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, February 9, 2021 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Duncan participated by videoconference. Knox arrived at 6:08 p.m. Present: 7 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES 21-022 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence None. V. CEREMONIAL MATTERS None. VI. SPECIAL REPORTS: Government to Government, Municipal Boards/Commissions/Committees, Municipal Departments, School District, Students and Guests (five minute time limit) 21-020 Special Report: Pathways Coalition - Sitka Kids website Kari Sagel with the Pathways Coalition provided an overview of the resources available on the Sitka Kids website and Facebook page. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final February 9, 2021 VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Richard Wein spoke of the cold temperatures and wondered of shelter for the homeless population. He commented on the need for an update on the seaplane base project, airport terminal improvement project, and written report from lobbyist Blank Rome. VIII. CONSENT AGENDA A 21-021 Approve the minutes of the January 21 and January 26 assembly meetings Richard Wein thanked the Clerk for her work. A motion was made by Christianson that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan B ORD 21-03 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2021 (Electric Department - International Crane) Richard Wein reviewed the appropriation and wondered of inner enterprise fund transfers. Mosher noted he had pulled this item from the consent agenda to allow for discussion. Himschoot wondered of the discretionary spending amount for the Municipal Administrator. A motion was made by Christianson that this Item be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan C ORD 21-02 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2021 (Bulk Water Line at Gary Paxton Industrial Park) Richard Wein spoke to the appropriation, noted a substantial repair was needed and suggested NSRAA, the beneficiary, pay for the repair. A motion was made by Knox that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan IX. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS None. X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: D ORD 21-01 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2021 (Potential Sale Expense Former Sitka Community Hospital Site) Richard Wein urged the Assembly to consider a lease agreement as opposed to a sale. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final February 9, 2021 A motion was made by Himschoot that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan No: 1- Nelson XI. NEW BUSINESS: E RES 21-03 Submitting City and Borough of Sitka FY 2022 State Legislative Priorities to State of Alaska and 2021 Legislature Administrator Leach reviewed the resolution, legislative priorities, and reminded they could be reprioritized. Richard Wein read through the list of priorities, noted it was a wish list, and commented on the divide between the City and the state and federal delegations. Linda Behnken spoke in support of prioritizing Sitka's Working Waterfront. Assembly Members discussed the order of the priorities. A motion was made by Nelson to move Working Waterfront to #1, Green Lake to #2, AMHS to #3, make the Airport #4, and Seaplane Base #5. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7 - Mosher, Nelson, Knox, Christianson, Duncan, Eisenbeisz, and Himschoot Richard Wein spoke to the need for priorities that would sustain Sitka. A motion was made by Christianson to move School Bond Debt to #3. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7 - Duncan, Eisenbeisz, Christianson, Himschoot, Nelson, Knox, and Mosher Richard Wein spoke to the need for communication about bond reimbursement. A motion was made by Mosher that this Resolution be APPROVED on FIRST AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan F RES 21-04 Authorizing the Municipal Administrator to apply for the National Renewable Energy Laboratories Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project Municipal Administrator John Leach reported staff had been working on this application for months. He spoke of the 2010 Climate Action Plan and noted a resolution had been approved in 2009 setting a 25% reduction target for municipal greenhouse gas from 2003 levels by 2020. Leach announced the City had successfully reduced municipal greenhouse levels by 64% from the 2003 baseline - 2 1/2 times the goal set in 2010. Leach shared the opportunity would help the City gain expertise in capturing possible renewable energy resources. From the public, Richard Wein noted the company was an LLC and desired more information before a decision was made. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final February 9, 2021 Most members expressed support for the item. Nelson offered support although hoped additional staff would not be requested. Utility Director Scott Elder stated current staff would manage the project and hoped to know within a month if the City was a recipient. A motion was made by Mosher that this Resolution be APPROVED on FIRST AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan XII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Richard Wein stated the University of Leicester in England eliminated Chaucer and other 15th Century authors from their English Department reading list, noted the Alaska Marine Highway System was a political issue, and shared the CDC had recently published mortality figures related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Towards the end of Wein's comment period, Assembly Member Himschoot asked the Mayor if she questioned the veracity of the comments being made if there was a mechanism in place for handling that. Kevin Mosher reminded of the purpose of the "Persons to Be Heard" agenda item and that it was an opportunity for citizens to speak as long as there were no personal attacks. Valorie Nelson reminded of the section in Sitka General Code that Assembly members, members of boards, commissions and committees, staff, and members of the public shall speak and refer to each other in a respectful manner, and shall not attack or question the motives of others. Crystal Duncan told of the work on display at the Sitka Public Library by Alaskan artist Amber Webb. Duncan said the piece was a giant kuspuk which carried the faces of missing and murdered Indigenous women from around Alaska, Canada, and the United States. She encouraged the community to view the display and thanked Webb for sharing it with Sitka. XIII. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Mayor - Eisenbeisz reported on the recent Southeast Conference event. Administrator - Leach told of the letter he had sent to the Congressional Delegation regarding the Passenger Vessel Services Act, noted Alaska's high vaccination rate in comparison to the rest of the country, and thanked community members for practicing COVID-19 mitigation measures. Attorney - Hanson told of work in the legal department. Liaison Representatives - Christianson reported on the Investment Committee and Planning Commission meetings; Knox told of the upcoming Port and Harbors Commission meeting and reminded of a virtual open house on the Seaplane Base February 17; Mosher reported on the SEDA and Parks and Recreation Committee meetings; Himschoot on SSD Superintendent search and the Tree and Landscape Committee meeting; and Nelson on the Police and Fire Commission, Library Commission meeting, and told of the upcoming LEPC meeting. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final February 9, 2021 Clerk - Peterson reviewed board/commission vacancies and told of upcoming meetings. Other - Knox wondered of the Climate Action Task Force meeting schedule. Leach reported the first meeting was scheduled for February 16 at 6:00pm. XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. XV. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Himschoot to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 7:37pm. ATTEST: _________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5