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 Kevin Knox, Vice Deputy Mayor Kevin Mosher, Thor Christianson, Crystal Duncan, Rebecca Himschoot, David Miller Municipal Administrator: John Leach Municipal Attorney: Brian Hanson Municipal Clerk: Sara Peterson Tuesday, February 22, 2022 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. RECITAL OF LANDS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan Absent: 1 - Miller V. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES Himschoot announced National Brain Injury Day was March 3 and noted there was an Alaska Brain Injury Council at the University of Alaska. 22-032 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence VI. CEREMONIAL MATTERS None. VII. SPECIAL REPORTS: Government to Government, Municipal Boards/Commissions/Committees, Municipal Departments, School District, Students and Guests (five minute time limit) Sitka Tribe of Alaska Tribal Chairman, Woody Widmark, told of recent business. 22-025 Parks and Recreation Committee - Chair James Poulson CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final February 22, 2022 Chair James Poulson provided an overview of the work of the Parks and Recreation Committee. VIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD John Stein spoke in opposition to requiring the Benches and Birds project group be responsible for maintenance of the Elizabeth Peratrovich bench. Leah Mason spoke to the gap in services and reminded the Assembly to think about where attention was placed and who benefited. Brett Wilcox spoke in opposition to masks and urged the Assembly to rescind the mask mandate. Greg Dunn requested the Assembly rescind the mask mandate. Levi Green spoke in opposition to parking enforcement. IX. CONSENT AGENDA A 22-026 Approve the minutes of the February 3 and February 8 Assembly meetings A motion was made by Mosher that this item be APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan Absent: 1- Miller X. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS B 22-027 Reappoint Steve Clayton to a three-year term on the Building Department Appeals Board in the category of alternate and Appoint 1) Gail Roderick to an unexpired term on the Police and Fire Commission, and 2) Noah Goodwin-Bain to a three-year term on the Tree and Landscape Committee Knox and Christianson thanked Clayton for reapplying. A motion was made by Knox to REAPPOINT Steve Clayton to a three-year term on the Building Department Appeals Board in the category of alternate. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6 - Knox, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Mosher, Christianson, and Duncan Absent: 1 - Miller A motion was made by Knox to APPOINT 1) Gail Roderick to an unexpired term on the Police and Fire Commission, and 2) Noah Goodwin-Bain to a three-year term on the Tree and Landscape Committee. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan Absent: 1- Miller XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final February 22, 2022 C ORD 22-02 Amending Title 11 “Vehicles and Traffic” of the Sitka General Code by repealing Section 11.28.040 “Exception - Prohibition of all-purpose vehicles traveling on public roadways” in Chapter 11.28 “State Traffic Laws Adopted” and adding Chapter 11.75 “All-Purpose Vehicles” From the public, John Dull spoke in opposition. Logan Kluting and Valorie Nelson spoke in support. Christianson felt comfortable with the legislation, thanked the working group, and said the correct department to contact if there were concerns related to ATVs was the Police Department. Clerk Sara Peterson reminded the Police and Fire Commission that had requested to revisit the ordinance in a year and she had calendared that. Knox spoke to concerns about commercial ATV operations in Sitka. Himschoot spoke to the need for ATV safety education and expressed concern about heavily traveled areas. A motion was made by Himschoot that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, and Duncan No: 1- Knox Absent: 1- Miller XII. NEW BUSINESS: New Business First Reading D ORD 22-03 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2022 (Lincoln Street Closure Expenses) Administrator Leach explained resources and appropriations needed to close Lincoln Street for a total of 71 days during the summer season. Eisenbeisz, while opposed to closing Lincoln Street, spoke in support of the cost allocation study. Knox hoped for aesthetically pleasing barriers. A motion was made by Mosher that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Himschoot, and Duncan No: 1- Eisenbeisz Absent: 1- Miller Additional New Business Items E 22-029 Discussion / Direction / Decision on guidelines for telephonic and videoconference participation by Assembly members and the public at Assembly meetings Eisenbeisz said concessions had been made for telephonic participation during the pandemic, Sitka was no longer under an emergency order, and there was a desire to CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final February 22, 2022 either align with code or amend. Clerk Sara Peterson reviewed the packet memo, told of code guidelines for Assembly and public participation, and offered recommendations. Peterson explained current code allowed a member of the public outside of Sitka to participate by phone while a citizen in Sitka was not allowed to do so. Assembly members wished to keep the lines of access to local government open. Knox, Duncan, and Mosher volunteered to work on an ordinance that addressed the issues raised. F 22-030 Discussion / Direction / Decision on final placement of the Benches and Birds Project at Harrigan Centennial Hall Administrator Leach provided a summary of the project, noted staff had reviewed the plan last fall and provided input to the Benches and Birds group. Staff had proposed an alternative location for the benches as opposed to the courtyard location selected by the group. Assembly members spoke to the importance of the project, thanked staff and members of the Benches and Birds group. It was determined the benches would be placed in the courtyard area in front of Harrigan Centennial Hall. Leach noted the memorandum of agreement would be finalized and ready for signature. G 22-028 Discussion / Direction / Decision on sending the Municipal Administrator and the Mayor to the lobbying trip in Washington, DC and the Seatrade Cruise Global event in Miami, FL over the week of April 25-28 Administrator Leach told of the Sea Trade Cruise Global event and lobbying trip. He explained the City had been attending Sea Trade Cruise Global since 2012. Since the U.S. House and Senate would be in session during the same week, he told of the opportunity to split the trip and include a lobbying trip to visit the Alaska Delegation in Washington D.C. Leach stated appropriations were in place for the trips. Assembly members agreed to the travel. XIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Loyd Platson spoke to the Benches and Birds memorandum of agreement (MOA). He said Sitka Counseling was willing to sign the MOA and would prefer for the City to maintain the benches. He added the City would have control over the QR code. Anna Laffrey, Lakota Harden, Lee House, Claire Sanchez, and Leah Mason spoke in support of the Benches and Birds project and thanked the group. Kevin Mosher thanked the artist, Zach LaPerrière. XIV. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Administrator - Leach reported on his attendance at Southeast Conference and the Alaska Municipal League Winter Conference. Liaison Representatives - Knox told of the Port and Harbors Commission meeting. Other - Assembly Members congratulated the Sitka High School DDF team on their state win. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final February 22, 2022 XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION H 22-031 Legal Matter: Purchase and Sale Agreement for Sitka Community Hospital Site A motion was made by Duncan to go into executive session with the Municipal Attorney to discuss a legal matter affecting the municipality regarding the Purchase and Sale Agreement for Sitka Community Hospital Site. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6 - Mosher, Knox, Christianson, Duncan, Eisenbeisz, and Himschoot Absent: 1 - Miller The Assembly was in executive session from 8:35pm - 9:10pm. A motion was made by Knox to reconvene as the Assembly in regular session. The motion PASSED by unanimous voice vote. XVI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Knox to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 9:15pm. ATTEST: _____________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5