LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Home Garden Stands Advanced by Assembly
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly moved forward Tuesday on a plan that will make it easier – and faster – for residents to get permits to sell their own produce at vegetable stands in their own front yards.
Lisa Sadleir-Hart stands in her home garden. Sadleir-Hart was one of several Sitkans who would like to be able to sell vegetables from roadside stands. (Photo provided)
On a 7-0 vote, the Assembly gave approval on first reading to a zoning code amendment that will allow gardeners in the residential and island zones to get a conditional use permit directly from the Planning Commission. Currently permits for garden produce sales must go to the Assembly for approval.
The ordinance is scheduled for public hearing and a final vote on Dec. 9. The measure modifies the definition of “commercial home horticulture” to include the use of garden stands, and establishes an “expedited conditional use permitting process.”
Tom Hart and Lisa Sadleir-Hart, who had brought the concept before the Planning Commission, spoke in favor of the new ordinance at the Assembly meeting.
Sadleir-Hart said this ordinance would promote home horticulture, keep produce money in town, increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables, raise sales tax revenue for the city, and reduce waste of surplus garden crops. The ordinance will also give Sitkans a good business opportunity, she said.
“Tom and I have been working on this since July,” she said. “It’s been a great process for us.”
Michelle Putz spoke in favor of the ordinance for the same reasons. She said she also supported the idea of delegating what would otherwise be an Assembly task to the Planning Commission, which she said is a well-run commission that has done good work over the years.
“This is a commission that does know what they’re doing,” said Putz, who served on the Assembly. “They look out for us.”
Assembly member Steven Eisenbeisz asked whether operators would need a business license, and whether they would collect sales tax. Sadleir-Hart said the operator would be required to have a business license and collect sales tax, as with any small business.
The proposed ordinance limits the size of the stands and the season and hours of operation. There are also rules on setback and traffic control. After the commission receives an application there would be a four-week notice period including at least two Planning Commission meetings.
Other items brought up in Tuesday’s 90-minute meeting drew more debate, and a few items were deferred until a later time.
Budget
The Assembly approved adjustments to the budget on first reading, but pulled out a section on transferring $37,303 to the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau,
City Finance Director Jay Sweeney said the city customarily gives a percentage – 92 percent – of the bed tax revenue to the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau, and bases the SCVB budget on an estimate of receipts for the coming year.
“Thus, it is almost certain that actual tax revenues collected will differ from the estimate in the budget,” Sweeney wrote to the Assembly. In fiscal year 2013-14, the city expected to receive $337,000 from bed tax, and gave SCVB $310,040 – 92 percent of $337,000. But revenues came in at $377,547. Sweeney said that under the sharing formula, the SCVB is entitled to the additional $37,303.
But the Assembly was not ready to pass through the funds without further consideration, and Matthew Hunter made a motion to pull that item out of the budget adjustment ordinance.
Hunter said he would prefer to pass the budget changes proposed by the bureau, instead of just passing through 92 percent of bed tax revenue every year.
He said the Assembly is looking at a tough budget year coming up, and wants the Assembly to think about it before passing on the $37,303.
Eisenbeisz voted against the motion to delete the item, stating that since the bed tax was created to fund the visitors bureau, the system should not be changed.
“The bed tax is collected to fund this bureau,” he said.
Mayor Mim McConnell said she didn’t want to decide anything until representatives from the visitors bureau could be present, and proposed postponing a decision.
She joined Eisenbeisz in opposing the motion to pull the appropriation to the SCVB off the ordinance, but the motion passed 5-2. The budget adjustment ordinance – without the $37,303 to the SCVB – passed 7-0
Other Business
The Assembly passed a few technical ordinances recommended by the Code Publishing Company to clean up the Sitka General Code, but pulled off the agenda a more extensive set of proposed changes to the elections ordinance.
Under the Reports section of the agenda, Assembly members and officials who attended the Alaska Municipal League conference last week in Anchorage said predictions around the state are for tough times ahead for municipalities.
“It’s grim out there,” City Administrator Mark Gorman said.
Gorman said he also had a meeting with Silver Bay Seafoods, which is negotiating to purchase and develop a substantial portion of the Gary Paxton Industrial Park.
“The community is going to be excited about where this is going, including a very substantial marine haulout operation,” Gorman said.
The Assembly also briefly discussed the formation of the Strategic Planning Commission and agreed to have a visioning session after the first of the year, but held off on any decisions.
In other business, the Assembly presented Chris Wilbur with a service award for his more than 14 years of service to the city. He retired recently from his job as facilities maintenance supervisor.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.