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 Thursday, March 4, 2021 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Knox arrived at 6:07pm. Nelson attended by videoconference. Present: 7 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES None. V. PERSONS TO BE HEARD School Superintendent John Holst provided a summary of school funding and said despite the Assembly's approved funding on February 25, the District was still at a deficit level. School Board President Amy Morrison apologized for the misunderstanding in funding and spoke about the different definitions of the cap. For now, she said the District would hold tight and wait on requesting additional funds from the City. She noted there could be possible additional stimulus money and told of no increase in health insurance premiums. Richard Wein spoke to the Bill of Rights. Blossom Teal-Olsen thanked the Assembly for collaboration with the School District. VI. NEW BUSINESS: CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 4, 2021 A 21-033 Discussion / Direction / Decision of the FY2022 Draft Administrator's Budget with focus on the General Fund Finance Director Melissa Haley stated this meeting was a review of the General Fund and desired changes could be made by motion. She explained the $1.9M deficit and said the core decision was to either move forward with existing level of services or make significant cuts now. Haley reviewed sales tax revenue, the General Fund, non-core services, public education funding trends, public safety trends and challenges, public works trends and challenges, capital projects trends, and non-core services. Administrator Leach reminded of the $1.9M deficit of which $1.5M would be covered with the projected surplus. B 21-034 Discussion / Direction, if desired, of the FY2022 Draft Budget as it relates to the General Fund, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, School Funding, and other Funds (Assembly action may be taken) No discussion. VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Richard Wein spoke of the budget and noted fundamentals weren't being addressed. He urged the Assembly to have a conversation on the future of Sitka. VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. IX. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Knox to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 7:32pm. ATTEST: ___________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2