Well, thanks for coming, everybody.

Um, I will call to order the regularly scheduled meeting of Tuesday, November 25th, 2025.

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, 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 Sheetka.

With gratitude, we proceed on Clinkettani.

Sarah Rollcall, please.

Mayor Eisenbais.

Here.

Mr.

Pike?

Here.

Ms.

Riley?

Here.

Mr.

Christensen.

Here.

Mr.

Mosier.

Here.

Mr.

Celine?

Here.

And Ms.

Carlson is absent this evening.

Thank you.

Any uh correspondence or agenda changes this evening.

Seeing none, we will go on to special scheduled reports.

School board has yielded their time this evening.

Um, so we will be moving on to our second scheduled report uh for the early childhood coalition.

I understand we have a uh video presentation.

Probably be lots of children running and jumping and playing.

Is there ice cream involved?

No.

Oh.

Ohted.

We'll push play when we're ready.

Just hopefully.

Oh god.

These things are like foreign.

Well, uh, well, she's getting it set up.

I'm Rachel Roy.

I'm uh with the SICA chamber, but tonight I'm representing the early childhood coalition, and the coalition um has just been a really special group for us.

We're really excited to share this um this video, but first um Ellen is gonna share a little bit.

Um I am I'm Ellen uh Hughes, and I am a member of the Early Childhood Coalition and um have spent um numerous years, probably 40 in the in the field of early childhood education, and I have recently 95 percent retired from that.

I'm not throwing in the complete tell, but um, so I'm spending a lot of time trying to umigate and find ways to um help the child care solution with the members of the early childhood coalition who compose an awesome um representation of the community.

We have just representatives from all over that um lend um some really great advice and help when it comes to um solving this very complex issue and problem.

So um this video, I think is is very good.

Yeah, uh full screen in that corner there.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Um just a quick intro.

Um the um the video was um sponsored in part by the U.S.

Chamber, and the U.S.

Chamber has been um working on child care because what um what is very much realized is that it this is a workforce issue and it it goes far beyond just being a parent or a family issue.

It really does kind of get into and um and you know, finding a solution is really important so that we can have a full workforce and this story does tell um a little bit about the work we're doing as well as uh work across the state.

Uh thread is um one of the main organizations that is um is helping out, and the Alaska Chamber is also a part of that.

So here we'll hit play.

Uh oh.

Let me see.

I don't want to edit.

There we go.

On the topic of child care, yeah.

I always am reminded of a saying that it takes a village, and without child care, I feel like in a modern sense, we're ignoring that old time saying that it takes a village.

I'm unable to work in Sitka because there is no available child care that's affordable for us.

And because of that, I'm staying at home.

Quality child care is so important.

We're seeing a big gap between the supply and demand of child care across the state, and we're really focused on how we can help build the supply across the state.

So Thread's been working to partner and advocate and work with local communities to try to find solutions and help them creatively problem solve the need to build more child care.

So we know there's a ton of untapped potential out there.

We know people are sitting on the sidelines that are able bodied and ready to work, but they just can't find the child care, or it's just a little bit too unaffordable for them.

And imagine what we could do as an economy if they were able to enter the workforce, how we could grow, and how we could spend less money searching for people outside the state of Alaska when we know we have good Alaskans here ready to work.

This isn't just an individual component, it's a component that requires the community's effort.

If my employees don't have child care, they can't come to their ships.

And things like our 24 hour operation may have to shut down, which actually occurred during our winter time frame.

Every single industry said that childcare was one of their issues with their employees.

And when we dug deeper, we found this coalition, the early childhood coalition, and found all of this uh evidence that Sitka is in a crisis with child care.

We have taken it up as one of our initiatives, and we are working actively every week, every month to try to change the trajectory of what um what our child care situation is and help to support families, help to support workforce so that people can come back into their jobs.

One of the first things we did a couple years ago was uh put together this career pathway summit.

That's where I was like, well, we need to get high school kids taking dual enrollment classes in this.

And um, so I approached the universities and looked into their early childhood education programs, and so I thought, well, couldn't they get a certificate in early childhood ed or something in in a child care related field, then they could graduate high school and be ready to go for a job.

This was the first year that it was uh taking students, and we already were able to hire uh one of the students.

She liked our program enough that she wanted to stick around, and we're very grateful.

But what's really unique where we've been growing our services and focusing our attention is how we can support businesses and communities with creative solutions, and that includes innovative partnerships like we're doing with some of the tribes across the state, of looking at how we can help them grow family child care, utilize some of their federal resources and local expertise coupled with our child care supports to create new programs and innovative solutions.

We worked with Thread as part of a community assessment to get an idea of what is the what are the needs in CIPTA regarding child care.

And so part of that assessment gave us things that we could work on.

Uh, for example, the relative and in-home provider programs.

So with those programs, we hope to increase the opportunities for uh child care.

Well, this last year we spent um over $300,000 on a stabilization grant for the child care centers here at Sitcat.

This went to supplementing wages, it went to utilities and bills like that.

It was to help stabilize them after the COVID pandemic and and get them to a place that they could try and function on their own without the extra support.

I do want to highlight that we did just pass a uh child care tax credit here in Alaska.

It passed uh earlier this year and was signed into law by the governor, and that is going to provide businesses that are taxpayers the opportunity to use uh a credit to apply towards child care, and it is wildly flexible.

Um so we are hoping that businesses look into that tax credit and and know that that's a tool available to them, and that that is one opportunity to solve the problem again, not a silver bullet.

The issue that we we really struggle with is that these people are trying to figure out how they can manage it with us.

Um, I've had situations where we try to look at flexible work schedules.

If it's a need that we have, um, what's your need, and how do we figure out a best way to solve the problem together?

And so as an employer, when we look at it, we've evolved because we used it as a recruiting tool.

And what I mean by that is is that our success, my success is directly tied to the quality of the people that are employed and that I work with.

And if I can create an environment and find ways to get the best people, then I will get the best product.

And so we have evolved to have hybrid work environments to stagger our schedules to be flexible enough to allow people to get their full-time job through doing full-time hours just in ways that allows them to do what's most important, and that's to parent their children.

Our business community is wanting to be part of the solution.

But I think what we're struggling with is figuring out what that looks like.

So we have spent some time just understanding what the challenge is, where do we need to focus, and what we find is that we need to all be part of the solution, and the uh the business community is part of that.

What is going to fix it is innovative ideas and employers that are willing to step up, and then maybe a government that will help us.

And when I say help us, I'm not asking for handouts or you know, grant funding is good, but what I'm talking about is reward success, or how about this?

Don't penalize us if we are actively involved in daycare.

We need this now.

Uh child care continues to be in crisis, and we need the investment now.

We don't want to wait for another generation of children, and the opportunity is for us to come together and continue to work for solutions.

Um thank you very much for the time and for us to be able to share this video.

It was really um encouraging, I think, for our group to be selected as the community because I feel like sometimes we feel like we don't have a ton of wins, but they really wanted to recognize how um how committed and uh engaged our our community is and and um Margaret Galanin is actually here and she is the teacher, and we were able to through that career pathway stand up a dual credit class with the University of Anchorage, and that's just one example of of uh you know progress that we've been able to make.

Um we um just want to keep working and just wanted to bring this to you all so you could um kind of see where Sitka's hitting the map.

We were um part of the conference up in Anchorage, and so people have been seeing this message and and um that story.

But I take any questions if you have one.

Appreciate your time on this one.

Um obviously not an easy problem to solve, or else everybody in the nation would have figured it out already as well.

So um thank you for your localized work on this, and we'll see you know what role the assembly and the municipality can play in this as well.

Great.

Yep, and we appreciate you know having Melissa she attends most every week.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Sorry there wasn't any ideas.

Oh uh Rachel, it looks like we did have a question from Katie here.

