Sitka City and Borough Assembly Regular Meeting – November 26, 2024

The Sitka Assembly met on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM in Assembly Chambers, with all seven members present (six in person, one remote). The meeting concluded at 8:19 PM. Major actions included approving supplemental appropriations for the Marine Vessel Haul Out and Shipyard Project (with a 6‑1 vote), advancing an ordinance to revise commercial recreation codes, and hearing updates on the SEARHC hospital construction and the school district.

Consent Calendar

• Approved three liquor/marijuana license applications: transfer to Totem Marina LLC (Marina Pizza & Grill), renewal for SOE LLC (Little Tokyo), and renewal for Jeremy J. Erickson (Vern’s Wicked Weed). Passed 7‑0.

Board, Commission, Committee Appointments

• Appointed Nicole D. Caraway to the Animal Hearing Board (three‑year term) and reappointed Amanda Roberts (Health Needs and Human Services Commission) and Leslie Young (Police and Fire Commission). Passed 7‑0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Persons to be heard (off‑agenda): Stephanie Weddle (Alaska Native Sisterhood) and Chad Tidal (Alaska Native Brotherhood) announced the upcoming holiday community dinner. They noted that last year they served over 350 in‑house meals plus meals to elders and disabled residents. They offered six uncooked turkeys to assembly members to cook and return for the dinner.
• Persons to be heard (on‑agenda): Austin Cranford spoke on ordinance 24‑29, expressing support for the haul‑out project and emphasizing that the fishing industry is Sitka’s second‑largest economic sector. He also raised concern about three police officers reportedly leaving the Sitka Police Department before spring 2025, asking for a statement on current officer numbers.

Discussion Items

• ORD 24‑29 – Marine Vessel Haul Out and Shipyard Project supplemental appropriation (first reading): Municipal Engineer Michael Harmon presented the project update. The original charter (July 2023) prioritized six objectives. Escalating costs – driven by deeper‑than‑expected pile driving and higher subcontractor bids – had reduced the contingency to about 1.5%. The ordinance seeks $350,000 from GPIP working capital and $163,000 from the general fund to restore contingency to ~5% ($350,000) and to add a $500,000 concrete washdown pad (including $100,000 for heated tubing). The pad would replace a temporary membrane (estimated $50,000 but needing frequent replacement). Heated components would allow year‑round use; about 68 days of below‑freezing temperatures occur annually. Assembly members discussed necessity, funding sources, and whether the heating element should be part of the first phase. Vice Deputy Mayor Carlson opposed funding the heated pad without a market study, citing lack of data on economic impact. Others (Tim Pike, Kevin Mosher, Thor Christianson) argued for doing the concrete pad now to avoid future costs. The motion passed 6‑1 (Carlson opposed). Second reading scheduled for December 17.
• ORD 24‑30 – Commercial recreational use code revision (first reading): Parks and Rec Coordinator Kevin Knox explained that the current code does not allow capacity limits or clear permitting guidelines, especially at popular sites like Baranof Warm Springs. The ordinance would create a use plan (to be adopted yearly, first draft to assembly on Dec. 17), establish permit duration (one year initially), require operator identification (e.g., placard or badge), and add enforcement and appeal provisions. Public comment: Austin Cranford raised concerns about the ordinance applying to trails not entirely on municipal land (e.g., Cross Trail, Thimbleberry Lake on University of Alaska land). Assembly members discussed permit transferability, enforcement costs, and the need to see the use plan before final reading. The motion passed 7‑0 on first reading.
• ORD 24‑31 – Data center uninterruptible power supply (first reading): IT Director Grant Turner stated that new virtual host servers installed after the FY25 budget require more power than the current UPS can provide redundantly. The $55,000 request was not in the budget because the power draw issue was discovered after installation. Passed 7‑0.

Key Outcomes

• ORD 24‑25 (Finance – Personnel/Contracts): Approved 7‑0 on second reading.
• ORD 24‑26 (Marine Vessel Haul Out – Disaster Relief): Approved 7‑0 on second reading.
• ORD 24‑27 (Solid Waste Vehicle): Approved 7‑0 on second reading.
• ORD 24‑28 (Crescent Harbor Courts): Approved 7‑0 on second reading.
• ORD 24‑29 (Haul Out supplemental): Approved 6‑1 on first reading; second reading December 17.
• ORD 24‑30 (Commercial recreation code): Approved 7‑0 on first reading; second reading December 17 (with use plan presentation same evening).
• ORD 24‑31 (UPS for data center): Approved 7‑0 on first reading; second reading December 17.
• Special Reports: Bill Spivey (Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital Administrator) provided an update on the new 234,528‑square‑foot hospital construction (begun 2022). The building will include 66 geothermal wells that will supply about 30% of electric needs, with a 10‑year payback. Phil Burdick (School Board President) reported that October student counts exceeded projections, a budget work session is set for December 2, and he commended staff for handling a difficult start to the school year.
• Officer departures: Austin Cranford publicly stated that three Sitka police officers are leaving soon. No official response was given at the meeting; the mayor indicated follow-up.
• December meeting schedule: Changed to December 17 and December 30 due to the Alaska Municipal League Conference (December 8–11).