Perfect.

All right, well, welcome everybody.

It is 6 p.m., so I will call to order the regularly scheduled meeting of Tuesday, January 13th, 2026.

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 Clinket Ani.

Sarah Roll Call, please.

Mayor Eisenbeis.

Present.

Mr.

Pike.

Here.

Ms.

Carlson.

Here.

Ms.

Riley?

Here.

Mr.

Christensen.

Here.

Mr.

Mosier.

Here.

And Mr.

Slain.

Here.

Thank you.

Any correspondence or agenda changes this evening?

Seeing none.

That'll bring us to special reports.

The two scheduled special reports this evening are our department quarterly reports.

I understand we have public works.

Mark here, if we can get started with that.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Good evening, Assembly.

Mark TV, Public Works Director.

Through the second quarter of the FY26 for public works, we're currently at 93% staffing.

We have three vacant positions.

Those are the asset manager, the contract manager, and a building maintenance position.

Hoping to set up an interview this week for asset manager.

We also have a couple candidates for our contract manager that we're looking to set up interviews for.

The building maintenance position is currently advertised internally.

And then once that closes out, if we have a candidate that moves up, we'll be posting a position for one of those.

Budget wise, we're currently 48% spent down, which on the surface sounds like we're right on track about halfway through the fiscal year.

Personally, I think we're just a little bit behind because a lot of that is front loaded with some of our major contracts, specifically for the solid waste side.

Those take up a huge chunk in the beginning.

And then project wise, currently we have two projects that are in construction with people on site.

Those are the High Low Dock and Net Shed and the Fisherman's Work Float.

And then also have been awarded are the Lake Hirsch Monastery Kincaid phase one project, which they're currently we're negotiating the contract to finalize it right now.

Additionally, we have the uh Marine Service Center sprinkler contract has been awarded and the senior center sprinkler contract have been awarded.

And then also in your packet, um, I think we have the Granite Creek Bridge, which has been awarded, and that one they're currently in the design and negotiating the the actual build fee for the bridge.

Thank you.

Questions?

Question.

Uh in the project cover sheet for the high load dock, it says that there's a funding gap of almost 200,000.

We had addressed that in a uh previous, I believe it was a supplement or one of the midterms.

So that one is funded.

We are on both of those projects.

Uh we're looking at specifically with the harbors as we move into those projects.

There are conditions that we find that are not wholly previously known.

So we are currently negotiating with some of the pile wrap for the specifically the high load net shed.

Just want to say thank you.

Um please pass it along to your streets crew for all of their hard work and their snow removal of late.

Uh we've put a lot of effort in the last two budget seasons for equipment to really up our game there, and um we can see it's happening.

So please pass that thank you along.

Much appreciated, and also some of that goes, I mean, that's streets.

We also pull from building and grounds maintenance for that, and then our solid waste team out of the scrapyard assists on occasion, and both of our central garage mechanics.

Amazingly enough, when you start using equipment more routinely, uh, it breaks more often and things happen, so they've been working hard as well to keep it running.

Just be glad you're not in juno.

Yes, we are all happy.

We are not in Juno.

Um we are not under six and a half feet of snow, but we will be shifting this week in the next couple weeks into um we have had some more potholes show up, so streets will be busy with that as well.

Yeah, snow season's always followed by pothole season.

I hate it because we can't fix them well enough right now until this is all done.

But yeah, thank you.

We haven't had a winter in quite some time, and when a winter finally hit, I think we forgot what that really was like.

Um so I know your crew was out there far too early in the morning and far too late at night doing what they could to keep up on it.

So uh thank you.

We we saw it, and I hope the community saw it as well.

Thank you.

Anything else for Mark?

Thank you, Mark.

Uh moving on, that'll bring us to Tony and uh Harrigan Centennial Hall.

Yeah, this one seems not to be working.

Uh good evening, Ms.

Mayor and Assembly.

Uh my name is Tony, uh Harrigan Centennial Hall manager.

Um currently we are full staff here at Centennial Hall.

Um myself, John Devine, Harry License, Sonia Bries, and Jacob Buxton.

Uh, some of the highlights that we've had um in the last quarter.

Um Centennial Hall has continued to serve as a vibrant community hub uh of activity here in Sitka.

Um it has been a very busy last few months.

Um we've had the Alaska Day Festivities at the uh middle of October, um, and then we went right into Beer Fest, which is an event in itself.

Uh Pacific Salmon Commission, Stardust Ball, Whale Fest, uh Raptor Center Banquet, Alaska Health Fair, Big Thanksgiving dinner for uh Mount Edge Gum.

Um, and then um Sick Tribe annual meeting.

We had a uh Coast Guard Air Station uh Christmas party uh a couple weeks ago, and uh uh to wrap up some of the bigger events of this last quarter, uh Sica High School Baseball Awards Banquet.

Um looking uh forward towards the next this is the next quarter.

Um we're gonna kind of back up a little bit to the beginning of January.

Uh we uh had just we just conducted a public outcry auction to facilitate the rental of the vendor and outfitter squares here at uh on the HCH plaza.

Um we were able to um all 15 squares up front were uh were rented.

Um and then we also have two spots in the back that are also being occupied this summer, so it was a successful auction.

Um coming up we have uh the Greatest Arts Council Wearable Art, um Ramshackle Cabaret, um the Chamber Annual Gala's coming up, right in a bazaar, um, and we also have some of the bigger events towards the end of this kind of this quarter.

Um we have the the uh Sica Tribe Heritage and Cultural Tourism Conference, the public uh Sica Public Library Conference, and then also the start of the Northwest Managers Conference.

Um, some of the statistics for uh this last quarter, uh Centennial Hall recorded five 451 bookings across its auditorium and meeting spaces, including 154 nonprofit, 131 general, 14 commercial, and 22 state, and 130 uh sitka city of SICCA meetings.

So it's been pretty busy.

Uh currently we're at 40 percent, 47 percent, I'm sorry, of our budget uh for this uh fiscal year.

Um some of the stuff that we have coming up, I guess uh as part of our budget that we have our maintenance contract dimensional.

We're hoping to get them up here uh March or uh or April to start out this new summer season.

So uh future projects.

Um we have a lighting lighting thing that we're gonna try to get done this year.

Um refinish the auditorium floor again.

So and that is all I have for pass downs for the building.

Tony.

Yes.

What do you what would you be your feelings on a cab availability of a cab in front of Centennial Hall?

I knew you were gonna bring that up.

Um my feelings are the only kind of the only way we're gonna be able to facilitate a spot specifically for cabs is to take away parking from the public.

Um a few years ago, uh we did it had a transition where uh the city ride was taking up some spots out front.

Um and that is a service to the community.

Um the city was was going back and forth on where to put them uh during that spot that during that time, and the real contentious part was you're taking up spots you know from people wanting to to park there during the weekends and such.

Um as far as my feelings on the taxi cab.

