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Record of Proceedings

Sitka Assembly Meeting - April 22, 2025: Budgets, Community Garden Lease, and Grant Program Restructuring

City and Borough Assembly — Tuesday, April 22, 2025
BodySitka, Alaska
SessionCity and Borough Assembly
DateTuesday, April 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:54:39

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:05

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

0:11

With gratitude, we proceed on Clinkett Ani.

0:15

Sarah Roll Call, please.

0:18

Mayor Eisenbais.

0:20

Present.

0:20

Ms.

0:21

Carlson.

0:22

Here.

0:23

Mr.

0:23

Christianson.

0:24

Here.

0:25

Mr.

0:25

Mosier.

0:26

Here.

0:26

Mr.

0:26

Selene.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Mr.

0:28

Pike will be here momentarily, and Mr.

0:30

Yastad is absent.

0:32

Great, thank you.

0:34

Any correspondence or agenda changes this evening?

0:39

Seeing none.

0:40

That will bring us to our special reports.

0:45

I don't see there's the man of the hour.

0:49

Right on time.

0:50

Are you ready?

0:53

So we'll start our nervous.

0:56

You didn't even have a chance to sit.

0:59

So we'll start our uh special reports this evening with a school board report.

1:03

And uh Mr.

1:04

Phil Burdick.

1:07

Thank you.

1:07

I hope you had time to get ready.

1:09

Uh I have so much time.

1:11

Um would you like me to go to a different report while you have it?

1:14

No, no.

1:14

I I just want to say that uh my name is Phil Burdick, Sikka School Board President for the record.

1:20

Um, and that should give me just enough time to pull up the right page.

1:25

Um the legislature did not veto the governors over or the governors did not override the governor's veto.

1:41

So 33 yes and 17 nays on House Bill 69.

1:46

Um it's not surprising, it is disappointing.

1:51

So we're back to square one.

1:54

I think there's 30 ish days left in the session, and so we still don't know what money we're gonna get or not get.

2:01

Um as you have heard the governor's bill is for 560 and some money outside the cap.

2:08

Um you so graciously offered 680, so uh her fund to the cap at 680.

2:16

So if the 560 comes through, then our budget that we built, which is built on 680 at this moment um and balanced, um, we'll be short there and we'll be short the money that we were expecting from you.

2:31

So that balanced budget that we uh that we I say it's really Dr.

2:39

Jensen and Miss Hollis Buchanan who have done all of that heavy lifting.

2:44

Um that balanced budget included uh four more cuts to staff.

2:49

So um we're looking at further cuts and further reductions.

2:57

So unless something miraculous comes out of Juneau in the next month.

3:04

So that's the bad news.

3:07

Um the interesting news is that the Sitka High School principals were in town yesterday, and I met them for the meet and greet.

3:15

Um Mr.

3:17

Chrisman from North Dakota, our own uh Laura Rogers, uh interim principal currently at Sitka High School, and the principal from up in Utgyavik, uh Dr.

3:28

Tenbroke.

3:29

Um, and so the committee met today and they hope to have a hire by this week.

3:35

So we should know who will be leading that building soon.

3:40

And the really good news um was attending SNEP's 50th CUIK on Saturday here at the Centennial Building.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Procurement██████████10%
Electric Utility Management█████████9%
Public Infrastructure███████7%
Capital Improvement Planning███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Intergovernmental Relations█████5%
Library Services████4%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Sitka Assembly Meeting - April 22, 2025

The City and Borough of Sitka Assembly met on April 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Assembly Chambers. The meeting included quarterly reports from the Fire, Library, and Electric Departments, a school board update, approval of FY2026 budgets, a first reading of a community garden lease, and a discussion on restructuring the annual nonprofit grant program. All votes were unanimous (6-0) with Assembly Member Ystad absent.

Special Reports

  • Sitka School Board: President Phil Burdick reported that the Alaska Legislature did not override the governor's veto of House Bill 69 (school funding), leaving the district with an uncertain budget. The district's balanced budget of $680 per student (funded by the city) is threatened by a governor's proposal of $560, which would require four additional staff cuts. Burdick also noted progress on hiring a new Sitka High School principal and praised the Sitka Native Education Program's 50th anniversary celebration.
  • Fire Department: Chief Craig Warren reported that the department graduated 13 EMT students, is preparing for upcoming classes and the September Fire Conference, and has returned Medic 3 to service. The department is losing one engineer and has one staff member on maternity leave, but additional firefighter-EMTs are helping. The department's budget remains below projections.
  • Sitka Public Library: Director Jessica Yremia reported that the library is fully staffed and running at approximately 75% of its FY25 budget. She highlighted youth programs (Stay and Play, Storyline phone service), technology assistance appointments, and a free little pantry. Recent projects include shelving installation, a circulation desk remodel, and a reader's advisory section. The summer reading program runs May 31–August 2.
  • Electric Department: Director Ron Vinson reported that the department focused on capital planning, safety training, regulatory compliance, and preventative maintenance in Q1. Staffing is at 26 positions (three contracted), with a generation systems manager position to be filled in July. Budget is at 76%. Challenges include safety deficiencies, regulatory compliance, staffing, inventory management, and low lake levels due to dry weather. Upcoming capital projects include the Marine Street substation upgrade, submarine cable work, and Green Lake failure detection.
  • Tourism Best Management Practices (TBMP): Planning Director Amy Ainslie announced a public meeting on April 30, 2025, to gather feedback on draft TBMP guidelines. The program will be piloted this summer by the Sitka Dock Company.

