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 12, 2021 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. ROLL CALL Outgoing Assembly Member Nelson presided through Unfinished Business. Assembly Members Mosher (re-elected) and Miller were sworn in at the beginning of New Business and presided through the remainder of the meeting. Present: 8 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller IV. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES None. 21-159 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) 21-151 Special Report - Sitka Landslide Warning System Update Sitka Sound Science Center Director Lisa Busch and Annette Patton Geoscientist at the University of Oregon provided a landslide research update. Busch told of next CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 12, 2021 steps, monitoring, and the development of a community landslide risk dashboard. VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Valorie Nelson spoke to her compilation of emails regarding the mask mandate. 191 emails had been received in support and 258 in opposition. Richard Wein spoke to affordability in Sitka and the breakthrough vaccination rates. Brett Wilcox told of the differences in health issues between those vaccinated and unvaccinated. VIII. CONSENT AGENDA A 21-150 Approve the minutes of the September 14, 23, and 28 Assembly meetings A motion was made by Nelson that this Item be APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan Non-voting: 1- Miller IX. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS See item I. X. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: B ORD 21-29 Authorizing the sale of the former Sitka Community Hospital Site located at 209 Moller Drive, 202 Brady Street, 204 Brady Street, and 302 Gavan Street to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) From the public, Richard Wein and Carin Adickes spoke in opposition of a sale. A discussion of the Assembly ensued. Nelson spoke in opposition stating she supported a lease option. Himschoot hoped the City would see tax revenue from the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) and expressed disappointment in SEARHC using the same appraiser as the City. Duncan disclosed her office space was provided by SEARHC. Based on the outcome of the advisory vote, Christianson, Mosher, and Eisenbeisz expressed support for moving forward with the sale. A motion was made by Mosher 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 Non-voting: 1- Miller C ORD 21-36 Making supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY2021 Open Purchase Orders) CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 12, 2021 A motion was made by Himschoot that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. Yes: 6- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan No: 1- Nelson Non-voting: 1- Miller D 21-152 Approve the Municipal Clerk's Certificate of Election A motion was made by Knox to formally ACCEPT the Certificate of Election for the October 5, 2021 Regular Municipal Election according to the results set forth in the attached election certification prepared by the Municipal Clerk and request that the official tally be included in the minutes as part of the permanent record. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Nelson, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan Non-voting: 1- Miller E 21-153 Recognize outgoing Assembly Member(s) - followed by a short recess The Assembly took a short recess to recognize outgoing Assembly Member Valorie Nelson. XI. NEW BUSINESS: F 21-154 Oath of Office - Newly Elected Officials Kevin Mosher and David Miller were sworn in as Assembly Members for three-year terms. G 21-157 Discussion / Direction on leasing city tidelands adjacent to 1406 Sawmill Creek Road to Sharon and Lisa Williamson Planning Director Amy Ainslie explained the current owners were in the process of marketing their property and were interested in leasing the adjacent municipal tidelands to make the property more desirable. Once the property was sold, the tidelands lease would be assigned to the new owner. Ainslie hoped for guidance on the lease terms and whether competitive bidding was inappropriate. A discussion ensued. The Assembly determined it to be non-competitive and agreed on a 6% rate. H 21-155 Approve a standard marijuana cultivation facility license renewal application for Darren H. Phillips dba Fiberflite at 120 Jarvis Street Unit C A motion was made by Himschoot that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller Non-voting: 1- Nelson CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 12, 2021 I 21-156 Appoint 1) Karen Lucas to a three-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission, and 2) Thomas Martin to an unexpired term on the Library Commission From the public, Richard Wein spoke in support of Karen Lucas. Christianson thanked both individuals for applying. A motion was made by Duncan that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller Non-voting: 1- Nelson J ORD 21-37 Amending Title 2 “Administration” of the Sitka General Code by updating Chapter 2.04 “City and Borough Assembly” to include a land acknowledgment to the agenda Knox, a sponsor, told of his work on this item. He relayed the topic had been mentioned at government to government meetings, had been mentioned to tribal members, and believed it to be an acknowledgement of the place we stand and do business; a small gesture in the work done with the First Nations people of Sitka. Mosher, a sponsor, agreed. He said it was a simply written expression of gratitude. Duncan thanked the sponsors for bringing the item forward. Eisenbeisz noted he would read the acknowledgement at the October 20 Tribal Council meeting. 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, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller Non-voting: 1- Nelson K 21-158 Assignments: Deputy Mayor, Vice-Deputy Mayor, and Assembly Liaisons Knox was nominated for Deputy Mayor. Hearing no other nominations, Knox was appointed. Mosher was nominated for Vice Deputy Mayor. Hearing no other nominations, Mosher was appointed. The following liaison appointments were made: Climate Action Task Force - Mosher / Himschoot Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board - Christianson / Eisenbeisz Health Needs and Human Services Commission - Duncan / Christianson Historic Preservation Commission - Miller Investment Committee - Christianson Library Commission - Himschoot / Christianson Local Emergency Planning Commission - Miller / Duncan Parks and Recreation Committee - Knox / Mosher Planning Commission - Christianson / Duncan Police and Fire Commission - Duncan / Miller Port and Harbors Commission - Knox / Eisenbeisz CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 12, 2021 Tree and Landscape Committee - Himschoot / Miller SEDA - Eisenbeisz / Mosher Sitka Tribe of Alaska - Eisenbeisz / Miller School Board - Himschoot / Mosher XII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Carin Adickes spoke to a current Assembly Member making an inflammatory statement at an Emergency Operations Center meeting regarding unvaccinated individuals. She requested an investigation. Richard Wein spoke in support of the land acknowledgement and spoke to the lack of negotiation of the hospital sale price. Kevin Knox read a statement from Kevin Mulligan in support of a Seaplane Base. XIII. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Administrator - Leached thanked Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson and election officials for conducting a clean and efficient election. Clerk - Peterson read through the Board/Commission/Committee vacancy list, expressed gratitude to Deputy Clerk Jess Earnshaw, Administrative Coordinator Holley Dennison, and all election officials for a job well done in the municipal election, and thanked Sitka High student Nik Calhoun for making assembly name plaques with the new city seal. Other - Mosher reminded liaisons to meet with their respective commissions to talk about streamlining duties. XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. XV. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Mosher to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 7:53pm. ATTEST: _________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5