Yeah, I was just wondering, um, that was uh great presentation, and and thank you guys so much for all the work that you've been doing on this.

Um the $300,000 that the tribe gave in stabilization grants.

Was that from ARPA funding that they had?

Has that been an ongoing contributions?

I know they have programs um for their citizens.

I think they were separate.

I think I think those were two separate things.

Um the tribe um contributed um contributed certain monies, and then um we had to do some kind of application and stuff through um the it went through a couple of different channels through the government to get um and you had to report everything you spent and that okay, but I think they were two separate um uh there were two separate monies.

Okay.

They weren't.

And then they they conducted a um a needs assessment.

Is that available on your web?

Can I think so?

I think so.

It's on the um Sica Kids uh website.

Okay, I could shoot you a link to that.

Cool.

Um I believe it's also in their resources page on the SICA tribes website.

Um it is really uh interesting to to get in and look at that.

And I think where um where there has been success is that the goal of having child care support was in place in in you know, in the programs, they're offering all kinds of of services through their social services department, but they stood up a position.

And the other really cool thing about it is that there's um not necessarily uh income restrictions, and so it's really kind of opened up opportunities for for families to be able to get that support, and um, and there's been it's been a they're they're kind of um launching that is it opened up this last summer as the program they were talking about.

So awesome.

And then um for you know, it sounds like you y'all have done a lot of research for other communities throughout Alaska, and I just saw the awesome news that the tribe in June is partnering with the city to use the Floyd Dryden building.

Um is there a place where all of that information about like what communities across the state are doing at the municipal level to support health care?

I mean, I have my short list of there.

Um definitely um, you know, the marijuana taxes and Anchorage are going um to support child care.

There um they're doing the the one percent um sales tax in Juneau is going to support wages for child care.

Um there's some programs that are kind of coming out in um in Girdwood, and Gerdwood is like they have a community location that um there's a child care center being um stood up on that's through like nonprofit, but it's it's supported by the um community.

So those are the top ones that kind of come to mind, but um there are some examples that exist out there that um that people have and a few years behind them to kind of see how they've gone and and and what they look like.

So fantastic.

Well, thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

Sure, we'll follow up with um with some other.

Thank you, Mary.

Thank you both.

Appreciate your time this evening.

Moving on to the agenda.

When looks like we're ready already.

Um department quarterly reports.

Uh, we'll start with planning and community development.

Welcome great.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor and Assembly members.

Amy Ainsley, planning community development director.

For our quarterly report, I'll start with staffing.

I'm really pleased to report that we've filled our building permit and plans examiner position, um, which was open for a good chunk of time.

So we're very excited about welcoming Scott Busey to that role and increasing the capacity of our building department.

Parks and recreation is down our head lifeguard, and we're definitely feeling the impact of not having an American volunteer placed with us this year.

Um, but the team is still achieving some really amazing work despite that shortage.

And while the position is not in our department post-the reorg, we are also still feeling the impact of having the tourism manager position vacant.

We are continuing with recruitment on that and maintaining some of the the workload that had lived in my department.

Um, and we'll continue to in the meantime while we work to fill that position.

We're largely on track for our budget.

We're about 45% of the way through fiscal year 26, and in between planning, parks and recreation and building, we're ranging from about 22 to 27 percent of budget spent, so we're on on good track for our budget.

A couple of project updates to to highlight for you.

Um, first is the housing land feasibility and suitability study.

So we're currently working on wrapping up phase one of the study now.

We anticipate presenting that report to the planning commission in December and also presenting that to the assembly likely in January.

Uh, phase one of the of the study, just for again a little bit of that reminder on context.

Um, phase one has included identification of available municipal lands for housing development, study of the physical characteristics of those parcels, including the topography and terrain, hazard identifications, wetland investigation, and studying drainage courses, and then also studying road and utilities, um, both the proximity of those and of that infrastructure to particular areas, as well as the condition and capacity of that infrastructure for additional development.

The results from phase one will help indicate which parcels are really primed to move into a design phase, which parcels are potentially prime candidates but are going to need more intensive study, largely related to hazard mitigation and drainage, and then kind of the third category of parcels that are really not prime care candidates that we don't want to move forward with for additional kind of phase two study.

So again, looking forward to getting that report wrapped up and to you very soon.

Our tourism efforts are largely on track.

We conducted an end-of-season survey, and that was included in your packet under correspondence.

We reviewed those results with the tourism commission on the 13th.

The tourism commission's meetings in December and January will be focused on making recommendations, whether that be for city operations, TBMP guideline changes or other projects or initiatives to address the recommendations and responses that were received from that survey.

Hopefully, by your next meeting, but that might slide to the December 30th meeting instead.

We're also continuing work on the cruise dock zoning change.

Um that was a result of one of the tourism task force recommendations.

We're working on that jointly between the tourism commission as well as the planning commission.

We're also making good progress and headway on our centralized permitting project.

Um it is like most system implementations, taking a little bit longer than we originally anticipated, um, but still making good progress, and we're thinking that we'll be implemented on that kind of come summer or fall of next year.

Um we also are um got our um we signed the grant agreement extension for the Safe Streets for All program.

Um, and so coming into the new year, we'll be looking to assign staff from my department as well as um requesting report uh support from public works as well to really start that project in earnest.

Sustainability has two key projects that they're working that we're working on there.

Um, the energy to communities or E to C program as well as the SICA Renewable Energy Strategy.

Um, both projects are largely on track.

There have been some adjustments and delays with sort of the change in administration and approval processes because both of those projects are federally funded and supported.

Uh, but we're maintaining our staff contribution to both of those projects and looking forward to having some updates on our system end for sort of GIS mapping as well as some potential uh equipment processing or sorry, equipment procurements to support E2C and also looking to release the um updated greenhouse gas inventory for another round of public comment, probably in the next week or so.

Parks and recreation continues to be a really bright spot in the community, especially in these dark winter months.

They have a very full slate of after-school programming, senior programming, city league basketball, uh running the community choir, which was a super successful event.

Want to shout out to Ellie Campbell for organizing that.

Um we also have a lot of open pool hours and other pool programming available and continuing to facilitate rentals as well.

We also released the uh commercial recreational land use uh permit applications as well that'll be our first year under our new system, and so those will be open until January 4th.

Our building department remains busy, um, and now that they have uh moved into my department, our quarterly reports will include those KPI trackings that were in the at the last slide of our presentation for you that we included in your packet.

Um the third quarter tends to be really busy, that's July through September, um, because you know it just kind of aligns a lot of summer construction activities.

And they're generally, I think, doing a really great job of keeping up with the pacing.

We had 74 permits come in in that quarter, and 75 were issued.

And I think just one thing that's really impressive to me, there were 63 office days in this quarter, and they performed 243 inspections at 109 different job sites.

So our building department is really working hard to keep up with the pace of construction and meet uh citizen needs for permitting.

Uh thank you.

I thought I had a question on that, but it eluded me.

I appreciate your time this evening.

Uh, questions for Amy on her department's update.

Not a question, just thank you, Amy.

We really appreciate the work that you and your team are doing.

Thank you.

Uh if we have any questions, I'll just email you.

I can't think of any.

You guys know where to find me.

Thank you.

Apparently, it's contagious.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

I'm moving on uh to assessing the mayor, assembly members, John, Rachel.

Uh I'm Larry Reeder, and I'm the assessing director.

City of Sitka.

Uh assessing department currently operates with three full-time employees, and all three positions are filled.

Under current activities, you've probably seen this before, is uh we continue with our major project of reappraising all the uh residential properties in the borough.

This will be our fifth year doing it.

I was hoping to finish the fifth year, but it's really looking like it's gonna extend to six, which is fine.

That'll put us on a six-year cycle as far as getting around and physically actually reappraising these properties.

