Good evening.

I'd like to call to order the May 26th assembly meeting.

Please join me for a flag.

Through the flag of the United States of America.

And through the republic for which it stands, one nation underground indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

This the assembly of the city and borough of Sitka.

I'd like to respectfully acknowledge the traditional first people of Shitka with gratitude we proceed on Linkettani.

Sarah, roll call, please.

Mr.

Pike.

Here.

Ms.

Carlson?

Here.

Ms.

Riley.

Here.

Mr.

Christensen.

Here.

Mr.

Mosher.

Here.

Mr.

Selene.

Here.

And Mayor Eisenbeis is absent this evening.

Thank you.

Are there moving on to correspondence and agenda changes?

Are there any correspondence or agenda changes this evening?

Seeing none, we'll move on to special reports.

We have two municipal department reports tonight from planning and community development.

Amy thank you.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

Deputy Mayor and Assembly members.

Amy Ainsley, Planning and Community Development Director.

A couple of great things to highlight coming from the planning and community development department.

The first is that the phase two of our land study for the city lands are opportunities for potential housing development is in full swing.

We had our surveyors and hydrologists here about two weeks ago for some on-site work.

And our geotechnical team that's uh doing some slope assessments around the Gavin area and the benchlines are here this week as well.

We're continuing to work on the changes to the land disposal ordinance as well as our kind of next steps for development or disposal strategy as well for as a that will kind of come as the next step from this project.

So making really good progress on the land study.

As you've heard in really some uh recent updates, our energy planning work is also going very well.

We had a public meeting on the 11th.

There's also a chamber luncheon tomorrow at noon for another public presentation.

We're expecting the finalization of the Sitka Community Renewable Energy Strategy Strategy or SCRES in about September.

Our E to C or Energy to Communities project programs are also still ongoing as well.

We have about another year left on that project.

Really excited to see that we have some interns coming in to the electric department for this summer as a part of that program.

Our parks and recreation programs continue to be as popular as ever.

Our spots for our summer camp and summer swim lessons filled up within to mere minutes.

So still seeing really strong demand for our programs as well as for rentals as well.

A lot of demands for space rentals right now.

And adding to some of our space capacity, we're anticipating that parks and rec will be able to start offering more programming starting June 1st at the Senior Center.

Um, really great to see that we have some community members that are gonna help staff do a little bit of reorganizing and kind of getting move in ready later this week, so excited to be back in that space.

Um Parks and Rec has also been really busy on the kind of permitting or regulatory side, um, taking on the commercial recreation land use permits under our new system.

We issued 45 permits for the 2026 season, and we're um right now in our stages of kind of beginning our pre-planning right now for what 2027 updates to the plan will look like.

The planning and building offices as of late have been very busy with we kind of call our pre-summer season rush.

Everyone wanting to get their construction project or their conditional use permit for a short-term rental or a food truck or any of those kinds of things.

Um folks are have been very busy in the community trying to get ready for the season, and that definitely impacts our department.

Um, so we don't have our um recent quarter numbers, but you may have seen in our report the building department um in January and February, so that's Q1 of 2026.

Um, picked up a little bit over um from Q4, but still a little bit kind of a those are our quieter months in the building department, but still doing a really great job of turning around those permits and keeping up our inspection schedule.

But we are anticipating um once this kind of pre-season rush drops off a little bit in the planning office.

It'll probably still continue throughout July and September.

That tends to be the busiest season for our building department.

But once that kind of eases up for planning a bit, that we'll be able to see a little bit more progress on some of our other projects, particularly our centralized permitting project and other um some of our other code changes.

Our tourism efforts are also going very well.

Our tourism manager will be here in Sitka full time beginning at the end of June, kind of in office full time in the beginning of July, anticipating just about another couple of months of handoff there.

But this report or maybe the next quarterly port will probably be the last that you see that has tourism as a part of planning and community development.

Right now, really focusing on getting the TBMP program launched and ready for this summer, at least a sort of a soft launch for the summer.

There's already several businesses that have indicated they want to partner up and help us with that with that pilot launch, getting the program rules and everything sort of established so that that can begin in July.

We're also working on establishing our parameters for economic data collection and designing the visitor intercept survey that our visit sitca contractors will be running this summer.

And also working on other visitors or other surveys as well.

We have a visitor survey that's running over the airport Wi-Fi, and we're also working right now to get under contract for an end-of-season survey to be done by a third party, including um kind of representative sampling and phone calling as well, um, as well as a more open community end of you know, kind of survey, you know, like we've done in the past for those as well.

So we're anticipating um getting under contract for that, probably within the next week or two, so that they'll be primed and ready to take that over take that on at the end of the season.

Um with that being said here, um, just wanted to give a little bit of a heads up to the assembly as well.

I'm anticipating as you can see, not taking feeling super well.

Anticipating taking a little bit of leave um kind of mid-June and July.

Um, so expecting things will be a little bit quiet in the planning department.