Um I don't feel like we need to specifically put a spot for them.

Um the way we have it right now is they have a parking spot, or I allow them to come into the parking area that's off from the from the library, and even that is kind of congested.

In reality, where I would love to put them is on the curb on Harbor Drive.

That's where I would love to put them.

So that would you go out uh past the flag poles down to the edge of the edge of the road.

That's where I would like to put them.

But uh I we tried the whole taxicab area one time.

Well, I think when we first transitioned over to the new permits to the new pretty permitting system, and it just didn't work.

Uh nobody was using it.

Um people were just kind of camping out there, it wasn't really being used for drop-off pickup.

It was just it didn't make any sense to us here.

So, like you're thinking not to be a cab in waiting, it was abused as being a cab in waiting, and then like detail pick me up the centennial.

Your spot is designated here to wait for your comms with however you got the cab coming, and then they pick you up and go.

And so I'm I'm understanding now.

Thank you.

Yeah, yes, sir.

Question uh about your future projects.

Sure.

Um Glue Lamb staining, I believe was a project that was funded.

Is that incorporated into this ring gutter repair grouping here?

You're talking about the for our gutters.

Yeah, I guess it's uh this actual project is part of a um a settlement uh from one of the companies out in town that um kind of cut our corner and took out a quarter of our or a corner of our gutter project or our existing gutter.

Um, so that's what this is about, and we're in the process right now working with public works on getting that repaired.

All right, thank you.

Yes.

Any other questions for Tony while we got him up here?

Great, Tony, appreciate the update.

Thank you.

Well, that'll move us on in special reports this evening.

Is there anyone here for government to government?

Municipal boards, commissions, committees, municipal departments, school district.

All right.

See none.

We will move on 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.

Please, hello.

Uh my name is Kyle Larson.

I'm grateful to be heard.

Um something that I'm concerned about is what I'm terming is demographic destabilization.

Uh something I've realized is I am the median age of someone in Sitka, Alaska.

So I'm about 39.

And these numbers I'm I'm coming off the top of my head, I I got them from the government census website as well as the city website.

And then I also realized that the the percentage of our population under 15 is about 16.1%, and that's substantially less than the lower 48.

And and the lower 48 is very concerned about the age disparity that's occurring.

And then I thought, okay, well, what's uh what's a lesson?

What where where does the future hold?

You know, if if I'm 39, you know, do I want to be here in 10 years?

Do I want to be here in 15 years?

And so I started looking around, and I don't want to pick on our neighbors, but uh there are I think some cautionary moments, and and again, uh respectfully uh with some with a town like Wrangle, you're looking at a quarter of the population is over 65.

And I know it's a big part of the culture here to respect elders, and I think that's important, and I think we can have this conversation without being rude or or dismissive, uh, but that's not a sustainable.

That's not a sustainable number at all.

I looked at Haynes over the last 16 years, 28% of the population has migrated out.

Uh I don't think we should assume that sitka will have a different fate.

And I think the moment for action is limited because at one point at some point the drain starts to circle, and then people in the same position, they come up here, they're 35, they ask themselves the same question.

Do I want to make this my home?

Do I want to raise children here?

And if they get the vibe that we are becoming a retirement community that has a brief moment of the summer where you know college students come up, uh maybe spend the summer here.

Uh I fear that the that it's more than a financial conundrum.

I think it I think the very essence of what makes the city, the city, which is the people, will uh be depleted.

And um, I think we're losing our most valuable resource, which is the people that live here.

Hello, my name is Leah Mason.

Um I was here to support my application for the Sustainability Commission, but that is not on the agenda, and neither is the recommendation which has bumped that application.

So I'm here to talk about that.

Um I would like to thank the Sustainability Commission uh for the work that it has done, it has been recognized as eating an elephant as it was colorfully put at one assembly meeting.

And I was perplexed when I attended the meeting uh early last week, subsequent to my application being submitted and acknowledged, that they were recommending that the number of people on that committee be reduced and that the number of meetings also be reduced, which struck me as being perplexing because they are in the midst of a very large project, which will require a great deal of diversity to address with any success.

So given that one of two remaining vacancies has had an application, and that we are currently whacking the bushes to bring forward others with suitable qualifications.

I again I am perplexed by the decision to reduce the number of people and the number of meetings.

So I would like to suggest that having sat through a very lengthy discussion about why these meetings were being reduced and the number reduced.

Um it struck me that there is a very easy and much less contentious way to go about making it easier for them to make decisions and to make quorum.

Because it seems during this conversation that this it is a seasonal issue, that summer is the problem.

They would like to have more opportunities to do work sessions without necessarily adding to the number of meetings that they already have, which is 12.

It is not unprecedented, but it's also more than many of the other groups have.

I would also suggest it's appropriate given the task that they have.

It seems like it would be far more productive to look at a nine-regular meeting schedule such as the tourism commission has, because the summer season is the season that seems to get everything out of Kilter.

This could then lead to the formalization of three work sessions that would take up the space of the three meetings that they will miss.

I would argue that work sessions don't require further input.

They don't offer the opportunity for the public to weigh in on whatever is going on or whatever is not going on the agenda.

Um, but that is a protocol thing that the commission can manage through their bylaws, they can choose to incorporate more public descent, public input.

Thank you.

Any item off of tonight's agenda seeing none, that'll bring us to consent agenda.

I move to approve uh the consent agenda consisting of item A, approve the minutes of the December 30 assembly meeting.

Item B, approve a liquid license renewal application for American Legion Post number 13 at 205 Lincoln Street, and item C adopting an alternative allocation method for the fiscal year 26 shared fisheries business tax program and certifying that this allocation method fairly represents the distribution of significant effects of fisheries business activity in FMA 18 Central Southeast Alaska.

South Central Southeast area, excuse me.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded 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, and C.

Mayor Eisenbais.

Yes.

Mr.

Christensen.

Yes.

Ms.

Riley?

Yes.

Mr.

Mosier.

Yes.

Mr.

Selene?

Yes.

Ms.

Carlson?

Yes.

And Mr.

Pike.

Yes.

Motion passes 7-0 on the consent agenda.

Thank you.

That'll bring us to board, commission, and committee appointments.

Item D, please.

I move to approve uh to reappoint Jeff Budd to a three-year term on the library commission and appoint James Rogers and Courtney Lacrone to a three-year to three year terms on the animal hearing board under the category of animal keeper.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded to reappoint uh Jeff Bud and appoint James Rogers and Courtney Lacrone.

Is there any public comment on the reappointment and appointment of those individuals?

Assembly deliberation.

Sir, on the motion to approve the reappointment and appointments.

Ms.

Riley.

Yes.

Mayor Eisenbais.

Yes.

Ms.

Carlson.

Yes.

Mr.

Mosier.

Yes.

Mr.

Pike?

Yes.

Mr.

Christensen?

Yes.

And Mr.

Steline.

Yes.

The motion passes 70 on item D.

