The Sitka City and Borough Assembly held a regular meeting on March 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM in Assembly Chambers. The meeting included a work session at 5:00 PM with the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce and Visit Sitka regarding the FY25 annual workplan and budget request. The regular meeting covered ceremonial recognitions, special reports, public testimony, consent agenda, appointments, ordinances, resolutions, and discussions on key community issues.
Appointments:
Ordinance 24-06 (Thomsen Harbor Lift Station Supplemental): Second and final reading. The supplemental appropriation of $1.7 million (from ADEC loan) for the lift station replacement was approved 6-0. Public comment noted the total project cost of $2.8 million due to inflation.
Ordinance 24-07 (Driver Facility Charge Increase): First reading to increase the charge from 4% to 8% to fund airport terminal operations. Airport Manager Joseph Baez explained the funds will be used for maintenance of the expanded terminal. Discussion on effective date – Assembly members suggested giving rental car companies time to adjust reservations. Approved 6-0 on first reading, with a possible effective date of July 1, 2024.
Resolution 24-09 (Denali Commission Grant Application): Authorized applying for $510,251.50 from the Denali Commission for the GPIP North Boat Yard Electrical Project, to be used as matching funds for an EDA grant. If the second grant is not awarded, the city can withdraw. Approved 6-0.
Sustainability Commission 2024-2025 Goals and Work Plan: Chair Katie Riley and Vice Chair Aurora Taylor presented. Key goals: community renewable energy strategy (via DOE partnership), solid waste diversion analysis, and electric vehicle infrastructure plan. The plan includes educational series and collaboration with city staff. Approved 6-0.
RFP for Performing Arts Center Management: Discussion on developing a request for proposals for PAC management, as the current cooperative agreement with Sitka School District and Alaska Arts Southeast expires June 30, 2024. Alaska Arts Southeast requested $125,000 cash payment to continue management. The Assembly directed staff to issue an RFP based on the cooperative model, with city continuing utility payments, school district providing maintenance, and the manager keeping rental revenue. The draft RFP will be brought back for approval. Assembly members emphasized the value of the current partnership and the need to clearly define maintenance responsibilities.
Commercial Passenger Vessel Tax Fund Balance: Discussion on three options: pursue special projects, retain balance, or call for public proposals. The Assembly leaned toward saving the majority of the $1.6 million balance for future tourism-related infrastructure (e.g., Lincoln Street rebuild), but considered using a portion for Visit Sitka programs, TBMP, tourism impact studies, or a tourism manager position. No final decision; direction was given to explore specific uses and bring back proposals.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 PM.
And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under Godisible 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 Sheetka. With gratitude, we proceed on Clinkett Ani. Just roll call, please. Mayor Eisenbeis. Present. Mr. Mosier. Here. Mr. Pike. Here. Mr. Christensen. Here. Ms. Carlson. Here. Mr. Saline. Here. Thank you. Any correspondence or agenda changes this evening. Ron? Yes. Mayor Assembly. I'd like to acknowledge the summer tourism operations memo that was shared by our municipal administrator. Yes, thank you. That was included in the correspondence. Just some reaffirmation of some plans for summer visitation. Tonight we do have a service award for Mo McBride. I think this might be possibly the longest time I've ever seen anyone serve on a commission. 18 years. Yes. Wow. Thank you. So this the service award is on behalf of the city and borough of Sitka is hereby awarded to Mo McBride. This expression of grateful acknowledgement for your 18 years of valued service rendered in the public interest while serving on the employment relations board. Thank you. It's a happy day and a sad day at the same time, I think, because I'm sure you're happy that uh you now have some time back. Um but the historical knowledge that you bring to an employment relations board over 18 years um cannot be replaced. So we do thank you for your time and your service on that. Um if you'd like to say something, you're welcome to, or we we do have a certificate up here for you as well. So and then uh just the button on the very bottom will turn that microphone red. Mr. Mayor, thank you very much, and assembly members, thank you for the recognition. I think all the boards that you have in the city deserve um a lot of uh support, and I think that uh I was lucky enough to be involved since the inception of the uh employee relations board uh with the original charter and uh organization of it, and I think that we did a very um thoughtful job that in working with the city people at the time and also with all the employees at the time, and made a very um it was a real mutual agreement situation all the way through. We tried to constantly uh check on both sides, and it because we were sort of independent of the assembly in some of the decision making in order for the unions to to form or not form, um, it made a it but we had your support at the time, not necessarily you individuals, but this assembly support, and although I think Tor might have been involved, uh the um it really does make a difference, and I think because it's really been going so well with the unions, um, that it's a real testament that the the good foundation that we started with really did make a difference through all of this time now, and so it's running very well, and we have two good members right now on the assembly on the board itself, uh Ken Cameron, who's your representative, and then Hal Spackman, who is the one we selected to be the leader. Now that may change with the new election, um, who will replace me because it's usually the two appointed people, the assembly person and the elected person that decide who the um head of it is, but I would suspect they might keep Hal there because it's we really have very little business right now, and we only meet when we need to.