Um, but working right now on just kind of getting every getting kind of through the summer rush and getting everybody set up to kind of switch gears and get back into some of our other backlogged work.

As of right now, um our staffing has has remained relatively stable.

Um, I have a fantastic, truly fantastic staff hoping to fill that head lifeguard position um to add a little bit more capacity for parks and rec.

Um, but the team is is really really um just I don't even have words to express how phenomenal my staff is and how appreciative of I I am of them.

And all of our expenses are currently within budget.

Thank you, JJ.

Thank you for that.

It's always so impressive how comprehensive and wide-ranging the planning and community development is.

Um there's just uh gratitude to extend as well from from this table.

Um question about let's see, the only thing that doesn't look like it's on track ready to go is Faith Streets.

That's the planning um program.

Is there any updates there about that that schedule or initiation of that?

Yeah, we are we worked to get an extension on that grant, and that was and that was successful.

Um this is a kind of a joint project between um planning and engineering.

There's definitely a planning aspect for in terms of kind of long-range planning and community development and public engagement, um, but also you know, very you know, traffic engineering heavy side and sort of civil engineering side as well.

Um hoping that the engineering department, I know that this is this is definitely been flagged as one of their priorities as well, but they have several other very large projects that are ongoing right now.

But anticipating that they'll be hopefully putting out a request for qualifications to get the um primarily the uh traffic engineering under contract soon.

Lovely, thank you.

And that historic preservation plan that came through the assembly recently.

How is that going?

No, no major updates to share for right now, as you know, when we had um shifted the timeline for that.

We've decided to focus on the other things that were kind of pressing in our department, but um, you know, we're we're certainly not letting that fall off, and we know we know that the clock is ticking.

We were we were given a uh a timeline for that and want to you know to exceed expectations um in getting that back to you before a year is out.

But as of right now, we're we're just kind of focusing on other things.

Great, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Our next scheduled report assessing Larry.

Good evening, everybody.

Um I'm Larry Reeder.

I'm the assessing director.

I guess you know that.

Uh the assessing department currently operates with three full-time employees.

We currently have an opening for our appraisal technician position.

Current activities will be certifying the 2026 tax roll here tonight.

This is our fifth year of reappraising the residential properties in Sitka.

At this point, we have appraised approximately 90% of the borough.

This year's results show an 8.2% increase in the real property taxable value, slightly up from last year's increase of 7.9.

The increase includes a plus 3% market trend that we applied this year to all residential properties.

Moving forward, our office will apply an annual market trend and continue reappraising a portion of our properties every year.

Applying market trends annually and consistent reappraisal will help keep the values current and minimize the impact of reappraisals to our property owners.

The reappraisal project has brought our values closer to the full and true value required by Alaska State State.

Our appraiser, Casey Kinslow, continues her outstanding work and growth as a professional property appraiser.

Casey has earned a level two Alaska certification, and we're looking for the class she needs to go to three.

She just has one class, hasn't been offered yet.

The winner is she's going to take it.

She's worked tirelessly on our reappraisal project.

Her effort and accuracy has been outstanding.

Casey also helps to maintain our daily work, such as handling public inquiries, processing exemption applications, and maintaining our files.

Some property owners did submit an appeal application, but we're all withdrawn after review.

Our budget as of May 20th, assessing department has used 76% of our budget for fiscal year 2026.

Any questions?

Okay.

Thank you.

You've done a great job.

Thank you.

No questions.

Continuing with reports.

Are there any other reports?

Government to government.

Municipal boards, commissions, or committees.

School district.

Students and guests.

We are now persons to be heard for public participation on any item off the agenda, not to exceed three minutes per individual.

Is there any public comment for items off the agenda?

Please come forward and state your name for the record.

Hi.

Hi, my name is Lisa Bush, and I'm to I'm here today as part of the Sitka Public Arts Committee.

We're excited to let you and the community know that we've been awarded a $50,000 grant from Extra Tough to do some public art in Sitka.

We're doing this in partnership with the Greater Sitka Arts Council, which is our fiscal agent.

Other people involved are James Pulson, Bobby Jordan, Ashley Eisenbeis, Kevin Knox from the city, and Kelly Lawler.

They're all part of the group.

We began working with the city some months ago, but soon came up against a host of issues about putting art on public property, which I think you've um resolved in a recent ordinance.

But at the time the city recommended we present to the Parks and Rat Committee and to the Tourism Commission, which we did, and they both seemed very enthusiastic.

And while the city worked through its issues on how to accept public art donations and the like, we worked with downtown private businesses to get volunteers who will allow canvas murals on their building.

So that's what we're starting with.

We're very excited to work with other groups in Sitka, like the walkability group, um, the city, of course, and businesses.

We're excited to beautify downtown and keep it revitalized, which are values that are in your sitca comprehensive plan and have been espoused by the Chamber of Commerce, visit Sitka, and many, many sitkins.

We're hoping this is the beginning of something great.

Um, and just wanted to put a bug in your ear that we'd love to see some public art along the new seawalk.

Perhaps a giant set of extra tough boots for photo ops.

