There shall be a commission known as the tourism commission, which shall be composed of seven members appointed by the assembly. To the extent deemed advisable by the assembly and possible from the applicants, the commission shall include professionals from among the fields of data management, planning, public administration, hospitality, marketing, and or some social science disciplines such as economics, cultural geography or cultural anthropology. One member shall be nominated by the Sheet’ka Kwaan Sitka Tribe of Alaska. All voting members of the commission shall be at-large members and representative of a diverse cross-section of the community. A member of the Sitka assembly will serve as a liaison for the commission. The tourism manager within the planning and community development department or designee shall be an ex officio member without a vote. A representative from Visit Sitka shall be an ex officio member without a vote.
(Ord. 24-21 § 4, 2024)
The term of a voting member shall be three years or until a successor is appointed. The first members appointed to the commission shall, upon appointment, determine the length of the terms so that the terms of three members shall be for one year and the terms of two members shall be for two years, and the terms of two members shall be for three years, resulting in staggered terms for members subsequently appointed. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled by appointment by the assembly for any remainder of an unexpired term.
(Ord. 24-21 § 4, 2024)
A. 
The commission shall convene at least nine monthly meetings each year at a place and time to be designated by the chair or, in their absence, the vice chair.
B. 
Give reasonable public notice of its meetings and comply in all respects with the Alaska Open Meetings Act.
(Ord. 24-21 § 4, 2024)
The commission shall organize itself by electing a chair, a vice chair and a secretary, each of whom shall be elected by the voting members of the commission at its first meeting and shall serve a term to expire upon election of officers at the first meeting of the following year.
(Ord. 24-21 § 4, 2024)
Should an officer resign from their position prior to expiration of their term, or otherwise is unable or unwilling to perform duties as required of the office, the commission may elect an officer to serve out the remainder of that term. In addition to the above officers, the commission, by a majority vote of its voting members, may designate and elect or appoint such other officers, assistant officers and agents as it deems necessary at such time, in such manner, and upon and for such terms as it shall prescribe. All officers and agents shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, whenever in its judgment the best interest of the commission will be served.
(Ord. 24-21 § 4, 2024)
A. 
The commission will act as an advisory body to the assembly with the purpose of developing municipal and community-focused approaches that monitor and promote the social, economic, and environmental stability of, and quality of life to residents in, the city and borough of Sitka.
B. 
Annually, the commission will review city and borough of Sitka tourism operations and management plans focusing both on the local community quality of life and the visitors’ experience:
1. 
Annually review the Sitka Tourism Best Management Practices (TBMP) program;
2. 
Annually review tourism-related funding;
3. 
Annually review destination marketing plan and make recommendations;
4. 
Annually review convention and visitor services and make recommendations;
5. 
Make recommendations on local tourism-related capital projects as needed;
6. 
Make recommendations to update tourism-related policy and code as needed;
7. 
Make recommendations on surveys, studies, or other data collection and research to support tourism-related decisions as needed.
The commission will perform other activities which are necessary and proper to carry out the above duties and any other actions determined by the assembly to be beneficial to carry out the tourism management, marketing, convention and visitor services goals necessary in the city and borough of Sitka.
C. 
With the approval and direction of the assembly, the commission will work with designated staff to provide information and outreach to the public, in order to understand community priorities on matters concerning tourism. This effort may require the commission to invite participation from community partners and industry professionals (e.g., attractions, tours, downtown business corridor, Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, etc.). The commission may need to coordinate and collaborate with other municipal boards, commissions and committees as well as regional strategy groups. If city and borough funds are needed to facilitate participation and technical expertise from community partners and professionals, the commission shall obtain prior approval and the necessary appropriation from the assembly.
(Ord. 24-21 § 4, 2024)