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 Thursday, September 24, 2020 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers JOINT WORK SESSION WITH SITKA SCHOOL BOARD 5:00 P.M. 20-194 Joint Work Session: Assembly and School Board The Assembly and Sitka School Board met from 5:00pm to 5:45pm. SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Assembly Members Knox and Nelson participated by videoconference. Present: 7 - Christianson, Eisenbeisz, Knox, Wein, Paxton, Mosher, and Nelson IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES None. V. PERSONS TO BE HEARD None. VI. NEW BUSINESS: A 20-182 Award FY21 General Fund Non-Profit Grants Nelson provided an explanation for allocation amounts of zero and expressed a desire CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final September 24, 2020 to know how many of the applicants had received CARES Act funding and the amount received. Wein told of the need for fiscal responsibility and stressed retaining as much money in the General Fund as possible. He suggested the School District return the Secure Rural Schools funding to the City and apply for CARES Act funding. Christianson noted he hadn't made allocations to some categories because of the receipt of CARES Act funding. Knox reminded CARES Act money was meant to react to what the Nation was going through and reminded the annual General Fund grants provided leverage for organizations. To delay funding could hamper their ability to find additional funding. A motion was made by the Assembly to postpone. Those from the public speaking in opposition to postponement were Lynne Brandon, Anne Bills, Michelle Friedman, George Paul, and Rick Petersen. Municipal Administrator John Leach relayed additional time was needed to gather information related to those organizations who had received CARES Act funding. Knox spoke in opposition to postponement. Christianson and Mosher, while understanding of the disappointment in delaying the awards, reminded it was a postponement not a motion to cancel the awards. Nelson wished to have more information to make an informed decision. Wein stressed fiscal responsibility. A motion was made by Christianson to POSTPONE the award of the FY21 General Fund Non-Profit Grants to the 1st meeting in November (November 10). The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 4- Christianson, Wein, Mosher, and Nelson No: 3- Eisenbeisz, Knox, and Paxton B 20-195 Discussion/Direction/Decision on 1) the Phase 2 CARES Act Small Business and Nonprofit Relief and Recovery grant application, and, 2) the reallocation between funding categories Municipal Administrator John Leach told of the remaining $3.8 million CARES Act funds available to allocate to other programs. He recommended allocating $3 million to category 2 for a second phase of business relief and recovery/stabilization grants and provided an overview of the draft applications. Nelson and Wein expressed a desire to have a second round of utility subsidization. George Paul spoke in support of another round of utility subsidization. A motion was made by Eisenbeisz to approve both applications and the suggested allocation amounts ($3 million total) as provided by the Administrator. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5 - Knox, Paxton, Mosher, Christianson, and Eisenbeisz No: 2 - Wein and Nelson A motion was made by Mosher to allocate $800,000 for another round of utility subsidization for residential accounts. An amendment was made by Christianson to add the remaining $200,000 from the CARES Act homeless program to the remaining $800,000 (part of the $3.8 million referenced above) to make $1 million available for utility subsidization. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final September 24, 2020 Wein spoke to the need to provide assistance to the homeless community and spoke in opposition to the amendment. The AMENDMENT PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 4 - Eisenbeisz, Mosher, Nelson, and Christianson No: 3 - Wein, Knox, and Paxton The main motion as amended PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7 - Christianson, Wein, Eisenbeisz, Nelson, Knox, Mosher, and Paxton VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: George Paul thanked the Assembly and CARES Act Working Group for their time and advocating for those in need. Richard Wein thanked George Paul for his comments and reminded of the need for life to return to normal. VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. IX. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections the meeting ADJOURNED at 7:50 p.m. ATTEST: ________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3