Meeting summary
August 17, 2026 — the board's first meeting in years.
Assembly Chambers Called to order 4:57 pm Adjourned 5:53 pm
Who was there
All five members came.
Present: Bolshakoff, Hayley Chambers, Stephen Reeve, Turner, and Tim Whiteley.
Officers
The board elected its officers.
All three were elected without objection.
- Stephen Reeve Chair
- Tim Whiteley Vice Chair
- Hayley Chambers Secretary
What members raised
Nothing was decided. Plenty was named.
A first meeting is for finding out what's on people's minds. These are the things members brought up, not positions the board has taken.
Safety came up first.
Members identified trees in danger of falling as a hazard to Creek Street buildings. The visitor entrance to Creek Street was described as dangerous where pedestrians and vehicle traffic mix. Members said the Historic District needs a neighborhood plan, and that congestion and pinch points have to be considered before adding amenities like restrooms.
Then the wider street.
Members expressed interest in collaborating with local entities such as the Visitors Bureau. Concerns included pedestrian congestion during the tourism season and flooding during high tides and heavy rain. Members discussed dispersing visitors more widely around the community, and observed that the boardwalk's current design may already be regulating pedestrian flow — widening parts of it could push more people through, not fewer. Some storeowners are asking visitors to wait outside because of maximum capacity.
Public comment
Transit came to say the same thing.
Kyan Reeve, Ketchikan Gateway Borough Transit director, described running into conflicts with a plan to move a bus stop from in front of the Museum to somewhere closer to the Creek Street entrance. He encouraged the board to work toward an area plan, and said the Transit Department will look to work with the Planning Department and Planning Commission on an updated area plan for the area.
Public comment, August 17, 2026
What happens next
The work coming out of the meeting.
- Set a regular meeting schedule and reach out to Creek Street residents
- Chair Reeve will communicate with City and Borough entities
- Notify City Public Works that the board has been reactivated
- Send correspondence letting people know the board is active
- Next meeting in September, to discuss restrooms after reaching out to Public Works
What we're working on The workshop conversation All meetings
Minutes submitted by Crystal Vail, Platting/Zoning Clerk. This page is a plain-language summary written from those draft minutes, not the record itself. The official record is held by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough — see the Borough board page.