Planning & Zoning recommends city council sunset Harbor Commission and move leasing duties

The Planning & Zoning Commission on Dec. 10 voted by unanimous consent to recommend city council adopt an ordinance that would repeal the Harbor Commission code sections and transfer many harbor duties and land-leasing provisions to Planning & Zoning and a new Title 22 chapter for city-owned lands.

Planning staff said the Harbor Commission has had limited business and recurring recruitment problems; with the completion of a major bluff-stabilization project the administration recommended sunsetting the Harbor Commission while preserving the ability for council to reestablish it later. The ordinance would repeal KMC 1.95.040 (Harbor Commission), relocate leasing provisions from KMC 11.20 into a new chapter (KMC 22.10) for city-owned lands, and amend KMC 14.050 to reflect Planning & Zoning’s added responsibilities.

Public commenters expressed concern about consolidating commissions and asked whether citizen oversight opportunities would be diminished; former Harbor Commission chair Jeanne Keaton and staff said many harbor responsibilities already flowed through lands administration and the transfer would formalize current practice while leaving ultimate decision-making with council. The commission approved the recommendation by unanimous consent.