Thank you.

That'll bring us to unfinished business tonight, item E.

Um, this item is coming back to us because we did uh the assembly was desirous of seeing the contract that we were putting our name to.

Um so now that contract has been uh formulated and is in front of us for uh potential approval.

I move to uh approve the professional services contract between the city and borough of sitka and element agency LLC for visit Sitka services and authorized the municipal administrator to execute the contract.

Second it's been moved and segmented to approve the contract uh between City and Borough of Sitka and Element Agency for visit Sitka services.

Uh is there any public comment back to the assembly for deliberation.

JJ.

I'd like to thank planning and community development for um keeping with the schedule that we so ungraciously is bestowed upon them.

Um I appreciate all of this.

Uh the contract is full and detailed and what we asked for.

So thank you for that.

Um read through all of it.

Um I think it is kind of as intended as expected.

Uh the one thing that did cause me pause looking at in the exhibit B uh compensation payment schedule.

I mean, we knew um from the last time we talked about this, there was a four percent scheduled increase to actually see those numbers.

This is page one of that exhibit B.

Um, we're looking at almost almost a hundred thousand dollars increase through the term here.

Um I just want to make sure that the full assembly could realize that, and we're um you know, committing to um increased expenditures for maybe not any increased you know productivity of this contract.

Uh what page of the PDF?

It is 19 of 86.

And you know, four percent doesn't sound much until you kind of see it here in the schedule.

Um, that you know, we're looking to divide this between visitor enhancement and CPV once we have the data to support that.

So I don't think we're being too egregious here in not being reasonable and prudent with our expending.

Um that's that's a good chunk of chunk of change.

And I want us all um to be aware of that.

That is what we are signing on for.

Yeah, I'll I'll I acknowledge that.

Um I saw that increase last time.

The it is sizable as something to realize, and uh it makes you think a little bit.

Um I don't know if we could continue say this in five years, we can continue increasing at that rate.

That's a very fast increase, but um let's just see what what uh this term brings.

I have full confidence that they'll be able to do a great job, and I'm really excited and uh thank you, Amy and everyone for for put this together.

I think this is a lot of work.

It's just like easy for us to say, yeah, but a ton of work in here.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

And uh thank you to the uh contractor for being willing to do this.

I'm excited and relieved to have this before us.

Katie.

Yeah, thank you.

I um I appreciate you drawing um our attention to that, those increases, JJ.

And I think that um they make sense just with how you know we see the cost of goods and services increase over the years and inflation, all that things.

That being said, the longer that someone is doing their job, um, the better that I expect for them to be at it.

So I would hope that over this five-year period, um, you know, we're gonna see a commensurate gain in experience and and uh results for our community of that visit sick a product.

Um this is an investment, you know, in our visitor industry and especially in recruiting uh the types of tourists uh and visitors that I think our community really values, uh the independent visitors, the folks that are gonna stay here for a longer time and um you know spend spend more money on our local businesses, support our our hotels and and things like that.

And so um I really look forward to seeing uh what we can do to attract more of those and change that uh that division between um the ratio rather between um visitor types that we have.

We have like very strong cruise tourism, um, which is great for that industry, but then uh have you know a lesser lesser extent.

So I'm I'm interested to see how this contract um increases that.

That being said, you know, I did receive some correspondence um about just concerns about how much we put into attracting visitors, and um, as the gentleman pointed out earlier, as we're going to discuss later in the child care, we do have problems with retaining uh just our local folks.

And so I do want to acknowledge that this is a cost that we are spending on attracting visitors, and we do that because it supports our economic development.

Um, but I I also think that it's pertinent to see you know how we can uh use whether these funds or other funds find those ways to attract um people that can stay in our community year-round.

And so uh looking forward to exploring some of those options later and um supportive of this contract as written, and thank you to staff for putting that together.

JG?

Uh just a note for the community.

Um, this contract does not come from the general fund, um, it comes from a very specific pool of money.

Um, the visitor enhancement fund is the bed tax.

So that's people staying in the hotel and an additional tax on top of the sales tax and our vacation rentals.

And then we're looking forward to taking more sorry from that CPV, that's commercial passenger vessel.

That's the five dollars per peep per person that comes in on a cruise ship.

So there's there's only certain things we can do with those two pots of money.

Um so there is large numbers here, um, but that is what it can be spent on.

Anything else from the assembly?

Sarah All right, on the motion to approve the professional services contract between the city and borough of SICA and Element Agency LLC for visit SICA services.

Mr.

Christensen.

Yes.

Ms.

Carlson, yes.

Mr.

Selene, yes, Mr.

Pike?

Yes.

Ms.

Riley, yes.

Mr.

Mosher.

Yes.

Mayor Eisenbeis.

Yes.

Motion passes 7-0 on item E.

Thank you.

That'll bring us to new business.

First reading item F, please.

I move to approve ordinance 2026-01 on first reading, making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 child care study.

Second.

Uh it's been moved and seconded to approve ordinance 26-01.

Um, do the any of the co-sponsors want to introduce this item.

Please.

Thank you.

Um, yeah, uh, I think the the memo laid it out pretty good.

Um by the way, thank you for people who've come to support this and also as uh so you can think about it.

Some of the emails of support that came for this item, like in my case, they went to the other in uh inbox.

So uh if you haven't received some of those, you could look there.

But um basically the sponsors and I took the uh inspiration from that report done by um Annette Evans and Crystal Duncan uh a year ago that they presented it.

Um we decided to start working on it this fall or looking at it, and we you know had some meetings with the child care providers.

We met with several stakeholders in the community, uh, and we did talk to uh Blue Schibler of AEUIC, I believe it's now called uh Southeast Childhood Collective.

But um the whole purpose of this big picture is to pay for a study uh to look at the need and look at possible solutions because this is a very complicated uh issue, and we can't do this on our own.

We need help.

So that's the first step as far as funding.

Uh we were trying looking at the funding part first, but then we changed our mind and decided let's look at what needs what the need is and what we could do to uh prepare and then see uh where we get the money.

So um, and just kudos to all the people in the community who've really pushed this.

Uh I see this not as us doing starting this, but the community's been meeting weekly uh regarding child care, and people have been working tirelessly towards this.

So this is hopefully your first step.

And then uh once we uh and for the public who's listening, this is the first reading, it still has to be read again at the uh next assembly meeting, and then uh if that's approved, then then uh we'll start that study.

Um, blue is we'll we like I said we met with her.

Um very confident um in her abilities, and uh I think she's gonna do uh do good.

Um yeah, and if I can add to that, I you know we all heard the need for child something to do something about child care.

And a few of us got together just to start making an attempt to do something.

And I know for myself at least, um I like to look for simple solutions that I'm from believer in the KISS principle, and it became obvious you know, even through my hard head that that doesn't work here, that we needed to know not just how much money we need to raise, but also um how to spend it and for with whom and what the rules are gonna be.

