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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Sitka Assembly Meeting April 8, 2025: Budgets, CPV Funds, and Summer Operations

City and Borough Assembly — Tuesday, April 8, 2025

BodySitka, Alaska

SessionCity and Borough Assembly

DateTuesday, April 8, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:46:28

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

0:00

Evening, I'd like to call to order the April 9th, April 8th Assembly meeting.

0:05

Sorry, please join me for a flag salute.

0:09

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God individually with liberty and justice for all.

0:24

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

0:30

With gratitude, we proceed on Flinken on E.

0:33

Sarah, roll call, please.

0:35

Mr.

0:36

Pike?

0:37

Here.

0:37

Ms.

0:38

Carlson.

0:38

Here.

0:39

Mr.

0:39

Yes Dad?

0:40

Here.

0:41

Mr.

0:42

Mosier?

0:43

Here.

0:43

Mr.

0:43

Celine?

0:44

Here.

0:44

And Mayor Eisenbais and Mr.

0:46

Christensen are absent this evening.

1:01

All right.

1:02

I'm aware of one agenda change.

1:05

We're going to poll item D.

1:06

The sponsors like to poll item D discussion direction decision on the annual general fund grants for the nonprofit organizations program until we have a more robust assembly group here.

1:18

Are there other agenda changes for correspondence?

1:23

This evening.

1:26

So again, we're going to pull item D.

1:30

Seeing no others, we'll move on to special reports.

1:36

Let's see.

1:38

Special reports government to government.

1:43

Looks like we have two scheduled today, planning and community development.

1:47

Director Amy Angley.

1:50

Thank you.

1:56

Thank you, Assembly Members.

1:58

Amy Ainsley, Planning and Community Development Director.

2:01

So I'd like to provide everyone an update on the plans regarding Lincoln Street closures for the upcoming summer season.

2:07

So for the last three summers, we've um closed Lincoln Street between Lake Street and Catleyan Street during those larger cruise ship days.

2:24

And the assembly, at least in the past, had delegated the decision making authority to the administration municipal administrator to adjust those changes or to or to adjust those thresholds or other changes to the street closures.

2:38

And so considering plans for the 2025 season, we looked at a couple of different factors, speaking with both the tourism commission as well as some of the downtown local merchants, and uh decided that this year we are going to at least trial not closing Lincoln Street for the month of May.

2:54

So a couple of factors to kind of consider in that is that we've have better conformity to the MOU that was signed between the city and the Sicket dock company in terms of scheduling ships and those visitor numbers that we're seeing.

3:09

We also have some really um which I think are going to be some good operational changes from the dock to stagger cruise ship arrivals and departure times so that folks aren't all coming into town at the same time, as well as uh the introduction of a scheduling app that will bus visitors into town at a more consistent steady flow as opposed to these large rushes coming into town and leaving town during the day.

3:34

Um there was also kind of a greater need for us to focus on managing jaywalking and other pedestrian safety issues and um kind of diverting our our time and resources into managing that a little bit better, and also just wanting to be responsive to the public input that was received during the tourism task force efforts regarding you know frustrations around the street closures.

3:54

Um March 13th, we did take this to the tourism commission.

3:59

They unanimously recommended that we not close the uh not close Lincoln Street during the summer season.

4:05

Some mixed uh feedback from some of the the downtown merchants.

4:09

Um, and so we decided that the kind of the middle ground there was to at least trial this for the month of May to observe and to make plans and to come back to the assembly at your May 29th meeting to give you a final decision for the remainder of the season.

4:24

Um so we're also gonna be working um with the tourism commission to discuss um whether or not uh the public restrooms can be deployed in the downtown area based on those street closures happening or not, as well as um helping us um review some of the plans for those pedestrian safety measures, including um crossing guards, sidewalk attendance, um other potential barricade options and that sort of thing.

4:49

Um if there are going to be shifts in funding needed to support these different operations, either between departments or between our CPV funds or the general fund will bring back a supplemental appropriation to capture those funds appropriately.

5:08

Did you say you are going to have crossing guards or if it appropriately is needed, you're going to come back for we are we are going to be working on recruiting crossing guards, yes.

5:18

Is there any history of when this borough did that before?

5:21

Like when they had four crossing guards and meter maids and like when it was tried to be implemented before, like 15.

5:29

Is there any evidence in what has happened before in town?

5:33

The only one that I'm aware of is that I believe we had a traffic conductor at the four-way stop for a while.

5:40

That's that's the only one I'm aware of, but you mean Ed Green?

5:44

Yeah.

5:45

Yeah, this is before Ed Green when they had roving yellow chalk people and all right.

