A first attempt to regulate cruise traffic in Sitka failed to get traction at the assembly table this week. A proposed ordinance creating a permitting process for commercial buses was voted down on first reading, after some worried the measure would harm Sitka’s long-standing tour businesses.

Assembly members Thor Christianson and Tim Pike co-sponsored the ordinance, which sought to address community concerns about increased bus traffic during the summer cruise season. Under the proposed code, in order to secure a permit, the bus would need to pass an inspection and meet the EPA emissions standard for the year the bus was manufactured. Permits would not be required for electric buses, school buses or public transit, or any bus that holds 40 or fewer passengers.

Christianson said that over the last couple of years the assembly has received frequent complaints about the uptick in bus traffic associated with the increase in cruise visitation. This ordinance was a chance for the assembly and the community to discuss it. 

“We had almost daily complaints about soot and…just the heavy traffic,” Christianson said. “And I don’t think you need to be a traffic engineer to see that this is not what these roads were designed for, especially when you get off on the smaller streets.”

The ordinance, as written, would have capped the number of available commercial bus permits at 10, though Christianson said that number was a “placeholder” and open to negotiation. 

Cruise terminal owner Chris McGraw operates about half of the commercial buses that bring passengers into town. He said the ordinance wouldn’t get at what it was hoping to do and might even cause more traffic. 

 “I think working with industry through [a] tourism best management practices [program]…you could easily implement Thor’s idea of the EPA test, the computer test,” he said “As an industry individual, I’d be more than happy to sign on to that and agree to that. I want my buses to meet emission standards just like everybody else does.” 

McGraw said he understands the community’s concerns about buses, and in response he’s updating his fleet with smaller buses that meet updated emission standards. In a letter penned to the assembly, he said he’s replacing half (10) of his buses this season and the remainder over the next two years. 

The other company that operates buses to shuttle cruise passengers downtown is Alaska Coach Tours. And then there are several other companies that use commercial buses to provide guided shore excursions, like Sitka Tours. Owner Trudy Pruitt said the ordinance would put Sitkans, like her and her drivers, out of work.

“If this ordinance passes, Sitka Tours will fail. And after 50 years of blood, sweat, and tears I feel it would be your fault,” Pruitt said.

Over about an hour, the assembly heard a lot of public testimony, mostly folks calling for them to reject the ordinance. A handful of Sitkans voiced support, and asked the assembly to approve it on first reading to continue the discussion. Larry Edwards, who led an initiative to cap Sitka’s cruise traffic last fall, said the ordinance needed some work, but it was needed all the same. 

“It’s the only vehicle we have for dealing with the problems that we have with either buses or the cruise impacts, writ large, that could have an effect for this year,” Edwards said. “So I think that there needs to be further discussion between now and the next assembly meeting, and at that meeting, and see if we can find a way forward on this.”

But when it came time for the assembly to deliberate, their feelings mirrored most of the evening’s testimony. Assembly member Chris Ystad emphatically opposed it. 

“Highways…were built with the intent of transportation of people and material,” Ystad said. “They were built for economic stability and economic improvement and commerce. That’s what HPR and that’s what Sawmill are. They’re highways. They’re doing what they are intended to do. This whole ordinance is discriminating against one industry right now, attacking one industry. This is ridiculous.” 

Ystad said he’d rather see the assembly incentivize companies to move to buses that meet higher emissions standards rather than punish them for the buses they have.

Assembly member Kevin Mosher said he felt like concerns about increased bussing are valid, but didn’t feel the ordinance was the right approach. 

“I feel that it’s too dangerous to even pass on first reading, because then you’re sending a message, you’re one ordinance away from losing your livelihood. And that is not a good message we want us to send,” Mosher said. “We want to let people to know that we, as an elected body, are making methodical, long, thoughtful, long-term decisions based on community input and the facts.”

With two absent assembly members, including the other sponsor Tim Pike, it was clear that the ordinance wouldn’t pass, but Christianson  hoped it would move the needle toward a solution to summertime congestion in Sitka, which is high on the list of local complaints about cruise tourism. 

“I hope that we come out of this with the idea that, okay, the industry needs to move on the tourism best practices [program], and the city needs to be involved,” Christianson said. “And if it doesn’t, the city government has options. This not necessarily this, but something.”

The ordinance failed 1-4 with Christianson the sole vote in favor.