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, July 27, 2021 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Nelson participated by videoconference. Present: 7 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES No agenda changes. 21-125 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence V. CEREMONIAL MATTERS 21-123 Citation - U.S. Coast Guard Day Mayor Eisenbeisz read and presented a citation to U.S. Coast Guard personnel honoring U.S. Coast Guard Day on August 4. VI. SPECIAL REPORTS: Government to Government, Municipal Boards/Commissions/Committees, Municipal Departments, School District, Students and Guests (five minute time limit) Tribal Vice Chair Dionne Brady-Howard spoke to the Tribal Council Resolution requesting the Assembly re-institute a mask mandate in all public locations within Sitka. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final July 27, 2021 21-122 Special Report: Alaska's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink (via videoconference) Alaska's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Zink, and other public health officials provided a COVID-19 update. Dr. Zink reviewed state and national trends, Sitka's case rate, vaccination rates, encouraged vaccinations, and continued practice of virus mitigation strategies. VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Lisa Busch and Jacyn Schmidt of the Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC) provided an update on the SSSC's development of a community based landslide warning system and the research involved. Rachel Roy, Executive Director of the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce, spoke to a grant received from the Department of Health and Social Services to help with vaccine promotion. VIII. CONSENT AGENDA - No items No items. IX. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS A 21-124 Reappoint Brandon Marx to a three-year term on the Parks and Recreation Committee Christianson and Knox thanked Marx for his continued service. 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 X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: B ORD 21-19 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2022 (Cross Trail Phase 6) A motion was made by Himschoot that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan C ORD 21-15A Amending Title 13 “Port and Harbors” of the Sitka General Code by updating Chapter 13.10 “Float Regulations” (boat launch ramp parking at Sealing Cove/Crescent Harbor) 1st reading as amended - item postponed at the June 22 Assembly meeting Eisenbeisz stated staff had requested additional time to work on the Ordinance revisions. A motion was made by Knox that this Ordinance be POSTPONED on FIRST CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final July 27, 2021 READING AS AMENDED to the September 28, 2021 Assembly meeting. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan XI. NEW BUSINESS: New Business First Reading D ORD 21-23 Amending Title 20 "Environmentally Critical Areas" of the Sitka General Code by repealing Chapter 20.01 "Landslide Area Management" From the public, Richard Wein spoke in support. Knox, a sponsor, said this section of the Sitka General Code (SGC) was often referenced as the reason why lenders and insurance companies were reluctant to lend on properties. He hoped by removing the section it would stop the finger-pointing and lead towards resolution. Administrator Leach thanked former Interim Administrator Hugh Bevan for his work on the subject. Leach reiterated the SGC section had become a barrier to citizens for lending and insurance on homes. A motion was made by Mosher 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 E ORD 21-22 Concerning the sale of the former Sitka Community Hospital Site located at 209 Moller Drive, 202 Brady Street, 204 Brady Street, and 302 Gavan Street, Sitka, Alaska; and submitting an advisory question of such a sale to the qualified voters at the regular election on October 5, 2021 From the public, Richard Wein spoke in opposition to the proposed ballot question. Sponsors Nelson and Christianson spoke in support. Christianson didn't feel there was much input at previous town hall meetings and wished for citizens to have a chance to weigh in with an advisory vote. Knox expressed concern with the timing and how it would affect the current process for Request for Proposals (RFP) to Purchase or Lease Sitka Community Hospital Site. In addition, he wondered if citizens would approach the ballot question as a) a referendum on whether the Sitka Community Hospital business should have been sold, and b) a referendum on the organization looking to continue providing healthcare services in Sitka. Administrator Leach explained RFP proposals were due July 28. Staff would need to review the proposals submitted, select and present it to the Assembly with a potential sales ordinance at the August 24 Assembly meeting. Municipal Attorney Brian Hanson reminded if the selected proposal was a lease, the ballot question would not be placed on the ballot. Only if the selected RFP proposal was a sale would the question be placed on the ballot. With regards to an advisory vote, Hanson said the Assembly may use the information from the electorate in their own discretion. Duncan expressed hesitation and wondered if the ballot question was brought forward due to a lack of community input from the town halls and surveys. A motion was made by Christianson that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final July 27, 2021 Yes: 6- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, and Himschoot No: 1- Duncan F ORD 21-21 Authorizing the lease of Upper Granite Creek Lease Area 5, a 6.7 acre portion of Lot 1, U.S. Survey 3670 From the public, Richard Wein spoke in support. Knox expressed a need for the overburden disposal site. A motion was made by Christianson 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 Additional New Business Items None. XII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Jeff Kinnan spoke to saving the former Sitka Community Hospital. Jeff Wright spoke in support of the Sitka Community Hospital advisory ballot question going before voters at the on the municipal election in October. XIII. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Mayor - Eisenbeisz encouraged citizens to continue COVID-19 mitigation efforts. He relayed there would be an emergency meeting on July 29 regarding COVID-19 mitigation. Administrator - Leach noted he would be in attendance at the Alaska Municipal League Summer Legislative Conference August 3-6. Attorney - Hanson told of his office hours. Clerk - Peterson reviewed the vacancies to be filled through the Municipal Election and filing deadline. XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. XV. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 8:03pm. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final July 27, 2021 ATTEST: ______________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5