City and Borough of Sitka Assembly Regular Meeting — October 13, 2026

The Sitka Assembly met Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Assembly Chambers and adjourned at 9:02 PM. Outgoing Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz and outgoing Assembly Member Chris Ystad presided through Unfinished Business; after the swearing-in of new officials, Mayor Kevin Mosher and the reorganized Assembly completed the agenda. Nine members were present: Christianson, Mosher, Eisenbeisz, Ystad, Carlson, Saline, Riley, Blankenship, and Windsor. Items F and N were handled in open session; no executive session was held.

Consent Calendar

• Item A, approval of the September 22 Assembly meeting minutes, was approved 7-0 (Blankenship and Windsor non-voting). The raw transcript's motion referred to the September 2nd meeting, but the agenda and minutes both identify the item as the September 22 meeting; the approved minutes are for September 22.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Amy McLaughlin, Sitka Recreation Foundation board member, reported on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan being developed with the City. She announced a public open house on October 22, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Harrigan Centennial Hall, led by Corvus Design, and said a community-wide survey would be released in the coming weeks. She encouraged broad participation from all ages.
• No public comment was offered at the second Persons to Be Heard period.

Discussion Items

Special Reports: Public Works and Harrigan Centennial Hall

• Public Works Director Mark Seavey reported that FTE allocation had dropped to 84% after four departures; one offer was accepted, one was pending, two applicants were being considered for a third position, and one posted position had no applicants. He said Q1 FY27 spending was 38% overall, partly driven by solid waste encumbrances, and that the airport project was expected to reach substantial completion at the end of November, with public restrooms still closed. He also noted the Lake Hirsch/Monastery/Kincaid phase one paving was scheduled to start the next week and phase two was being prepared for bid.
• Harrigan Centennial Hall Manager Tony Rosas reported more than 610,000 cruise-ship visitors were hosted during summer 2026, with June the highest month at 146,000. For the quarter, he reported 357 bookings across auditorium and meeting spaces, 38 nonprofit meetings, 168 general public events, 7 commercial events, 29 state events, 115 city meetings, and more than 1,600 events since January. The building was at 37% of budget, with one full-time position vacant.

Unfinished Business

• ORD 26-23, the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) zoning amendment, was approved on second and final reading 6-1. Outgoing Mayor Eisenbeisz voted no, saying the short-term rental incentive sent a mixed message and he preferred a property tax abatement. Assembly Member Riley clarified the short-term rental opportunity is limited to three years from the certificate of occupancy, cannot be converted to a permanent short-term rental, and is intended to offset building costs of $350 to $500 per square foot; she cited an estimate that an ADU could recoup up to $90,000 over three years. Christianson supported the measure, saying it would stimulate construction.
• ORD 26-24, supplemental appropriation for the Lincoln Street Project, was approved 7-0.
• ORD 26-25, supplemental appropriation for Transfer Station Compactor Repairs, was approved 7-0.
• ORD 26-26, supplemental appropriation for AlaskaEx Disaster Response Training, was approved 7-0.
• The Assembly approved 7-0 the employment agreement with Gerrie Cotter as Municipal Administrator. The contract is for $200,000, starts November 9, 2026, and allows a transition period with outgoing Administrator John Leach through December 18, when Leach's contract ends.
• The Assembly accepted the Municipal Clerk's Certificate of Election 7-0. Clerk Sara Peterson reported 1,922 ballots counted, 26% turnout, 7,437 registered voters as of the registration deadline, and 801 early ballots cast, which was 42% of all ballots.
• Outgoing Mayor Eisenbeisz and Assembly Member Ystad received service awards. Eisenbeisz thanked staff and family, reported on his Southeast Conference attendance, noted Sitka was mentioned favorably in the region, and said he was elected to the Southeast Conference board. He also asked the Assembly to refinish the seawalk seal and whale sculptures.

