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THE SKAGWAY NEWS.
June 9, 2023
Passenger tariff increase to offset landslide mitigation
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By Melinda Munson
Cruise ships will pay $5 more per passenger starting January 2024, in accordance with Resolution 2323R, passed unanimously by the Skagway Borough Assembly June 1. The fee, currently $8.50 per passenger, will increase to $13.50, in an attempt to raise money for more permanent fixes to Railroad Dock landslide areas.
The amended tariff, in place across all docks, should raise an additional $5 million per year. The cost to mitigate the affected areas with more long-term solutions, such as taking down Ship Rock, is estimated at $30 million.
“I got asked today if I was willing to have this [tariff increase] sunset at the end of this effort,” Ryan said. “I’m not. … that whole hillside is going to need work … Once we’re done with this, we’re going to have to keep moving south and keep addressing this. This [tariff increase] is the model to do that.”
Before voting, Assemblymember Sam Bass asked Ryan, “Do you believe that this keeps us competitive in the Southeast?
“I do believe we are,” Ryan said. “Nobody made a comment to me today, nobody has ever made a comment to me that we are higher or too high on the fee.”
Juneau collects a $5 marine passenger fee, a $3 port development fee and a $5 state commercial passenger vessel excise tax for each passenger on a cruise ship that visits its port.
“...the municipality has spent nearly $4 million on rockslide mitigation this
(see page 3 - Tariffs)
By Melinda Munson
At 88 pages, with over a year of research, the May 5, 2023 Draft Analysis/Audit of the Skagway Police Department by McGrath Consulting Group was presented at the June 1 assembly meeting. The report included 47 recommendations: 29 covered policing matters and 18 addressed communications issues.
Assemblymember Dan Henry was less than impressed.
“Well, you know, there were several things mentioned – 95% of what was mentioned, I already knew,” he said.
“It’s an hour and a half of my life I’ll never get back,” he told the galley.
In contrast, Assemblymember Sam Bass, chair of the Public Safety Committee, appeared appreciative.
“Our chief of police doesn’t have time to compile all these numbers for us and put together this kind of understanding of the communication systems … or even to reach out and find out what the current best practices are,” he said. “...It’s an 88 page report. We had it very shortened and surmised for us. So I think there is value there.”
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Ron Moser, lead police consultant/project manager for McGrath spoke about the need for additional officers. The Skagway department currently has four, including Sargeant Kenneth Cox and Chief Jerry Reddick. The small number of officers means that twice daily for several hours, the station may not have an officer on duty.
“...the department does not staff that patrol function 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Moser said. “They have times of the day when there is not a person on patrol in the department – in a uniform, on the street. They instead cover it by what’s referred to as standby status. …it means that one of the officers is assigned to be on standby. And they are not on active patrol. They need to be in the jurisdiction, they need to be able to respond to a call for service if needed. But they could be at home, they could be asleep. They could be having dinner, they’re just not out there.”
Craig Haigh, lead fire consultant/communications for McGrath, listed the health concerns that come with constantly being on call and the ensuing lack of sleep. They include diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, cancers and mental health issues including depression and increase in suicide risk.
The audit team recommended adding two patrol officers to the team immediately to allow for 24/7 coverage. They further advocated for the eventual hire of up to two community service officers (CSO). CSOs are civilians who assist with tasks such as community outreach, school crossings and parking enforcement.
The report advised that patrol officers work in pairs for optimal safety and recommended 12-hour shifts.
“As a long-range plan, depending on funding, to achieve 24/7/365 coverage in patrol with a minimum of two officers on duty, we recommend the addition of six patrol officers and one additional sergeant to the force to provide maximum coverage and support,” the analysis stated.
Drones, cameras in busy areas including the docks, a school patrol officer if the school was interested (see page 3 Audit)
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Vol. XLVI, No 11 (949)
June 9, 2023
Published on the second and fourth Friday of the month
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