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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

City and Borough of Sitka Regular Meeting - March 12, 2024

City and Borough Assembly — Tuesday, March 12, 2024

BodySitka, Alaska

SessionCity and Borough Assembly

DateTuesday, March 12, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 31:53

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:08

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:18

The Assembly of the City and Borough of Sitka would like to respectfully acknowledge the traditional first people of Shitka.

0:24

With gratitude, we proceed on Clinkett Ani.

0:28

Jess Roll Call, please.

0:29

Mayor Eisenbeis.

0:31

Present.

0:32

Mr.

0:32

Mosher.

0:33

Here.

0:33

Mr.

0:34

Pike.

0:35

Here.

0:35

Mr.

0:36

Yestack.

0:37

Here.

0:38

Mr.

0:38

Christensen.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Ms.

0:40

Carlson?

0:41

Here.

0:42

Mr.

0:42

Saline.

0:43

Here.

0:46

Thank you.

0:47

Any correspondence or agenda changes this evening?

0:54

Seeing none, that'll bring us to special reports.

0:58

Is there anyone here for government to government?

1:02

Municipal boards, commissions, committees.

1:06

Municipal departments.

1:10

School district.

1:13

And students and guests for special reports.

1:19

See none, we will move on to persons to be heard.

1:22

This is public participation for any item off of tonight's agenda, not to exceed three minutes for any individual.

1:46

Mr.

1:47

Mayor, members of the assembly, uh, good evening.

1:49

My name is Jeff Fell Pouch on the resource protection department director for the Sica Tribe of Alaska.

1:54

I sent you an email a couple of days ago, or maybe it was yesterday, uh, about the uh operation of the readout bay weir.

2:01

We received notice from the Forest Service that uh a couple of weeks ago that they wouldn't have funding to operate the weir.

2:07

Without the weir operating, um the area management biologist has said he can he has to go with the bare minimums, regardless of what the projected escapement could be.

2:17

Last year, I think we got up to a hundred fish um per season.

2:20

So it'll be kept at 10 fish a day, 50 fish for the season.

2:24

There would be no commercial fishery opened up if we reach a 40,000 fish projected escapement with data through the weir um or from the weir, uh they would open up the commercial fishery over the last five years.

2:39

I think they've averaged about 13,000, roughly 13,500 fish caught in the commercial fishery.

2:47

Um they would also not be able to open up or issue a community harvest permit to the Sica tribe of Alaska to harvest uh SOTE for its traditional foods program.

2:57

What we're asking for from local entities is a letter to the forest supervisor, ADF and G Commissioner asking them to uh to uh go back and look and see if they can find the 26,000 it's gonna take to operate the weir this year.

3:12

Um STA is working with the Forest Service or the Sicka Ranger District right now towards uh a co-stewardship agreement down the line to uh to share some of those responsibilities on managing the weir and fertilizing the lake.

3:26

Uh right now it looks like unless we can come up with the money, lake fertilization isn't gonna happen this year.

3:32

Um if the weir doesn't uh operate, we're gonna see some significant restrictions uh placed on the community.

3:39

So the Sika tribe is looking for stopgap measures and some of its funding and trying to divert funding to catch this if uh the agency is already able to come up with that 26,000.

3:52

Um and then we're also looking at long-term operation.

3:55

Um if the tribe does become a co-steward or takes over operation of the weir, uh we still have to find money for that.

4:02

And um grants aren't the best way to operate that kind of a system that requires consistent funding.

4:08

Uh you miss a grant one year, and the weir doesn't operate that kind of thing.

4:12

So we uh we would hope the city would uh send out a letter requesting support uh from both the agencies and uh be available this fall to work with uh stakeholders to come up with a long-term plan for that system.

4:28

Thank you.

4:49

Good evening, my name is Richard Ween.

4:55

On the 17th of March is St.

4:57

Patrick's Day.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Works██████████████████████████26%

Public Records█████████████████17%

Water And Wastewater Management███████████11%

Procedural███████7%

Fishing Regulations███████7%

Electric Utility Management███████7%

Library Services██████6%

Public Transportation█████5%

Public Engagement█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

City and Borough of Sitka Regular Meeting - March 12, 2024

The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly held its regular meeting on March 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Assembly Chambers. All seven members were present. The meeting covered routine approvals, public testimony on various issues, a new business ordinance for harbor infrastructure, reports, and an executive session on employee benefits.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes from the February 27 and February 29, 2024 Assembly meetings.
Approved a liquor license renewal application for House of Liquors, Inc. dba House of Liquor at 705 Halibut Point Road, Suite D.
Both items were approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

Jeff Feldpausch (Resource Protection Director, Sitka Tribe of Alaska) requested the Assembly draft a letter to the Forest Service Supervisor and ADF&G Commissioner urging allocation of $26,000 needed to operate the Redoubt Bay Weir for the 2024 season. He stated that without the weir, significant restrictions on fishing would occur, including reduced sport fishing limits (10 fish/day, 50 fish/season), no commercial fishery, and no community harvest permit for the Tribe. He also raised the need for long-term co-stewardship funding.
Richard Wein spoke about St. Patrick's Day, then criticized the Katlian Road project, stating it was poorly planned and underfunded. He claimed that a $15 million statewide bond was supplemented by an additional $30–$35 million from unused bonds and state funds, potentially totaling $50 million. He questioned whether the state had pulled funding and requested a status report from the city. He also asked about the identities of Joel Collins and Roberto Hernandez.
Austin Cranford spoke on whistleblower protections, citing studies showing high rates of retaliation (81% fear retaliation, 69% forced to retire, 68% stalked, 64% blacklisted). He referenced a recent Supreme Court case (Murray v. UBS Securities) and the death of Boeing whistleblower John Barnett. He stated he was familiar with whistleblower laws but deemed them inadequate.

