Daily Sitka Sentinel

City Action Ends 1 Quarantine Rule

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

The Assembly voted 5-2 Tuesday night to rescind its ordinance requiring a 14-day quarantine for people arriving in Sitka.

Rescinding Emergency Ordinance 2020-14 required five votes. Those in favor of lifting the quarantine requirement were Kevin Mosher, Valorie Nelson, Richard Wein, Steven Eisenbeisz and Mayor Gary Paxton. Kevin Knox and Thor Christianson voted against it.

Emergency Ordinance 2020-14 is similar to State Health Mandate 10, which also requires a 14-day quarantine for those coming into the state (with the exception of healthcare workers).

The Assembly passed EO-2020-14 on April 14. It was due to expire 61 days from its passage, or when State Mandate 10 expires, whichever is earlier. The state self-quarantine mandate on arrivals remains in effect, but Knox pointed out that it will expire May 19.

The city’s “hunker down” (shelter in place) resolution expired Tuesday. It recommended that residents stay home if possible to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

City Administrator John Leach has recommended lifting the city’s quarantine requirement on arrivals in Sitka and “getting in line with the state and the reopening plan.” He said Tuesday the combination of city rules and state mandates was causing confusion to many businesses.

“They don’t know what rules to follow,” he told the Assembly. He added that while rules and recommendations may be in place, in the end it depends on “human behavior and whether people are going to listen.”

Some of the Assembly members who voted to rescind 2020-14 said they wanted to align with the state, instead of having a separate mandate for Sitka, and monitor the situation.

“It’s very important we rescind,” Valorie Nelson said. She noted the economic consequences to many Sitkans and businesses due to COVID-19 restrictions, and that the state still has precautions in place.

“It has served its purpose,” Richard Wein said. “It has called attention to issues ... We got people to pay attention and give us their plans (for protecting the public).”

Wein said it is possible to mitigate the risk of COVID but not eliminate it, and current mitigation measures are restricting business in Sitka.

Paxton said he believes Sitka is prepared to respond to the pandemic with capacity to take care of patients who may test positive.

“If we get an outbreak ... we can respond positively,” he said.

Christianson urged the public not to engage in “magical thinking” that the emergency is over, and said some states are seeing infection rates rise as rules relax. He emphasized the importance of the quarantine in protecting Sitka.

Knox spoke against rescinding, saying aligning with the state is giving him no comfort.

“I don’t have confidence in the governor’s plan at this point,” he said. It didn’t make sense to him to send adults back to work without support for families who may be caring for those in the high-risk category, he said.

Most of the comments on the item from the public were against rescinding EO-2020-14, but a few spoke in favor of reopening.

“This is destroying the whole country,” commented Theresa Helem, under persons to be heard.

“We can rebuild business, we can’t resurrect lives,” Eric Jordan said, advocating for a No vote. He said the community has worked hard to prevent the spread of COVID. “Please don’t compromise your good work by relaxing too soon or too much.”

“Nothing has changed,” Monica Eastham said. “The virus is still just as abundant as it has been, and not going away until a vaccine is available.”

With the expiration of the city’s “hunker down” resolution on Tuesday, officials said the city office building is being reopened to the public, though some offices may open by appointment only. Residents are encouraged to call in advance. Many offices remain closed to walk-in traffic.

Sitka Public Library remains closed, but is offering “window service only.” (See page 3 announcement.)

In a follow-up resolution, Knox and Christianson co-sponsored a measure to encourage Sitkans to continue following precautions to prevent and slow the spread of the virus.

The vote was 5-2 with Nelson and Mosher voting against.

Fiscal Year 2021

In other business Tuesday, the Assembly passed the fiscal year 2021 budgets on second and final readings.

The budgets for electricity, water, wastewater and solid waste passed 5-2, with Wein and Nelson voting against. 

The budgets for enterprise funds included rate increases, in line with the Assembly’s and administration’s goal of keeping services at their present levels and fund capital projects. The budgets also took into account drastic revenue cuts due to the lack of cruise ship business this summer.

The harbors budget passed 5-2, with Wein and Nelson against. The 5 percent increase in moorage rates was passed in a separate resolution. The rate increase had been recommended by the Port and Harbors Commission after hearings on the budget.

“They’re looking for predictability,” Christianson said.

Harbor users testifying against the increase pointed to the decline in the fishing industry and the steep rate increases over the years.

“We need to live with what we have, and repair what we have,” said fisherman Matt Donohoe.

“Fishing is one local industry that’s going to keep employing those that are here,” said Lexi Fish. “(Don’t) hit it harder than it’s already being hit.”

Christianson raised the possibility of offsetting harbor fees and utility fees with federal CARES Act funding.

“We’re working on an ordinance for that,” he said today. “But we had to stop because we haven’t gotten the money yet. There’s still some question whether it’s ever going to come to the cities.”

Mosher and Nelson voted against raising the harbor rates. Nelson said the Assembly should not be raising rates in view of the hardships citizens are experiencing.

Knox, voting in favor, said delaying projects is not going to save money.

Marine Haulout

The Assembly spent extensive time on a proposal for building a marine haulout at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park.

Kelly Warren and Daniel Cooper, as WC Enterprises, submitted one of the two proposals responding to a request for proposals on building and operating a haulout. They proposed using their own resources and a $1.5 million loan from the city’s economic development fund.

A number of concerns were raised by Assembly members and the speakers from the public about the company’s plans, including haulout capability, timeline, equipment and access to the facility.

One member of the public encouraged the Assembly to hold off on going forward with WC Enterprises until other opportunities can be explored.

In the end the vote was 5-2 to direct city staff to continue negotiating with the company, with Paxton, Christianson, Knox, Mosher and Nelson in favor, and Eisenbeisz and Wein against.

The Assembly voted unanimously in favor of authorizing the administrator to apply for multimillion dollar federal grants for a marine haulout and also for upgrades to the seawall at the city’s Marine Services Center on Katlian Street.

A 20-percent city match would be required for all of the grant opportunities the city is exploring.

The clock ran out before the Assembly got far into the discussion on how to spend some $14 million in CARES Act funds intended for the city.

Christianson and Mosher said they are working on an ordinance to help businesses (including nonprofits) and individuals who have financial losses as a result of the COVID pandemic.

The meeting ended at 10:30 p.m. with one item left on the agenda when the motion to extend the meeting till 11 p.m. failed.

The final item was an ordinance up for first reading that would make a change in the city code on Assembly meeting procedure. The change would move the “Reports by staff and Assembly” item from the beginning of the meeting to the end.

The Upper Moller field guidelines discussion was postponed until May 26.