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 Gary Paxton Deputy Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz, Vice Deputy Mayor Kevin Mosher, Kevin Knox, Dr. Richard Wein, Valorie Nelson, Thor Christianson Municipal Administrator: John Leach Municipal Attorney: Brian Hanson Municipal Clerk: Sara Peterson Tuesday, May 5, 2020 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers EMERGENCY MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Members participated by videoconference. Present: 7 - Christianson, Eisenbeisz, Knox, Wein, Paxton, Mosher, and Nelson IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES No agenda changes. V. PERSONS TO BE HEARD None. VI. NEW BUSINESS: A ORD 20-25 An Emergency Ordinance of the City and Borough of Sitka amending Emergency Ordinance 2020-14 by adding an exception to the 14-day self-quarantine requirement when people arriving in Sitka are working at public works projects, community-based government functions and operations, or private construction projects as approved by the Municipal Administrator Nelson recused herself due to a substantial financial interest. Fran Hartman thanked the Assembly action to hunker down. She was not in support to have some workers having to self quarantine and others not. Linda Marlin stated concern for those living paycheck to paycheck and felt the community needed to open CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 5, 2020 up. Jeren Schmidt was in support of the self quarantine of 14 days with no exceptions. Cody Loomis was in support aligning with state mandates. Karen Keating told of concerns with the charter industry and the 14 day quarantine requirement. Jaylene Owen told of concerns for local businesses and shutting citizens in. She stated that the current public policies were narrowly focused on COVID-19 that they neglect the health risks that were more harmful. She implored to work towards a solution to open up. Nicole Bilinski stated that all should have to abide by the state health mandates and not get special treatment. Danielle Roberts gave her opinion that everyone traveling to Sitka, from in state or out of state should be required to self quarantine for 14 days to protect the community. Theresa Weiser felt that by allowing the exceptions, it sent a confusing message. She told of concerns with extending the 61 days expiration that was pre-scheduled for June 9. Samantha Hoffman stated that adding exemptions completely defeated the overall purpose. Luke Johnson felt that the changes portrayed the city valuing itself and its own projects over that of private individuals and businesses. Nelson was not in support and felt that the charter industry was targeted. She stated she would like to rescind ordinance 2020-14. Paxton was in support and noted the projects that were stopped because of the ordinance. He felt Sitka had done what was asked, with masks and social distancing. He felt that ordinance 2020-14 needed to be rescinded. Mosher stated as a co-sponsor, the ordinance wasn't meant to show favoritism. He would like to see some discretion given to the Administrator. Christianson commented that this allowed a small number of businesses/contractors that could be isolated and monitored yet working. He told that charter clients were covered under the state mandate regardless of what the city had in place and noted that the state required self quarantining. Knox found it curious that ongoing projects had been put to a stop as the state mandate was in place. He told of concerns with bringing additional people to Sitka to work as they would still be mixing with the rest of the crew. He wondered how to mitigate or what the possible contamination or infection rate would be from it. He wasn't sure how it would dovetail with the state mandate. Eisenbeisz was not in support, felt that it showed these entities were more important than others, and that it gave special privileges. Wein was not in support as he felt this ordinance did not add anything and didn't state how many people. He saw an enormous array of contradictory rules that made it non functional and could understand why some felt targeted. He stated this situation was fluid, and we were not keeping up with it. He wondered what to do when a surge came to Sitka. He noted that processors would follow state mandates. Municipal Administrator John Leach listed the projects that were stopped. He stated this exemption was not automatic and that a mitigation plan would still need to go through the process as stated in the original ordinance. He told that there was confusion when the state approved plans, yet the city didn't and that this could clear up confusion. Leach laid out impacts if not passed with regards to projects. He mentioned projects that were essential for harbor, roads, electrical, and for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Municipal Attorney Brian Hanson gave his opinion that the hunker down resolution would expire on May 12 and in order to extend, it would need to be placed on the agenda. He stated 2020-24 expired at a later date, although failed rescinding previously, it would need to be placed on the agenda as well. A motion was made by Christianson that this emergency ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion FAILED by the following vote. Yes: 3- Christianson, Paxton, and Mosher No: 3- Eisenbeisz, Knox, and Wein CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 5, 2020 Non-voting: 1- Nelson VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None. VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. IX. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 7:09 p.m. ATTEST: _____________________________ Melissa Henshaw, CMC Deputy Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3