Thanks very much.

Thank you.

In two days, it will have been one year.

It's a one-year anniversary of of having signed the um uh the land lease agreement for the Jarvis Street Community Garden.

I I'm not obliged to give a report at this time.

Um the obligation kicks in after the first three-year uh term of the of the lease.

But I just wanted to update you all that um uh we have just under 90 percent capacity uh at the garden at the moment.

We have 38 members.

Um all of our small plots have been assigned, uh, and about uh 30 36 of our 45 uh large 10 foot by 20 foot plots have been assigned.

We've had tremendous um support from members of the community.

Um we're growing lots of uh produce and and some flowers and it's not much to show at the moment.

We've had kind of a low slow spring, um, but we're underway and we appreciate the the um the contribution that this group has given us and and um and we'll give you more updates later on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other persons to be heard seeing none that brings us to the consent agenda consisting of items A, B, and C.

I move to approve the consent agenda consisting of item A, approve the minutes of the May 12th assembly meeting.

Item B setting the millage rates for the fiscal year July 1st, 2026 through July or June 30th, 2027, first and final reading, and item C approve electoral license renewal applications for Talon Charters, Inc.

DBA Talon Large on Apple Island.

Second, it's been moved and seconded to approve the consent agenda consisting of items A, B, and C.

Is there any public comment?

Assembly deliberation, Sarah.

Okay on the motion to approve the consent agenda, Mr.

Christianson.

Yes, Ms.

Riley, yes, Mr.

Mosier, yes, Mr.

Selene, yes, Ms.

Carlson, yes, and Mr.

Pike.

Yes.

The motion passes 6-0 on the consent agenda.

Thank you.

Or item D, please.

I move to appoint William Spivey to a three-year term on the local emergency planning committee under category two, law enforcement, civil defense, firefighting first aid, local and environmental and hospital or hospital and transportation personnel.

Second.

Thank you.

It's been moved and seconded to appoint Larry Spivey to a three-year term on the local emergency planning committee.

Is there any public comment?

Huh?

Bill Spivy, sorry.

Apologies.

I'll just say thank you for serving.

Appreciate it very much.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Sarah.

All right.

On the motion to appoint uh Bill Spivy to a three-year term on the local emergency planning committee.

Ms.

Riley.

Yes.

Ms.

Carlson?

Yes.

Mr.

Mosier?

Yes.

Mr.

Pike.

Yes.

Mr.

Christensen?

Yes.

And Mr.

Steline.

Yes.

Motion passes 6-0 on item D.

Thank you.

Item E, please.

I move to approve ordinance 2026-11 on second and final reading.

Adopting budgets and capital improvement plan for the general fund, internal service funds, and special revenue funds for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2027.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded to adopt ordinance 26-11 budgets for the capital improvement budgets and capital improvement plan general fund.

Is there any public comment?

Seeing none, and assembly deliberation.

Just to thank the staff again.

And I know we've said it before, but there's a reason why there's nobody talking right now.

Yeah, I echo that.

Thank you very much.

Sarah.

All right.

On the motion to approve ordinance 2026-11 on second and final reading.

Mr.

Christensen?

Yes.

Ms.

Carlson?

Yes.

Mr.

Celine.

Yes.

Mr.

Pike.

Yes.

Ms.

Riley?

Yes.

And Mr.

Mosier.

Yes.

Motion pass.

Motion passes 60 on second and final reading.

Thank you.

Item F, please.

I move to approve ordinance 2026-1-2 on second and final reading, adopting the budget and capital improvement plan for enterprise funds for the fiscal year July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027, amending rates in Title 15 public utilities of the SICCA General Code and adopting mortgages and other harbor fees.

Second.

Thank you.

It's been moved and seconded to adopt ordinance 2026-12 enterprise funds.

Any public comment.

Assembly deliberation.

Mr.

Moser.

Just share the thanks to the staff.

Um and also for the public who's listening.

Reason why there's no discussion really tonight or is because this has already been we've uh accumulation of many months of hard work on the part of the staff and the assembly has been deliberating as well.

So JJ.

To kind of summarize, um, for people that may be listening.

Uh these enterprise funds are you know what your rate paying for.

So there are some rates that are to be increased starting next month.

Nope, in two months, July 1.

So that's two percent for wastewater, six percent for water, two percent solid waste, uh morage in the harbor systems four percent increase, uh, but no utility, no electric utility rate increase.

Um, nothing will hit residential users there, but there is some restructuring happening for larger businesses, you know, commercial and industrial users.

Um, and this is just to keep our budgets balanced.

You know, we're not we gotta pay for the infrastructure we have, we're hitting that time frame where things are are breaking, and um we're doing as low of increases as possible while keeping our systems um usable and ready for the future.

So the challenge we see here in this nice um overview that the administrator wrote is our other enterprise funds is the airport, uh, and we are not having a second big leaseholder.

Uh you know, Delta isn't servicing SIC anymore, so we're gonna be having a 400,000 dollar uh gap in that account.