Uh the reappraisal project has brought us closer to the full and true value required by Alaska statutes.

Uh, between appraisals, a market trend will be applied to all properties annually.

This will help us to comply with Alaska statute and minimize the impact of reappraisals on our property owners.

Using market data, we can develop and apply trends to all properties in the borough.

We'll apply trends for the 2026 tax year and every year as we move forward.

The application of a trend model annually will assist in keeping our values current.

Recent accomplishments, our appraiser, Casey Kinslow continues her outstanding work and growth as a professional property appraiser.

Casey has earned a level two Alaska certification and has worked tirelessly on our reappraisal project.

Her effort and accuracy has been outstanding.

Casey also works hard to maintain our daily work and helps train our newest teammate, Chloe Cagle.

Chloe is our appraisal technician and often the public's first contact with our department.

Chloe always exhibits a professional attitude with the public and has made significant growth in her role.

Chloe serves on our internal culture club committee and took on the duty of presenting our department update at our October all hands on deck meeting.

For myself, I recently earned a level four certification issued by the Alaska Association of Assessing Officers.

There are five levels with five being the highest.

Certification levels determined by a scoring system.

Points are earned for successful completion of formal education courses, years of experience, membership, and participation on applicable boards and committees, attending conferences, workshops, and seminars.

Earning these certifications help the public to trust our assessing staff by knowing that the highest assessment standards are being met.

As far as our budget goes, so far this year, we've used 24%.

Any questions?

Thank you.

Thank you again for working with all of our property owners to not have any appeals come to this table.

Um not only do we appreciate it at this level, but it also speaks to the the high level at which you perform your job.

And so I think this is like the fourth or fifth year in a row that we haven't had that.

So again, thank you for that.

Much appreciated.

And then uh wrapping up our department quarterly reports with finance.

Brooke Falls Gang Finance Director.

So the packet for tonight's meeting included the uh FY2025 interim year-end financial statements for the city's major operating funds.

Um, they're structured to mirror our act for the annual comprehensive financial report, um, but with a stronger focus on budget performance, working capital, and key indicators.

Um, overall, the city remains on stable financial footing, but at the same time, rising construction costs, reduced state support, and shifting federal funding continue to create challenges, particularly for infrastructure and long-term capital planning.

Uh, my brief summaries for each of the funds highlights the most important trends, risks, and considerations as we look ahead.

So I strongly encourage you to look at those if you haven't if you haven't yet.

Um, we are still working on finishing up the 2025 audit and preparation of the ACFER.

We're expecting those to be presented to the assembly at the end of January.

Um, for my departmental update, we've used roughly 30 percent of our budget so far for FY26, and two out of our 17 positions are currently vacant.

Let me know if you have any questions about the financial statements.

I think you'd tell us if there were any red things we needed to look out for, so I'll consider them green at this point.

Thank you.

And is there anyone else here for special reports this evening, government to government, boards, commissions, committees, departments, or school district?

Thank you.

That'll bring us 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.

Good evening, Mayor Eisenbais, members of the assembly, newest members of the assembly.

Welcome to the jungle.

Mr.

Leach, Ms.

Jones, good evening to you as well, and uh congratulations on your career with the city, Mr.

Leach.

My name is Brian McLaughlin.

My family and I have been here for about six years in Sitka.

And while I've been up here once before in this capacity, I want to take a moment to officially introduce myself and our group, Sickens for Community Outdoor Recreation Enhancement.

If you were counting, that was 16 syllables.

So we go with SCORE for short.

In short, scores group of community members that serving as what I like to consider the special operations group of the SICA Recreation Foundation.

Whereas SRF is a body focused on recreation as a whole, SCORE has a much more narrow and specific drive and laser focus to build for Sitka an all-new and all weather fitness and athletic complex consisting of an outdoor rubber track, turf field, and turf women's softball field.

Unironically, we call this effort the SCORE project.

But don't worry, what we lack in creativity for naming conventions, we make up for with motivation.

This project is broken down into four phases.

The first phase was working towards a yes vote on proposition one in October.

Check.

We pulled together as a community and got that over the goal line.

See what I did there, John.

The second phase, which we are currently in, is conducting feasibility environmental and geotechnical studies on our two prospective locations for this complex, Laura Molar and Kim Sham Fields.

This phase two is super not sexy, and we know this.

But it is super critical to make sure this project is done properly and legally, which I believe is also important to some people.

After this, phase three will be architectural design and costing, and phase four will be the actual construction.

We are working currently with SRF, Parks and Rec, City Planning, Public Work, Sitka Youth Soccer, SICKA Fast Pitch, and High School Softball Organizations, the Football Program, High School Track and Field and Cross Country Leadership Search.

I think the only people we're not actually currently working with right now is a swim team, but don't worry, we're coming for you guys too.

The point here is to say that this is a community project for the community and by the community with score as your chief cat herders for the many processes involved.

There will be much more to come as this develops, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, you can learn all about this and reach out to us at WW Scoreforsitca.org.

Again, that's WWSCore for sitka.org.

Or look for us in town and hit us up with any questions you have.

You can look for me, Randy Hitchcock, Aaron Prussian, Chris Yestead, Amy McLaughlin, Brian Farley, Nikki Balovich, Richie Richards, Jeremy Strong, Tatiana Perkins, and last but not least, Kevin Knox.

Sitka, let's do this.

Thank you.

Anyone else for persons to be heard this evening?

Any item off of tonight's agenda.

Actually, I kind of have one that I'm phoning in for somebody else for a sec.

I I stopped by the AMB uh to help drop off some of the turkey then my way here, and they asked me to shout out that for Thursday afternoon's dinner.

Um if anybody with mobility issues, they are delivering and to call them uh and that the doors open at two and they're serving at three in the community dinner.

So that was great, thank you.

Um moving on to consent agenda, please.

I move to approve the consent agenda consisting of item A, approve the minutes of the November 10th Assembly meeting.

Item B, approve a retail marijuana license, uh store license, renewal application for island girls cannabis LLC at 224 Smith Street, suite A.

Item C making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026, replace harbor outboards for 32 foot Munson first reading, and item D, making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026, E91 phone consuls.

First reading it's removed and segmented to approve the consent agenda.

Is there any public comment?

Sarah.

All right, on the motion to approve the consent agenda consisting of items A, B, C, and D.

Um, I did want to point out that items C and D are on first reading, second reading.

Um will be December 16th.

Um so on the motion to approve though the consent agenda, Mayor Eisenbais.

Yes, Mr.

Christensen, yes, Ms.

Riley, yes, Mr.

Mosier?

Yes.

Mr.

Celine?

Yes.

And Mr.

Pike.

Yes.

The motion passes 60.

Item E, please.

All right.

Uh I move to reappoint Joshua Batter to Bonner to a three-year term on the Ports and Harvest Commission.

Umso to reappoint Devin Calvin to a three-year term on the tourism commission and to reappoint Adam Vail to a three-year term on the Sustainability Commission.

Uh just a clerical point.

It would be reappointment for Josh and Devin and an appointment for Adam.

Thank you.

It's been moved and seconded to appoint and reappoint to those named individuals.

Is there any public comment?

Assembly deliberation.

Just to thank everybody for putting their name in, and that uh if you didn't get in time, talk to Sarah.

We'll get you on one.

Sarah.

All right.

Uh Ms.

Riley.

Yes.

Mayor Eisenbais.

Yes.

Mr.

Mosier.

Yes.

Mr.

Pike?

Yes.

Mr.

Christensen?

Yes.

And Mr.

Steline.

Yes.

Motion passes 60 on item E.

Thank you.

New business item F, please.

Yeah, damn it.

Authorizing a property tax exemption for the Center for Community for the property located at 700 Catleyan Avenue.

First reading.

Ordinance 2526.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded to approve ordinance 25-26.