Board Appointments

  • Kenneth Cameron was reappointed to a three-year term on the Employment Relations Board (CBS Representative Seat) by a 6-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Leah Mason (on Ordinance 25-06): Asked for clarification on the significance of changing the Parks and Recreation office to a division. Later, during the second Persons to Be Heard, she noted that the ordinance's language regarding "primary use by the public" is vague and suggested adding a rubric.
  • Joel Hanson (on Ordinance 25-09): Expressed the Sitka Community Gardens Association's commitment to the long-term community garden project and noted plans for demonstration plots this summer.
  • Barbara Bingham (during Persons to Be Heard): Thanked the assembly for the community garden lease and reported that 42 people have signed up for 45 plots.

Discussion Items

  • Item B 25-054: Non-Profit Grant Program Restructuring: Assembly Member Kevin Mosher proposed transferring the annual General Fund Grants for Non-Profit Organizations program (currently $50,000) to the Sitka Legacy Fund, which would manage applications and distribute funds with a 3% fee (1% to Sitka Legacy Fund, 2% to Alaska Community Foundation). Mosher argued this would reduce staff time and political influence. Assembly members expressed support for reducing staff burden but insisted on retaining final approval authority. Deputy Mayor Pike, Assembly Member Carlson, and Assembly Member Christianson emphasized the need for assembly oversight and a streamlined application process. Administrator John Leach was directed to explore the proposal with the Legacy Fund and the item's sponsors, and to consult with the finance team on reporting and compliance, before bringing a formal proposal back to the assembly.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 25-06 (Amending Title 14, Parks and Recreation) approved on second and final reading (6-0).
  • Ordinance 25-07 (General Fund, Internal Service Funds, Special Revenue Funds budgets and CIP for FY2026) approved on second and final reading (6-0). Assembly Member Carlson clarified her earlier no vote was due to verification, not lack of trust. Administrator Leach noted the school district facilities were added to the CIP.
  • Ordinance 25-08 (Enterprise Funds budget and CIP, rate amendments, moorage fees) approved on second and final reading (6-0).
  • Ordinance 25-09 (Lease of tract on Jarvis Street to Sitka Community Gardens Association) approved on first reading (6-0). The lease is for $1/year, initial term of 3 years with five 5-year renewal options, requires a $5,000 performance bond, insurance, and annual reporting.
  • Item G 25-066 (Assembly Member Carlson as representative on the Sitka Walkability Action Institute) approved (6-0). The team is grant-funded; Carlson will serve as a local elected official and must bring any assembly decisions back to the body.

Reports

  • Mayor Eisenbeisz: Reported on the lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., and a Sitka Tribe of Alaska council meeting where a tribal citizen was appointed to the tourism committee.
  • Administrator John Leach: Provided updates on the lobbying trip, including meetings with Representative Begich, Senator Sullivan, Senator Murkowski, the Forest Service, the Coast Guard, and DOT MARAD. Key points: Coast Guard FRC Douglas Denman is expected to arrive in Sitka by August/September 2027; the Marine Service Center Seawall grant ($7.9 million) is underfunded and may require restructuring; and discussions with HIMARC about the haul-out facility are ongoing with potential to reduce per-foot rates through city-owned equipment.
  • Clerk Sara Peterson: Announced a special election on May 28, 2025. Voter registration deadline is April 28. Early voting begins May 13 at Harrigan Hall; absentee in-person voting is available at City Hall.

Meeting Transcript

The Assembly of the Assyrian Borough of Sitka would like to respectfully acknowledge the traditional first people of Sheetka. With gratitude, we proceed on Clinkett Ani. Sarah Roll Call, please. Mayor Eisenbais. Present. Ms. Carlson. Here. Mr. Christianson. Here. Mr. Mosier. Here. Mr. Selene. Here. Mr. Pike will be here momentarily, and Mr. Yastad is absent. Great, thank you. Any correspondence or agenda changes this evening? Seeing none. That will bring us to our special reports. I don't see there's the man of the hour. Right on time. Are you ready? So we'll start our nervous. You didn't even have a chance to sit. So we'll start our uh special reports this evening with a school board report. And uh Mr. Phil Burdick. Thank you. I hope you had time to get ready. Uh I have so much time. Um would you like me to go to a different report while you have it? No, no. I I just want to say that uh my name is Phil Burdick, Sikka School Board President for the record. Um, and that should give me just enough time to pull up the right page. Um the legislature did not veto the governors over or the governors did not override the governor's veto. So 33 yes and 17 nays on House Bill 69. Um it's not surprising, it is disappointing. So we're back to square one. I think there's 30 ish days left in the session, and so we still don't know what money we're gonna get or not get. Um as you have heard the governor's bill is for 560 and some money outside the cap. Um you so graciously offered 680, so uh her fund to the cap at 680. So if the 560 comes through, then our budget that we built, which is built on 680 at this moment um and balanced, um, we'll be short there and we'll be short the money that we were expecting from you. So that balanced budget that we uh that we I say it's really Dr. Jensen and Miss Hollis Buchanan who have done all of that heavy lifting. Um that balanced budget included uh four more cuts to staff.

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