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 Timothy Pike, Vice Deputy Mayor JJ Carlson, Kevin Mosher, Scott Saline, Chris Ystad, Thor Christianson Municipal Administrator: John Leach Municipal Attorney: Rachel Jones Municipal Clerk: Sara Peterson Tuesday, October 22, 2024 6:00 PM Assembly Chambers REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER II. FLAG SALUTE III. RECITAL OF LANDS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Christianson, Mosher, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1 - Eisenbeisz V. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES No agenda changes. 24-169 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence VI. CEREMONIAL MATTERS 24-161 Proclamations: 1) Veteran's Day and 2) Native American Heritage Month Deputy Mayor Pike read and presented the proclamations. VII. SPECIAL REPORTS: Government to Government, Municipal Boards/Commissions/Committees, Municipal Departments, School District, Students and Guests (five minute time limit) Sitka Tribal Chairman, Lawrence Widmark, told of recent business and upcoming events. Amy Ainslie, Planning and Community Development Director, invited the CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 22, 2024 community to an upcoming meeting on the commercial land use permit changes. Sitka School District Superintendent Deidre Jenson thanked the City for their support and spoke of the new preschool program. VIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Austin Cranford commented on airport vendors and the lack of police officer presence at the airport. 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, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Eisenbeisz A 24-166 Approve the minutes of the October 8 Assembly meeting This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. X. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS B 24-162 Reappoint: 1) Karen Lucas to a three-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission, 2) Katie Riley to a three-year term on the Planning Commission, and 3) Katie Riley to a three-year term on the Sustainability Commission A motion was made by Christianson that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Eisenbeisz C 24-163 Appoint Nicole Fiorino to a three-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission A motion was made by Saline that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Eisenbeisz D 24-164 Appoint one to a two-year term on the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board of Directors: 1) Chad Goeden (incumbent) 2) Jeremy Serka Chad Goeden and Jeremy Serka were nominated. Jeremy Serka explained his desire to serve on the Board. From the public, Eric Jordan, Emily Scott, and Kent Barkhau spoke in support of Serka's nomination. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 22, 2024 Assembly members discussed the applications. A vote was taken. Goeden received four votes and was appointed. Serka received two votes. E 24-165 Appoint seven members to the Tourism Commission: 1) Carol Bryant-Martin, 2) Devon Calvin, 3) Austin W. Cranford, 4) Ian Dempster, 5) Vaughn Hazel, 6) Bethany Lowrance, 7) Chris McGraw, 8) Christine McGraw, 9) Martha Moses (STA nomination), and 10) Jeremy Plank Carol Bryant-Martin, Devon Calvin, Austin W. Cranford, Ian Dempster, Vaughn Hazel, Bethany Lowrance, Chris McGraw, Christine McGraw, Martha Moses, and Jeremy Plank were nominated. Eric Jordan, Barbara Bingham, Emily Scott, and Austin Cranford commented on the nominations. The Assembly discussed the applications. A vote was taken. Martin received 5 votes, Calvin 6 votes, Cranford 2 votes, Hazel 5 votes, Lowrance 4 votes, Chris McGraw 2 votes, Christine McGraw 3 votes, Moses 6 votes, and Plank 4 votes. Martin, Calvin, Dempster, Hazel, Lowrance, Moses, and Plank were appointed. XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None. XII. NEW BUSINESS: New Business First Reading F ORD 24-24 Making supplemental appropriation for fiscal year 2025 (Airport Terminal Project) Acting Public Works Director Amy Ainslie provided an overview of the request. A motion was made by Mosher that this Ordinance be APPROVED ON FIRST AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline Absent: 1- Eisenbeisz Additional New Business Items G 24-167 Discussion/ Direction on the draft Request for Proposals for Visit Sitka: Convention & Visitor Services Planning and Community Development Director Amy Ainslie provided background. Assembly Members discussed aspects of the draft. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 22, 2024 A motion was made by Christianson to move "providing a public restroom at the Visitor Center" from optional services to core services. The motion FAILED by the following vote. Yes: 2 - Christianson and Carlson No: 4 - Mosher, Pike, Ystad, and Saline Absent: 1 - Eisenbeisz Direction was given to finalize and advertise the request for proposals. H 24-168 Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Borough of Sitka and the Sitka Dock Company, LLC (postponed at the October 22 Assembly meeting) Municipal Administrator John Leach stated the Assembly adopted the Tourism Task Force (TTF) recommendations at a special meeting on May 16, 2024 and provided direction to prepare an Action Plan for the recommendations. The Action Plan was presented and adopted on July 9, 2024. This agreement was intended to address Recommendations 1-5 from the TTF. Robert Hattle, Kent Barkhau, Valorie Nelson, Larry Edwards, John Murray, Barbara Bingham, Emily Scott, Eric Jordan, and Kami Hutchins commented. A discussion ensued. A motion was made by Christianson to POSTPONE this Item to the November 12 Assembly meeting. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6 - Christianson, Ystad, Mosher, Saline, Carlson, and Pike Absent: 1 - Eisenbeisz Kami Hutchins commented. XIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: Barbara Bingham, Jimmy Froehlich, Larry Edwards, Robert Hattle, Austin Cranford, and Emily Scott offered comments on item H and spoke of tourism impacts. XIV. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Administrator - Leach announced the City had received Fisheries Disaster Relief funding. A supplemental appropriation would be coming forward to appropriate the funds to the GPIP Marine Vessel Haul Out Project. Attorney - Jones said she was settling in to her role. Liaisons - Christianson reported on the meeting with the Police Chief and Friends of Sitka Animal Shelter to discuss the memorandum of understanding. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final October 22, 2024 XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION I 24-159 Legal Matter - Baranof Taxi & Tours, LLC, and Thaddeus & Melissa A. Lara v. Robert M. Baty A motion was made by Carlson to go into executive session with the municipal attorney to receive attorney client communication regarding pending litigation in the Baranof Taxi & Tours, LLC, and Thaddeus & Melissa A. Lara v. Robert M. Baty, Case No. 1SI-23-00045 CI. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6 - Ystad, Carlson, Mosher, Pike, Christianson, and Saline Absent: 1 - Eisenbeisz The Assembly was in executive session from 9:17 p.m. to 9:48 p.m. A motion was made by Carlson to reconvene as the Assembly in regular session. The motion PASSED by a unanimous voice vote. XVI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 9:48 p.m. ATTEST: _________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 5