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, June 14, 2022 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. RECITAL OF LANDS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller V. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES No agenda changes. 22-093 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence Municipal Administrator Leach spoke to correspondence related to the tourism feedback line and a letter of opposition to the proposed sale of Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority land in Sitka, case file MHT 9101115. 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) Reporting for the School Board, Blossom Teal-Olsen told of end of year school activities and reminded the Board would meet on June 15 to appoint two vacant seats. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final June 14, 2022 22-083 Sitka Strategic Plan Project Update - Sara Singer Wilson, SSW Consulting Sara Singer Wilson with SSW Consulting presented an update on the City's strategic plan. Wilson reviewed the process, and told of project updates, community engagement, and next steps. Plan development would start in July with adoption slated for August. VIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Dr. Bruhl, Senior Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer at SEARHC, told of behavioral health services based in Sitka. Mike Finn, President of the Sitka ATV Club, spoke about a recent incident on Harbor Mountain in which terrain was damaged. He also requested Assembly sponsorship of an ordinance amending Sitka General Code to allow trailer towing behind an ATV. IX. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Mosher that the Consent Agenda consisting of items A, B, and C be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller A 22-084 Approve the minutes of the May 24 Assembly meeting This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. B 22-085 Approve a retail marijuana store license renewal application for Weed Dudes Incorporated at 1321 Sawmill Creek Road Suites J & K This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. C 22-086 Nominate Mike Reif to the "municipality seat" of the Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. X. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS D 22-091 Appoint: 1) Toccoa Wolf to a three-year term on the Animal Hearing Board in the category of "Veterinarian," 2) Evanne Kegley to a three-year term on the Animal Hearing Board in the category of "non-animal keeper," 3) Kenneth Cameron to an unexpired term on the Investment Committee in the category of "alternate," 4) Alix Snelling to an "at-large" seat on the Sitka Bear Task Force, and 5) Chad Goeden to an unexpired term on the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board Blossom Teal-Olsen expressed opposition to Kenneth Cameron being appointed to the Investment Committee. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final June 14, 2022 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 E 22-092 Reappoint Rich Krupa to a three-year term on the Parks and Recreation Committee A motion was made by Miller that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: F ORD 22-12S Amending Title 4 “Revenue and Finance” of the Sitka General Code by adding a new subsection to Chapter 4.09 “Sales Tax” to establish a consumer’s sale tax on marijuana and marijuana products, in place of the existing consumer’s sales tax; and amending Chapter 4.25 “Student Activities Dedicated Travel Fund” such that the tax proceeds will be deposited into and disbursed from that fund for extracurricular student activities; and submitting the question of such amendment to the qualified voters at the regular election on October 4, 2022 Knox mentioned he and the other sponsors had met with industry members. The substitute ordinance removed sales tax and replaced it with a special sales tax of 6% on sales made during the first year and 8% on sales made during the second year and each year thereafter. Language had been deleted requiring the amount transferred to the School District be included in the calculation of local education support. From the public, those testifying in opposition to the ordinance were Michelle Cleaver and Mike Daly. In support were Frank Hauser, Blossom Teal-Olsen, and Mike Vieira. Some members expressed concern that the funds may be used as a supplement rather than added to what the school district currently budgeted for activities. Finance Director Melissa Haley indicated, that going forward, there would be an explicit discussion point when developing the budget. Duncan expressed equity concerns. Knox and Himschoot noted inequities would be addressed to some degree. Mosher believed the ordinance to be a good compromise. Christianson reminded the special sales tax was ultimately up to voters to decide at the Municipal election in October. A motion was made by Knox that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. Yes: 5- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Himschoot, and Miller No: 2- Eisenbeisz, and Duncan G ORD 22-14 Amending Title 15 “Public Utilities” of the Sitka General Code by updating Chapter 15.15 “Utility Cost Subsidization Program” A motion was made by Christianson that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final June 14, 2022 XII. NEW BUSINESS: H 22-087 Consideration and award of the request for proposals submitted for the available funds in the Fisheries Enhancement Fund Eisenbeisz reviewed the process and stated that $30,600 was available for disbursement; a total of $40,600 had been requested. Linda Behnken summarized the proposal submitted by Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA). Elizabeth Bagley and Lisa Busch spoke to the Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC) proposal. Knox told of his time on the Assembly and each year the Assembly grapples with issues surrounding the intent of the Fund and its distribution. Others agreed. Some wondered about the use of funds towards a haul out as indicated in the ALFA application. Christianson and Duncan suggested a proportional disbursement. Ali Trueworthy, Daniel Gaebele, and Eric Jordan spoke in support of the ALFA application. Linda Behnken commented ALFA would use awarded funds for young fishermen's work and exclude the haul out. A motion was made by Christianson to award $23,000 to Sitka Sound Science Center and award $7,600 to Alaska Longline Fisherman's Association. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller I 22-088 Approve a request for temporary natural resource extraction and mining support facilities (rock screening and crushing) at 300 Airport Road and 227 Tongass Drive filed by SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Planning Director Amy Ainslie explained SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) had started site prep for construction of the new hospital building and hoped to receive approval to operate rock screening and crushing on site to use as fill. Processing on site would reduce the time and expense of trucking blasted rock offsite to be processed and then trucked back to the site for use. There would also be a substantial reduction in traffic generation. Ainslie relayed the Planning Commission had approved the request with the following conditions to help safeguard/mitigate potential adverse impacts: 1) approval valid between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, 2) hours of operation limited to 7am to 6pm Monday through Saturday, 3) the applicant take all reasonable efforts to manage dust generation, 4) screening or crushing equipment be placed and operated no closer than 300 feet to any structure and no closer than 150 feet to any street or sidewalk, 5) operations shall be consistent with the application, narrative, and plans that were submitted, and 6) the Planning Commission may schedule a public hearing at any time to resolve issues with the request and mitigate adverse impacts on nearby properties. SEARHC representatives, Maegan Bosak and Mike Pountney, explained the request. Christianson, liaison to the Planning Commission, stated the Commission had thoroughly reviewed the request. A motion was made by Christianson to approve temporary natural resource CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final June 14, 2022 extraction and mining support facilities (rock screening and crushing) at 300 Airport Road and 227 Tongass Drive in the public lands district as requested by the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium and subject to the conditions of approval listed in the staff memo. Further, the use is in the public interest, all reasonable safeguards are to be employed to protect the surrounding area, and that there are no reasonable alternative locations for the use. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller J 22-089 Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Borough of Sitka and the Sitka Cycling Club for a bicycle pump track near the skate park below the intersection of Halibut Point Road and Katlian Street KK Prussian with the Sitka Cycling Club thanked the Assembly for their support. 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 K 22-090 Discussion / Direction / Decision on budgetary parameters associated with the Green Corridor First Mover Commitment Administrator Leach requested budgetary parameters. The Assembly discussed and agreed there was currently no financial or personnel support to contribute to the project. Once the Sustainability Coordinator was hired, the City's contribution would be that individual in-kind staff time. XIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Doug Osborne of the Sitka Health Summit told of the annual meeting on September 15 and provided an update on the Sitka Homeless Coalition project. XIV. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Administrator - Leach provided an update on the Strategic Plan process, Lincoln Street closure, and announced Sitka had taken second place at the American Water Works Association's Best of the Best Water Taste Test Competition. Clerk - Peterson announced a candidate open house was scheduled for June 20 and June 30. Other - Knox spoke about the planned construction on Sawmill Creek Road and reminded individuals to remove studded tires. XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final June 14, 2022 XVI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 9:00pm. ATTEST: ____________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 6