By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly decided Tuesday night to hold off for another two weeks on issuing a request for proposals on building a boat haulout at Gary Paxton Industrial Park.
After approving a few changes to the draft RFP the Assembly decided to wait until Jan. 26 to make a decision on how much weight should be given to responders proposing a lease versus a purchase of the land for the haulout.
That question will be referred to the haulout task force of city officials which will come up with scoring options for the Assembly to consider. The Assembly will then decide whether to issue the RFP.
The city is under an increasing time crunch to have a public haulout available by the time Halibut Point Marine stops hauling boats this spring. HPM in June 2019 notified the city of its plans to develop its haulout site for tourism-related purposes.
In other business Tuesday night the Assembly appointed nine Sitkans to the Climate Action Task Force. Some of the 14 applicants testified about their work experience and academic credentials, and what they thought their contribution to the group would be.
More than one Assembly member commented that all of the applicants are well qualified, and encouraged those not selected to attend the meetings and participate.
Other issues taken up at the meeting included a liquor license, an appointment to the Port and Harbors Commission, a lease assignment and a timeline for selling the Sitka Community Hospital building and real estate. A number testified under persons to be heard.
All seven members of the Assembly were present for the meeting.
Haulout
At least two local entities have expressed their intent to respond to the RFP to build the haulout, with a goal of having the facility up and running this spring.
A few of the key questions in many of the discussions related to the haulout are whether to sell the waterfront property and whether the city has funds available to help build it.
Two of the four amendments recommended to the Assembly were approved and the others were rejected. The vote to postpone the RFP passed 6-1, with Rebecca Himschoot opposed, saying she wanted to move the project forward.
The first amendment shortened the advertising period from 90 days to 60, on a 5-2 vote. Voting in favor were Thor Christianson, Kevin Knox, Kevin Mosher, Crystal Duncan and Rebecca Himschoot. Valorie Nelson and Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz voted against.
While those in favor expressed the need for moving the project forward, those opposed felt moving too quickly would not produce good results.
“It’s not good business,” Nelson said.
The second amendment, to change two “requirements” to “aspirational,” also passed. Those were to provide a haulout and vessel washdown system good for the next 20 years, and to provide a float allowing crew to step off a vessel before it’s lifted out of the water.
Some members said there may be cheaper options than a permanent washdown facility and float.
“We’re not shifting the RFP for one proposer; we’ve learned new information that alternate ideas are available,” the mayor clarified.
The vote was 6-1 with Nelson opposed.
The third amendment failed. It would have included the original language “developers are expected to finance the full project development,” but adding, “however CBS may have limited loanable economic development funds for the initial startup.”
The motion failed 1-6, with Christianson in favor. The original language will stay in the RFP.
The fourth proposed amendment, which also failed, was to remove all references to the sale of the property and focus on the preference of a long term lease. Those testifying on the issue were split.
Fishermen Jeff Farvour and Linda Behnken, whose group plans to respond to the RFP, testified that the city needed to maintain ownership to protect its use as a haulout in the long term.
Richard Wein, also from the public, said the city should keep ownership of the land, and “be the tip of the spear” in ensuring the project is completed.
Jeremy Serka, who plans to respond to the RFP, said since the goal is to get the project built, the city should be open to both a lease and a sale of the land.
“The city needs to provide every option to help build it,” Serka said.
In the end, the Assembly agreed to consider giving more weight to the lease option, versus a sale, of the 6.8 acre parcel.
Thor Christianson commented today: “We want to state our preference for a lease; at the same time we don’t want to shut off the idea of a sale if it’s a great project.”
The discussion Tuesday of how much weight to give developers proposing a lease over a sale came to a halt when it came to a specified point total.
“I would rather have it fleshed out,” Nelson said. “Two more weeks isn’t going to kill the project.”
The motion on weighting responses was withdrawn, and Assembly members voted 6-1 to postpone, with Himschoot casting the lone vote against.
The item will be back on the agenda at the regular meeting Jan. 26.
Climate Action Task Force
Assembly members were pleased with the response from applicants for the Climate Action Task Force. Various members spoke in favor of one candidate or the other.
The Assembly weighed the merits of the number to be appointed, between 7 and 12, and opted for nine.
The 14 who applied were invited to make statements. Some discussed their interest in serving on the committee as well as environmental issues, their experience and qualifications and what they would offer the committee.
Those appointed were Elizabeth Bagley, Kent Barkhau, Elizabeth Borneman, Molly Grear, Kathleen Kreiss, Darby Osborne, Catherine Riley, Caitlin Way and Caitlin Woolsey.
Some Assembly members encouraged the five not selected to continue participating by attending the meetings, which are open to the public.
“Sitka really cares deeply about climate change and what we’ll have to do in the future to adapt and overcome this looming problem,” commented Eisenbeisz.
Hospital Property Sale
The Assembly reviewed the “best case scenario” timeline for selling the hospital and adjacent properties. SEARHC currently leases the facility from the city for outpatient services and long-term care, and has asked the city to consider selling it in order to expand services and make improvements.
A letter from SEARHC says the consortium is interested in the Assembly and city preparing a process for competitive bids at the earliest convenience.
“SEARHC looks forward to participating in a transparent sale process to increase healthcare services and employment in Sitka,” wrote Dr. Elliot Bruhl and Maegan Bosak in a letter. Bruhl is senior vice president and chief medical officer, and Bosak is director of marketing and communications.
The timeline ends with an advisory vote by the public, if directed by the Assembly, on October 5 and final review by the Assembly to approve the sale October 12.
Other Business
In other business, the Assembly:
- heard a liquor license renewal application for House of Liquor dba Salty Sal’s Liquor Cabinet at 321-B Lincoln Street.
- approved an alternative allocation method for the FY21 Shared Fisheries Business Tax program and certifying the method fairly represents the distribution of significant effects of fisheries business activity in the 18 Central Southeast Area FMA.
- reappointed Mike Nurco to the Port and Harbors Commission.
- approved a sublease agreement between Northline Seafoods LLC and Sitka Salmon Holdings LLC at Gary Paxton Industrial Park.
- approved a consent to assignment of lease between the city and Bradley L. Shaffer to Christoper Balovich related to a tidelands lease seaward of 479 Katlian Street.
Public comments took up about 30 minutes at the outset and at the end of the meeting. There was a question about when Blatchley pool will be open to the public, and comments and views about race and issues related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington last week. Assembly members also weighed in.
The comments can be heard at links to persons to be heard sections for the meeting at:
http://sitka.granicus.com/player/clip/542?view_id=1&redirect=true
