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 Thursday, August 18, 2022 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. RECITAL OF LANDS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Christianson, Knox, Mosher, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller Absent: 1 - Eisenbeisz V. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES None. VI. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Shirley Robards called attention to the RIDE bus location across from the Bayview and requested the Assembly allow public parking after 7pm when the RIDE was finished operating for the day. Richard Wein encouraged the Assembly to approve a new resolution of support for the salmon fishery similar to Resolution 2020-19 and congratulated the City on being awarded a grant to repair the seawall. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A ORD 22-19 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2023 (Blatchley Middle School Heat Pumps) 1st reading approved on 8/9/22 Municipal Administrator John Leach reviewed the ordinance. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final August 18, 2022 From the public, Richard Wein spoke about the appropriation and the need to understand what caused failures. Assembly members stressed the importance of preventative maintenance and suggested further discussions regarding funding school infrastructure. 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, Himschoot, Duncan, and Miller Absent: 1- Eisenbeisz VIII. NEW BUSINESS: B 22-115 Discussion/Direction on commercial operations at Harrigan Centennial Hall and other applicable City and Borough of Sitka facilities Municipal Administrator Leach told of the need to address costs associated with tourism. Harrigan Centennial Hall (HCH) Building Manager, Tony Rosas, and consultant Lenise Henderson provided an overview of the proposed annual permits for unloading/loading vehicles, outfitter spaces, and plaza spaces. Rosas stated after more than 20 years, summer vendor permits for HCH required updates to better restructure and organize the existing permitting system. Assembly Members discussed the proposed changes. Topics of discussion were permit length - e.g. one year vs. three years, subleasing of spaces, local preference to vendors, youth vendors, unloading/loading limits, and permitting costs. Municipal Attorney Brian Hanson reminded Sitka General Code Chapter 6.19 needed to be amended before proceeding with new changes. From the public, Melissa Henricksen, Bruce Conine, Neil McDermott, Karen Mead, and Caleb Astle spoke about an increase in permitting fees. Richard Wein wondered about a head tax and suggested visitor capacity had been exceeded. Chris McGraw, Manager of Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, reminded the City received $5 for each cruise passenger from the State of Alaska as part of the commercial vessel passenger excise tax. John Dunlap hoped for a fair discussion and thanked Rosas for managing a complicated situation. Overall, Assembly Members agreed the proposed changes were a good starting place. They reminded no decisions had been made and this meeting was the first of many conversations. IX. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Richard Wein wondered if Juneau had a separate head tax, wondered about the cost for a commercial electric bus, and spoke to the proposed permitting changes HCH. Bruce Conine stated Sitka was overcapacity for cruise passengers. With regards to the proposed permitting changes at HCH, he believed people trying to make a living were being penalized. Neil McDermott commented there would be no charge to online vendors. X. EXECUTIVE SESSION CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final August 18, 2022 None. XI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 8:18pm. ATTEST: ______________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3