Sitka Assembly Regular Meeting – December 26, 2023

The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly met in regular session on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. in Assembly Chambers, 330 Harbor Drive. Six members were present (Christianson, Eisenbeisz, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, and Saline); Deputy Mayor Mosher was absent. The Assembly approved consent items, two supplemental appropriation ordinances, and the 2024 acting administrator list, and heard public testimony about police department conditions.

Special Reports

• Sitka Tribe of Alaska Chairman Lawrence Widmark reported on the December 13 Tribal Council meeting and the December 14 annual meeting. He noted approval of the FY24 Indian Housing Plan, appointment of three individuals to the BIHA Board of Commissioners, approval of 2024 legislative priorities, and recognition of Harvey Kitka as tribal citizen of the year and Ralph Brady as tribal elder of the year.
• Police Chief Robert Baty provided a detailed department update. He cited 27,194 phone calls answered, 3,652 emergency 911 calls, 11,400 calls for service, and 610 incident reports. He reported four unfilled jail positions, four unfilled dispatch positions, and six unfilled patrol positions, with current staffing of seven officers, one lieutenant, and the chief. He said attrition had fallen 75% since 2010, but the department had lost four personnel in the last six months and six over the past year and a half. He described statewide recruitment challenges, with hiring bonuses ranging from $20,000 to $60,000, and said Sitka is offering up to a $20,000 signing bonus. He also noted the community jails contract was signed for a one-year term ending in June 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Historic Preservation Commission Chair Robbie Littlefield gave an update on the commission's preservation plan, saying it was long overdue and that Commissioner Pensley had done substantial pro bono editing. He asked the Assembly to consider funding approximately 40 more hours of work to finish correlating the appendices to the plan. He was stopped at the three-minute limit.
• In later public testimony, several community members raised concerns about the police department. Breezy Cranford questioned the chief's positive portrayal, citing a 'mass exodus' of officers, dispatchers, and jailers; alleged that some complaints are not investigated; and said there is a hostile work environment with sexual harassment and retaliation. She called for a third-party investigation.
• Sam Pointer, a former animal control officer from June 20 to December 13, 2023, said $1,621.91 was taken from his check and he received a check for $57. He said he resigned after being told he would need to work for $13.75 per hour for 160 hours, and asked to work under leadership other than the current police chief.
• Senolden Norwood described a sexual harassment report that he said was not properly investigated, a toxic work environment, and disregard for OPM guidelines.
• Petra Lechner, Senolden Norwood's wife, described the chief's treatment as arbitrary, unfair, unequal, and 'skewed racially,' and said the work environment was hostile. She said the person who harassed her husband should have been fired and called for a leadership change.
• Austin Cranford criticized the chief's original temporary-hire status, staffing levels, crime, and alleged nepotism, questioning whether the police department should be dissolved or replaced with an elected sheriff.
• Robbie Littlefield returned to ask community members to apply for two vacancies on the Historic Preservation Commission.

Consent Calendar

• A motion to approve the consent agenda passed 6-0, with Mosher absent.
• Item A: Minutes of the December 12 Assembly meeting were approved.
• Item B: ORD 23-27, supplemental appropriations for FY2024 (Homeland Security Grant – Upgrade Security Doors and Police Radios), was approved on first reading.

Discussion Items

• ORD 23-25 (Supplemental appropriation for CLIA Pacific Northwest Cruise Symposium): The Assembly discussed the $5,000 appropriation from the Visitor Enhancement Fund (bed tax). Christianson said he was not opposed to attending but questioned using bed-tax revenue for cruise-oriented expenses and whether to also attend SeaTrade in Miami. Eisenbeisz noted 2024 is the inaugural symposium and said both conferences were budgeted while the event develops. Pike called the symposium an investment worth evaluating. The ordinance was approved on second and final reading, 6-0.
• ORD 23-26 (Supplemental appropriation for Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce): Christianson opposed, saying the contract increasingly supports cruise ship passengers rather than independent travelers and that Visit Sitka should be independent from the Chamber; he wanted major contract changes. Eisenbeisz concurred that contract changes should be discussed during the budget process. Pike said the Assembly had already agreed to fund the existing contract, so he supported approval while wanting to revisit goals in the next contract. The ordinance was approved on second and final reading, 5-1, with Christianson voting no.
• E 23-156 (2024 Acting Administrator list): Administrator John Leach introduced the list of Amy Ainslie, Melissa Haley, Ron Vinson, Sara Peterson, and Melissa Henshaw. He noted Vinson was added after becoming public works director, Elder was removed as no longer an employee, and Henshaw was added for leadership experience. The list was approved 6-0.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent agenda (minutes and ORD 23-27) 6-0.
• Approved ORD 23-25 on second and final reading 6-0.
• Approved ORD 23-26 on second and final reading 5-1, with Christianson dissenting.
• Approved the 2024 acting administrator list 6-0.
• The Assembly heard public concerns about police leadership, staffing, and workplace culture; no formal action was taken on these issues during the meeting. Discussion of Visit Sitka contract changes was deferred to the upcoming budget process.
• The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.