By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly distributed $45,000 in city funds to eight nonprofit organizations at a short meeting Thursday night.
Organizations applied under the categories of Human Services ($25,000 available), Cultural and Educational ($10,000 available), and Community Development ($10,000 available).
Assembly members listed the amounts they favored for each applicant, and the figures were averaged for the final distribution, which was approved on a 6-0 vote.
Attending the meeting were Ben Miyasato, Richard Wein, Kevin Knox, Aaron Bean, Steven Eisenbeisz and Mayor Matt Hunter. Bob Potrzuski was absent, but he had previously submitted his preferences for the distribution.
The total amount requested by all applicants was $88,248. The amounts awarded by the Assembly were:
Human Services
Brave Heart Volunteers, $9,071 out of $18,500 requested.
Salvation Army Alaska Sitka Corps, $6,357, out of $10,000 requested.
Sitka Counseling, $4,714 out of $10,000 requested.
Southeast Alaska Independent Living, $6,500, out of $16,000 requested.
Cultural and Educational
Alaska Arts Southeast, $3,619 out of $7,500 requested.
Betty Eliason Child Care Center, $2,584 out of $4,248 requested.
Greater Sitka Arts Council, $3,440, out of $5,000 requested.
Community Development
Sitka Trail Works, $8,714 out of $10,000 requested.
Hunter, Potrzuski and Miyasato had funding for the Sitka Community Land Trust on their lists, but the average of $1,929 was not approved because funding for the CLT was recommended by only three of the seven Assembly members.
After the meeting, a few Assembly members shared their thoughts on distributing the funds.
Miyasato said he believes the distribution of funds to the organizations is important, since it shows “the city believes in what they do.”
Bean’s choices divided the funds equally among all organizations within each category, with only the land trust receiving nothing.
“I value all the nonprofit organizations, and I couldn’t give one more weight than the other,” he said. “In considering the Community Land Trust, I look at how much they’ve been given already, and what the net result is.”
Eisenbeisz voted to give Brave Heart Volunteers all of the funds the organization requested.
“End of life services really resonated with me,” he said. “With our population continuing to age, I want to see end of life services available for those who need it.”
Kevin Knox agreed. “They provide a very unique service in this city,” he said.
Legal Fees/SEARHC Negotiations
Also at the meeting, the Assembly passed on first reading an ordinance for the city to spend up to $150,000 in legal fees for completion of Phase III of the RFP process between the city and SEARHC. The vote was 5-1, with Wein opposed.
The Assembly voted 6-1 on Aug. 28 to go forward with the SEARHC offer to purchase the Sitka Community Hospital health care business. The next phase is expected to be a letter of intent signed by both organizations.
A special meeting has been set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, to discuss the letter of intent. An executive session is anticipated, the city clerk said.