Uh, with this tonight, we will start with comments for the assembly from our assessor.

Um, and then we'll have a three-minute period for that.

Comments from center community representative, and then uh we will move on to public comment and then finally assembly deliberation.

So uh Larry, if you could start us out here, please.

You have three minutes.

Okay.

Uh this is uh an application for the optional community purpose exemption.

Uh in the state of Alaska, there are mandatory state exemptions for nonprofits, uh schools, uh, hospitals, things of that nature.

I originally received an application.

This is for the Center for Community who has the building at 700 Catleyanne Street.

And uh the application was for a mandatory nonprofit uh educational services exemption.

Uh, in doing research, I had to deny that application because they do not have a school affiliation of any any kind.

And that was what brings us to today with this optional local community purpose exemption application.

Uh each optional exemption must receive prior approval by the CBS Assembly considering the benefits provided to the community by the organization and to the amount of property to be removed from the tax rolls in order to be considered a community service.

The organization must benefit a significant portion of the public and nonprofit person other than employees and qualify for the federal income tax exemption 26 USC 501.

We did receive a timely application, and they also submitted a letter that you probably read outlining their activities and to why they think they should have this exemption approved.

Uh they actually rent out part of the building to search and sitca vision clinic.

They are not asking for an exemption on that portion of the property.

Uh they occupy 42 percent of the property, and that's what they're asking to be exempted.

Uh doing the math, uh total property value 42 percent times the tax rate would equate to uh five thousand six hundred and eighty-one dollar tax exemption.

Any questions?

Uh thank you, Larry.

If we have any questions, we'll call you up during our deliberation.

And uh center for community, you have uh three minutes as well.

Welcome this evening.

And if you can state your first and last name for the record.

I am Jacqueline Young.

Brian O'Callan, executive director, and Jacqueline is our accounting manager.

Center Community is a Sitka-based statewide business, and we currently provide a variety of social services and programs throughout Southeast, as well as the Greater Anchorage Metro area, the Matsu and the Homer Spit.

Historically, CFC has expanded and contracted to include Fairbanks and several other communities.

Our mission since 1978, which is some 47 years ago, has been to provide services that enhance the quality of life in the communities we are able and privileged to serve.

Historically, this mission has been has proved somewhat trying at times.

And here in Sitka, our public transit system, the RIDE, is a perfect example.

But we took it on and did our best to provide transit services for many years until passing the program on to the Sitka tribe here within the last, it's taken us about four years to disengage from that program, but they're taking it over, and we have every reason in confidence to believe that SDA will take things over and do well for the community.

Aside from the outliers, these programs and services that Center for Community provides are designed to teach and support communities with respect to living at home.

Okay, in our business, we call this home and community-based services.

We offer a good many services here in Sitka in this capacity.

We have our early learning program.

I don't know whether you any of you attended the uh community um uh baby shower last week, but we had over a hundred families.

We're apparently having quite a baby boom here in town right now, and it was well attended.

We had participation by most of the merchants in town and high school students and um just volunteers that came in to do that.

Now the early learning program, which focuses on children ages to one to three from one to three, or excuse me, from zero to three, um, is a really vital point in our in our community, and we provide screening for disabilities, education for parents, and therapy as early interven intervention.

This is a free age appropriate public education.

We also focus on intellectual and development disabilities.

We focus on teaching people with physical and development and intellectual disabilities, excuse me, on how to navigate within their communities and live as independently as possible.

We also run uh the employment enhancement program, which is part of the TANF Welfare to Work Program for all of Southeast Alaska out of here, wherein we train people to work toward self-sufficiency.

Now, with respect to personal care services, the bulk of our business is aiding seniors to age in place, that is at home for as long as possible.

Um please finish up your thoughts.

Okay.

Um in these days of substantial grant reductions, 10 to 15 percent more.

Well, in the last, well, our employment enhancement program has been diminished by 60 percent since COVID, while our wages have increased.

And uh when I started here, wages were at 1355 an hour.

Would you change an adult diaper for 1355 an hour?

These days we're competing with minimum of 20 to 25 dollars an hour, but our reimbursement rates have not increased.

Well, they're put this way, they increase every five to seven years by two and a half to three percent.

We can't continue providing services at that rate.

So what we would ask is that this with all honesty and graciousness on your part is to cut us some slack here and allow us to save a little bit of money on taxes so that we can continue providing services not only for our community, but for those in other portions of Alaska that we serve.

Thank you.

Thank you, appreciate your time.

If we have uh additional questions, we'll call you up during our deliberation.

Thank you.

A property tax exemption for Center for Community.

Seeing none, we'll bring it back to the assembly for deliberation.

Tor?

Yeah, I was reminded if somebody else can't.

So I and I read through this in our packet.

First of all, no question, Sanford Community does a lot of good work.

Um different lifetime ago, my old girlfriend worked there.

Um Sitka has a six male property tax rate, which is half of the state average.

Um don't and and just because you're a nonprofit does not mean you ought to we automatically get that.

It has to be very near the state ones, it has to be either essentially a state agency or hospital or school.

Um I don't like giving these.

Uh because you know, if we had a a normal tax rate, that might be different, but we don't.

And the only way that we can afford to have a millet rate like this is if we don't have exceptions.

And uh so I I don't think we have that luxury.

Um I know that 100% of the property tax goes to schools, and then more.

So we're in the unenviable position, constantly up here doing a zero sum equation.

If we take it or from or give it to one group, then we take it from another.

And um, you know, I understand and sympathize with the the people running the Center for Community, and if I were in their shoes, I'd be doing exactly the same thing.

But I think our job is to protect the entire community, and I maybe could get convinced otherwise, but at this juncture I am not uh planning on voting for this.

Kevin?

Hi, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you.

Uh Tor, you bring some good points.

Um I uh had the ability to talk to Larry before the meeting, uh got some insight on this.

Um so I was wondering if you could come up, Larry.

Um so right now I although I understand Taurus, I'm inclined to vote yes.

Um I I I do agree that not every 501c3 deserves this, but I think they they qualify in my mind.

Um we were talking, Larry, about um how this is a this has been on the books for a while, this ability, but um it's not been really known about this.

Uh you know, some people are we have well, how many do we have so far?

You said 35 or something to that effect?

35 uh organizations have this.

Um so if we hadn't done it before, I would say maybe no, but uh we have done it.

Um and Tor, you're absolutely right with what you're saying.

Completely, I totally get it.

Um because if you do once, then you gotta do everybody, but um it's five thousand.

And I acknowledge that this is a slippery slope because then every every nonprofit might come up and say and have a good argument, and we have to bring in revenue like Tor said for the whole community.

Um so I'm gonna vote yes, uh, but I'd be interested to see what other people say.

Thank you, Larry.

Oh, Larry.

Um, we're talking about recommendation because I noticed in the um in the memo, you didn't give a recommendation.

Uh correct.

Do you do you feel comfortable giving recommendation?

Sure.

Um City Code outlines that the these have to be approved by the the assembly, so I didn't make a recommendation because I don't have a vote in that.

However, if I did have a vote, I think I would probably vote for it.

And I understand the math, I understand taking from one to the other and how the money's spent and whatnot.

But these uh they when they first gave me the application for the education part of it.

I went down and they gave me a tour of their facility, and I could see and learned about some of the things that they were doing.

And it struck me that yeah, I mean they're helping young people, not only toddlers, but the parents in training.

Uh they're helping uh young people try to get jobs and and how to interview and even providing clothing at times, and then taking care of the elderly as well, which I'm not sure if they got to in their presentation.

And I looked at those three things and said, you know, if there ever was if there was a community purpose, they're they're providing something that's probably we don't want to do without, right?

So and I would have you asked me earlier other than finding out that they needed to have a school designation.

I probably would have approved their original application.