Um so that's our our biggest kind of point of work for the I think this assembly um in the next fiscal year is trying to figure out additional revenue sources at the airport uh to keep that function operational.

Um so you'll hopefully still see us doing doing some ordinances, some some legwork on that topic.

Um, but that's not a you know a rate payer, that's you like a lease agreement stuff.

So we're gonna have to be a little bit creative uh how we um pay for that as it on the motion to approve ordinance 2026-12 on second and final reading.

Ms.

Carlson, yes, Ms.

Riley, yes, Mr.

Celine, yes, Mr.

Mosier, yes, Mr.

Pike, yes, and Mr.

Christensen, yes.

Motion passes 60 uh second and final reading on item F item G, please.

I move to approve ordinance 2026-13 on second and final reading, proposing to amend section 6.01 initiative and referendum of the home rule charter and submitting the question of such an amendment to the qualified voters at the regular election on October 6, 2026.

Second.

It's been moved and seconded to adopt ordinance 2026-13.

Proposing to amend the charter and present it to the question to the qualified voters.

Is there any public comment?

Good evening, Deputy Mayor and Assembly members.

Um Larry Edwards representing uh small town soul tonight.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Small town soul asks you to vote no on this charter amendment.

We see the Charter's existing provision as being very wise and a height of democracy.

It allows for citizens to trigger an initiative special election through a petition with signatures exceeding one-third of the number of voters in the prior election.

We lawed the founders of the city and borough for this charter provision.

We acknowledge the administration's three reasons for its move to amend the charter.

Those were the $18,200 cost of the 2025 special election.

The staff time it takes to prepare and conduct a special election, and that only Sitka, among other Alaskan towns, provides for a citizen-triggered special election for an initiative.

Seoul finds the administration's reasons unconvincing.

We urge you to reach the same findings that we have.

In practice, democracy sometimes comes with a cost and sometimes comes with inconveniences, and sometimes both, but those are not reasons to restrict it.

On the matter of cost, $18,000 is a sliver of a fraction of Sitka's annual budget, just a sliver of a fraction.

An acceptable cost for doing governmental business.

On the matter of staff time, perhaps efficiencies could be found or help could be contracted, but regardless of that, the time required should simply be considered an inconvenience of conducting democracy.

On the matter of the uniqueness of Sitka's charter provision, we should proudly hold up our uniqueness and encourage other Alaskan towns to follow our model.

It is important for citizens to be able to trigger an initiative special election on a major issue that is time sensitive.

In Sitka's history, there have been very few initiative special elections.

So we believe the cause for this ordinance is weak.

And to be clear, small town soul is not contemplating another initiative.

The existing charter provision is a wise one.

Please vote no on this ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Other public comment.

Good evening.

My name is Austin Cramford.

I am also against the change to the charter and request that you vote no.

In fact, uh less than two days ago, I was told by this very body and by the city administrator that if I wanted a charter uh amendment to be changed rather than this body bring it forward, that I should go through the petition process.

Now this same body is attempting to uh lessen that petition process.

Um so yeah, I would request that it be denied because it simply seems that any time members of the public, members of the community try to get something done, the assembly goes out of its way to put itself in the roadway.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Other public comment.

Mr.

Moser.

Hi, uh, and a question for Sarah.

Uh sir is the one who brought this forward.

Uh from my understanding, this is more of a technical kind of uh uh reason for doing this.

Um I have no problem supporting this because this is going to be brought to the people.

This is not something the assembly is going to unilaterally do uh from what I'm reading and from what we talked about last week.

The assembly can uh the initiative process will go forward if this pass if this passes tonight and goes to the people in October, and the people pass it uh in October.

What it would mean is um no matter what, if a citizen initiative was uh passed, it would go on the next regular election unless the assembly chose to um to uh set it forth.

It's my understanding that this is uh a little bit too uh to do with the logistics of the the time frame because we have limited staff and trying to get an election um set in a certain time.

Sometimes this gives a little leeway, is that understanding, or is it because I notice there's other communities like what is can you give us a history?

Um the I mean my main reason for bringing it forward was um during our the initiatives that we received last year.

I was asked by assembly members at the time, I was asked by the some of the members of the public whether or not it we had to have a special election.

Um, or if it could just go on the regular ballot.

Um we have that provision in the charter.

So um, and that in and that's what I explained.

Um so I'm just kind of circling back after a year on that um and bringing it forward to see if you know it's a policy that a lot of Alaskan municipalities uh follow.

Um and bringing it forward to see if you know it's a policy that a lot of Alaskan municipalities uh follow.

Um most of the clerks were shocked when they they said you don't need to have a special election.

I said, Yes, I do.

Um so they were you know surprised, shocked.

Um, but a lot of the municipalities they follow state statute.

Um, and that leaves after uh an initiative has been certified by the clerk, um, it goes to the regular ballot.

Umless the assembly or the council deems that there be a special election.

So this is more bringing into alignment with many.

The only difference with state statute, and I'll read it.

