News

Strategic Plan Survey for Update #2


We are asking for your input for the second update to the Strategic Plan. As you may recall, in September 2022, the Sitka Assembly approved a five-year strategic plan designed to align City and Borough of Sitka (CBS) resources with the evolving needs and priorities of the community. Now, as we approach the close of the second year, we are conducting an annual check-in to ensure the organization remains responsive, transparent, and committed to delivering high-quality services.

We invite you to participate in this brief survey to provide feedback on where CBS should focus its efforts in 2025 and whether any adjustments to the strategic plan are necessary. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Sitka2024SP 

For questions, please contact us at info@sitkagrowingthefuturetogether.com. Thank you for your participation!

Sitka Strategic Plan 3.14.24


Employment Relations Board Notice of Vacancy


In accordance with Ordinance 2005-30, collective bargaining is allowed for municipal employees. This ordinance also establishes an Employment Relations Board consisting of three members: an employee representative, an assembly representative, and a third member jointly selected by the other two. Currently, there is a vacancy for the employee representative position. 

The employee representative is not required to be an employee of the City and Borough of Sitka. If you are interested in serving in this role or nominating someone, please submit a completed Declaration of Candidacy form to the Municipal Clerk’s Office. Forms are available at the Municipal Clerk’s Office (City Hall, 100 Lincoln Street, 3rd floor) or online HERE.

Completed Declaration of Candidacy forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. on November 15 to appear on the ballot. The “Employee Representative” seat will be filled by secret ballot, with voting open to all current City and Borough of Sitka collective bargaining unit employees. Voting will take place at the Municipal Clerk’s Office on November 20 and 21, 2024, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 

For more information, contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office at clerk@cityofsitka.org, 907.747.1826, or 907.747.1811. 


Official Results for the October 1, 2024, Municipal Election


Click HERE for the OFFICIAL results for the October 1, Municipal Election. 


How to Offer Public Comment at Assembly Meetings


Regular Assembly Meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in Harrigan Centennial Hall. Agendas and supporting documentation are available at https://sitka.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or by contacting the Municipal Clerk's Office at City Hall.

Public comment on agenda items and “Persons to be heard” is encouraged and welcomed. Guidelines for citizen participation at Assembly meetings, including public comment, can be found here. 

Citizens may provide comment by email, in-person, or by phone. 

Email testimony:

To comment by email to the Mayor and Assembly Members on an agenda item, use assembly@cityofsitka.org

In-person testimony:

There is no sign-up list for in-person testimony. Arrive at the Assembly Chambers at Harrigan Centennial Hall (330 Harbor Drive) before the item you wish to testify on is brought up. At the appropriate time for public participation on each agenda item, the Mayor will invite the public to speak on a first come basis. Please state your full name for the record. You will have 3 minutes to provide testimony. To learn more, read SGC 2.04.130 Public Participation.

Phone testimony:

The deadline to sign up to provide testimony by phone during an Assembly meeting is 5:00 p.m. the day before the meeting. To sign up, call the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 907-747-1826 or email clerk@cityofsitka.org. Be prepared to provide your name, phone number, and indicate which agenda item(s) you wish to provide comment on. For discussion / direction / decision items, citizens are encouraged to sign up for telephonic testimony to have the opportunity to comment if a formal motion is made. When the Assembly reaches your agenda item, the Municipal Clerk will phone you at the number provided. You will have 3 minutes to provide testimony. If you are not available, the Municipal Clerk will move to the next person on the call list. To learn more, read SGC 2.04.186 Telephonic Participation by the Public.

To make your telephonic testimony more effective, please consider the following:

    Mute your radio, television, or the livestream if you are following along. There is a delay, and it may echo, thereby complicating your testimony.

    Do not have your phone on speaker. Speaker phones introduce a myriad of extraneous noise into your testimony. 

    Make sure there is limited ambient noise from your location and if on a cell phone make sure you are in a location with good cell service.

    If you have a headset, please use it. Headsets will give a more consistent signal and reduce room noise. 

Regular and special Assembly meetings are livestreamed through the City's website and YouTube channel. In addition, regular meetings are aired live on KCAW FM 104.7. To receive Assembly agenda notifications, sign up with GovDelivery on the City website.

For more information, contact the Municipal Clerk's Office at 747-1826 or 747-1811.



Assembly Recruits Tourism Commission Members


The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly is currently seeking seven volunteers to serve on the Tourism Commission. This newly established commission is tasked with advising the Assembly on strategies to enhance the social, economic, and environmental well-being of Sitka’s residents in relation to tourism. Members will be appointed at the October 22 Assembly meeting.

Applications are available online HERE or at the Municipal Clerk’s office in City Hall, 100 Lincoln Street. Applications must be submitted to the Municipal Clerk’s office no later than noon on Tuesday, October 15. Call 907.747.1826 or email clerk@cityofsitka.org for more information.


Utility Cost Subsidization Program Open Through October 31


Utility Cost Subsidization Program Opportunity

The City and Borough of Sitka will accept applications for the Utility Cost Subsidization Program through October 31. Applicants meeting certain criteria may be eligible for a subsidization of their municipal utility costs. The subsidization period shall be for one year, beginning January 2025. An appointment with the Finance Department may be required. Click HERE to access an application and instructions, or you can pick up an application at the Utility Office on the 1st floor of City Hall, 100 Lincoln Street. For more information, contact the Finance Department at 907.747.1859 or utilities@cityofsitka.org


Public Works Project Highlight



Annual Report To The Community


Municipal Administrator John Leach gave his presentation to the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce of the State of the City on January 24, 2024. The annual report comprised of milestones of our Strategic Plan, statistics, and outlined future commitments. 2023 CBS Annual Report

Past Annual Reports:

Report presented to the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce on January 23, 2023: FY2022 Annual Report

Report presented to the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce on January 26, 2022 by John Leach, Municipal Administrator. Annual Report. Talking points that accompany Annual Report Presentation. Talking Points


Stay Informed on the GPIP Haul Out & Ship Yard Project


Click here to visit the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Haul Out and Ship Yard Project page

At the Assembly meeting on July 25 at 6:00 p.m. in Harrigan Centennial Hall, the Assembly approved Concept Design #4. Agenda and packet materials.

A June 2023 presentation on the project can be found by visiting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjPVCVTy5Lo

For more information on the project, ways to comment, and supporting documents visit: https://www.cityofsitka.com/departments/PublicWorks/GPIPHaulOut


Sitka's Energy Transition Journey


The City and Borough of Sitka’s Electric Department partnered with the Department of Energy's Energy Transition Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) to perform a grid analysis and assess Sitka’s renewable energy resources and their potential for increasing generation capacity. The results show that Sitka has the opportunity to grow its capacity and continue to decarbonize the grid without impacting ratepayers through thoughtful energy planning and state and federal decarbonization support. 

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdjlriSUJPE 


Sitka's Renewable Energy


The City and Borough of Sitka was approached by the Made in America series for an episode to tell our story of clean energy and the future.


Overview: Sitka is a community already at the forefront of renewable energy, with close to 100% of the city’s current electricity provided by their two hydroelectric dams. But Sitka’s need for power is growing, driven by the development of a new hospital and coast guard expansion and infrastructure required to keep up with ever-growing numbers of seasonal tourists. Efforts are also currently underway to electrify in one of the key areas in which Sitka has been reliant on traditional diesel fuel: heating. 


Check out the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sitkaalaska/community