About SOUL’s “Proposition 1” Initiative:

“Limits on Cruise Visitation in Sitka”

The special election will be May 28, 2025.

The municipal clerk’s Notice of Election includes a sample ballot, a list of voter qualifications, and absentee voting instructions.

FEATURES OF THE INITIATIVE:

For large cruise ships (>250 passengers, max.)

  • Limit: 4500 “passengers ashore” daily

  • Limit: 300,000 “passenger ashore” yearly

  • 1 guaranteed day/week with no large ships

  • Cruise season: May to September

  • Regulation is done by advance scheduling

  • If too many passengers, all are welcome!

  • After the port call, ship must report number of passengers who went ashore.

  • Enforcement is only on the ship, via an annual permit

Small cruise ships (12 to 250 passengers max.)

  • are exempt for the limits to the left

  • after port call, must report pax. ashore data

  • this data adds to overall understanding

  • an annual permit ensures compliance

  • this data adds to overall understanding

Cruise vessels with less than a 12 passenger max. capacity and ferries are exempted from the initiative.

Capacities refer to overnight passengers.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS (downloads):

The Initiative, adding Title 25 (Tourism) which consists of one chapter to limit cruise visitation. (Nov 29,2024)

Application cover letter (Nov 29, 2024)

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions (submitted with initiative)

Example permit application (submitted with initiative)

Clerk’s application determination letter (Dec 16, 2024)

Clerk’s “Notice - Petition Sufficiency” (March 17, 2025)

Clerk’s “Notice of Election” for the May 28, 2025 special election, including the sample ballot, list of Voter Qualifications, Absentee Voting instructions, and list of Polling Places. (March 26, 2025)