City and Borough Assembly

ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA 330 Harbor Drive Sitka, AK (907)747-1811 Minutes - Final City and Borough Assembly Mayor Mim McConnell Deputy Mayor Matt Hunter Vice-Deputy Mayor Phyllis Hackett, Steven Eisenbeisz, Benjamin Miyasato, Aaron Swanson, and Tristan J. Guevin Municipal Administrator: Mark Gorman Municipal Attorney: Robin L. Koutchak Municipal Clerk: Colleen Ingman, MMC Tuesday, October 14, 2014 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - McConnell, Hunter, Esquiro, Swanson, Miyasato, and Guevin Excused: 2 - Hackett, and Eisenbeisz IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES 1 14-205 Governor's Award for Arts and Humanities - Public Works Monthly Update - Electrical Monthly Update - Jarvis Street Diesel Memo V. CEREMONIAL MATTERS 2 14-195 Food Day Proclamation Mayor read the Food Day Proclamation proclaiming October 24th as Food Day in Sitka. VI. SPECIAL REPORTS: Government to Government, Municipal Boards/Commissions/Committees, Municipal Departments, School District, Students and Guests (time limits apply) STA General Manager Lawrence Spottedbird announced that November was Native American Awareness Month and a planning meeting was to be held October 16. 3 14-204 1) Introductions of Sitka's Exchange Students, and 2) Introduction of Jeff Comer CEO Sitka Community Hospital and Update CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 14, 2014 1) Mayor McConnell provided background on the student exchange program. Krisanne Rice, a volunteer with AFS, gave some additional history. Each student introduced herself and spoke a bit about their country. 2) Jeff Comer introduced himself as the new CEO for Sitka Community Hospital (SCH). He stated it had been a pleasure to join the community. Three things he noted worth pursuing: 1) Physician recruitment; 2) Emergency room physicians; and 3) An orthopedic surgeon. Comer added SCH was looking at telemedicine in collaboration with Providence Hospital and was pursuing a grant to coer expenses. He noted, SCH was also considering locations for an Urgen Care and Physical Therapy facility in Sitka. 3) Administrator introduced new Library Director, Robb Farmer. Farmer provided a report on events to be held at the library. VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, Tonia Rioux, spoke to the Sitka Branding project. A consulting firm had been hired and planned to be in Sitka to meet with various groups the week of October 20. VIII. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Mayor - Met with Marjorie Henesey and Michelle from Sitka Conservation society to talk about housing. Administrator - Informed that the Inestment Committee met a couple weeks ago and plan to bring in consultants to speak to Portfolio Management for the city. He attended the Health Summit. Received Municipal Solutions DRAFT report. It was being distributed to the department heads for review. Noted he would be traveling to Miami to meet with cruise ship officials. Liaison Reports - Miyasato attended the Library Commission meeting. He wanted to clarify something that came up during the campaign that was mis-informed with regard to library funding. The library funding came primarily from grants and Senator Stedman's effots. With regard to the Parks and Recreation Committee he relayed that they hoped their recommendations would be taken seriously. Hunter thanked Hackett for attending the Port and Harbors meeting in his absence. Clerk - Mentioned that the first regular Assembly meeting in November would be held on Monday, November 10th because of the Beterans Day Holiday - the normal meeting date. Deputy Clerk Peterson informed the Admin office was going to start a newsletter publication similar to Inside City hall to help keep the public better informed on city happenings. Other - Miyasato asked a question on the Electrical update - Brewton spoke to a defective transformer and explained there was a loose connection that was arching internally. IX. CONSENT AGENDA A 14-202 Approve the minutes of the September 23, 2014 Assembly meeting CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 14, 2014 This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. B 14-203 Reappoint 1) Patrick Williams to a term on the Health Needs and Community Services Commission; and Appoint 2) Mike Reif to a term on the Investment Committee This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. C 14-196 Approve a Budget Adjustment for Pacific High School - $31,000 This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. D 14-197 Approve a design build contract award for the Monastery and Baranof Street Water and Sewer Project to CH2M Hill - not to exceed $119,500 This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: E 14-201 Approve the Municipal Clerk's Certification of Election A motion was made by Miyasato that this Item be APPROVED . The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- McConnell, Hunter, Esquiro, Swanson, and Miyasato Absent: 1- Hackett F 14-198 Recognize outgoing Assembly Members followed by a short recess Pete Esquiro thanked all the members and the citizens of Sitka for providing him the