So I would recommend voting for it and understanding the finances behind it is a separate issue, but for me looking at it saying does this provise meet the criteria for community purpose exemption?

I would say yes.

Okay.

Thank you, Larry.

I know it's not easy to I didn't mean to put you in the spot, but we have to.

Larry, don't get off that easy.

Larry, we got more questions.

You can't run yet.

Um I have one, and then it sounds like Katie um has some as well.

Um so Larry, in your in your calculations, um, did you include the parking area?

Um and is that even something that you can include?

Because you you divided the building into commercial and nonprofit uses.

So undoubtedly the parking lot is used commercially and for nonprofit uses.

Um is that together or broken up?

And can it even be broken up?

It probably could be.

I did not do that.

I they 40 they use 42 percent of the property.

Um, so that's what I uh made my calculation on.

Uh so that was just off of the entire tax role that's the land value, building value.

Okay, so essentially we have done that.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Um, Katie, you had questions for Larry?

Um I was just reading, you know, the code is like uh all of the all or a portion of the property of an organization not organized for business or profit making purposes and used exclusively for community purposes, may be exempted.

Um if income derived from the rental of that property does not exceed the actual cost of the owner of the use by the renter.

So I assume that that part is not necessarily included because they occupy that part of the building themselves, like they rent the upper portion and they cover their costs with those rentals, and then it's like we don't cover our costs with the portion that we rent.

Right.

They're only asking for the 42%.

If they were asking for the entire building, that would probably come into play as you know, income versus market and all that.

But does the upper property as well receive a property tax exemption, like um because they're a hospital search?

I mean the clinic.

No, uh doctor's offices and facilities like that do not.

They it would have to be a hospital facility.

And they did talk when they first approached me, they uh talked about that a medical facility.

I had to explain that no, it's been through already in doctor's offices, and it has to be a hospital.

Same thing with search.

There are their uh properties that they own that are not uh a hospital are not exempted.

And what uh like when was the last time um a community exemption was granted, or these free it sounds like we have 35 on the books, they're not super frequent, but the only one in my almost six years here was last year, the youth advocates of sitca.

Okay, with a new property that they had purchased.

Oh, is that the um the new facility that they got out there?

Uh can you tell me the nature of some of the other services that the companies that receive property tax exemptions provide or yeah, you're gonna tax my memory now?

Do you give me a list later?

Yeah, uh, that's fine too.

It's it's different.

The Boy Scouts, I believe, have uh some property on an island uh that meets the criteria.

Um I can I can provide you with the list.

Yeah, that's great.

Um thank you.

Anything else for Larry while we have him up here.

All right, now you're off the hook, sorry.

Okay.

Uh Kevin wanted to bring it back to you.

Um you still have the floor if you had anything further.

Thank you, Mr.

Point.

Yeah, I was just gonna tell Larry, thank you for giving a recommendation.

I know it's an awkward spot sometimes the staff to have it whether a recommendation or not, but um I had talked to him previously before the meeting, so I felt comfortable asking him that.

Um and I understand I just want to clarify like I understand it's it's an awkward position because you know we have to have taxes to pay for things.

Um given the breadth of what they do, uh and the dollar value is not substantial.

I'm okay with it.

Um that's it, thank you.

And I just want to clarify it's like it's five thousand a month, right?

No, or that's per year.

Okay.

Tim.

I do remember the uh last time we did this, and it was a fairly contentious and far-reaching conversation, um, as it should be.

And I think the purpose of this statute is or this ordinance uh uh code is clear.

I mean, I think that is the point of bringing it to us is that we represent the community and it's up to us to decide if we see this as a community benefit and to the level that we're willing to to contribute to its funding.

So um, so I think that's a great process.

I am also in favor of this because I think it meets the criteria that we have established.

Um I can see Tor's point, and as a uh part of the school district, I can understand that it's taking from one to give to the other.

Um but you know, that's the balancing act that we do up here.

So this is the decision we get to make, and I'm in favor of this particular exemption.

Yeah, for myself, this is a big uh yin and yang going on.

Um, because I agree with a lot of the comments that came out from this.

Uh one thing I do want to throw out for us the assembly's consideration, especially considering that this building has a large commercial uh mechanism to it and could also change uses in the future relatively easily.

Uh we did put, I believe we put a one-year stipulation on the previous um exemption to come back for consideration.

Uh my understanding that this is once you issue it, it is issued.

Um so if the building changes uses, there would have to be a large triggering event that we might not know of uh in order to to claw some of this back or to even increase the exemption.

So I'd I'd be in favor of having a come back for uh renewals on a some sort of timely basis.

I think last time we talked about this, we actually identified this as a shortcoming in code that these don't ever come back for consideration.

Um but I would like to see something that was automatically if there are no significant changes to the use.

I don't think it needs to come to us every time, and I think uh our assessor could could simply with a brief questionnaire is has anything changed, yes, no, and and move on from there.

Um because I I think I'm leaning in favor of approving this tonight.

Uh it does Center for Community does provide services that are not covered by the government, as most of our nonprofits here in town do, which is a vital asset to our community.

Um throughout the discussion, though, I did hear something from the applicant though, that it gave me pause and consideration, and I understand the the mechanism of because they're an organization that works beyond sitca, um, but it said please exempt this so we can continue to provide services in sitca and elsewhere.

And that the the wording right there was like, well, if I'm giving you the exemption from Sitka, because this is taking from one SIDKIN to another, like I want to see those used in those funds being used in Sitka.

And there's no way to guarantee it, and I don't think that uh Center for Community is going to maliciously take this six thousand dollars and ship it off to another community they work in.

Um, but it's it's part of this process, and I think it's why optional um community purpose exemptions have to come forward to the assembly for for consideration of all the facts.

Um I don't know if I want to make an amendment to the motion tonight for you know, maybe a two, three, four-year renewal, like look back at it, or if we just want to work this into code um relatively easily.

Rachel, I'm gonna put you on the spot, but it seems like it'd be a fairly easy code change to incorporate into this, and then could we look back on all the current exemptions and it would still apply to those.

Um I think it would probably be a fairly easy piece of code to write.

Um yeah, I think you would just create a renewal period uh for them.

I think that's I think that's a viable um way to address the issue that you're seeing.

Okay, yeah, I think I probably prefer that in this instance, um, because if we put a renewal on here, then we're going to get lazy and we're not gonna take any action.

But if we if we don't, um then we might have some motivation to do that.

And I think that's important for all of them.

Um, I've seen a church in town that looks like it's being used more as a residence now.

I think that needs to be uh reviewed as well.

So I'll vote in favor as it is now.

Um, but uh might look for a co-sponsor here to change that.

Um we could just direct staff to keep an eye on it too, in the sh in the interim at least.

I wanted to let you guys know that we uh audited.

Larry, go ahead.

Thank you.

Uh we audited the community purpose exemptions, all of them uh two years ago, and we planned to do it every five years.

So that we and that's exactly what we did.

We sent out a letter saying has anything changed on the property, and got all that back to updated.

So that's kind of already in place.

Um if you want to do something else more formal, that's but I think that's what you're talking about is having the assessing department keep an eye on it.

I do an audits every five years is what we had planned.

Yeah, you remember earlier when I said I liked you?

Yeah, I like you.

Thank you.

Thank you for solving my problem before it was a problem.

Katie?

Yeah, um, thank you.

I think uh I think this discussion is really valuable and agree with a lot of the points that have been brought up.

Um I'm also probably I'm I'm inclined to vote for this tonight due to the you know value that the Center for Community brings uh to the community.

I'm just really wary of how these broader trends are impacting all of our community and the fact that we have so many nonprofits in town that offer so many services that our government doesn't offer and the uh you know growing pressure from decrease in federal and state funding.

This is something that we talked about at our strategic plan session, right?

