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, March 25, 2025 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Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline V. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES Eisenbeisz stated Item E was withdrawn at the applicant’s request and would be rescheduled. 25-055 Reminders, Calendars, and General Correspondence VI.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) 25-046 1) Sitka Tribe of Alaska Tribal Council - Yeidikook’áa Dionne Brady-Howard 2) Sitka School Board - Phil Burdick 3) Department Quarterly Report - Police Department CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 25, 2025 Reports were given. VIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Valorie Nelson stated she'd been denied healthcare at SEARHC. Betty Eliason Childcare Board Member Ashley Green spoke to the childcare need and subsidization of operational costs. Eric Jordan stated childcare was essential to the wellbeing of children in the community. Klaudia Leccese commented on care at SEARHC. IX. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Ystad to APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA consisting of Item A. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline A 25-047 Approve a liquor license renewal application for Allen Marine Tours, Inc. at Lot 6, Finn Island This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. X. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS B 25-048 Appoint: Steve Johnson to a three-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission and Reappoint: 1) Sandra Fontaine to a three-year term on the Library Commission, and 2) Tamy Stevenson to a three-year term on the Port and Harbors Commission A motion was made by Mosher that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: C ORD 25-05 Setting a special election on May 28, 2025 and submitting a question to the qualified voters to limit cruise visitation in Sitka and add Title 25 "Tourism" to Sitka General Code A motion was made by Christianson that this Ordinance be APPROVED on SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline XII. NEW BUSINESS: D 25-049 Discussion / Decision on the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Haul Out and Shipyard Operations Administrator Leach reviewed the history of the multi-year process. The Assembly was asked to consider the March 13 GPIP Board recommendations and the Highmark Marine Fabrication, LLC bid proposal, with the option to accept either the Board’s CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 25, 2025 recommendation (excluding warehouse space) or the proposal as presented. The Assembly discussed the GPIP Board recommendation. In addition, Highmark Marine Fabrication, LLC spoke to their proposal and answered questions. Norm Pillen, Lauren Howard, Linda Behnken, Carrie Driver, Jeff Farvour, Eric Jordan, Drew Terhaar, Jeff Turner, Kenneth Rear, Chris Hanson, Keegan Mars, Cody Dahlstrom, Michael Nurco, Jeremy Serka, Mary Magnuson, Woody Cyr, Blake LaPerriere, David Richey, Richard Sprague, Donna Donohoe, Michael Miglini, Stanley Lopata, Brianna Torgeson, Ashley Bolwer, and Travis Peterson commented. A motion was made by Ystad to ACCEPT the Highmark Marine Fabrication, LLC bid proposal as presented. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Ystad, Pike, and Carlson No: 1- Saline E 25-050 Consideration of an appeal filed by Ryan Nichols of the Planning Commission's decision made February 19, 2025, regarding case file P 24-04, a request for a preliminary plat for a minor subdivision resulting in two lots at 305 Islander Drive in the SFLD single-family low density residential district. The property is also known as Lot Five (5), Harris Island Subdivision. The owner of record is Randall G. Nichols Revocable Trust. (Rescheduled from 3/25/25 at the applicant’s request) Item PULLED. No action taken. F 25-051 Adopt the 2025 Parks and Recreation Facility Fee Schedule Parks and Recreation Coordinator Kevin Knox provided an overview of fee changes and revenue projections. Chris Ystad was recused. Brian Farley, Megan Vinson, Jill Kisaka, Rebekah Carley, Heather Branch, and Tiffany Lebahn commented. A motion was made by Christianson to AMEND to delay implementation of field fees until August 1, 2025. The amendment PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6 - Mosher, Pike, Christianson, Saline, Eisenbeisz, and Carlson Recused: 1 - Ystad A motion was made by Mosher to EXTEND the meeting to 11:00 p.m. The motion FAILED by the following vote. (Per Code, if seven members are present, meetings can be extended by a vote of at least six members). Yes: 5 - Saline, Eisenbeisz, Carlson, Ystad, and Mosher No: 2 - Pike and Christianson A motion was made by Christianson to APPROVE the main motion as AMENDED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, and Saline CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final March 25, 2025 Recused: 1- Ystad G 25-052 Discussion / Direction / Decision to provide a Letter of Support and In-Kind Staff Support for ALFA's Climate Smart Community Initiative Grant application Linda Behnken and Norm Pillen commented. A motion was made by Christianson to provide a letter of intent. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 6- Christianson, Eisenbeisz, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline No: 1- Mosher H 25-053 Discussion / Direction / Decision on the Commercial Passenger Vessel Tax Fund balance No action taken. Meeting automatically adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Item to be discussed at the April 8 meeting under Unfinished Business. I 25-054 Discussion / Direction / Decision on the Annual General Fund Grants for Non-Profit Organizations Program No action taken. Meeting automatically adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Item to be discussed at the April 8 meeting under Unfinished Business. XIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None. XIV. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other None. XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. XVI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting automatically adjourned at 10:30 p.m. ATTEST: _________________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4