Um, and something simplistic probably wouldn't cut it.

Um we also realized that we didn't know how to do that, and so rather than reinvent the wheel, uh we talked to Blue, who did something very you know very similar in Juno.

Um, and she graciously agreed to do this.

Um I think this is an important step towards getting it like that, and the the end goal is that once we have some answers, trying by the hopefully by the the election to have to some sort of a funding mechanism in place or to propose not in place.

Um, but we can't do that until we know what we're doing, and that's what this is all about.

Um, and like I said, I I was probably the most resilient assistant to doing something like this because I was like, there's gotta be a simple way, and unfortunately, I don't think there is.

So I don't hopefully we can get this passed and get moving because this is a real problem, and we all know it.

Yeah, I think they uh my co-sponsors that summed it up pretty well.

I think are we as we look into this process, and we've talked to a lot of different people who realize we need to have a very clear idea of where we're going.

Um, so that we um you know, and a speedy uh way of getting there, and I think that's the you know, if you walk away from anything else from this conversation and from this item it is that we're we're ready to start moving, and we're ready to start getting finding out the answers that we need to do.

So hopefully um uh you'll we'll say yes to this, and we can start the process of finding out the answers that we need for our community.

Uh great, thank you for the introduction there.

Um is there any public comment on ordinance 26-01?

Good evening, Annette Evans.

Um thank you, Mayor and Assembly members for the opportunity to speak this evening.

I'm here to speak in support of making the supplemental appropriations to the fiscal year 26 to include this funding for a contracted child care study to be performed by Blue Scheibler at the Southeast Childhood Coalition.

As mentioned a year ago, we presented the report to the assembly.

And I want to thank you, assembly members, for elevating child care to the top priority in your recent review of the city's strategic plan, specifically emphasizing both partnerships and sustainable funding mechanisms, which I believe will aid if implemented in community-wide improvements to how we nurture early childhood and support working families.

Recently, Betty Olicent Child Care Center, the only licensed center for infants in SICA announced that it is once again in need of hiring a director in order to keep the program alive.

So SICA's child care availability, affordability, and even quality remains in a time of intense difficulty, and important decisions must be made.

Collaboration is necessary.

And as we've seen in our near neighbor Juno, what they have put into action is working for child care programs, supporting providers and the community and working parents.

It's with deepest sincerity and appreciation that I thank you, Assembly co-sponsors, Mosier, Pike and Christianson for taking meaningful action to move this goal forward in pursuit of collaborative community solutions and provide the voters with current data.

I also want to thank the Early Childhood Coalition, Carrie Sagel and Lauren Wilde for not giving up.

I encourage you, Assembly members, to approve the supplemental appropriation in order to proceed with the proposed child care needs and analysis and program framework.

Thank you.

I'm very heartened to see the potential of Blue Scheibler's involvement in this effort.

It has been more than five years that the early childhood coalition narrowed its focus to the affordability and availability of child care in Sitka.

This came out of child care and needs surveys conducted by the Sitka School District, the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and the City and Borough of Sitka.

Blue has been a resource we have relied on since that time.

Let me share a few highlights of her interactions with her, and I just want to give you confidence in your potential partnership with Blue.

She's met with the ECC suggesting strategies for a community-wide response to increasing the affordability, availability, and quality of child care in Sitka.

She participated in Sitka's fall 2023 career pathway summit and offered expertise and resources.

We're currently offering child early childhood courses at SICA High School because of that summit.

She was a speaker at the Chamber's Child Care Speaker Series in the fall of 2024, informing the community of potential municipal and large employer solutions.

Of the director of the then AEYC, she administered federal funds to centers and preschools in Sitca during COVID.

So she has practical experience with Sitka and a network of contacts here.

She collaborated with the Health Needs and Human Services as they prepared a child care report for the Assembly, sharing her understanding of how Alaska municipalities and other U.S.

cities promote stable child care services in a professional workforce.

She's a strong history of supporting early childhood education at the local, regional, and state level.

She leads workshops at the annual child care conference held in Juneau each spring, and she helps participants engage with legislators there.

The asset she would bring to this effort include that she's a long-time child care provider and director of centers.

She demonstrates a willingness to share her knowledge and expertise.

She's an understanding of how child care works in Sitka.

She understands how communities, municipalities, employers, and state, tribal, and federal governments can work together to provide child care services needed by children and families.

Thank you.

Good evening, Assembly members.

Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you.

Deidri Jensen, superintendent of SICA School District.

I want to clarify that I'm not here on behalf of the board speaking as a collective agent, but I just want to give you a little bit of perspective from my standpoint in relation to child care.

I've been a part of the early childhood coalition since it started.

Although I can't say I'm as quite a regular attendee as some of the others.

But I do think that there's some questions that have come up as we have tried to help this challenge that we have in SICA.

As you may know, that we started a pre-K program to help support some of this.

With that, some other questions have arisen from it.

So I appreciate the sentiments that were shared with the assembly members.

It's a complex issue and with complex solutions.

So some of the questions and the way it impacts the school district is, you know, obviously our ADM, our child count, like as we as we have students, if families can't move here, it impacts our student count.

It impacts our labor.

If they can't find child care, they can't work for us.

But as we look at what impacts we have as we open a pre-K program, as we've kind of run it for like about a year and a half now, there's been other questions that have come up.

What has what's the impact that it has been on other child care agencies?

What would help sustain child care in here?

We don't want to, you know, there's just a lot of questions.

So I think that this you know, this study would help answer some of those questions and move us forward in the right direction.

It is a really complex task.

So thanks again for all your support, by the way.

Maintenance, Parks and Rec, Financial.

Um, we just appreciate you and thanks for your time.

For the record, uh, my name is Lauren Wilde.

Um, I'm here to voice my support for the memo on child care before you.

I believe that the supplemental appropriation for child care needs analysis will greatly benefit the assembly and city in determining the scope of the problem and make measurable success or progress towards the child care goals outlined in the strategic plan.

I won't um sing any more of Blue's praises, but because you've heard those in previous speakers, but um I do think the Southeast Childhood Coalition Collective, formerly AUYC would be a great fit to conduct the assessment and do so in a robust and comprehensive way to benefit our unique community.

Um I did have a few suggestions as you deliberate on it, and the main one is um hopefully like a really simple language thing in the memo discussing the participants at the two community meetings.

And the way it's worded right now is that they'll have two engagement meetings with families, one for families and one for providers.

And um, if it's easy, I hope I'm not exactly sure how this process works, but I would suggest expanding that language in some way to include community agency partners in those engagement meetings, specifically folks like the SIC of Tribe of Alaska, um, where Kathleen Adams, who's who comes to coalition meetings as the child care coordinator.

Um STA has funded and supported the industry immensely.

They've a wealth of knowledge, um, and they wrote a really comprehensive report in 2020 on child care, um, or it was released in 2020, so it was data from previous to that.

