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, May 11, 2021 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES No agenda changes. 21-086 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence 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) Police Chief Baty recognized retiring employee Ken Buxton for his service as Animal Control Officer. 21-082 1) SEARHC President Charles Clement: Sitka's Integrated Health Care System - 6 Month Report, and 2) Republic Services Matthew Pederson of Republic Services, the City's solid waste contractor, spoke about the City's options for future garbage shipments and recommended changes. SEARHC President, Charles Clement, provided an update: expansion and enhancement of CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 11, 2021 specialty care, COVID-19 mitigation efforts continue, and project timeline for the new Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Richard Wein spoke to the expansion of telemedicine, cost of medicine, and thanked Ken Buxton and Dan Etulain for their service to the community. VIII. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Nelson that the Consent Agenda consisting of items A & B be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan A 21-084 Approve the minutes of the April 27 Assembly meeting This item was APPROVED. B 21-085 Approve liquor license renewal applications for 1) Mean Queen upstairs and downstairs at 205 Harbor Drive, and 2) Trinity Business Services LLC dba Halibut Point Crab & Brew at 4513 Halibut Point Road This item was APPROVED. IX. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS None. X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: C ORD 21-08 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2021 (Sitka Community Hospital Dedicated Fund) Richard Wein spoke to the amount and purpose of the Ordinance. Knox stated the supplemental appropriation was for $425,000 to cover long-term contracts, legal expenses, and increased unemployment costs. A motion was made by Knox 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: New Business First Reading D ORD 21-09 Adopting budgets and capital improvement plan for the General Fund, Internal Service Funds, and Special Revenue Funds for the fiscal year CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 11, 2021 July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 Richard Wein spoke to the budget and encouraged to stop living paycheck to paycheck. Assembly Members thanked staff for their work on the budget and complimented them on the process. Nelson spoke in opposition citing additional positions and wage increases. A motion was made by Himschoot that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan No: 1- Nelson E ORD 21-10 Adopting the budget and capital improvement plan for all Enterprise Funds for the fiscal year July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, amending rates in Title 15 “Public Utilities” of the Sitka General Code and adopting moorage rates and other harbor fees Richard Wein thanked staff for their work in a difficult situation. Nelson spoke to the increase in Electric Department staffing. Eisenbeisz reminded of the rate studies and long range plans included in the budget. A motion was made by Christianson that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan No: 1- Nelson Additional New Business Items F 21-083 Discussion / Direction / Decision on the Harbor Mountain Bypass Cell Tower Parcel Lease Administrator Leach summarized the item stating the City had been approached by Vertical Bridge/New Horizons, contractors for Verizon Wireless, to lease municipal land in the Harbor Mountain Bypass Road area. The Assembly had directed staff to issue a Request for Proposals to lease a site on Harbor Mountain Bypass Road for the purpose of the cell tower development. The terms of the lease were in the packet memo. Planning Director Amy Ainslie stated the item was brought forward to ensure the Assembly was comfortable with the terms prior to bringing forward a lease ordinance for approval. Consensus was to bring an ordinance forward for approval. G 21-080 Approve the RFP for the sale of the former Sitka Community Hospital site and associated properties (possible executive session) Richard Wein suggested giving the building to SEARHC and leasing the property. A motion was made by Christianson to go into executive session with Planning Director Amy Ainslie to discuss the independent appraisal for the former Sitka CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 11, 2021 Community Hospital building and surrounding properties and its potential incorporation into the RFP under the statutory category of discussing matters, the immediate knowledge of which would adversely affect the City and Borough of Sitka. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7 - Mosher, Nelson, Knox, Christianson, Duncan, Eisenbeisz, and Himschoot Richard Wein spoke in opposition to executive session. Nelson believed there were two members with biases and reason to advance the item. The Assembly was in executive session from 7:48pm to 9:00pm. A motion was made by Mosher to reconvene as the Assembly in regular session. The motion PASSED by unanimous consent. A motion was made by Knox to APPROVE the RFP for the sale of the former Sitka Community Hospital site and associated properties with direction given in executive session. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan H 21-081 Approve first amendment to employee agreement between the City and Borough of Sitka and Brian E. Hanson (possible executive session) Christianson stated the changes to the amendment were well deserved. Knox and Eisenbeisz reminded Hanson had not received any adjustments in salary for the last several years, including cost of living adjustments. A motion was made by Mosher that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan XII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None. XIII. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Mayor - Eisenbeisz told of meetings and events held during Senator Sullivan's recent visit to Sitka. Administrator - Leach spoke to Senator Sullivan's visit, told of potential changes to masking requirements in City facilities, and thanked the public for their overwhelming participation in the Spring-Clean Up event. Attorney - Hanson congratulated Jay Sweeney on his retirement and commended Sweeney for his service. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 11, 2021 Liaison Representatives - Christianson announced about the upcoming Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board meeting and reported on the Planning Commission meeting. Mosher spoke to the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting, Himschoot thanked the Tree and Landscape Committee for their landscape work at the Fire Hall, Knox told of the upcoming Port and Harbors Commission meeting, and Duncan reported on the recent Health Needs and Human Services Commission meeting. Clerk - Peterson reviewed the Board/Commission vacancies. Other - Nelson clarified comments she made at a previous meeting regarding possible school requests for the use of the donation from Norwegian Cruise Lines. XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION See item G. XV. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 9:20pm. ATTEST: _________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5