Borough government of Petersburg, Alaska (Southeast). Assembly meetings, public hearings.
Borough Office, 12 S Nordic Dr, Petersburg, AK 99833
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Phil Hofstetter
“And I also, I did put a little indicator in there as a discussion for the board just based off of Cindy's report. And that we put it on the agenda as old business to maybe just, you know, formally acknowledge that housing is an important workforce constraint and we should really evaluate some potential solutions and maybe just, you know, put on the record at least at some point that we should be looking either in town for potential housing, you know, with no financial commitment obviously for today, but with, well, you know, looking at specific projects, either that is, that could either be looking at grants for housing and that we have partnerships with the borough to develop housing of our own using the upper lot, or that, or looking at housing that's in town, existing housing to obtain and purchase as part of PMC.”Petersburg Borough: Petersburg Medical Center Hospital Board Meeting July 2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Phil Hofstetter
“You know, we do a really good job with our workforce locally and we recruit, but if you actually look at how many people outside of Petersburg come and live, it's low, it's a lot lower, and it's really hard to recruit route, and when people get here, housing is always an issue. So I just wanted to put it out there as something to consider, and I did have a legal review completed that we are allowed to, you know, obtain property or housing and follow this line as it supports our workforce initiative going forward.”Petersburg Borough: Petersburg Medical Center Hospital Board Meeting July 2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Becky Knight
“my first request is number one, that you authorize a moratorium on all such centers until at least our community can develop policies on them.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Mary Evans
“The borough's FAQ about the data center states that the 2025 Marine Industrial Overlay does not apply to this parcel because it's privately owned. But the Marine Industrial Overlay ordinance itself does not appear to state that the overlay applies only to borough-owned property.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Mary Evans
“I'm of the opinion that we need appropriate limits and safeguards in place before, not after, this project is greenlit and a precedent is established.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Liz Cabrera
“This suggests it's prohibiting, not banning, and one year from the effective date.”Petersburg Borough: Planning Commission Meeting 8.11.2026 · Aug 11, 2026
Petersburg planning commission to vote next month on one-year data center ban
A Petersburg Borough Planning Commission member drafted an ordinance Tuesday prohibiting data centers of any size in Service Area 1 for one year, to be taken up as an action item in September, after residents urged a pause on the Greenspark proposal.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
A Petersburg cell tower proposal died without a second
The Petersburg Borough Planning Commission's motion to approve a subdivision for a proposed cell tower at 1200 Ogden Drive failed Tuesday when no commissioner seconded it, closing out a prolonged public debate over fire hall safety, zoning fit, and aesthetics.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg voters to decide on sales tax cap increase in October
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted 6-1 Wednesday to place a measure on the October 6, 2026 ballot that would raise the single-purchase sales tax cap from $1,200 to $5,000.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min readAI
Assembly advances cell tower ordinance requiring conditional use permits
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted 7-0 Wednesday to advance Ordinance 2026-12 on first reading, establishing conditional use permit requirements for wireless communication facilities and creating a siting hierarchy that prioritizes co-location on existing towers before new construction.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min readAI
Petersburg trades a sliver of land for a place to put its 911 gear
Petersburg's borough assembly voted 6-0 to sell a 0.23-acre parcel to Tidal Network, giving the borough space for public-safety communications equipment.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg sewer rates to rise 20% as EPA bans mixing zone
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved a 20% sewer rate increase for fiscal year 2027 on Monday, May 18, 2026, to fund aging infrastructure repairs and new EPA-mandated wastewater treatment requirements.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min readAI
Petersburg Planning Commission roundup: massage CUP approved, three land sales recommended, Scow Bay rock pits out of wireless overlay
The Planning Commission on Tuesday cleared a home-based massage therapy business and sent three borough land sales to the assembly. Two of the parcels could extend Skylark Trailer Park's road system.
by Alaska News2mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg police, fire face staffing crisis with 5 open positions
Petersburg's police department has three dispatcher vacancies and two patrol officer openings, while fire and EMS rely on volunteers who respond at roughly one-third to one-half capacity, raising concerns as the borough considers expanding services to Thomas Bay.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg's cell tower rules advance, flaws and all
The Petersburg Borough Assembly passed the second reading of its wireless communication facilities ordinance unanimously, but Vice Mayor Stanton Gregor put his procedural objections on the record, and residents packed the meeting demanding stronger setbacks and a moratorium on tower development.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg sees early revenue gains after senior sales tax exemption removal
Petersburg Borough reported Thursday that sales tax collections increased by $26,000 in January and $22,000 in February compared to the prior year, two months after removing the senior citizen sales tax exemption, though the full revenue impact remains unclear as some purchases may now use the general $1,200 cap exemption.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg proposes area-wide property tax to balance FY27 budget
The Petersburg Borough Assembly reviewed a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget Thursday that would add an area-wide operations mill rate, raising property taxes for all borough property owners to help cover a 5% increase in expenses.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg fire training center relocation could cost $800,000-plus
The fire department must vacate its training facility at the airport by December 31, with relocation costs exceeding $800,000 and no confirmed funding source. Loss of the facility could drop Petersburg's insurance rating from Class 4 to Class 5.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg to receive Papke's Landing dock, tidelands from state
Petersburg Borough is poised to take ownership of 8.8 acres of state tidelands and a deteriorating dock at Papke's Landing, raising questions about enforcement, maintenance costs, and staffing needs.
by Alaska News2mo ago1 min readAI
Assembly hears call for tower rules as residents warn of land-use impact
The Petersburg Borough Assembly heard public testimony Tuesday urging faster action on a communications tower overlay ordinance, with residents warning that towers are proliferating across the borough before zoning rules are in place.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min readAI
Petersburg faces 53% wastewater rate hikes over 5 years for major projects
Petersburg residents face steep wastewater rate increases totaling 53.5% over five years to fund critical infrastructure projects including a $5.1 million Scarborough Pump Station and EPA-mandated disinfection system upgrades, with the average household bill rising $12.51 in the first year alone.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago3 min readAI