Like this is a contextual thing that will continue happening, and so um I'm I'm nervous about that with the way that our mill rate is structured to be uh very low, and that's one of the the points that does make SICKA affordable, but it also means that uh you know, as we have an aging population and as we have nonprofits that are relying more on um you know funding that potentially has been provided by other government entities um looking to the local level to fill those holes.

Uh we're gonna we're gonna have some some harder choices ahead of us, and so um I would be uh in favor of a um writing that into code uh a review process and very grateful to the assessing office for for taking that on.

Um but yeah, I think look looking at square footage balso uses and all of that um on a more regular basis and just for you know when when Larry isn't here to uh spearhead that um and take that initiative, making sure that that's part of the process um because I I don't necessarily see these trends uh changing in the short term.

So um yeah.

Anything further from the assembly Sarah All right.

On the motion to approve ordinance 2025-26 on first reading, Mr.

Christensen.

No, Mr.

Celine, yes, Mr.

Pike.

Yes, Ms.

Riley, yes, Mr.

Mosher?

Yes, and Mayor Eisenbais.

Yes.

Okay, the motion passes five one on first reading, second reading will occur on December 16th.

Thank you.

That'll bring us to item G.

Mr.

Mayor.

Oh, it is the top of the hour.

Um thank you, Kevin.

Appreciate that.

Um we will take a brief recess before we hit item G.

Uh, assembly, please be seated when you're ready to continue.

This this is why this is why it's just a lot so you can ask those black.

All right, the assembly is seated.

Um, we'll move on with our agenda tonight with item G, please.

I move to approve the 2025-2028 SICA Firefighters Union International Association of Firefighters, IAFF local 5168 collective bargaining agreement.

Second uh it's been moved and seconded to approve the Sitka Firefighters Union Um agreement.

Is there any public comment?

Sorry, I was supposed to do um our HR director Josh first, but the public comment uh didn't seem massive.

So good evening, Mr.

Mayor and Assembly.

Josh Brant Hoover, assistant administrator.

Labor negotiation meetings began with IEFF in July to replace their current contract, which was due to expire on June 30th.

Uh the parties met over multiple sessions in July, September, and October, and we reached a tentative agreement on October 24 uh 24th, and we received notification on November 10th that the union had ratified, and uh now it's being presented for the assembly's uh approval.

Um primary changes, we didn't have a lot on the non-economic changes.

Um one thing that was a goal across the other CBAs as well was uh implemented or clarified language related to several human resources initiatives, including personnel files, evaluations, and job vacancy advertising within our economic changes, uh have them all listed there.

Um this will all be retro back to July 1st.

Uh the fire EMS record specialists increase from 2107 to 25 dollars per hour.

Firefighter EMT increased from 2250 to 25 dollars an hour.

Fire engineer, it previously had three pay levels um for uh EMT 12 and three.

Um we merged them down to one fire engineer, and then uh it was kind of built back in with the uh professional pay that I'll mention here in a moment.

Um, but on average it increased from 24.59 cent to 27 an hour.

Uh there was no change on the senior fire engineer or the EMS fire captain for uh FY26.

Uh FY27, there will be across the board five percent increase, and then FY28, there'll be a three percent increase.

Uh as I just kind of alluded to, there was professional pay uh in a different format.

Um when someone got their EMT two or EMT three previously, um, how we have it structured now, it will be it's open to different uh other classes like the fear the fire and EMS record specialists and the firefighter EMTs will also have the option for professional pay, and it's two percent for EMT two, four percent for EMT three, and for the first time we've introduced uh an eight percent professional pay uh for paramedic.

There's also a one-time uh lump sum payment of five hundred dollars less applicable withholding.

Um that will be effective the next full pay period after assembly approval.

And we also increased standby pay uh for the weekday from 350 to 450 per hour, and weekends and holidays from four to five dollars per hour.

Overall, the total estimated increased cost to CBS will be 288,223 over the proposed three-year contract, and that assumes all positions are filled and overtime continues at prior year levels.

Um while the proposed increase for FY26 is higher than uh what we estimated.

Um, we do not expect that uh it will exceed FY26 budget amounts and a supplemental appropriation for FY26 is not required or anticipated at this time, and I recommend assembly approval.

That's all I have pending any questions.

Uh thank you, Josh.

If we have questions, we'll call you back up.

I'll go back to public comment on the firefighters union agreement.

And then back to the assembly for deliberation.

Kevin.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh just thanks to Josh and everyone else who he worked with to get this done.

No, these things are very time consumed, labor intensive, and a lot of fine details to go through.

And so your thoroughness uh really appreciate it, and you've given us a great easy product to review.

And I don't think the increase in finances is a heavy burden for the city, and it correlates with general uh cost of living race increases uh across the board.

Thank you.

Katie?

Um, I was just wondering what the nature of this um lump sum payment is, like it the wage increases and the schedule of increases for the wages seems um very straightforward and you know, with inflation and all of that.

Um is that just a bonus that is offered?

It's it's essentially a signing bonus.

A signing bonus for employees that are already employed, or is this new employees?

In this case, it's employees that are already employed in the bargaining unit.

Is that a relatively uh common practice for it is okay?

Thank you.

Yeah, this one to me looks um fairly cost of living adjustment, inflationary adjustment to these wages.

I don't think anything looks out of line to me.

Um personally, I have a concern, and I know that the the fully capable fire chief will handle this, but if you have a eight percent professional pay adjustment for paramedics, um everyone's gonna want to be a paramedic.

My understanding, having formally volunteered at the fire hall, is once a paramedic puts hands on people, um, they cannot release that patient until they pass them off to another level of care.

So ah understood yeah so I just had a concern that you know if paramedics start doing paramedic things on people then we're not gonna have a driver for the rig.

Right and and and I will say that we have I mean I'm still technically a volunteer down there although I don't run much but I deal interact with them a lot if that's a disclosure so be it but uh the um but we have a really professional group down there and the fact that we have people who put themselves to paramedic and trust me the amount of thinking about that bonus they didn't get paid for every minute they worked on it I'll tell you that I mean that's a huge amount of work to go from being an AMT to a paramedic and they will tell you that they're paramedics all the time I mean every all paramedics do that.

Anyway sorry uh but no I I think that yeah like I say it's it's a straight pretty much cost of living and they it's a it's a lot of life you have to put your life on hold a lot when you're working down there so I did it does is it definitely does not bug me a bit John I just want to quickly address the uh the paramedic uh pro pay that's on here and and just um give everybody a heads up that there's some re-evaluation on that uh on that program that we'll have to to look at in the future I mean it it it seemed appropriate to uh um you know apply that that pro pay for this contract um just for for context um our job descriptions don't require a paramedic certification but we have uh in the contract the ability to um assist employees that want to go off and get higher levels of training um and I think what that has morphed into is now that they went and got the training uh we would use them for that training um so we we still have to evaluate if if um if paramedics are necessary given our our uh our location and other levels of care that are nearby and then at what level so um again like I said that it it is it's it's appropriate to include it in here um to um you know compensate them for that for that training and that skill that they have uh but our our program will will get evaluated uh moving forward to see what the what the true need is so we can set some levels there sorry if we're if we're gonna talk about that um the other issue there is at both the state and federal level they're kind of moving away from the various levels of emts Alaska is the only state in the country that has the one two three so what they're moving more towards and the state is uh actively is basically empty basic what we would call a one and then advanced EMT which is more than an emt three now but doable I know Greg Rashik just did it um and then paramedic and the and honestly we're being and and it's a lively discussion at the state level they're pushing towards paramedic um and I'm pretty sure that if a paramedic does paramedic things they charge more so I think that eight percent is gets covered pretty quickly I kind of joked about it that when I step on the ambulance as an ALS and I do ALS things I do more for the city budget than I do up here because the cost of that ambulance ride just skyrocketed but I have to do higher level things but but that um but ultimately they get they can do some things that I'm legally not allowed to do um and you know that makes a difference sometimes it makes a difference between making to the hospital with somebody alive or not but anything further from the assembly sorry all right on the motion to approve the 2025 um to 2028 IFF uh collective bargaining agreement Ms.

