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 Timothy Pike, Thor Christianson, Chris Ystad, JJ Carlson, Scott Saline Municipal Administrator: John Leach Municipal Attorney: Brian Hanson Municipal Clerk: Sara Peterson Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers WORK SESSION 5:00 P.M. - WORK SESSION - GREATER SITKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISIT SITKA 24-045 Visit Sitka - FY25 Annual Workplan & Budget Request REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. RECITAL OF LANDS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1 - Ystad V. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES No agenda changes. 24-042 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence VI. CEREMONIAL MATTERS 24-044 Service Award - Mo McBride CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 26, 2024 Mayor Eisenbeisz read a service award for Mo McBride. VII. SPECIAL REPORTS: Government to Government, Municipal Boards/Commissions/Committees, Municipal Departments, School District, Students and Guests (five minute time limit) 24-036 Sitka Community Land Trust - Randy Hughey, Executive Director Randy Hughey, Sitka Community Land Trust Executive Director, shared an update on housing in Sitka. Sitka Tribe of Alaska Tribal Chairman, Lawrence Widmark provided a summary of the February business meeting. VIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Annette Evans spoke on complete funding for the Blatchley pool. Richard Wein emphasized the significance of the Blatchley pool, commented on West Point's mission statement, and acknowledged the importance of Holy Week. Austin Cranford voiced full endorsement for funding the Blatchley pool and shared his comments on the Sitka Police Department's Facebook page. 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: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Ystad A 24-037 Approve the minutes of the March 12 Assembly meeting This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. X. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS B 24-038 Appoint 1) Thomas D'Uva to an unexpired term on the Tree and Landscape Committee, and 2) Gerry Hope to an unexpired term on the Sustainability Commission Richard Wein commented. A motion was made by Christianson that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Ystad C 24-043 Reappoint Dionne Brady-Howard to a three-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission under the category of Sitka Tribe of Alaska representative CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 26, 2024 Richard Wein commented. A motion was made by Mosher that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Ystad XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: D ORD 24-06 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2024 (Thomsen Harbor Lift Station Replacement) Richard Wein commented. A motion was made by Christianson that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Ystad XII. NEW BUSINESS: New Business First Reading E ORD 24-07S Amending Title 4 "Revenue and Finance" of the Sitka General Code by updating Chapter 4.85 "Driver Facility Charge" Airport Terminal Manager Joe Bea provided an overview of the current ordinance 4.85.030 which currently levies a Driver Facility Tax of four percent to car rental companies that utilize the airport terminal building facility. He spoke to the proposed increase rate from four to eight percent. He mentioned this would ensure the airport would keep up with financial commitments for operating costs and matching funds as the terminal goes through different phases of the Airport Improvement Project. It would also guarantee the terminal can cover growing operating expenses as the building expands and have enough funds for repairs due to regular wear and tear, without needing external support. Richard Wein and Austin Cranford commented. A motion was made by Christianson that this Ordinance be APPROVED on FIRST READING. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Ystad Additional New Business Items F RES 24-09 Authorizing the Municipal Administrator to apply for the Denali Commission Grant in the amount of $510,251.50 under the Infrastructure CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 26, 2024 Fund Program Area to use as leverage for future grant opportunities for the Gary Paxton Industrial Park (GPIP) North Boat Yard Electrical Project Public and Government Relations Director Melissa Wileman, and SEDA Executive Director Gary White provided an overview of the grant opportunity for the Gary Paxton Industrial Park North Boat Yard Electrical Project. Richard Wein commented. A motion was made by Carlson that this Resolution be APPROVED on FIRST AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Ystad G 24-039 Approve the Sustainability Commission 2024-2025 Goals and Work Plan Sustainability Commission Chair Katie Riley, and Aurora Taylor Vice Chair covered various topics including development of the Sitka Community Renewable Energy Strategy, collaboration with city staff on strategic management of municipal solid waste, and support for electrification of the municipal fleet. Goals for the upcoming year support the same objectives as the 2023-2024 goals but have been reworked to reflect updates within CBS and the evolution of the operational and feasibility landscape around each goal in the past year. Austin Cranford and Richard Wein commented. Members Mosher, Carlson, and Eisenbeisz thanked the commission for their work. A motion was made by Christianson to approve the Sustainability Commission goals and Work Plan for 2024-2025. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Ystad H 24-040 Discussion / Direction the development of a RFP for management of the Sitka Performing Arts Center Planning and Community Development Director Amy Ainslie provided a background on the current management structure of the Performing Arts Center (PAC). She explained the original contract is a one year term with 4 annual extensions and is currently in the last extension year, to expire on June 2023. The Assembly discussed the management and operation of the (PAC), considered issuing a Request For Proposal (RFP) to seek potential interest in managing the facility, and the need for funding to support and update the facility. Eisenbeisz stated the need to carefully structure the RFP to ensure it doesn't appear as sole sourced, and discussed the utility costs and long-term maintenance of the facility. Consensus of the Assembly was to issue an RFP, and based on a cooperative model, and include the current CBS contributions. I 24-041 Discussion / Direction / Decision on the commercial passenger vessel tax fund balance CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 26, 2024 Acting Administrator Ron Vinson provided an overview of the options. The Assembly discussed the search for more accurate sources of funding for various projects, with a focus on directing the Municipal Administrator to investigate. XIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Richard Wein provided remarks regarding the allocation of funds to St. Michael's Cathedral Church, informed about the retirement of Mount Edgecumbe's Boys Basketball coach Archie Young after twenty-five years of service, and extended congratulations to Marty Vinson for securing second place in the State Spelling Bee. Austin Cranford expressed gratitude to Joe Bea for clarifying Ordinance 2024-06 and discussed cruise ship power stations. XIV. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Mayor - Eisenbeisz announced he would be traveling to Washington DC from April 8th- April 12th. Attorney - Hanson stated he would be back to Sitka on April 8th, and he continues to work remotely. Liaison Representatives - Christianson told of the Investment Committee. Pike reported on the School Board. Carlson reported on the Tourism Task Force and Saline on the Library Commission. XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. XVI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 8:57 p.m. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5