Coast Guard Beach is accessed by an approximately 1-mile trail leading from the Point Higgins School parking lot.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly meets Monday, and among the agenda items is a resolution authorizing borough management to sign a five-year license with Alaska Mental Health Land Trust for continued public use of the Coast Guard Beach Trail.
The borough’s previous land-use license expired about a year ago, according to a memo to the Assembly. The new license will cost the borough $500 a year.
According to the resolution on Monday’s agenda, the trail is an important community asset for outdoor recreation and for students to learn about the local environment.
The approximately 1-mile trail starts from the Point Higgins Elementary School parking lot and leads down to Coast Guard Beach. It was a muddy, slippery hike until around 2008, when it was improved and a portion was rerouted. Only part of the trail lies on Mental Health Land Trust property.
Also Monday, the Assembly will consider assigning management of the Homestead Service Area to borough staff, because even with 15 registered voters in the service area, there weren’t enough interested candidates to form a service area board.
The Assembly also will consider an ordinance changing the zoning rules in Saxman to allow limited use of mobile buildings. The City of Saxman has participated in the formation of the ordinance.
