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, Thor Christianson, Katie Riley Municipal Administrator: John Leach Municipal Attorney: Rachel Jones Municipal Clerk: Sara Peterson Tuesday, January 13, 2026 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, Pike, Carlson, Saline, and Riley V. CORRESPONDENCE/AGENDA CHANGES No agenda changes. 26-010 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) 26-003 Department Quarterly Reports - Public Works and Harrigan Centennial Hall Quarterly reports were given by Public Works Director Mark Seavey and Harrigan Centennial Hall Manager Tony Rosas. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 1 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final January 13, 2026 VIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD Kyle Larson spoke about demographic destabilization. Leah Mason commented on her application for the Sustainability Commission. IX. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Christianson that the Consent Agenda consisting of items A, B, & C be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, Saline, and Riley A 26-004 Approve the minutes of the December 30 Assembly meeting This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. B 26-005 Approve a liquor license renewal application for American Legion Post #13 at 205 Lincoln Street This item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. C RES 26-01 Adopting an alternative allocation method for the FY26 Shared Fisheries Business Tax Program and certifying that this allocation method fairly represents the distribution of significant effects of fisheries business activity in FMA 18: CENTRAL SOUTHEAST AREA (first and final reading) This Item was APPROVED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. X. BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS D 26-006 Reappoint Jeff Budd to a three-year term on the Library Commission and Appoint James Rogers and Courtney Lecrone to three-year terms on the Animal Hearing Board under the Category of Animal Keeper A motion was made by Mosher that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, Saline, and Riley XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: E 26-008 Approve the professional services contract between the City and Borough of Sitka and Element Agency LLC for Visit Sitka Services (postponed at the December 16, 2025 meeting) Carlson noted the increase in the contract amount compared to the prior contract and clarified that the majority of the funding would come from the Visitor Enhancement Fund. A motion was made by Mosher that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 2 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final January 13, 2026 Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, Saline, and Riley XII. NEW BUSINESS: New Business First Reading F ORD 26-01 Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 (Childcare Study) Sponsors Christianson, Pike, and Mosher explained the request and scope of work, including a needs analysis and program framework, to be completed by Southeast Childhood Collective. Annette Evans, Kari Sagel, Deidre Jensen, Lauren Wild, and Margaret Galanin spoke in support. A discussion of the Assembly ensued. Members expressed support, citing the need to increase childcare capacity, noting that childcare was a goal identified in the Strategic Plan, and thanked the Health Needs and Human Services Commission for its prior work on the issue. 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, Pike, Carlson, Saline, and Riley Additional New Business Items G 26-007 Approve the Sixth Amendment to Employee Agreement between City and Borough of Sitka and John Leach, dated January 14, 2026 (possible executive session) Sponsors Pike, Mosher, and Eisenbeisz offered comments. It was clarified that the discussion item originated with Assembly members, not Administrator Leach. Assembly members discussed recruitment challenges, the need for cross-training, and the importance of competitive compensation. The amendment would extend Leach's employment agreement to December, if needed, and included a salary increase. A motion was made by Christianson that this Item be APPROVED. The motion PASSED by the following vote. Yes: 7- Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Pike, Carlson, Saline, and Riley XIII. PERSONS TO BE HEARD: None. XIV. REPORTS a. Mayor, b. Administrator, c. Attorney, d. Liaison Representatives, e. Clerk, f. Other Administrator - Leach provided an update on upcoming work related to legislative CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 3 City and Borough Assembly Minutes - Final January 13, 2026 priorities and the state of the city report. He also summarized a recent meeting with Senator Stedman. Liaison Representatives - Pike reported on the Sustainability Commission, Riley reported on the Planning Commission, and Saline noted plans for a public meeting regarding bear resistant garbage cans. Clerk - Peterson provided an update on board/committee vacancies, reviewed the upcoming meeting schedule, and told of an upcoming code rewrite project. XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. XVI. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Christianson to ADJOURN. Hearing no objections, the meeting ADJOURNED at 7:32 p.m. ATTEST: _______________________ Sara Peterson, MMC Municipal Clerk CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA Page 4