5:51

That good enough, thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████17%

Budget Equity Analysis████████████████16%

Parks and Recreation██████████████14%

Public Infrastructure█████████████13%

Tourism████████8%

Public Works████████8%

Capital Improvement Planning████████8%

Public Engagement██████6%

Technology and Innovation███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Sitka Assembly Meeting – April 8, 2025

The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly held a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Assembly Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Deputy Mayor Timothy Pike (Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz and Assemblymember Thor Christianson were absent). The agenda included a special report on downtown street closures, quarterly department reports, discussion on the Commercial Passenger Vessel (CPV) tax fund balance, first readings of the FY2026 budgets (General Fund and Enterprise Funds), amendments to the parks code, acceptance of a donated AirFloor, and rescheduling of the May 27 meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:54 PM.

Consent Calendar

Item A (25-056): Approved liquor license renewal applications for Pioneer Liquor, Inc. dba Pioneer Bar and Pioneer Liquor Store at 216 Katlian Street.
Item B (25-057): Approved the Health Needs and Human Services Commission 2025 goals.
Both items were approved unanimously on a 5-0 vote (Mosher, Ystad, Pike, Carlson, Saline).

Special Reports

Planning and Community Development Director Amy Ainslie reported on downtown street closures for 2025: Lincoln Street will remain open through May as a trial, with the Tourism Commission and downtown merchants involved. The decision will be reassessed at the end of May for the remainder of the visitor season. The city will focus on managing jaywalking and pedestrian safety, including recruiting crossing guards. Public comment was not taken on this report, but the mayor noted that public input could be directed to the planning department or Tourism Commission meetings.
Quarterly Reports:
- Interim Public Works Director Mark Seavey reported that the department is 87% staffed (40 of 46 billeted positions, with potential to reach 93%). Key projects: Crescent Harbor restroom replacement (on schedule, prefab install), GPIP vessel hall (substantial completion by May 18-19), and the Lake-Hurst Monastery and Kincaid Road utility project (bids came in at $11.2-11.4 million vs. a $7 million estimate; options being explored).
- Harrigan Centennial Hall Manager Tony Rosas reported 100% full-time staffing, six seasonal applicants, and 376 port calls expected. The building is at 68% of its FY25 operating budget. Future projects include audio-visual upgrades and deployment of pedestrian safety attendants.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public Comments on the Enterprise Fund Budget (Item F):
- Valorie Nelson opposed the budget, citing unsustainable increases in user fees (water, sewer, garbage) and a lack of transparency in the budget’s omission of pay rates per position. She noted municipal staff increased from 152.87 FTEs in FY20 to 182.37 in the upcoming year, estimating an approximate $2.28 million annual increase in personnel costs.
- Austin Cranford agreed, stating that community members on fixed incomes are struggling, with some paying $400-500/month for electricity while barely using it. He urged the assembly to reevaluate rates and noted that tax-exempt entities reduce city revenue.
Public Comment on CPV Fund (Item C):
- Austin Cranford suggested using CPV funds for the haul-out facility, noting it supports interstate commerce and could benefit fishing and passenger vessels.

Discussion Items

Item C: Commercial Passenger Vessel (CPV) Tax Fund Balance (25-053)
- The city reported a projected balance of $2,794,834.90 in the CPV excise tax fund. The assembly was asked to provide direction: pursue special projects, retain the balance for future initiatives, or initiate a call for public proposals.
- Assemblymember Carlson proposed using up to $100,000 for a Crescent Harbor restroom exterior plaza and picnic shelter re-roofing, and retaining the remaining balance for large-scale projects or unanticipated needs (e.g., sea walk, Centennial Hall, lightering facilities).
- Vote: Motion to direct the administrator to pursue those special projects with $100,000 and retain the rest passed 5-0.
Item E: First Reading – FY2026 General Fund Budget (ORD 25-07)
- The ordinance adopts budgets and a capital improvement plan for the General Fund, Internal Service Funds, and Special Revenue Funds for FY2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).
- Assemblymember Carlson expressed concern that the capital improvement plan omitted the school district’s $30 million in scoped needs. She moved to strike the “and capital improvement plan” language from the motion, but the amendment failed (no second).
- Debate: Others argued the capital improvement plan is a long-term planning document and does not commit funds; the FY26 budget includes $1.9 million for school capital projects. The motion passed 4-1 (Carlson opposed).
Item F: First Reading – FY2026 Enterprise Fund Budget (ORD 25-08)
- The ordinance adopts budgets and capital improvement plans for Enterprise Funds, amends utility rates in Title 15, and adopts moorage and harbor fees.
- Assemblymembers acknowledged the difficulty of rate increases but stressed they are necessary to maintain aging infrastructure and meet unfunded mandates (e.g., wastewater sterilization). Rates are rising less than inflation, except for wastewater due to a capital project.
- Vote: Passed 5-0 on first reading.
Item G: First Reading – Parks Code Amendment (ORD 25-06)
- Parks and Recreation Coordinator Kevin Knox explained the update to Chapter 14.05 addresses outdated practices, adds a policy section, clarifies definitions, formalizes the school district partnership, enables online reservations, and establishes clear guidelines for public use cabins (including a residency requirement for Tom Young cabin).
- The ordinance passed 5-0 on first reading.
Item H: Accept Donation of AirFloor (25-060)
- The Sitka Recreation Foundation donated a 40x25-foot multi-chamber air floor for gymnastics programs. The floor is already in use at Keet Elementary. The donation included shipping costs covered by AML and Aerohead Transfer.
- Motion to accept passed 5-0.
Item I: Reschedule May 27 Regular Meeting to May 29
- Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson requested the change because the Assembly Chambers will be used as an election precinct for the May 28 special election. The assembly agreed, no formal vote needed.