Um, and I chose not to put the 60 days or 75 days in here, but um it says unless substantially the same measure is adopted, when a petition seeks an initiative vote, the clerk shall submit the matter to the voters at the next regular election, or if already scheduled a special election occurring not sooner than 60 days after certification of the petition.

If no election is scheduled to occur within 75 days after the certification of a petition, and the governing body determines it's in the best interest of the municipality, the governing body may by ordinance order a special election to be held on the matter before the next election that is already scheduled, but not sooner than 60 days after certification of the petition.

Okay.

So that's the only question I have.

Um I I understand this now as it's just more bringing into alignment with other communities in Alaska.

Yes, it's it's just a policy matter for the assembly to decide um if they want to put it before the voters to decide.

Thank you.

Tor.

Sorry, um yeah, I I the fact that this is going before the voters to decide if the people of Sitka don't want to do that.

But it to me it makes sense that the default should be going to the next election.

Um, you know, unless somebody starts a petition, you know, turns in a initiative a few weeks after the last election, it's probably gonna be at least halfway through the year anyway.

Um and if people don't like that, if they do want to have it, then they'll vote no in October.

Um to me, this is not that big of a deal in a lot of ways because it's you know, in the in the there's always another election coming up.

And you know, if it's something that it really is, has to be decided right away.

I do not see an assembly any uh turning it down into a special election.

But so I'm I'm gonna vote for this.

I'm totally confused.

I don't know, you know, if if it doesn't matter and why why are we voting now?

You know, if it doesn't matter in the fall, anything I can think of is like an urgency thing, like you were just trying to mention.

You know, I'm I'm liking what Larry said that if Sitka's special that a voter initiative could happen right now in the season or before some construction project happens or something that the people want to make it happen and not wait for another general election.

So my little comic book brain, I can't, I'm I'm not seeing it, so I'm against it.

Thank you, Scotty.

You're always able to really just say it more succinctly than any of us.

Um but yeah, I just wanted to uh thank all the folks that I was able to talk with and and hear from over the past couple of weeks, and um I very much understand uh where this is coming from in the clerk's office and um the cost of the election itself is not um the deciding factor for me.

I think that's just a cost of doing business, cost of doing democracy, where I think the actual toll comes from, the real issue.

Um, you know, if we're if we're if we're trying to figure out, you know, what is this actually trying to solve, what are the real issues?

Um for me, that is the invisible amount of staff time that goes into preparing for these special elections, and that is something that um citizens just can't know about, right?

You don't uh know everything that goes into preparing for the election as well as filing the packets um for regular assembly going through all of the public records requests, and many of these things also have code-imposed deadlines, and so it's like the trying to meet multiple um code or legal deadlines needed, um, puts an immense amount of pressure on the staff, both in the clerk's office and the legal office, as well as a lot of costs that are not reflected in that simple, you know, kind of like print the ballots, get the machines uh figure that was in the memo.

And so it's like the trying to meet multiple um code or legal deadlines needed, um, puts an immense amount of pressure on the staff, both in the clerk's office and the legal office, as well as a lot of costs that are not reflected in that simple, you know, kind of like print the ballots, get the machines uh figure that was in the memo.

So I do want to recognize that there are other costs to human capacity, staff capacity, um, burnout and overtime, like things that are required to uh do the job and and keep us in order and keep us legally um in our lane of being right.

Thank you so much to to Sarah and Holly and Brian for the work that you guys do.

Um that being said, uh so I'm trying to balance that and the real cost of um that this has on our staff with uh the you know perceived issue um of stifling the democratic process.

I don't necessarily think that this does that.

Um, and I think that putting it to the voters is a great way to, you know, have people weigh in on that, but I just want to recognize the context that this vote is taking place in, and that um there's a lot of fear out there right now.

There's a lot of fear about um you know changes that are happening rapidly in our country, and uh that's very real perceived fear for some folks.

And so I think that this is a you know pretty technical fix, but it's occurring in a context uh in which peoples um have a heightened sense of um things that are happening around them and how that might impact their personal lives and their ability to make their voice heard.

And so when we think about you know how to balance this actual impact, which for me the biggest part of is is staff time and staff capacity and how we're best spending um you know, citizens tax dollars um and supporting our our civic employees um with this uh proposed change.

Um I think that I don't mind putting a question forward to the voters.

I don't know that this is the question I'd like to put forward to the voters.

I uh haven't gotten to think through a better one, unfortunately.

Um because I think it is, yeah, it's like gets complicated, especially with state law and um just trying to stay within those bounds, and so I was like, okay, what if you have you have a situation like um Tor mentioned where someone gets uh their ballot certified in September?

This could mean this change could mean that that ballot that ballot question, that citizens initiative would not be heard for uh a year until the next election in October the following year, if the assembly chose not to have a special election.

And so I can't think of uh an issue that would require that timely response, but I have no doubt that such an issue exists because things come up, right?

And and situations change and things arise all the time.

