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 Thursday, September 13, 2018 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Present: 4 - Miyasato, Hunter, Knox, and Bean Absent: 1 - Eisenbeisz Telephonic: 2 - Potrzuski, and Wein IV. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Valorie Nelson stated citizens had the right to know what was going on and reminded the Assembly to be transparent. V. NEW BUSINESS: A 18-174 Discussion / Direction on Phase 3 of the Sitka Community Hospital RFP process - specifically the Letter Of Intent with SEARHC and consider engagement of outside counsel (executive session anticipated) Administrator Keith Brady informed the meeting was to outline phase 3 of the Sitka Community Hospital RFP process, letter of intent, and receive direction from the Assembly. Municipal Attorney Brian Hanson advised, when in negotiations, for the Assembly to go into executive session. Shannon Haugland from the Daily Sitka Sentinel understood the need for executive session if discussing contract negotiations but reminded the Assembly to keep on topic. Kevin Mosher expressed a desire for the letter of intent to be made public. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final September 13, 2018 Valorie Nelson reiterated the need for transparency and urged the Assembly to hold their discussions in public. Wein believed the meeting should be held in public. Bean, Knox, and Potruzski stated there were some issues that needed to be discussed in executive session. A motion was made by Knox to go into executive session to discuss communications with the Municipal Attorney and Municipal Administrator regarding phase 3 of the Sitka Community Hospital RFP process, specifically the letter of intent with SEARHC and consideration of outside counsel, matters the immediate knowledge of which would adversely affect the finances of the municipality and invite to participate by phone, Sitka Community Hospital RFP Consultant, Sarah Cave of Sarah Cave Consulting, and if desired and when ready, Chief Finance and Administrative Officer, Jay Sweeney. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5 - Hunter, Bean, Knox, Potrzuski, Miyasato No: 1 - Wein The Assembly was in executive session from 6:25-8:00pm. A break was held from 8-8:10pm. Jay Sweeney was invited in at 8:10pm. Wein, due to travel, needed to sign off at 8:25pm. A motion was made by Knox to reconvene as the Assembly in regular session. The motion PASSED by unanimous voice vote. Hunter relayed the Assembly had discussed the letter of intent, negotiating strategies, and heard from staff and consultants about best practices and concerns. He reiterated during the upcoming months as the Assembly worked through the negotiation phase and drafting the letter of intent, many of those discussions would be held in executive session. Once a decision had been made, and the Assembly directed the Adminsitrator to sign a letter of intent, then the letter of intent would be made public. A motion was made by Miyasato to direct staff (Municipal Attorney and Municipal Administrator) to enter into a contract with outside counsel recommended by Mr. Hanson and to draft an ordinance to that effect, to appropriate up to, but not to exceed, $150,000 for phase 3 of negotiations. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- Miyasato, Potrzuski, Hunter, Knox, and Bean Absent: 2- Eisenbeisz, and Wein VI. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None. VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION See item A. VIII. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Miyasato to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final September 13, 2018 meeting ADJOURNED at 9:38pm. ATTEST: ______________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3