New Business

• Kevin Mosher was sworn in as Mayor for a two-year term. JJ Carlson and Sherri Blankenship were sworn in as Assembly members for three-year terms.
• The Assembly considered how to fill the vacant Assembly seat. Some members favored advertising the vacancy, while others said the voters had already spoken and pointed to Darrell Windsor's strong, close showing—well over 1,000 votes—and his Planning Commission experience. Windsor said he wanted the one-year appointment. The Assembly voted 5-1 to appoint Windsor for the remainder of the term until the October 5, 2027 regular election results are certified on October 12, 2027. Carlson voted no; Eisenbeisz, Ystad, and Windsor were non-voting. Windsor was then sworn in.
• Chris Ystad was appointed to a two-year term on the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board, approved 7-0 (Eisenbeisz and Ystad non-voting).
• The liquor license renewal for Sitka Lodge No. 1350 Loyal Order of the Moose, Inc., at 337 Lincoln Street, was approved 7-0 and forwarded to the Alaska Alcohol Beverage Control Board without objection after no department raised objections.
• The retail marijuana store license renewal for Island Girl Cannabis LLC, at 224 Smith Street Suite A, was approved 7-0 and forwarded to the Marijuana Control Board without objection after no department raised objections.
• Arctic Blue Waters Alaska Inc. Purchase Agreement Extension Request: GPIP Director Garry White explained the 2021 water purchase agreement, prior extension, and the 45-day cure letter. Arctic Blue representative Fred Paley requested more time, citing Middle East instability, bunker fuel costs, and the need for a bulk water agreement before spending on engineering. He estimated engineering at $5 million and construction of a loading facility at $15 million. Administrator Leach estimated staff time for an extension at about $1,000 per hour and roughly 10 hours. The Assembly discussed letting the agreement expire, extending with compensation, and retaining the water-rights benefit. It approved a motion 7-0 directing the Municipal Administrator to negotiate a two-year extension through an amendment to sections 3.1 and 10.2 with a $10,000 fee paid by the end of 2026. Eisenbeisz and Ystad were non-voting. The transcript gives conflicting figures for the GPIP board's earlier one-year fee recommendation ($1,000 vs $25,000); the final approved motion used $10,000. After the vote, Paley said he had no further comment and appreciated the Assembly's consideration.
• The Assembly rescheduled the December 8 Assembly meeting to December 15, and the December 22 meeting to December 29, by consensus, because of the Alaska Municipal League Conference the week of December 7. Clerk Peterson noted the FY27 budget funds five Assembly members rather than all seven; Saline and Windsor would not attend. The agenda and minutes identify the original December dates as December 8 and December 22, although the mayor's spoken introduction said December 12th and 22nd.
• For leadership assignments, the Assembly voted 4-3 for Carlson over Riley for Deputy Mayor. Riley was then nominated without opposition and appointed Vice Deputy Mayor. The following liaison assignments were made: Gary Paxton Industrial Park - Christianson/Carlson; Health Needs and Human Services - Blankenship/Carlson; Historic Preservation - Saline/Carlson; Investment - Christianson/Mosher; Library - Saline/Windsor; Local Emergency Planning - Riley/Mosher; Parks and Recreation - Mosher/Christianson; Planning and Zoning - Riley/Windsor; Police and Fire - Blankenship/Christianson; Port and Harbors - Carlson/Windsor; Sustainability - Carlson/Mosher; Tourism - Blankenship/Riley; Tree and Landscape - Saline/Christianson; SEDA - Riley/Christianson; Sitka Tribe of Alaska - Mosher/Carlson; School Board - Christianson/Windsor.

Reports

• Administrator Leach reported travel to the ICMA conference October 16-21.
• Attorney Rachel Jones reported on the minor offense statute, lease management software training, code revision work, and mid-November travel.
• Liaison representatives: Riley reported on the Local Emergency Planning Committee and Planning Commission, including a joint session on the cruise ship dock ordinance; Saline reported on the Library Commission and library facility issues.
• Clerk Peterson reviewed current and upcoming board/commission/committee vacancies, noted the upcoming town hall on the proposed commercial passenger vehicle ordinance, the October 27 regular Assembly meeting, the October 28-29 orientation, and the November 9 government-to-government meeting. She said state General Election absentee in-person voting would begin the following week in Room 3, weekdays through November 2.

Key Outcomes

• ORD 26-23 approved 6-1; ORDs 26-24, 26-25, and 26-26 approved 7-0.
• Gerrie Cotter employment agreement approved 7-0, effective November 9, 2026.
• Certificate of Election for the October 6, 2026 municipal election accepted 7-0.
• Mosher, Carlson, and Blankenship sworn in; Windsor appointed 5-1 and sworn in.
• Ystad appointed to GPIP Board 7-0.
• Moose Lodge liquor license and Island Girl Cannabis license renewals approved 7-0.
• Arctic Blue extension negotiation directed 7-0: two-year amendment to sections 3.1 and 10.2, with a $10,000 fee due by end of 2026.
• December Assembly meetings rescheduled to December 15 and December 29.
• Carlson chosen Deputy Mayor 4-3; Riley chosen Vice Deputy Mayor by acclamation.
• Board, commission, and committee liaison assignments adopted as listed above.