And so I feel like I just don't have enough of an answer yet, but I'm I would like to explore a way to put kind of like a time frame on this where if it's you know, if a citizens initiative is certified within six months of the general election, the discretion belongs to the assembly about whether or not a uh special election is to be held.

And if it's outside of six months, then a special election is held within the parameters of um, you know, after 60 days.

I think there's some code cleanup that we need to do there.

Um, but I don't know that that is uh a real solution, right?

To to the issue that's being presented here.

And so all that to say um on that same frame of like, you know, what is the actual issue that we're trying to solve and is this the best way to do it?

Um I just want to take into account uh the broader context that we're feeling right now, and um that I think that that is going to lead me to not vote for this tonight.

Um that does not mean that I am not interested in exploring a different solution that you know can address the um the concerns, I think the real issues that are held by the workload that is put on uh the clerk's office when one of these arises.

Um, but I don't I don't have a proposed amendment.

I don't think that would be good to do at the table.

Um, but that's just where my thinking is on this tonight.

Yeah, I think um I think those are valid points made by a lot of people here tonight.

Um I guess the the thing for me is uh is it shortcut in the democratic process?

I don't actually see that.

I think also I think we need to consider the fact that the state statute language is pretty battle-tested, like they have thought through all those exact same things that we're going through, and that is their base language, and I think you know there's a lot of reasons why um sitka's unique and why things might be good to stay on that track, but I um I've heard through the years, and I've heard even this assembly ask, you know, we'd like to hear what the voters actually think, and here's our opportunity, right?

And I think you know, there's a lot of reasons why um sitka's unique um and why things might be good to stay on that track, but I um I've heard through the years and I've heard even this assembly ask, you know, we'd like to hear what the voters actually think, and here's our opportunity, right?

So this isn't a bad question to ask, this is a good question to ask.

And if the voters say no, then we come back with the six-month thing or whatever else.

Um, but I think it's an opportunity for us to hear from the people and see where they're feeling.

Um we are not the deciders on this.

We are just presenting a question to the public.

And as such, I don't that I think the risk to democracy is quite low because democracy will speak and decide whether or not this is a good idea or a bad idea.

Um and so, you know, we could sit up here and debate all the pluses and minuses, and that would be the campaign for the people in favor or people opposed to this when the time comes to vote on it.

And so um, you know, that's our purest form of answer.

So I'm in favor of sending it to the people to find out what they think because I think that is you know there's a reason why we we can't change the charter, right?

The reason we can't change the charter is because it belongs to the people, and this is we're posing them a question.

Let's see what their answer is.

Yeah, sounds good, but I'm still a no.

You know, I want a voter initiative on hauling out our fleet, uninsured boats that you know, we took the money for that.

I want an initiative to uh line the pen stock so we can spin it at 820 feet per second instead of 520 and spend 10 million on Green Lake.

No, I think that's all we got, other than being on the grand jury and then you know, getting a true verdict with your other grand jurors.

It's the most powerful thing we have is this petition.

So I'm still a no now.

I'm doubling down on it being no because my hackles are coming up because I'm seeing weasel words in here, because I still can't grasp what the vote's gonna be in the fall, and what are we even talking about if it's coming up in the fall again?

So I'm a no all right.

On the motion to approve ordinance 2026-13 on second and final reading and submit the um question to the voters at the October 6th regular election, Mr.

Pike.

Yes, Mr.

Mosher, yes, Mr.

Celine, no, Ms.

Carlson, yes, Mr.

Christianson, yes, and Ms.

Riley.

No.

The motion passes for two.

Thank you.

Item H.

Uh, before we start that though, there's a slight uh technical change due for logistical reasons.

Uh it would be better for me to put June 30th as my retirement re resignation date rather than the end of the June 23rd assembly meeting.

So we can make that change, that would be best.

And that would also move the dates down in any possible motions uh to July 3rd or July and July 14th agenda.

So I have a little pink note here saying that in the past the person who is resigning makes the uh motion.

So usually so I moved that's all right.

I moved to uh formally accept the resignation of assemblymember Tim Pike effective June 30th, 2026, and determine the procedure for filling the vacant seat.

It's been moved and seconded to accept the resignation my resignation.

Is there any public comment seeing none assembly deliberation?

Yeah, Tim, I just want to publicly say thank you, and that has been an absolute honor to work with you to get to know you as a colleague and a friend.

And uh I value your counsel, and I think that you have really done a lot of hard work.

And when you speak, I've noticed that you really have a way of kind of bringing people together and hearing and listening to people and uh sharing all sides of a certain issue or topic, and that's something that I've grown to look up to and to uh really like.

And uh I just want to thank you for your service.

Thank you.

Yeah, I concur my sons and my daughter.

I get all teary, I'd think of your leadership that I know is rubbed off on my kids, man.

Sorry to see you go.

Thank you.

Because grief is something that happens to anyone that experiences a loss and a loss of a colleague like you is something that I'm I'm gonna need to spend some time to overcome.

Thank you.

And I was overjoyed then.

Um to my wife and your your wife who get to know you fairly well.

