By James Brooks, Alaska BeaconPassengers from the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas cruise ship wait to board buses into Sitka's downtown at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. to city officials for legal review.
In Sitka, it’s the third time that local residents have tried to put a limit on the ballot. Two prior attempts were rejected by the city’s attorney. Sitka has only 14 miles of paved roads, and Leccese said the traffic caused by tour boats and tour buses has gotten out of hand. Lincoln Street, at the heart of downtown, is sometimes closed because the crowds are too large.
Small ships — those with fewer than 250 passengers — wouldn’t be included in the limit. That would protect locally run companies, includingLarge ships wouldn’t be allowed before May 1 or after Sept. 30, and the city Assembly could shrink that window.