Riley yes Mr.

Selene yes Mr.

The motion passes 6-0 on item G.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That'll bring us to item H tonight, which is a discussion direction decision on the recruitment process for a municipal administrator.

I'll go through some things.

Josh will help me with some things here.

It was talked about potentially needing to edit the job description.

So those were sent out to assembly members if they needed to review and possibly edit.

Personally, I'm comfortable with them as we did recently review them and they were recently updated.

But that is open for discussion.

And then we need uh to indicate a starting salary.

So in talks with Josh, um I think it's best for us to set a starting salary and then go up from there.

So that will not exclude anyone to wants the municipality to pay them a half million dollars a year for this job, they can still apply.

Um that technically would be within the range.

Um, but it gives an idea for the the baseline, right?

Um so someone has an idea what they what what they would be getting into.

Um if if approved by the assembly, we would start advertising as um right after this.

Uh things should be ready to go.

So we would just need uh those two um pieces of information.

My suggestion is to keep this open until filled, and then a first review of applications as needed, and that could be coordinated through HR along with Sarah and getting uh the information out to us and then setting a meeting date there.

Uh at the at that meeting, then we would have the option to kind of talk about the follow-on processes and what that would need to look like.

So if there's any comments on any of that, um any edits to the job description, ideas for starting salary.

Um I think I know where that's gonna land, but we'll let uh the assembly talk about that.

Um but anything else along those lines.

Kevin, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um before I I uh well, first of all, I will say I think the job description is good.

I think we should leave it as is as presented.

Um I was as I indicated before, I would like the starting salary to be increased from what it currently is, and I apologize for the optics of that what that says, uh John uh was not intentional.

Um and he hasn't spoken to me at all about any of that, but um, we should you know should have been paying him more, but either that's neither here nor there.

But um catch can it says um a lowest of 187, but I'm not seeing I just might be being looking the wrong place.

I heard that they were increasing that.

I had just thought I heard someone saying they had increased that recently, Katie.

I think this um is from last year, and the numbers that I was giving were from like December, like news uh news articles that were published after this report came out.

So I think the latest version of this report is gonna be published here shortly.

And some of the numbers in here are out of date.

The number that they um started out, I believe was like 223.

Okay, thank you.

And that's uh catch can is very similar in size.

Um you know, when I first got on the assembly, I wanted to keep the the cost as low as possible.

Um because you know, we want to watch our our our finances, and that's completely appropriate.

But uh as I've learned and grown these past couple years, I realized the complexity of the job, it is amazing.

Um they say I think Stephen or someone said, or many people have said that the average um time you have an administrator is a year and a half, and uh that makes sense because they're probably underpaid and overworked because you're not dealing with just organizational admin work, but you're dealing with the political side of it with a board, you know, assemblies are basically boards, and then uh the public, and um there's a lot of competing needs and usually not as much money to go around.

So having said all that and have having reviewed and seen the the pay of the stress of the staff over the years, and I'm glad that we've upgraded and and and made a pay adjustments to uh bring them up to up to market.

That's and I think that is we've seen in a very uh exact correlation between doing that and not having as many positions open anymore.

Um that says a lot.

Um obviously, if we were facing budget cuts and things, we would, you know, it's it you have to look for cut or for not for cuts, but for efficiencies everywhere.

But um given that we've uh grown sitka uh the city government uh because of new things like uh the tourism increase huge increase in tourism and then the possi possibility well we will be hiring a port director, uh these kind of things, uh having a new airport.

Uh things are not as they used to be, plus um, you know, that's federal and state level, they have a sneaky thing of uh putting more regulations on without giving us any money to to do that.

And so, you know, I even used to think, well, why don't we just do it like it was 20 years ago?

Well, you can't because you can't legally if you we did that, we would be out of out of compliance with the law.

So having said all that, I wouldn't mind just starting the conversation with uh, you know, and maybe because sometimes you gotta ask hi.

Uh the two twenty twenty two twenty-three for catch can.

I like that.

Let's just start there and think about it.

But um, I'm open to suggestions, just a number I'm throwing out there.

I just don't want to start low.

Um those are my thoughts.

Thank you.

Man, Kevin's goes up every time we talk.

Tor.

Well, I I think it Ketchakam borough is probably I mean, because they've also got a city.

I mean, it's it's not it's not apples to oranges.

In fact, our city manager probably does more than catch cans because he or she doesn't.

I mean, they they have to deal with each other, but uh, you know, they've got two entities there.

Um but I I've thought about this and I thought that well, we were lucky enough to have John who was honestly coming into a new career.

I mean, he was coming from an old one that the experience path worked through, but it wasn't direct.

So he agreed to work for less money to learn on the job a little bit.

I mean, I know I'm oversimplifying.

But um I think what Steven was talking about has some merit, and that I'd love to find another person like John who you know, maybe coming from a different career uh who wants to do that, but at the same time giving ourselves the flexibility to pay for somebody who's been doing it.

So um I think John as I read this year about 140 something, 150, right?

Right now, or 170, right?

170.

Okay.

So I could see sorry, the old numbers here.

Um I could see, you know uh you know, have if we made it somehow made it clear that we were looking at a basement of say one fifty.

Uh with and then DBA or DBE or doing it depending on experience, you know, depending on the you know uh but I don't have a strong feelings about what our starting number should be.

I just want to clarify that that number um for Ketchikam was for the city of KetchCan, not the borough that is a population of 8,000 people that has the utility manager position uh in conjunction with the the city manager.

Um those were the similarities there.

Um big big spread, you know, 80,000 spread between those two numbers just mentioned.

So just recognizing that.

Uh I think that uh, you know, I I would like to set a range and absolutely DOE.

I don't necessarily want to put a cap on the range.

I also don't necessarily want to start negotiations at um 220,000 and you know, just I'm cognizant of the fact that all of the discussions that we have about this range are available to any applicant who um pursues this position.

I would hope that that person does their homework and listens to these meetings.

So like that being said, I think that there is uh yeah, I think that we need to start above where we are.

I think that John has been underpaid for his uh his services to this community and I get to say that because I wasn't on the body that hired him and had to give him his raises and stuff like that.

Um but very very grateful for you know the work that he's done, and I think that we are in uh a different position now than we were just one year ago, and we're in a different position one year ago than we were, you know, four years ago, five years ago when he was first hired.

So um I would be inclined to start uh our range at like 190 to 200,000 that we um originally discussed and then put that depending on experience.

I I want it to be high enough that we attract qualified applicants who uh don't dismiss it outright as being something that they wouldn't want to subject themselves to for even that number, uh, but also want to you know leave that open to different proposals without while setting the city up for success.

So that's what I'm thinking.

Yeah, I uh I definitely started at a uh lower rate than John is currently getting paid, and I thought that's where we could kind of end up and and go from there.

Um I know that that's not the case.

Um I think we've been getting extraordinary value in these last couple years.

Uh I do want to recruit and retain long-term employees.

Um this is the third administrator that I've worked with during my tenure.

Um, and I don't want to have to make that you know six in the within my next year.

Um I'm at probably a base of 200, I think on this one.

Uh and then we we go there.

I'm very hesitant to put a peak on there because I've seen when uh a peak is suggested um every candidate starts there.

So you're not really setting a peak, you're setting a base to me.

Um I'd like to start at 200 to recruit and retain a very qualified individual.

And this is a lot of money for our citizens.

Uh I know that people that are listening, that number is probably very, very large to them.

Um, but we'll the one thing that I've have realized that makes me a little bit more comfortable going forward with that number.

