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 Matthew Hunter Deputy Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz, Vice Deputy Mayor Bob Potrzuski, Aaron Bean, Kevin Knox, Dr. Richard Wein, Benjamin Miyasato Municipal Administrator: Keith Brady Municipal Attorney: Brian Hanson Municipal Clerk: Sara Peterson Tuesday, March 27, 2018 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Knox, Bean, and Wein Absent: 1 - Hunter Telephonic: 1 - Potrzuski IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES No agenda changes. 18-054 Reminders, Calendars and General Correspondence V. CEREMONIAL MATTERS None. VI. SPECIAL REPORTS: Government to Government, Municipal Boards/Commissions/Committees, Sitka Community Hospital, Municipal Departments, School District, Students and Guests (five minute time limit) Chief of Police, Jeff Ankerfelt spoke to the March 18 shooting and reported nine individuals were arrested. Ankerfelt also reported the Police Department had met with School District staff to review active shooter training protocol in the schools. He noted that violent encounters police and EMS professionals face today were very different CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 27, 2018 that a decade ago. Best practice was to issue rifle grade armor and ballistic helmets to police officers and EMS personnel. Ankerfelt stated the Police and Fire Departments would be coming forward with a request to purchase such equipment. Wendy Lawrence, Assessor, informed the Assessing Department had mailed real property assessment notices for the 2018 tax year. Lawrence noted most property owners would see an increase of approximately 3.6% on this year's assessment. She encouraged property owners to contact her if they felt there was an error in their asessment and added property owners had the right to file a formal appeal, in writing, prior to 4pm April 16. The Assembly would sit as the Board of Equalization on May 7. VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Connie Kreiss and Sue Litman read a petition in support of eliminating the senior sales tax exemption and reallocate the monies to the School District. Martha Pearson spoke in support of the Tobacco 21 initiative. Garry White, Director of the Sitka Economic Development Association (SEDA) announced SEDA was sponsoring the Sitka Economic Summit on April 5. VIII. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Administrator - Brady announced the release date for the Sitka Community Hospital RFP was March 30; stated the City had received recognition in the Historic Preservation Fund Annual Report as a Certified Local Government success story for the grant opportunities that had been provided for the Sheldon Jackson National Historic Landmark - Sitka was one of only 2 certified local governments, out of over 1900+ nationwide, to be highlighted; reported he along with Mayor Hunter, Jay Sweeney, and Maegan Bosak had participated in a special General Fund call-in show on Raven Radio; announced annual spring cleanup dates. Liaison Representatives - Knox spoke to the Planning Commission, Wein reported on the Library Commission, and Miyasato on the Historic Preservation Commission. Clerk - Peterson reviewed upcoming budget meetings. IX. CONSENT AGENDA A 18-055 Approve the minutes of the March 8, 13, and 15 Assembly meetings A motion was made by Miyasato that the Consent Agenda consisting of item A be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, Bean, and Wein Absent: 1- Hunter X. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 27, 2018 B 18-058 Reappoint Trish White to a three-year term on the Local Emergency Planning Committee Wein thanked Trish White for her service to the community. A motion was made by Miyasato that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, Bean, and Wein Absent: 1- Hunter XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: C ORD 18-04S Amending Title 15 of the Sitka General Code by adding a new Chapter 15.15 "Utility Cost Subsidization Program" Wein suggested waiting until after the budget cycle to consider such an ordinance. Bean recommended reaching out to consultant Bill Wilks, who had helped the City with the O'Connell Lightering Facility Project and Gary Paxton Industrial Park Tariff, to assist the City in designing and implementing a subsidy program. While a number of people were struggling to make ends meet in Sitka he didn't feel the subsidization ordinance was the right tool. Eisenbeisz questioned what was the wisest use of the money - to reduce everyone's rate or those who needed it. Miyasato while supportive of the program wished to see a lower amount appropriated. Cosponsors, Knox and Potrzuski, believed the ordinance created a good starting point for a program to move forward. Knox reminded the Assembly controlled the amount of funding for the program. A motion was made by Knox that this substitute Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 4- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, and Knox No: 2- Bean, and Wein Absent: 1- Hunter D ORD 18-06 Adjusting the FY18 Budget (Library Donation, O'Connell Lightering Facility Repair Project) Wein spoke in support of the O'Connell Bridge Lightering Float repairs and marketing plans. He suggested the Assembly receive an annual update on statistics related to the facility use. Bean was hesitant the projected rates would draw business and recommended monies be spent on repairing existing infrastructure rather than marketing. Eisenbiesz and Knox spoke positively of the project and believed there would be a return on investment. Eisenbeisz thanked the White Elephant Shop for their donation to the Sitka Public Library. A motion was made by Miyasato that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, and Wein No: 1- Bean Absent: 1- Hunter CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 27, 2018 E ORD 18-07 Amending Sitka General Code Title 21 "Subdivision" A motion was made by Miyasato that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, Bean, and Wein Absent: 1- Hunter XII. NEW BUSINESS: New Business First Reading F ORD 18-08 Adjusting the FY18 Budget (Thomsen Harbor Lift Station Rehabilitation Project) A motion was made by Miyasato that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, Bean, and Wein Absent: 1- Hunter Additional New Business Items G 18-056 Approve the Sitka Public Library Code of Conduct policies and Multipurpose Room policies A motion was made by Knox that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, Bean, and Wein Absent: 1- Hunter XIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None. XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION H 18-057 legal matters affecting bulk water sales Bean reminded the Assembly to stay on topic and offer a statement after coming out of executive session informing the public of what had been discussed. Municipal Attorney Brian Hanson suggested the Assembly call in Bryan Bertacchi, Michael Harmon and Garry White at the onset of executive session. A motion was made by Miyasato to go into executive session to discuss with the Municipal Attorney legal matters affecting the municipality regarding bulk water sales and invite in if desired, and when ready, Utility Director Bryan CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 27, 2018 Bertacchi, Public Works Director Michael Harmon and Director of the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Garry White. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, Bean, and Wein Absent: 1- Hunter The Assembly was in executive session from 7:25pm to 8:27pm. A motion was made by Knox to reconvene as the Assembly in regular session. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, Bean, and Wein Absent: 1- Hunter A motion was made by Bean to direct the Administrator to renegotiate the Green Gold bulk water contract. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- Miyasato, Eisenbeisz, Potrzuski, Knox, and Bean No: 1- Wein Absent: 1- Hunter XV. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Miyasato to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 8:30pm. ATTEST: ____________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5