Key Outcomes

Consent Calendar: Approved items A and B (5-0).
CPV Fund Balance: Directed $100,000 toward Crescent Harbor restroom plaza and picnic shelter re-roofing; retained the remaining balance for future large-scale projects or unanticipated needs (5-0).
First Reading – FY2026 General Fund Budget (ORD 25-07): Approved 4-1 (Carlson opposed).
First Reading – FY2026 Enterprise Fund Budget (ORD 25-08): Approved 5-0.
First Reading – Parks Code Amendment (ORD 25-06): Approved 5-0.
Donation Acceptance: Accepted AirFloor from Sitka Recreation Foundation (5-0).
Rescheduling: The May 27 regular meeting will be moved to May 29, 2025.
Next Steps: The administration will proceed with the CPV fund projects, budgets will go to second reading, and the parks code update will be finalized. Pedestrian safety crossing guards will be recruited. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 22, 2025 (Item D on non-profits was pulled to that date).

Meeting Transcript

Evening, I'd like to call to order the April 9th, April 8th Assembly meeting. Sorry, please join me for a flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God individually 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 Flinken on E. Sarah, roll call, please. Mr. Pike? Here. Ms. Carlson. Here. Mr. Yes Dad? Here. Mr. Mosier? Here. Mr. Celine? Here. And Mayor Eisenbais and Mr. Christensen are absent this evening. All right. I'm aware of one agenda change. We're going to poll item D. The sponsors like to poll item D discussion direction decision on the annual general fund grants for the nonprofit organizations program until we have a more robust assembly group here. Are there other agenda changes for correspondence? This evening. So again, we're going to pull item D. Seeing no others, we'll move on to special reports. Let's see. Special reports government to government. Looks like we have two scheduled today, planning and community development. Director Amy Angley. Thank you. Thank you, Assembly Members. Amy Ainsley, Planning and Community Development Director. So I'd like to provide everyone an update on the plans regarding Lincoln Street closures for the upcoming summer season. So for the last three summers, we've um closed Lincoln Street between Lake Street and Catleyan Street during those larger cruise ship days. And the assembly, at least in the past, had delegated the decision making authority to the administration municipal administrator to adjust those changes or to or to adjust those thresholds or other changes to the street closures. And so considering plans for the 2025 season, we looked at a couple of different factors, speaking with both the tourism commission as well as some of the downtown local merchants, and uh decided that this year we are going to at least trial not closing Lincoln Street for the month of May. So a couple of factors to kind of consider in that is that we've have better conformity to the MOU that was signed between the city and the Sicket dock company in terms of scheduling ships and those visitor numbers that we're seeing. We also have some really um which I think are going to be some good operational changes from the dock to stagger cruise ship arrivals and departure times so that folks aren't all coming into town at the same time, as well as uh the introduction of a scheduling app that will bus visitors into town at a more consistent steady flow as opposed to these large rushes coming into town and leaving town during the day. Um there was also kind of a greater need for us to focus on managing jaywalking and other pedestrian safety issues and um kind of diverting our our time and resources into managing that a little bit better, and also just wanting to be responsive to the public input that was received during the tourism task force efforts regarding you know frustrations around the street closures. Um March 13th, we did take this to the tourism commission. They unanimously recommended that we not close the uh not close Lincoln Street during the summer season. Some mixed uh feedback from some of the the downtown merchants. Um, and so we decided that the kind of the middle ground there was to at least trial this for the month of May to observe and to make plans and to come back to the assembly at your May 29th meeting to give you a final decision for the remainder of the season. Um so we're also gonna be working um with the tourism commission to discuss um whether or not uh the public restrooms can be deployed in the downtown area based on those street closures happening or not, as well as um helping us um review some of the plans for those pedestrian safety measures, including um crossing guards, sidewalk attendance, um other potential barricade options and that sort of thing.

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