Sitka Assembly members Tor Christianson and Scott Saline hosted an informal meeting Tuesday night (10-20-26) to discuss a proposed update to regulations for commercial passenger vehicles. The ordinance would repeal and replace the current “Taxicab” chapter in the city’s code.
This comes after the assembly voted to postpone a conversation about the city’s nearly 30-year-old taxi code in August. Under the draft ordinance, operators would fall under only one of three classes — taxis, shuttles and tours, and human-powered vehicles.
Christianson said he wants to update the document to have more flexible language so operators can provide both tours and taxis. Saline said this would make it easier for drivers to offer more than one service.
“They’re trying to make it so you got to have a separate entry permit to be a cab and a separate entry permit to be a tour operator. We’re trying to make them so you can do both because everybody needs that,” Saline said.
Kealoha Harmon is a local tour company owner. She said the way the ordinance defines a tour — transportation that starts and ends at the same location — doesn’t align with many companies’ routes.
“Most operators in the morning pick up at the dock, we do our tour, and then we drop off at [Harrigan Centennial Hall] using our Centennial permit. And then in the afternoon, we pick up at Centennial and drop off at the dock, and that allows our guests to shop, to eat lunch,” Harmon said.
Christianson said sponsors of the ordinance hope to prevent a “bait and switch” by taxi operators charging customers extra for a tour. Some community members said customers aren’t concerned with the city’s definitions of taxis and tours, and just want to know how much they’ll have to pay.
Christianson agreed the main issue is ensuring customers are aware of the charge.
“The main point is that at the beginning of the ride, they need to know how much the entire thing is going to cost, and unless they specifically say, ‘Can I change it to a tour?’ en route — and a lot of people aren’t even going to be happy about that — that’s what they pay,” Christianson said.
The ordinance would also update the fare structure to charge a standard rate per mile, with a higher rate at night. The hours designated as “late night” will also be reconsidered. Christianson said the simplest solution to the current fare structure is having an app with the rate built in.
Christianson and Saline invited taxi and tour operators to continue to share feedback over email. The assembly members said their input will be considered and folded into the proposed ordinance over the next month. An updated document will be posted to the city’s website for further review before it’s brought to the assembly during its meeting on Nov. 24.