And uh I have enjoyed being on the assembly with you.

Um of the things that I've learned is we don't always have an assembly that works well together, and uh I think you've been a big part of the reason why this one has worked well together since you've been on.

Um I don't think I've ever well maybe we know you well enough to tell when you're mad, uh, but most people wouldn't realize it.

And so I appreciate the you know that working with you and being sitting next to you here, and uh I wish you luck on your future endeavors.

Thank you.

Yeah, I didn't get to serve with you that long, which is my loss, um, but just really appreciate uh the perspective and the very careful deliberate uh deliberation that you've brought to the table.

Um it always makes me think deeper about uh the issues that we're talking about and um lens just a really unique wonderful perspective.

So very sorry to see you go, but um glad that you are going to be um still taking care and um around in our community and look forward to hearing your thoughts on all the issues to come thank you.

I will point out I'll be here for another month.

So Sarah, is there a piece we need we're missing here?

Do we need to talk about the potential way to go forward or finish this one first and then another one?

We'll finish this first.

Um so um and then we'll go to move move on to step two.

So on the motion to formally accept um assemblymember Pike's resignation effective June 30th, 2026.

Mr.

Mosier.

Yes, Mr.

Pike, yes, Ms.

Riley, yes, Mr.

Christensen, yes, Mr.

Celine, yes, and Ms.

Carlson.

Yes.

Okay, the motion passes 6-0, and then we'll move on to uh step two.

Okay, step two, please.

I move to request the admissible clerk through the municipal administrator to one advertise for letters of interest Friday, May 29th through noon Wednesday, July 8th, and number two, place an item on the July 14th agenda to appoint an assembly member to fill the vacant seat until the next regular election.

Second it's been moved and seconded to follow the process laid out by Mr.

Mosier.

Is there any public comment back to the assembly?

Um be able to make that July 14th meeting.

I will be fishing in Bristol Bay.

Um, and so I am sad to miss that vote.

I think this is an important part of the process, but I hope that in that deliberation, the assembly considers uh the impact that they can have on the election and um who who comes next.

And so uh I would just encourage careful deliberation and my personal um thoughts are that you know if we can have someone who holds the seat and then um doesn't desire to run in the general so that we can give a fair shot to everyone.

Um just wanted to share that before I'm unable to.

So thank you.

Thank you.

All right, Sarah.

All right, on the motion to request the municipal clerk through the misstitable administrator to one advertise for letters of interest May 29th through uh noon on Wednesday, July 8th, and then also placing an item on the July 14th agenda to appoint an assembly member to fill the vacant seat until the October election.

Mr.

Selene.

Yes, Mr.

Christensen, yes, Ms.

Carlson, yes, Mr.

Pike, yes, Ms.

Riley, yes, and Mr.

Mosier.

Yes.

Motion pass a six-zero.

Lost in my big paper here.

All right.

Sorry.

All right, this is brings us.

Well, that's the end of our formal portion of it.

What brings us to the persons to be heard?

This is for public participation on any item on or off the agenda, not to exceed three minutes per individual.

Is there any public comment for items on or off the agenda?

If so, please come forward and state your name for the record.

Good evening.

My name is Austin Cramford.

Before I get started, I do want to say for item G, uh, we were told that uh it was being put to the voters because it's not a financial uh interest by the assembly at this meeting, and then things like overtime and overworking of the administrators and the clerk's office uh was cited.

Well, those are naturally um funding issues.

You hire more staff even if it's just for the uh special election and you pay the overtime.

That's ultimately a money issue.

Um but the main reason I came up here is I sent an email to the assembly and the administrator and the clerk's office.

Uh I'm gonna say it was yesterday or Sunday, uh, because uh since you are retiring uh assembly member Pike, uh statute states that a person has to be appointed within 30 days of the seat becoming vacant.

But when I looked at Anchorage uh Charter and Municipal Code and Homer and Juno and multiple other municipal codes, we are one of the few that require uh a seat to be filled so close to an election.

Anchorage, Homer, Juno, uh Coach, all of them require that the seat remain vacant when an election is within six months.

Um we can obviously not do that based on our current charter and our current code.

Uh when I asked that the assembly put forward a motion to amend the charter, I got a response from Mayor Eyes and Vice which only cited the statute that I was already aware of.

Uh and then the administrator said that I could go through the petition process.

Uh since we are on the topic of democracy, I think it is um for lack of a better term, undemocratic to put somebody in a seat so close to the election due to uh incumbency bias.

Somebody that is already in the seat is more likely to get the seat in the election.

And I would like to once again petition this body to put forth a motion to the voters to change the charter that when we are within six months of an election that a seat not be uh appointed and that it remain vacant until the next general election.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Other public comment.

Okay, brings us to reports.

Uh the mayor is not currently here.

I have no report for the mayor.

John, I was gonna report on GPIP, but I'll let the liaison talk about that.

So um I'll just say since the last meeting uh had a visit from the uh Rasmussen Foundation, they came by.

