Daily Sitka Sentinel

Climate Resolution Going to Assembly

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Assembly on Tuesday will take up a resolution declaring a climate change emergency; an ordinance involving tiny houses; and taking out a $3 million loan to rehabilitate the Green Lake hydro, among other business.
    The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall, preceded by a 5 p.m. work session with Visit Sitka and the Chamber of Commerce. The meeting and work session are open to the public.
    Kevin Knox and Thor Christianson co-sponsored the climate change resolution, which requires only one reading to pass.
    The three-page resolution says that the climate and ecological emergency “threatens the city, region, state, national, civilization, humanity and the natural world,” and that the city will explore options within the city for reducing greenhouse gases and “co-pollutant emissions,” among other commitments.
    The “Resolved” section of the resolution calls for the city administrator to work with city departments to report back within a year on “maximum reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from their operations feasible by the end of 2025”; and work with the planning department and commission on opportunities for reductions and drawdowns in emissions, among other goals. If passed, the resolution will be sent to the governor, legislative and congressional delegations, federal departments and the president of the U.S.
    Knox said today he has been thinking about such a resolution for some time.
    “There’s also the national dialogue and increase in urgency around the national dialogue that’s been an inspiration,” he said. “Clearly a lot of people do notice big changes happening, in our environment and on a global scale too.”
    In addition to an increase in average temperatures around the world, he said, Alaskans are noticing changes in the marine environment, which is seen as affecting the economy and ability to gather subsistence resources. Approving the resolution will commit the city to take some actions, which will have a cost, Knox acknowledged.
    “It’s not going to be free, but if we don’t do anything we’re facing big changes economically,” he said. “We need to look into the future and figure out how we’re going to survive.”   
    Christianson said the problems have become increasingly obvious to him over the years.
    “It’s time,” he said. “I have to admit I was a little skeptical 20 years ago about our effect on climate change, but to everybody watching, it’s obvious, it’s happening and it’s happening dramatically up here,” he said.
    There is also a practical side, Christianson added.
    “If we do it right we’ll save the city money,” he said. “If we do it in such a fashion, and we look for efficiency, and we become more hydro based, we will save money. We’ll do the right thing, and save the city at the same time.”
    In other business Tuesday the Assembly will consider liquor licenses and appointments, and hear a report on a parcel of city land at 4951 Halibut Point Road that was originally proposed in a land swap to pay for a boat haulout, and has also come up in discussions about the No Name Mountain master plan.
    The discussion about tiny houses and tiny houses on chassis will continue at the Tuesday meeting. It will be the third time for the ordinance to be considered on first reading because of changes that were made in the first two considerations, each time significant enough to require a new introduction.
    The Assembly also will consider a resolution to apply for a $3 million low interest loan from the Rural Development office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund Phase I of the Green Lake hydro rehabilitation project. The plant was built in 1982 and has received no major overhaul since then. The overall cost is expected to be $13 million for all three phases.
    The Assembly will consider going into executive session to discuss a grievance raised by a citizen over the mayor’s “misrepresentation of Resolution 2019-26 (roadless rule) document submitted.”