So I believe that including them in the consultation process maybe with the industry partners would be good.

And then another group I think would be good to include would be the Center for Community Early Learning Program under Lisa Hodges.

They've been a huge resource in Sitka House Occupational Therapy for Children ages zero to five, and they put together events that benefit that that group, like the recent community baby shower that was a huge success.

So there's probably others I'm forgetting that should be brought to the table as well, like the school district.

So just maybe a way to tweak the language a little bit if that's possible.

Other than that, um, I am fully in support of the proposal and thank the sponsors and administrator for bringing this matter forward and taking meaningful action.

Thank you.

Good evening.

I'm Margaret Galannon, and I too would like to speak in favor of accepting this this proposition.

I want to thank you for taking such serious action to gather current and accurate data and to make informed decisions on Hill Bells.

How best to support Sitka's youngest children.

Um I do support this proposal.

However, um, as Lauren mentioned, I too have some concerns about the limit of two parents and providers, I think is the way that it was worded on page two of your memo from John Leach to the assembly.

Um under analysis in the second paragraph, there were five objectives listed, the fifth of which states improving alignment between child care availability, workforce needs, and training opportunities.

Um workforce needs and training opportunities with dual enrollment classes through the high school and in other ways.

So I think if we're going to get accurate data on those kinds of issues, it should be parents providers as well as some partners.

And again, um I thank you very much for taking this as seriously as you have.

It is a challenging task.

Thank you.

Anyone else for public comment on 26-01.

All right, we'll bring it back to the assembly for deliberation.

Katie uh thank you so much.

Um to the co-sponsors who have been working on this issue and as well um the administrator for preparing this memo.

I think this is a great outcome of the direction that we gave during our strategic plan session, uh, which said let's let's do some action, and and here we see it.

So just um fantastic work to all of you.

Um I did want to ask uh John, I mentioned this uh desire to expand the community outreach sessions to at least include one additional one with all the partners that have been working on this.

Um and I was wondering if you got a quote from whether or not we would need additional funding to support that.

No, I the the quote you have is based on the scope that was put in here, but I've got these notes taken, especially after our discussion.

I plan on um going back to find out if that can be added and included within scope.

Um, but if not, I think uh it would be fairly minor changes that we could probably absorb in our uh contracted services.

But I I don't expect a big change if there is a change.

Okay.

I just wanted to um say that like would be happy to put to amend this if uh if needed to add additional funds.

I I think that probably um you know a good portion of that was gonna go to community meetings or or some of it, and so just if that is needed uh for that extra outreach, um happy to make that a part of this appropriation.

But if that's if that can be handed outside of tonight and the supplemental that we have here, then um that's fine.

So just defer to Yel's guidance on that.

Man, you showed our you showed our hand before we uh we even asked if we could include it.

Uh no, I know I know Blue's um very good people and will do we'll do the best to include that.

Kind of exactly what I was gonna say after meeting with her.

Honestly, I would have been shocked without if any if nothing had been said if she wasn't gonna be reaching out to anybody and everybody.

Uh and it's not a case of I I don't think it necessarily says in here exactly who she's gonna reach out to.

I mean and it's not limited to that because I I pretty sure she mentioned that already uh when she was talking to us.

So I got a feeling she's gonna be talking to a lot of people we haven't even brought up yet.

Kevin, thank you, Stephen.

Yeah, I think that's a good point, and thank you for the comments.

I think uh that would be a great idea.

Uh if I may suggest we like pass this tonight, and then John can uh follow up with her.

I I yeah, my impression with her is she would do it.

Uh she would have no problem doing it.

She feels passionately about this.

And uh and yeah, just uh to clarify, I want to thank the assembly and John and staff for making for bringing this uh uh to to pass.

Um I think a lot what gave a lot of this emphasis is is everything the community's been doing and that kind of uh had a an emphasis on uh determining factor on when we do this did the strategic plan update.

There was a lot of uh increased uh desire for child care.

So I think that kind of showed that the entire assembly is uh uh in favor of this, and thank you, John, for all the work you're doing and the that you will do on this to help us.

Um we appreciate it very much.

Um yeah, I I if I could just I don't know if I need to talk too much.

I think there's a lot of support for this.

Um just big picture.

Um I think you know the thing is there's the two biggest issues in Sitco's housing and child care.

I think that's probably uh in the country, uh they're big, very big issues.

And how many times have we heard that people you know and offered a job for this or that and they can't come here because one, there's no place to live, and or they can't get a place to live, and then two, they can't play have they don't have a place to put their kids.

And I think uh making child care uh available through these methods, uh, and of course this is just a study will um have a very big uh a very but big positive effect on this.

I just really believe that um if we approve this and it gets we get some movement on this and uh the community buys into it, which I believe that they will uh when we if we have a good solid plan and funding source later on.

Um I think that could have a significant increase.

It'll cause people who maybe want to come here but can't because there's no child care uh you know, maybe want to come.

I think having a growing um base of people, um young people coming in, I think is good.

Uh there was a person at person to be heard who mentioned um the aging population, and I think um uh I think it would be really good and helpful to have uh something like this.

I am I'm my words are just all twisted right now, but you guys get the point.

If you have any questions, let me know.

JJ.

Thank you.

Uh there's just so much information out there having a study, a program framework kind of coalesce at all to what fits well for Sitka is what we what we need.

So I mean the governor put together a task force on this.

Um how would that apply to Sitka?

Uh the Southeast Conference, you know, our our economic group for the region has made this one of their directives, and they have a working group or looking at this.

So, how does that scale to Sitka?

Um the STA information.

How does that apply to you know more than just our native population?

So there's there's so many good chunks of data out there having something brought together and looking at it from that that scalable child care program funding framework.

I'm looking forward to reading the port that tells me what that that really means for us in this community.

Because you know, we don't have that that next town over to help us with things.

We don't have that you know, that group um that you know can form you know in a valley or in a regional area to to assist us with with needs in this area, like we are you know on an island on the outer coast, we we have to do it for ourselves, and we can learn from others, um, but we can't really lean on others or a lot of other um towns can.

And we see that this is a problem throughout the state, throughout the nation, you know, throughout the world, and but finding the solutions that fit us is really is really imperative.

Um, so I appreciate everyone who's put the time and effort into it, um, and not just of late for you know the years that it's taken us to get to this point.

So thank you.

Yeah, I know another study, right?

Um when I first read it, I was like, well, no, let's just spend 25,000 on child care.

I'm sure any of the licensed facilities right now would love that money.

Um, but if there's anything worse than just throwing money, it's throwing money in in the spots that we don't need to, right?

So this is this is absolutely necessary so that we can start a system that is better because I think finally we've all come to the point where no longer is it partnerships and relationships.

We all understand that it's cash, right?

Um, that that is going to be the basis of this, and I'm glad that we're actually finally using that word in our strategic plan actually uses that word so that we have an idea of what we're looking for here.

Now, there is more to it than just cash, right?

