City and Borough Assembly

ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA 1332 Seward Ave. Room 229 Sitka, AK (907)747-1811 Minutes - Final City and Borough Assembly Mayor Mim McConnell Deputy Mayor Matt Hunter Vice-Deputy Mayor Benjamin Miyasato Aaron Swanson, Steven Eisenbeisz Tristan Guevin, and Bob Potrzuski Municipal Administrator: Mark Gorman Municipal Attorney: Robin L. Schmid Tuesday, April 12, 2016 5:00 PM Assembly Chambers SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - McConnell, Hunter, Swanson, Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Guevin, and Potrzuski IV. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None. V. NEW BUSINESS: A 16-061 Discussion/Direction on recommendations of the Citizens' Taskforce Rob Allen, Chair of the Citizens' Taskforce (CTF), introduced the Taskforce members. Member, Cynthia Gibson, provided an overview of the core ideals, goals, services, requirements and community values as identified by the CTF and concluded her presentation with a summary of the CTF final product: the Grand Bargain. Gibson explained the Grand Bargain focused on expenses, revenues and cuts and included the following elements, in no particular order: 1. Elimating the sales tax on groceries for all Sitkans. 2. Directing 100% of the Fish Tax to the Harbor Fund. 3. Instituting a biennial vehicle registration tax of $200. 4. Providing significant General Fund support for the Electric Fund to prevent unaffordable increases in electric rates. 5. Investing $3 million from the General Fund in capital projects per year. 6. Raising new revenues by selling City owned undeveloped land. 7. Raising new revenues by opening a new rock quarry. 8. Raising new revenue by asking the voters to approve an increase of 2 mills in the CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final April 12, 2016 property tax rate. 9. Reducing the City's General Fund budget by a total of $1.7 million over the next three years. 10. Reducing the City's contribution to schools by a total of $600,000 over the next three years (possibly requiring smaller cuts to prevent school funding from dropping below 92 percent of the cap according to the state funding formula). CTF members expressed their apprecation to staff and found the Taskforce process to be invaluable. While keenly aware of local and state challenges, members noted they looked for solutions that were sustainable, equitable, and maintained a high quality of life for Sitkans. Citizen Matt Donohoe spoke in support of a millage rate increase for Sitka and stated it was a possibility the municipality might have to consider bankruptcy. Assembly members thanked CBS staff and the CTF members for their service and exceptional work. Citizen Taskforce Members: Rob Allen, Dyan Bessette, Hugh Bevan, Cynthia Gibson, Alene Henning, Maxwell Rule, and Lawrence SpottedBird. A motion was made by Guevin to receive the Citizens' Taskforce Report. This formally concluded the assignment of the Citizens' Taskforce. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- McConnell, Hunter, Swanson, Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Guevin, and Potrzuski VI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Hunter to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 5:55pm. ATTEST: ____________________________ Sara Peterson, CMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2