opportunity to serve the city over the last four years. Esquiro reminded the public of the values he had held. The economy was not good and there were lot of things yet to be done in the city. He emphasized sustainability. His personal concept had been to never spend a dime he did not already have. Esquiro stressed the need for infrastructure repair and the value of the Sinking Fund. He described infrastructure as needs vs. wants and encouraged the Assembly to say "no" once in a while. He added that not everything had to be a cadillac. With regard to the city waterfront, Esquiro urged the Assembly not to sell it for less than market value. Finally, Esquiro urged citizens to come to more Assembly meetings and express their thoughts and feelings. In closing, Esquiro, expressed that all Assembly members had their hearts in making Sitka a better place though they didn't always agree and noted a difference of opinion was helpful. Meeting went into Recess to thank Mr. Esquiro. Meeting Reconvened This item was PRESENTED. XI. NEW BUSINESS: New Business CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 14, 2014 G 14-199 Swearing in of the Newly Elected Officials Mim McConnell was sworn in as Mayor for a two-year term and Tristan Guevin was sworn in for a three-year term on the Assembly. Steven Eisenbeisz was traveling and would later be sworn in at City Hall. H RES 14-16 Urging the US Government to work with the International Commission (IJC) and the Alaska/British Columbia (BC) Transboundary Region and to utilize any and all powers under the Boundary Waters Treaty to ensure that Alaska Resources are not harmed by upstream development in BC An employee of Sitka Conservation Society spoke in support of the resolution. Mayor informed that there had been similiar resolutions adpoted byt other communities. This one was introduced by SE Conference of Mayors and they planned to adopt a final copy in November at AML. A motion was made by Swanson to approve this resolution. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- McConnell, Hunter, Swanson, Miyasato, and Guevin Excused: 2- Hackett, and Eisenbeisz Non-voting: 1- Esquiro I RES 14-17 Opposing the newly proposed Rule on the Definition of Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act Hunter explained that what the new proposed rule would do was expand the waters that were governed by the federal government instead of state and local governments. Governing things such as small drainage ditches. He felt it was not a good idea and would end up costing the city. A motion was made by Miyasato that this Resolution be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- McConnell, Hunter, Swanson, Miyasato, and Guevin Excused: 2- Hackett, and Eisenbeisz Non-voting: 1- Esquiro J RES 14-18 Joining Alaska Municipal League in recommending an amendment to Alaska Statute 35.30.010 providing for Stronger Authority by Local Planning Authorities and Elected Officials for Public Projects Mayor informed that this would be brought forward at the Mayor's Conference at Alaska Municipal League in November. A motion was made by Swanson that this resolution be approved. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- McConnell, Hunter, Swanson, Miyasato, and Guevin Excused: 2- Hackett, and Eisenbeisz Non-voting: 1- Esquiro CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 14, 2014 K 14-206 Approve donating Sitka's old ambulance to Hollis Alaska Hunter mentioned it was a tradition among EMS folks to take care of each other. Hunter used Juneau as an example -- when they had their downtown fire Sitka assisted and it works both ways. Sitka has received equipment from the Juneau Police Department, USCG, and others. This ambulance would cut down transport times by 20 minutes in Hollis and those patients often came to SEARHC for hospitalization. Gorman explained that CBS was in the process of selling the ambulance when the request came in from Hollis. Miyasato asked if we could add a condition - to send a picture of it at its new locations. Gorman and Chief Miller said they would make sure that happened. A motion was made by Swanson that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 4- McConnell, Hunter, Swanson, and Miyasato No: 1- Guevin Excused: 2- Hackett, and Eisenbeisz Non-voting: 1- Esquiro XII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Alexander Allison spoke to the need for a boat haul out. While one existed, it was not adequate and had become a bus stop. He believed boats were leaving Sitka and urged the Assembly to take action. Allison felt there should be a city haul out, built, owned and operated by the City. Port and Harbors recommended this idea years ago but it was not acted upon because of the thought the City should not compete with private enterprise. He also encouraged the Assembly not to sell the Sitka waterfront. XIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION XIII. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Swanson to ADJOURN. With no further business and no objections the meeting ADJOURNED at 7:18 PM. ATTEST: ____________________________________ Colleen Ingman, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5