a bypass for the closed roadway. Please avoid the area and obey all project signage. Address City & Borough of Sitka Alaska 100 Lincoln St. Sitka, AK 99835 Phone: (907) 747-1800 City Staff Directory Follow Us