While the Ketchikan City Council voted last month to increase water, wastewater and electric rates, the decision isn’t final until the council approves ordinances for those rate hikes.
First readings to introduce three ordinances to accomplish that are on the council agenda for Thursday. The ordinances will need a second vote later this month before they are finalized.
If approved, the city will increase wastewater rates by 6 percent; electric by 3.5 percent; and water by 5.5 percent. The water-rate hike is for everyone except seafood processors. Processors will instead see a rate hike of 35 percent.
Also in the council’s meeting packet for Thursday is a first look at the draft 2019 cruise ship calendar. The calendar shows the first ship of the season, the Ruby Princess, arriving on April 27th. The last ship, the Norwegian Jewel, will leave on Oct. 5th.
According to a memo from Port and Harbors Director Steve Corporon, the busiest days of the week during cruise season will be Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
The mega ship Norwegian Joy will enter the Alaska market this year, and will call in Ketchikan on Mondays. Its sister ship, the Bliss, will stop here on Fridays.
Two other new-to-Alaska mega ships also will enter the market: The Celebrity Eclipse will stop in Ketchikan on Sundays; and the Royal Princess is scheduled for every other Monday.
According to the memo, an estimated 1.2 million cruise passengers will visit Ketchikan this summer, about 7 percent more than in 2018.
Thursday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting.