There are cities within boroughs um that their citizens essentially have to pay for two managers at the hundred and eighty plus range.

Uh we being a unified borough and city um have one manager.

So that increases workload and actually decreases the burden on the the residents of so I'm I'm I'm comfortable with that 200 um starting point.

I think it's I don't know, it's it's a lot of money from our citizens, but I also know that our citizens demand the absolute best in their city administrator, and if that's really what we're after, um we're we're gonna have to pay for that.

And as I stated earlier, uh I'm happy with the job description as is Scott.

It's too much money for me.

John did all the work for himself and now he's got a an executive officer.

I don't it's just too much money for me to come in and the rest of the city's waiting to get raises and stuff.

Too much for me.

Tim, thank you.

Um yeah, it's a tricky one.

You know, uh I've always been a fan of paying people what the what their uh market is worth, basically, and I think we're playing in a big market now.

Um and there's a range of you know, and you look at this thing, there's a huge range of of uh city manager wages throughout Southeast.

And you know, when you look like uh Steven's talking about the comparables, I mean if you look at Ketchcan City and Borough combined, I think it's three hundred and sixty thousand dollars, right?

They're they're paying for a city and borough manager set.

And so, you know, I think we're gickle our nickel and dimes ourselves out of the running for quality candidates.

Um and I don't think that's in our best interest, um, and it's certainly not the best interest of our group, so and our city.

So I'm comfortable with the numbers I've heard tonight.

Um I agree with Steven setting a top range on it makes people um work there.

Um I worked with a guy one time who went to a job site um and he said, uh don't pay me this morning, watch me work, right?

And if you like my work, then hire me at lunchtime.

And so of course you did a great job, got hired and away you went, right.

So I mean to a certain extent, and what I took away from that was sometimes you gotta show what you got too.

So I don't want to start off paying, you know, premium wages with Scotty on this one uh without seeing what's available and what the job job is, right?

So and I agree with everything that's been said about John.

We've been getting incredible value for money.

So thank you for that.

Um, let's start at the number we talked about, and let's not put a cap on it yet.

And let's see what the pool brings in, and then we can talk from there.

Uh but I'm gonna want to whoever does it to you know have to prove up a little bit at the beginning.

So I think you know, if people are listening to that, make sure that you understand that piece to it too.

Tor.

Yeah, I mean I could live with the 200.

I I guess I would have gone more, I don't know, what 180 uh, which is pretty close to what probably about if John stuck around at least he would be at least that next year.

Um I think but I you know at this for that point that's we're quibbling over small differences there.

I think it'll be interesting.

Uh more of a global because there is a lot of talent all of a sudden on the market right now for this kind of thing coming out of DC.

Um, so it'll be interesting to see who comes in because it there's there's a lot of people who do management of large organizations and people and government that does a lot that are available now.

So it'll be interesting to see.

Um, but I'm not gonna quibble over the difference to between a few thousand dollars.

If you if you guys want to start at 200, I won't I won't complain?

Kevin?

Yeah, I uh I'm um I think it's good.

I think we're kind of the middle spot is 200.

Uh I'm okay with that uh starting.

Um reason why I want to at least start at that is because I want to get the quality of people who apply.

Um if they see the two, at least two.

I think we're gonna get some more, uh, some good ones.

Um so even though I started higher, I I'm okay with 200 to start.

Katie?

I just wanted to say, um, are we gonna put rolling applications?

Sounds good.

Are we gonna put a first review date out, like a month or encourage encourage people to get them in maybe maybe after the holidays?

I don't know.

Um it seems like it'd be good to have a first review date out.

Yeah, we could definitely put a um a first review in the advertisement to give you know applicants um a somewhat solid deadline instead of sitting and waiting too long.

Uh definitely encourage it to remain open till filled.

Um, but a first review, Josh.

What would you say?

A month, two months, three months.

Three months sounds like a really long time.

Yeah.

I would say 30 and 50 days.

Okay, considering that it's the holiday period and we're gonna start advertising right now.

We all know that the week between Christmas and New Year's should just be a national holiday anyway.

Um, so I I'm comfortable with a first review labeled as 60 days.

Okay, I think that gives a solid like you must do something.

If you're interested, make sure you do something.

Yeah, and just um, you know, um Scotty and Tim to your point about seeing the work, I I do think that is very important, and I'm excited to um discuss how we can assess the work of the applicants that get you know come to us before we um hire them.

And I think given where we're at with the strategic plan, it's a great idea right now to have applicants kind of um you know propose what they might think uh for the next five years of our strategic plan, what that looks like, and really like see, you know, um what folks are able to come up with.

Uh it's always good to get an idea of that before you hire them to do that process.

So I think we've stated that you know, uh a base pay of 200k um brings out more applicants and potentially better applicants, it also increases the scrutiny from my process as well.

Um if if you are a person who is worthy of that amount of pay, then there's some needed skills and abilities on the other side of that.

So I think I'm going to be more strenuous on this application process than I have been, perhaps in the past, and uh making sure that the citizens are getting their value for for whoever we're hiring.

Uh so to summarize, um, unless people have some other things, um, please continue to talk, but just kind of where I hear right now.

Um, base pay 200k, um 60 day for first review, uh edits, no current edits to the job description.

We can start advertising uh as soon as possible, and then the position will remain open until filled on our advertisement.

Is there anything I'm missing in that summary?

Anything that we need to add to the conversation?

Josh, anything else you need from me?

Cool.

I did fairly okay.

All right.

Um that'll wrap up that item then, and we'll move on to per persons to be heard.

Uh, this is public participation for any item on or off tonight's agenda, not to exceed three minutes for any individual.

Seeing none, that'll bring us to reports.

Um what do I have for reports?

I guess the only thing I have is that I will be out the first week and second week of December.

First week for uh a business trip and then second week for AML, as most of us all will be.

That's why we've rescheduled that meeting.

Um but that's all I have at this point.

Thank you.

Um thank you, Mayor.

Uh, that's all I have for my report as well as the December 8th through 12th uh AML, well AML and AMMA.

Um, and uh some other travel I have that weekend, but I'll be I'll be back the next week.

Thank you, Rachel.

Uh no reports from the legal department.

We're chugging along and keeping the workflow flowing.

Thank you.

Liaison representatives.

Uh, this is just from the government to government with uh the concerns for the bears and and then that discussion and uh talking with Pacific Waste, they've already gone up the chain of command, and they're they need to have the city um let me start over.

They got to get another truck in order to use the dumpsters that people are saying are gonna keep the bears out of the garbage, and so we have to start that as far as gonna be a redo to contract or some kind of a deal there for Pacific Waste to try to figure out how to use those dumpsters because they only got one vehicle that picks that special one right now, I guess.

So I went over and talked with Joe at the water treatment plant, but it's gotta like come from us, and then if that's what we're gonna do as far as settle the bear problems with those old dumpsters or the the old style, they got to get another truck in order to service everybody that's gonna want one.

Thank you.

Uh and then uh normally would attend tribal council, um, but they had to shift their tribal council meeting as well to right now.

Um they're probably done already.

They have a pretty quick meeting with all their committees, but um I'll try and report back on that at some point.

Sarah, clerk's report.

Uh the clerk's office, um our group, we will be attending uh the clerks conference in Anchorage the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th of December.

Um current vacancies on our boards and commissions, uh the health needs and human services, historic preservation investment committee, library commission, parks and rec, place and fire, sustainability, and tourism.

So there's lots of opportunities out there.

Um upcoming meetings, December 16th and the 30th.

Those are our regular meetings, and then we have a budget meeting on the 18th.

Thank you.

Uh, any other reports this evening?

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

I don't think the turkeys feel that way.

Uh no executive session, so that'd bring us to adjournment.

Motion to adjourn.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Uh thank you, everybody.

We are adjourned.