But that's the missing link that creates a lot of these momentums moving forward.

Um I don't know that this is directly answered in the um the scope, um, but I wanted to throw it out for uh co-sponsors' considerations, just some questions that I have that I think should be answered in this.

Um, and the the main one for me is how will uh money increase uh then increase capacity, right?

Uh, because we all know capacity is a necessity right now.

Uh we want to maintain what we have.

We want to provide better wages for providers, we want to provide top quality facilities, um, but we also need to increase capacity.

Uh so I want to make sure that that is a consideration.

Um, I would also I think that we need to look at potential locations as well.

Um our facilities will become overrun um with the amount of need in town.

So is there somewhere else that we can look at?

Do we need to look at other locations for child care centers?

Does another child care center need to be spun up?

Um I I I don't know, um but I think that long term needs to be part of of the the look.

And then uh as far as partners go, um, I'm not sure if the the best method is to go through Sika Tribe of Alaska um to invite Clinkett and Haida in, but I have not heard their name, and I know that they are doing a lot of work in the child care realm right now, um, and with a lot of their work, um, that also means money as well.

So uh they're a very strong partner right now, um, and my understanding is that they are not uh blind to the needs of Sitka and could be a uh potential huge partner going forward.

So I'm a very strong yes on this, and uh I'm just wanted to throw out some of my thoughts that may already be answered in what you guys have done as as we go forward here.

So thank you.

That's exact.

I mean, almost everything when she spoke at us kind of revolved around that.

I mean, there were lots of specific things about how they do that, she talked about, but basically that was the overlook the umbrella of my as my memory of it, it was that she was it was all kind of around capacity and all everything that that means as far as staffing as far as you know, and then um and if we wind up doing this rough similar to what Jinno's done, they've got kind of incentives for new facilities if if the market is there.

Um and then I I wanted to say real quick when you talked at the beginning, we said you know, just won't we just give 25.

That's exactly where I came into this.

I said, let's figure out a funding source.

What you know, we looked in a number of them and then split it up, and and it finally got through to me that then not gonna work.

And so yeah, just to say I was I was right there with you at the beginning on that one.

Yeah, and looking back at my notes, um, I do have one more thing for the co-sponsors as well, and that is uh summer capacity.

Uh a lot of centers, uh I shouldn't say a lot of centers, but there are there are there is a larger need with school being out for increased capacity in the in the summertime.

Um I know I have a six-year-old who's in school right now and luckily has a ventures program, um, and we're hoping that ventures will continue through the summertime like it has before, but uh that is a another need, I think, that that could be looked at.

So thank you.

Anything, Tim?

Yeah, thank you.

Yeah, I mean, I think uh I I don't think there's a shortage of ideas out there, actually.

I think there's a lot of ideas out there, and there's a lot of um, you know, I think uh as we start taking a look at this particular situation, we realize that there's actually quite a bit of good information out there that and and bringing it all together, and as JJ pointed out, bringing it into a Sitka solution, I think that's where we're at now.

Okay, so what we need is to make sure that we know where we're headed so that when we apply the uh you know, and find out exactly what kind of funding source we need in terms of both it's both the amount as well as where to distribute it, and so uh and how to do it in such a way to get the most impact and the most enduring impact um for the students and for everybody who's involved with it, and I think because there's a lot more to this question than just money too, actually.

It's also about building um building an understanding in the community about the value of it and encouraging the people to see the um the people involved in it as professionals and and people deserving of uh respect and and compensation, and I think those are all part of this conversation, which is why when we started taking a look look at this, it wasn't a 25,000 or whatever number solution, it was a comprehensive solution that looks at the whole thing.

So as we started seeing how big a piece this was looking to be, it became very clear to us that most good projects start with a scope and a sequence and a process and an understanding of exactly what the problem is and where we're going.

Um, and that way we're not missing steps and going slower than we need to go.

So that's why this came forward.

This came out of the need for us to make sure that we know exactly what we're what we want to do as a community and where we're going.

So, yeah, I don't foresee blue.

Um, in talking with her and and everyone else that thankfully that I appreciate your comments tonight and your support through the time through time.

Um, I don't think we're gonna miss a trick here.

I think we just need to make sure we all understand where we're going and raise this to an issue that the community is aware of.

Thank you.

Anything further from the assembly?

Please um of all the things I've looked at in my three years on the assembly, I've written I've reached the greatest level of like analysis paralysis from looking at this topic.

Um it's a big one.

And I'd like to give a special thank you and an apology uh to the health needs uh commission for having tasked that group with this because it was clearly um needing this so much more resources than volunteer time to do that.

Um that is you know, our goals of having commissions of compassionate people that want to help me and but this one was just so much more than that.

Um, but it was a very valuable step towards where we're at now and was the work that that group did.

And as liaison to that group and seeing the tiredless work that went into that.

Um so thank you, and uh sorry for not having seen sooner that this was a much bigger thing that should have been given financial resources um years ago.

So thank you.

Sarah All right, on the motion to approve ordinance 2026 2026-01 on first reading.

Ms.

Carlson?

Yes, Ms.

Riley, yes.

Mr.

Selene, yes, Mr.

Mosher?

Yes, Mayor Eisenbeis?

Yes, Mr.

Pike, yes, and Mr.

Christensen.

Yes.

The motion passes 70 on item F.

Second reading will be January 27th.

Great, thank you.

Um, as it is the top of the hour, we'll go ahead and take a brief recess.

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

All right.

That's why we're all that's going to be able to do that.

Well, the assembly is seated, so we'll jump back into our agenda this evening with uh additional new business items.

Item G, please.

I move to approve the sixth amendment to employee agreement to the employee agreement between city and borough of sitka and John Leach dated for January 14th, 2026.

Second.

That's been moved and seconded to approve the sixth amendment to employee agreement.

Uh Tim or Kevin, do you have an introduction for this?

Tim.

Absolutely, thank you.

Um I think uh actually, if you listened to Raven Radio about a week ago, I think my introduction was made for me.

So in that uh note from CatchCan, they indicated that they were still working to fill their uh city administrator position, and they had been going working at it for one year to date.

So um I think it's you know, this item came up.

This was uh strictly from us and not from anywhere else.

Uh looking at it and looking at the past processes that it's taken to get city administrators uh hired.

We thought it was prudent for us to see if there was any flexibility from John in terms of his willingness to extend his contract with us.

Um, and so that's how this came about.

Kevin, I know I'm a co-sponsor on this too, but I was gonna give you guys an opportunity.

So if you have anything else to add or nothing uh other than just refirm what Tim said, um we John did not approach us at all.

This was um actually Tim's idea suggested to me, and I was just like, I don't know why I didn't think of that earlier.

So I'm very grateful.

Thank you.

Uh thank you.

Is there any public comment on the sixth amendment to employ me agreement between the City and Borough of Sitka and John Leach?

Not seeing none, we'll bring it back to the assembly for deliberation.