Discussion Items

ORD 24-06: Supplemental Appropriations for FY2024 (Thomsen Harbor Lift Station Replacement)

Public Works Director Ron Vinson explained that a previously approved DEC loan of $1.7 million (per ORD 24-04) would not be available until June 2024. To avoid schedule delays and potential delay damages, he recommended temporarily funding the project from the wastewater fund's working capital until the DEC loan is secured. He assessed the chance of loan approval as "above average."
Assembly member Christianson questioned the risk of the loan not materializing; Vinson replied that if the loan fell through, the city would need to adjust capital requests for the year.
Richard Wein commented that the additional funding reflects cost increases due to inflation and urged the Assembly to track cumulative debt. He jokingly suggested a "flush tax" on cruise visitors.
The ordinance was approved on first reading (7-0).

Second Public Testimony (after new business)

Richard Wein commented on inflation, noting that February 2024 CPI remained high. He expressed concerns about transparency regarding the Blue Lake Dam FERC relicensing process, specifically asking about tunnel walks and potential costly repairs. He again asked about Joel Collins and Roberto Hernandez.
Austin Cranford raised concerns about city transparency. He stated that after he filed a public records request on March 6th for department head meeting minutes (which were previously shared informally), Administrator John Leach sent a citywide email on the same day indicating that such informal notes would no longer be maintained, claiming the change was made to "protect the integrity of internal deliberations." Cranford argued this contradicted the city's strategic plan and seemed suspicious.

Reports

Mayor Eisenbeisz announced he would be out of town the following week; Deputy Mayor Mosher would serve in his absence.
Administrator Leach reported he would attend the Northwest Managers Conference in Seaside, Oregon from March 26–29.
Attorney Hanson stated he continues to work remotely and plans to be in Sitka on April 8–9.
Liaison Reports:
- Saline (Library Commission) noted the library needs another full-time employee and is still waiting for a copier repair.
- Carlson announced that the former Baranof Elementary has been officially named Xóots Elementary.
Christianson requested the city seek an update from the Alaska Department of Transportation on the Katlian Road project, possibly via a letter from the mayor or administrator. He suggested it could be addressed at the next meeting without a formal vote.
Clerk Earnshaw listed board/commission vacancies: Animal Hearing Board, Employment Relations Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Investment Committee, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, Police and Fire Commission, Sustainability Commission, and Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee.

Key Outcomes

Consent Agenda (items A & B) approved 7-0.
ORD 24-06 (Thomsen Harbor Lift Station supplemental appropriation) approved on first reading 7-0.
Executive Session (item D 24-035) to discuss employee benefits was entered unanimously (7-0) from 6:35 PM to 6:58 PM, then reconvened.
Adjournment at 7:00 PM.
No decisions were made on public requests for letters or status reports; follow-up was deferred to the next meeting or administrative action.

Meeting Transcript

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. The Assembly of the City and Borough of Sitka would like to respectfully acknowledge the traditional first people of Shitka. With gratitude, we proceed on Clinkett Ani. Jess Roll Call, please. Mayor Eisenbeis. Present. Mr. Mosher. Here. Mr. Pike. Here. Mr. Yestack. Here. Mr. Christensen. Here. Ms. Carlson? Here. Mr. Saline. Here. Thank you. Any correspondence or agenda changes this evening? Seeing none, that'll bring us to special reports. Is there anyone here for government to government? Municipal boards, commissions, committees. Municipal departments. School district. And students and guests for special reports. See none, we will move on to persons to be heard. This is public participation for any item off of tonight's agenda, not to exceed three minutes for any individual. Mr. Mayor, members of the assembly, uh, good evening. My name is Jeff Fell Pouch on the resource protection department director for the Sica Tribe of Alaska. I sent you an email a couple of days ago, or maybe it was yesterday, uh, about the uh operation of the readout bay weir. We received notice from the Forest Service that uh a couple of weeks ago that they wouldn't have funding to operate the weir. Without the weir operating, um the area management biologist has said he can he has to go with the bare minimums, regardless of what the projected escapement could be. Last year, I think we got up to a hundred fish um per season. So it'll be kept at 10 fish a day, 50 fish for the season. There would be no commercial fishery opened up if we reach a 40,000 fish projected escapement with data through the weir um or from the weir, uh they would open up the commercial fishery over the last five years. I think they've averaged about 13,000, roughly 13,500 fish caught in the commercial fishery. Um they would also not be able to open up or issue a community harvest permit to the Sica tribe of Alaska to harvest uh SOTE for its traditional foods program. What we're asking for from local entities is a letter to the forest supervisor, ADF and G Commissioner asking them to uh to uh go back and look and see if they can find the 26,000 it's gonna take to operate the weir this year. Um STA is working with the Forest Service or the Sicka Ranger District right now towards uh a co-stewardship agreement down the line to uh to share some of those responsibilities on managing the weir and fertilizing the lake. Uh right now it looks like unless we can come up with the money, lake fertilization isn't gonna happen this year. Um if the weir doesn't uh operate, we're gonna see some significant restrictions uh placed on the community.

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