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 Steven Eisenbeisz Deputy Mayor Thor Christianson, Vice Deputy Mayor Valorie Nelson, Kevin Knox, Kevin Mosher, Crystal Duncan, Rebecca Himschoot Municipal Administrator: John Leach Municipal Attorney: Brian Hanson Municipal Clerk: Sara Peterson Tuesday, October 20, 2020 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan Absent: 1 - Nelson IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES Mayor Eisenbeisz announced Alaska Coastal Outfitters withdrew their appeal request. V. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Municipal Administrator John Leach reported the latest sample of Sitka's wastewater showed no evidence of COVID-19. He stated it didn't necessarily mean there were no cases in town but of the tests performed they aligned with the number of cases being reported. He reminded citizens to not let their guard down and to continue mitigation efforts. VI. NEW BUSINESS: A 20-209 Consideration of appeals filed by the following from phase one of the CARES Act business and nonprofit grant applications: 1) Alaska Coastal Outfitters, 2) Alaska Skiff LLC, 3) Ann's Gavan Hill Bed & Breakfast, 4) F/V Sea Lark, 5) Northern Images, 6) Sitka Pregnancy Center, 7) Sitka Sportsman's Association, 8) St. Gregory's Catholic Church Soup Kitchen, 9) Takeena Adventures, 10) The Greater Sitka Arts Council, and 11) Toads Taxi LLC CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 20, 2020 Mayor Eisenbeisz stated the Assembly was acting as a quasi-judicial body, ruling and deliberating on matters. He reminded members to disclose any ex-parte contact with applicants that would bias decision making. Municipal Attorney Brian Hanson spoke to ex-parte contact and told of guidelines for granting an appeal or not granting an appeal - e.g. extraordinary circumstances that qualified the appellant for a higher category. Mayor Eisenbeisz outlined the process stating each appellant would have three minutes, the Assembly would deliberate, and then make a motion to grant the appeal. In addition, he reminded phase 2 of the nonprofit/business grants was open through October 30 and encouraged the appellants to apply. Municipal Administrator John Leach reminded at a minimum the appellant would receive the minimum amount they qualified for. Alaska Coastal Outfitters - withdrew appeal Alaska Skiff LLC - Matthew Stroemer told the Assembly of the hardships his business had experienced. A motion was made by Christianson to grant the appeal for Alaska Skiff LLC. The motion FAILED by the following vote. Yes: 1 - Duncan No: 5 - Eisenbeisz, Christianson, Knox, Mosher, and Himschoot Absent: 1 - Nelson Ann's Gavan Hill Bed & Breakfast - Ann Bills spoke to the challenges her business had faced. A motion was made by Christianson to grant the appeal for Ann's Gavan Hill Bed & Breakfast. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 6 - Knox, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Mosher, Christianson, and Duncan Absent: 1 - Nelson F/V Sea Lark - Richard Mulligan told of the hardships he had experienced as a business owner. A motion was made by Christianson to grant the appeal for F/V Sea Lark. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 6 - Christianson, Himschoot, Duncan, Knox, Mosher, and Eisenbeisz Absent: 1 - Nelson Northern Images - Dan Evans spoke of the financial impacts his business had experienced. A motion was made by Christianson to grant the appeal for Northern Images. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 6 - Himschoot, Knox, Duncan, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, and Christianson Absent: 1 - Nelson Sitka Pregnancy Center - Ann Bills told of the financial challenges faced. A motion was made by Knox to grant the appeal for Sitka Pregnancy Center. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 6 - Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Himschoot, Christianson, and Knox Absent: 1 - Nelson Sitka Sportsman's Association - Chad Goeden and John McCrehin addressed the Assembly and explained the hardships the Association had experienced. A motion was made by Knox to grant the appeal for Sitka Sportsman's Association. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 6 - Mosher, Knox, Christianson, Duncan, Eisenbeisz, and Himschoot CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 20, 2020 Absent: 1 - Nelson St. Gregory's Catholic Church Soup Kitchen - Ron Matthews spoke to the financial challenges and told of the increase in number of meals provided since the pandemic began. A motion was made by Christianson to grant the appeal for St. Gregory's Catholic Church Soup Kitchen. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 6 - Duncan, Eisenbeisz, Christianson, Himschoot, Knox, and Mosher Absent: 1 - Nelson Mosher left the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Takeena Adventures - Serena Wild and Chris Lillehoff stated their operation didn't begin until 2020. They told they had not qualified for COVID-19 relief. Administrator Leach reminded treasury guidance stated a business needed to have a baseline to show how they'd been impacted by the pandemic. A motion was made by Christianson to grant the appeal for Takeena Adventures. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 5 - Himschoot, Knox, Duncan, Eisenbeisz, and Christianson Absent: 2 - Nelson and Mosher The Greater Sitka Arts Council - John Stein, Charlie Morgan, and Rain Van Den Berg told of the financial hardships the organization had endured. A motion was made by Knox to grant the appeal for the Greater Sitka Arts Council. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 5 - Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Himschoot, Christianson, and Knox Absent: 2 - Nelson and Mosher Toads Taxi - Harmony Garnick spoke of the financial impacts her business had faced. A motion was made by Christianson to grant the appeal for Toads Taxi. The motion FAILED by the following vote. No: 5 - Knox, Christianson, Duncan, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot Absent: 2 - Nelson and Mosher Mayor Eisenbeisz reiterated there was strict guidance to follow, and while discouraging, stressed the importance of each business. He encouraged businesses to apply for Phase 2 of the nonprofit/business grants. 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 7:30 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 20, 2020 Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4