I thought it was just gonna be a couple people, but it was the entire board.

Um, but we uh just had a pretty down to earth discussion on uh community needs, and uh they offered uh you know the the programs that they have uh where people can look for support.

Um and I believe some folks uh in the community also attended the reception later that evening.

Um just a week full of uh lots of administrative work, boring stuff that I don't think people want to hear about.

Thank you.

Rachel.

Um I'm out Thursday to Tuesday for an extra long weekend, um, getting out of cell contact, I hope.

Um, so getting a couple time sensitive things across the finish line tonight and tomorrow morning, uh, but then back on Wednesday.

Thank you.

Liaisons.

I I had forgot to talk about that, so thanks for giving me the reminding me.

Um yeah, so we had a GPIP meeting, and the main topic of discussion was the inability for some votes to obtain insurance.

And I think it was a it was a good discussion, and I think that there's a lot of interest in figuring out a way.

Um I suspect it's gonna be something where a extremely ironclad as much as possible uh release of liability combined with there was a number of ideas, but uh talking about charging something like a one-time two hundred and fifty dollar fee that develops a fund to handle something, you know.

It obviously would take a little while, but to handle something like a fuel spill.

There was also talk about doing a bond for boats like that.

That I don't know about how that that might personally I think that might be too much of a burden of a five thousand dollar bond that they would re get if they didn't do it.

Um there was a lot of discussion about other ways, and there's some confusion about whether or not some of the other live actually require insurance, or if it's depending on if they have to have insurance for certain things.

Um I think there's a lot, there was a lot of interest and resolve to get it figured out.

And that's what I heard.

Um and it may not be as quick as people would like.

Um I wish, but as we all know, government doesn't move as fast as but I think that I I heard some pretty strong uh uh determination among the board to to get it figured out, and I think they will.

Um there I know that there is gonna be bringing back a report on that at the next meeting.

So they postponed it to the next meeting, so they'll be talking about it again next month.

Oh thank you.

Um uh as parks and rec.

I'm just gonna read a flyer that's up uh online um because it's being sponsored by the parks and rec and also the Secretary Recreation Foundation.

Apparently, there is going to be a Swan Like Lake Senior Center uh community cleanup on Thursday, May 28th from 1 to 4 p.m.

If you have any questions, you can call Barb Morse at uh 907-738-0875.

Thank you.

Uh, just wanted to say that the uh GPIP code change is going to be coming to the assembly on our June 9th meeting, I believe.

Um, and that is to uh fix our uses table about what the industrial park is used for.

And then there was a variety of other food trucks that we'll be seeing around town.

The Harbors Commission is on their summer break, uh, so their next meeting will be in September.

So all of your public comments needs for the harbor system.

Um you can either email the board or come in September.

Um health needs is considering not having as many uh you know monthly meetings and do more uh of work sessions during that time so they can kind of uh break up into their groups and get their goals uh to the finish line.

So community uh take a look at those notices in the paper, and if you have public comments, um, you know, that's something that typically happens at a you know scheduled meeting, so you might need to do the same and just email the commission because they'll be using that time most likely uh for work sessions under the premise of trying to get rid of the outhouses on the trailers.

Uh I got full support from the library commission to not have other people that are suggesting to build a permanent head for the tourists, but year-round between the women's club and the library in the library employees parking lot, but there are full support of moving all of that down underneath the bridge, and uh that's thank you.

No other reports.

I have another report.

Sorry, go ahead.

Uh my walkability group that this um body um pointed me to uh last year, a year and a half ago.

Um we are going to be doing a demonstration project this summer.

So we've uh got some funding uh passed through from the Alaska Department of Health, and we're gonna be doing some pedestrian safety improvements in the downtown area.

Uh so stay tuned for that.

We'll have more information when, where, who, how, um, coming shortly.

So thank you.

Deputy mayor, I have a report too.

Okay.

All right.

Um, I'll go through a quick list of open openings on our boards and commissions.

Um, we have health needs and human services, the investment committee, library commission, parks and rec, police and fire, and tree and landscape.

So if folks are interested, they can contact our office and we'll get them set up with the application.

Um upcoming meetings for the assembly.

There is a work session on child care um June 16th at 6 p.m.

And then the regular meeting on uh Tuesday, June 23rd.

And then I wanted to announce you'll start seeing some PSAs and social media posts about this.

We'll be getting ready to launch our new online public records portal here pretty quick.

She identified a need, she found a solution, and she's been working really hard the last couple of months to get it implemented.

So we'll be kicking that off here in early June.

So we will still accept paper requests.

And then finally, I just wanted to say that we will be opening up the nomination candidate filing July 20th.

It opens at 8 a.m.

and closes at August 7th.

And then the following vacancies are to be filled in the election.

So we have one mayor's seat, which is a two-year term, two assembly member seats, which are three-year terms, and then three school board member seats.

So we'll have two three-year terms and then one one-year term.

So again, the filing period is July 20th through August 7th.

That's all I got.

All right, brings us to adjournment.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

We are.