Um yeah, I would agree.

Um the I was approached um by a couple assembly members to see if I would reach out to John Leach to see if he had any flexibility in his end date uh just due to the difficulty in recruiting.

Um it is my distinct goal um to not keep him on until the end of this.

Um and it's his distinct goal that if we do find someone to leave as soon as possible.

Um he he did not run when we asked, um, but there was definitely some hesitation to make sure that it was gonna be the right fit for the organization.

Uh wanted to make sure that there was still gonna be um he he wanted to remain useful and um very valid throughout this term and make sure that there were actually solid projects that could go across the finish line and wasn't um in essence kind of a lame duck administrator just sitting there collecting a paycheck and uh waiting for the next guy to be hired.

So I was actually relieved when we were talking that that was a lot of the concern is that how can I still be useful to the municipality in this additional term.

It very much was not a you know I think we've we've hired interim administrators before that I think the biggest question was where are they?

Right?

We we had somebody at the helm that very clearly was not at the helm.

So John, I just want to say thank you for extending I understand your very solid end date at this point and I will not approach again beyond this.

You know, well we'll see in November.

But yeah thank you for you know going as far as you felt comfortable and I understand um you know at that point you can leave for the holidays and and do your own thing and you'll continue to work with this assembly to get goals across the finish line and we'll continue to work with you on that work life balance so that you you can start your transition as well and make sure that uh you're at full strength for this for this next little period.

So thank you for that door.

I just say the one thing about this that I was a lot like is that we're the chances of having a good overlap now with the new administrator are much greater.

And it can be hopefully as long as needed not saying you know not rushed because the uh transition is really important.

And so I mean there's a lot of things I like about this the fact that we're gonna hopefully get a few more projects across the finish line before we get knowing but you know we uh you know we may find somebody great early on we may not but uh I think the point about interim administrators is is true.

I mean doesn't matter how good they are there they just can't be as effective as somebody who's you know that's their job.

So I'm very much in support of this JJ to give a bit of an overview of what we're talking about in this amendment um there's two parts to it.

So originally when uh John um submitted us his recognition the that end date was May um and he's kindly agreed to extend that to December of this year so we get um some very crucial months there to kind of conduct that process um that we learned that we needed um from our recent hire municipal attorney um you know it was it took took almost a year in that um that process which is you know there's the two people that this assembly hires um we've done the attorney of late and we we learned from that process to apply it here um and we just need that time um so so thank you john um for seeing that and understanding the the criticalness of of that time piece um the other piece here is it's a bit of an adjustment to salary and you know we do that on a annual review um but in looking at comparables throughout the state throughout the region um and what truly this role is um when looking for the next we just saw um or I'm guessing that the sponsors just saw and and I agree um that you've been doing so much um and it's your service mindedness um that has allowed for for the compensation to be what it was um but in those comparables I've seen um that you need to adjust you up because um you've earned it you you show that dedication and um that's what we need to be as reasonable and prudent assembly members um is to prepare for that future and and know um the value of your efforts um and that compensation adjustment is is meant to from my perspective I don't want to speak for the attorneys that are the attorneys the co-sponsors um that came up with that number um but that's what I see as as your contribution thank you Katie yeah thank you um I just wanted to explain some of my thinking of this um and my first reaction to this proposal was that I actually did not like the optics of this and how this appeared um I didn't think that this was standard practice for how an interim interim administrator uh is pursued and um you know just not not what I would necessarily do in uh the private sector or the nonprofit sector where I work um for for retaining employees but that being said you know I am it heavily in support of this and I just wanted to explain um what changed my thinking and shifted my perspective and uh part of that was that the assembly co-sponsors ensured um that this was their independent idea that they brought forward.

But that being said, you know, I am heavily in support of this, and I just wanted to explain what changed my thinking and shifted my perspective.

And uh part of that was that the assembly co-sponsors ensured um that this was their independent idea that they brought forward.

I think that is really important that they approached John and uh absolutely was not the other way around and really appreciate that reference to catch a can.

That was something that I was thinking about, you know, while considering this is that that job is still empty, um, I believe, and and has been for a year.

And so I know that there was a lot of thought that went into you know why uh the co-sponsors wanted to do this, and I appreciate um their uh you know their claiming the idea and really taking responsibility for that.

Um I do see that strong potential that we would have to hire an interim administrator, um, you know, due to the situation that we're seeing just here in our own region.

And I believe that John is the best option that we would have for an interim in terms of familiarity with the subject matter of um dealing with the uh issues and uh the you know projects that that the city is doing, um, and also really appreciate the relationship uh with his staff and the team morale that he has cultivated, and I think that that's really important um for the efficient, effective and safe delivery of services that Siccans expect.

And so, you know, what what led me to really be in support of this is that I think it's the best option for um our city employees and for our community at large um in that you know our community depends on those services uh and those are delivered by people, and I think one of the best investments that we can make is in the people that um serve our community, and so um I think that the the pay compensation for John is uh is warranted in that fact.

And um, you know, we've had a couple discussions about pay tonight, and it's not lost on me that we made a large appropriation for a professional firm that does marketing, and we are you know talking about a larger appropriation for the person who literally runs uh our city and and you know executes all of the priorities of this body.

So um yeah, and supportive of that.

Um very happy that John agreed to stay on, even though he faces a tough job ahead.

And um I I do hope that we can find someone to fill those shoes in a timely manner and um take up the the great work that he started and that staff are working on um every day.

So thank you all.

Kim.

Yeah, thank you.

Yeah, I think I think I don't want to have the impression that um well I think you know we we we made sure uh that we did a compensation study uh for all the employees in our uh city and we wanted to make sure that we were being fair to the wages of the folks going forward and as contracts have come up.

I think we've all seen um some fairly steep increases in certain areas where we were behind what the compensation studies indicated.

Um I can recall our last conversation about uh the electoral department and some concern about it affecting people's rates, uh, and thankfully it's not going to, but um those were compensations that were important because it was indicated that we needed to be doing that.

And I think this uh the compensation that we're discussing tonight didn't come from nowhere, it came from that same sort of a study.

It actually came from the study indicating um for the level of competence that we have, what is the appropriate compensation?

So that's that's where we're at when we're negotiating new contracts.

We are moving ourselves up to make sure that we are competitive in the market and that we are meeting the needs of compensation that we've discovered is important.

So I think it's important for everybody to understand it's not a blind thing or a random thing.

This is reflective of what we have put effort and energy into to make sure that we're meeting the needs of it.

As a matter of fact, part of our strategic plan is making sure we're a good place to work and that we're competitive.

So that's what we're doing.

Is there another town anywhere in America, like with 10,000 people that has hydroelectric plants and Coast Guard and federal hospital and all the stuff that gets managed here for our easy answer is no.

Um most people have a lot of different things spread out.

Most people are on grids, so they don't run their own power.

Um is the easy answer.

