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 Mosher, Vice Deputy Mayor Crystal Duncan, Thor Christianson, Chris Ystad, Timothy Pike, JJ Carlson Municipal Administrator: John Leach Municipal Attorney: Brian Hanson Municipal Clerk: Sara Peterson Tuesday, May 9, 2023 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, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Ystad, Pike, and Carlson V. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES 23-068 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence No agenda changes. 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) None. VIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Christian Fabian responded to the concerns raised about taxicab rules and regulations. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 9, 2023 Wayne Dye expressed his thoughts regarding the possible risks linked to bike paths. Richard Wein spoke about the recent surge in property taxes, as well as the escalating expenses related to food and utilities. IX. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Mosher that the Consent Agenda consisting of item A be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Ystad, Pike, and Carlson A 23-064 Approve the minutes of the April 18 and 25 Assembly meetings This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. X. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS None. XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None. XII. NEW BUSINESS: B 23-065 (Postponed from 5/9 meeting) Board of Adjustment: Consideration of an appeal filed by Youth Advocates of Sitka for the Planning Commission's denial of a conditional use permit for a quasi-institutional group residence at 3411 Halibut Point Road A motion was made by Mosher to convene as the Board of Adjustment. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7 - Ystad, Mosher, Christianson, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Pike, and Carlson Eisenbeisz conducted a review of the procedural outline. Brian Hanson, the Municipal Attorney, delivered a comprehensive overview of the process. Hanson recommended that the Board of Adjustment consider suspending any decision on this matter and subject it to further legal scrutiny, emphasizing the potential liability associated. Heather Meuret, the Executive Director for Youth Advocates of Sitka, expressed her support for deferring this item to the June 13th Assembly meeting. Richard Wein, Brit Galanin, Mary Todd, and Mary Magnuson voiced their support for the postponement. Valorie Nelson opposed the idea of postponing. Amy Ainslie, Planning and Community Development Director provided insights into the notification process for appeals. A motion was made by Christianson to postpone this matter to the June 13th regular Assembly meeting. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7 - Mosher, Christianson, Ystad, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Pike, and Carlson CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 9, 2023 A motion was made to reconvene as the Assembly in regular session. The motion PASSED by unanimous voice vote. C ORD 23-06 Adopting budgets and capital improvement plan for the General Fund, Internal Service Funds, and Special Revenue Funds for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 Administrator Leach provided a summary. Assembly members thanked Leach and the staff for their work. Richard Wein commented. A motion was made by Ystad that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Ystad, Pike, and Carlson D ORD 23-07 Adopting the budget and capital improvement plan for Enterprise Funds for the fiscal year July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, amending rates in Title 15 "Public Utilities" of the Sitka General Code and adopting moorage rates and other harbor fees Richard Wein provided comments. A motion was made by Mosher that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Ystad, Pike, and Carlson E ORD 23-08 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2023 (Streets Dump Truck) Acting Public Works Director Ron Vinson presented a comprehensive overview of the dump trucks utilized for utility excavations, ditch clearing, snow and ice management, and other maintenance activities. He outlined the current conditions and discussed several risk mitigation strategies that were examined. Richard Wein expressed his support. Kent Barkhau suggested that the Assembly look at an electric fleet replacement. A motion was made by Duncan that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Ystad, Pike, and Carlson F 23-066 Authorize the Municipal Administrator to apply to the National Renewable Energy Laboratories Clean Energy to Communities Program: In-Depth Partnerships Scott Elder, Electric Director, presented an overview of the National Renewable Energy Laboratories Clean Energy to Communities Program. He emphasized that the City and Borough of Sitka had been chosen as a successful recipient in the initial round of ETIPP (Electricity Transition CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 9, 2023 Initiative Partnership Program). The support provided by the National Labs through the ETIPP grant had positioned the City in a favorable position to sustain our partnership with NREL. He mentioned that the application was in line with the City's mission and goals as outlined in the CBS Strategic Plan, as it aimed to secure economic assistance for our planning and investment strategies. From the public, Richard Wein and Kent Barkhau spoke in support. A motion was made by Duncan to authorize the Municipal Administrator to apply to the National Renewable Energy Laboratories Clean Energy to Communities Program: In Depth Partnerships. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Ystad, Pike, and Carlson G RES 23-19 Urging the Alaska State Legislature to increase the Base Student Allocation in fiscal year 2024 Cosponsors Mosher and Carlson explained the importance of raising the base student allocation for the fiscal year 2024. They explained that various factors such as inflation, changing educational requirements, and student population growth that could affect the funding requirements for schools. Carlson noted the need to maintain and improve the quality of education in Sitka. Richard Wein commented. A motion was made by Mosher that this Resolution be APPROVED on FIRST AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Ystad, Pike, and Carlson H 23-067 Assign an Assembly Liaison to the Tourism Task Force Carlson and Ystad volunteered to serve as liaisons. XIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Richard Wein acknowledged model Quannahh Chasinghorse, and commented on the progress of Chat GPT. XIV. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Mayor- Eisenbeisz provided an update regarding the revision of the traffic light at the intersection of Lake and Lincoln Street. Liaison Representatives- Duncan reported on the Library Commission and Parks and Recreation meetings. Ystad reported on the recent Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board of Directors meeting. Mosher spoke about the Sustainability Commission. Clerk- Earnshaw reviewed board/commission vacancies. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final May 9, 2023 XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. XVI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting was ADJOURNED at 7:45pm. Attest: ______________________________ Jessica Earnshaw Deputy Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5