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, September 22, 2022 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. RECITAL OF LANDS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV. ROLL CALL Present: 5 - Knox, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, and Miller Absent: 2 - Christianson, and Himschoot V. PERSONS TO BE HEARD None. VI. NEW BUSINESS: A 22-122 Award FY23 Annual General Fund Non-Profit Grants The Municipal Clerk displayed the submitted allocations from Assembly Members. Eisenbeisz reviewed the process. He asked Attorney Brian Hanson to provide an opinion on granting an award to a religious organization - e.g. Sitka Lutheran Church. Hanson addressed the prohibition of entanglements between church and state adding as long as the donation passed the Lemon test, it could be granted: it must be for a secular purpose, neither advance nor inhibit religion, and not be an excessive entanglement of government and religion. Knox explained his allocations noting he had not allocated for the American Legion because it was a member only organization. A motion was made by Knox to award the following FY23 General Fund CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final September 22, 2022 Non-Profit Grants in the category of Human Services: *Brave Heart Volunteers $7,583 *Sitka Homeless Coalition $15,500 *Sitka Lutheran Church $917 Representatives of the Sitka Homeless Coalition, Jade Nodes, and Andrew Hinton, thanked the Assembly for their support. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5 - Eisenbeisz, Knox, Mosher, Duncan, and Miller Absent: 2 - Himschoot and Christianson A motion was made by Knox to award the following FY23 General Fund Non-Profit Grants in the category of Cultural & Educational Services: *Alaska Arts Southeast (Sitka Fine Arts Camp) $8,750 *American Legion Post 13 $1,750 American Legion Representative Vince Winters explained membership was open and requirements broad. Roger Schmidt of Alaska Arts Southeast thanked the Assembly for being a part of public service and for supporting non-profits. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5 - Knox, Eisenbeisz, Mosher, Miller, and Duncan Absent: 2 - Himschoot and Christianson A motion was made by Knox to award the following FY23 General Fund Non-Profit Grants in the category of Community Development. *Sitka Fastpitch Softball Club $3,917 *Sitka Trail Works $6,583 Ben Hughey of Sitka Trail Works explained the work to be done with grant funding. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 5 - Duncan, Miller, Knox, Mosher, and Eisenbeisz Absent: 2 - Himschoot and Christianson VII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None. VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final September 22, 2022 IX. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Knox to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 6:38 p.m. ATTEST: ______________________________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3