Steve John I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank John for all the work you've done for us these past uh almost six years or maybe six, a little over six years.

I have only been on the assembly about seven and a half years, and I've been told by many people just uh and I believe this that John is probably the best uh city manager SICK has ever had.

And from my time working with him, um one of the great things I like uh is that he's very project oriented.

And um I can say by far, like sometimes I agree with most things, sometimes I we disagree, and that's okay.

He is uh a person of honesty integrity.

Uh he puts his heart into this, and um I just really am grateful for what you've done, John, for this this community.

I could list it all out, it would take a while.

Um, and you've also agreed to help us with things like child care thing and and other things.

Um, I'm just very grateful, and I wanted to publicly tell you uh how much I appreciate you and how much I think you've done for this community.

Thank you.

JJ.

I think the other piece too um to mention uh that John doesn't take a lot of the benefits um from his role.

He entered other things outside of it, um sort of bump up the salary is very well within range of what we've kind of budgeted for that role for the other benefits of it.

So Tim.

I think the last thing is uh we're not uh Josh, we're not slowing down on looking for the next administrator, even though we like John likes us to not slow down looking for another administrator, and I like John, so I think it's a harmonious relationship there.

Anything further from the assembly, sorry.

All right, on the uh motion to approve the sixth amendment to the employment agreement between the city and borough of Sica and John Leach, dated January 14th, 2026.

Mr.

Pike?

Yes, Mr.

Mosher?

Yes, Mayor Eisenbais?

Yes, Mr.

Selene?

Yes, Miss Carlson, yes, Mr.

Christensen?

Yes, Ms.

Riley, yes.

Motion passes 7-0 on item G.

Uh, thank you.

John, I never saw you raise your hand, but did I didn't also didn't offer you?

We voted, you can't back out now.

Too late.

All right, so that'll bring us to persons to be heard.

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

Seeing none, uh, that'll bring us to reports.

Um, I don't have a report this time because I just got back from vacation.

I actually left right after the last assembly meeting and flew in last night.

So um timed that one perfectly.

Uh, you're welcome, Tim, even though you've filled in quite a bit for me.

Um, so maybe I'll have a little bit more on the next one.

Uh John, any report.

Uh thanks, Mayor.

I've been pretty busy these past few weeks, just uh putting out a lot of fires and uh you know, turn of the new year stuff.

Um, just getting everybody back from the holidays, it's been pretty busy.

Um couple things to announce.

Uh, we've got legislative priorities coming up on the next assembly agenda.

You should see that.

Um, a lot of work's been done there.

Also on January 28th, I will be giving my annual state of the city report to the chamber.

Um, and then after that report is made, I don't like in previous years, we'll have it posted somewhere on the website for people to look at.

Um also yesterday I had uh an opportunity to sit down with uh with Senator Steadman for uh a good hour or so, and we talked through um what potentially funding situations look like, and and we talked about um the capsus system and how we put in our requests based on those legislative priorities.

So got a lot of good input from him, and uh after we get those priorities passed, then we'll uh we'll get to work on the the CAPSIS system and those requests are doing by February 27th, Rachel.

Uh not much report from legal.

We're caught up from the holidays um and cruising liaison representatives.

Tim.

Yes, uh thank you.

I did attend the sustainability commission meeting, and I think a little clarification might come in handy on that one.

So the commission has missed a number of meetings through the last year, I think three or four, um, due to lack of quorum because they had four members um out of seven.

And and anybody who couldn't make it meant that the they couldn't meet, and so they were concerned about that, and that's that's what drove this particular um idea about reductions um in staff and numbers, and I think uh on the commission.

And this isn't a reflection of the lack of work, it's a reflection of making sure that they had the opportunity to meet and get stuff done.

Um and they did talk about meetings and restructuring those, and I think um they're gonna do some bylaw work to restructure the meetings.

I don't think it's something that's gonna make it to the assembly table.

So um, in terms of making sure that they get it done.

Work sessions are more useful to them in many cases.

idea about reductions um in staff and numbers and I think uh on the commission and this isn't a reflection of the lack of work it's a reflection of making sure that they have the opportunity to meet and get stuff done um and they did talk about meetings and restructuring those and I think um they're gonna do some bylaw work to restructure the meetings I don't think it's something that's gonna make it to the assembly table so um in terms of making sure that they get it done work sessions are more useful to them in many cases so um doing that instead of a formal Roberts rules meeting uh I think appeals to them in terms of being able to get more public uh input and sort of a round robin styles what it talked about I haven't sat through any of those with them yet so so I think you'll see some information coming forward about reducing the commission and uh you know there's plenty of information they'll be here to talk about it and uh you can hear from them why they think that's important great thank you Scotty um on the bear the bear thing that come up uh Pacific waste is is gonna be in town the end of the month and uh we're trying to put together at town hall about talking about bears and then they'll have a representative here and um might be able to get something done kitty yeah I just wanted to say um the planning commission didn't have a meeting um right after the holidays their next one is next week uh on the agenda I believe is the land study that got pushed from the last one so um that will be I'll be reporting on that uh first meeting in February and then also just wanted to say um that the local emergency planning commission meeting uh was scheduled for uh January 15th it was canceled due to a lack of agenda the next one is um March 12th there were like at least three communities that declared states of emergency due to the um snow emergency that happened uh you know of like Haynes HUNA and Juno and so like while we are uh very well fortunate or not you know depends on who you ask um that our precipitation is falling as rain there there were a number of communities that um you know had that designation and um I'm looking forward to to attending this meeting to um talk about what kind of protocols we have in place uh another shout out to city staff I think that the avalanches that we had here in Sitka um were on both of our uh dam roads and they're working on getting those cleared but just um a reminder to uh you know that these these commissions are are really useful um for instances such as a a tough winter any other liaison representative reports Sarah Clerk's report yeah um so I'll go through my long list of openings on the boards and commissions um animal hearing board well we've yes animal hearing board um building department appeals board health needs and human services historic preservation investment committee uh they are unable to meet right now um because they do not have enough members uh library commission local emergency planning committee parks and rec police and fire sustainability I take that back um sorry I don't have my readers on so I can't see the crossed out lines so that's it for that um and then upcoming meetings are January 27th and February 10th are regular meetings uh February 5th there's a joint work session uh with the school board and then I just wanted to remember to um start announcing that um this fall or this past fall um I had mentioned um a couple of times that I'd be working with the legal department to do our code rewrite project um and we're moving forward with that the first step of that is moving to a new platform for our code so we're getting um ready to be doing that probably in late February so um we'll be issuing PSAs about that and I'll be reaching out to the assembly to notify you more a little bit about that and then staff as well so can assembly members ask questions during reports yeah I think it's just a report I'll verify with Sarah offline we have not typically um so but I'll get back to you on that one thank you uh any other reports this evening uh seeing none that'll bring us to adjournment second all those in favor say aye aye any opposed uh thank you assembly and staff we are adjourned