By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Concerns about next year’s budget, federal pandemic relief and issues related to racism, diversity and equity were among topics at Thursday’s meeting between the Assembly and Sitka Tribe of Alaska Tribal Council.
The two elected bodies meet twice a year over dinner in a government-to-government meeting. Last night’s three-hour meeting was hosted by the city and held at the Westmark Sitka. Most Assembly and several city staff and STA members attended.
The tone of the meeting was casual with Assembly and tribal council members discussing agenda items related to the American Rescue Plan, for which the city hopes to receive $3.4 million; the city budget; planning for the 2022 tourism season; CARES Act spending; raising awareness on murdered and missing Indigenous women; conversations on gender, racism and equity; and housing and affordability.
Some of the discussions related to Sitka’s affordability, rising costs, and difficulties many longtime residents - Native and non-Native - are having staying in Sitka.
“We need to have meetings like this, early in the process,” said tribal council member Fred Olsen Jr. “Not every Sitka resident is a tribal citizen but every tribal citizen is a Sitka resident. And what’s good for the tribal citizens is good for Sitka. ... We could obviously do more (working together).”
Assembly member Kevin Knox said today he felt the meeting went well and the time is right to start having the hard conversations related to racism, diversity and equity, which was one of the items on the tribal council agenda.
“I really appreciate the honest dialog that’s happening,” he said. “(It is worthwhile) when the real issues are put on the table, and people are looking for solutions. It’s a hard conversation to have, but the time is right and the people are there that want to have the conversation and do the work.”
Some ideas and initiatives included tribal representatives on hiring committees and dedicated tribal positions and leadership positions on city boards and commissions.
One of the items in the Assembly portion of the meeting packet was a list of demographic information on all city employees.
“There’s always more the municipality could do, of course, but this is our current hiring list,” Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz said. City job openings are already posted on STA’s Facebook page.
The Assembly packet also included Sitka’s legislative priorities which include help for Sitka’s working waterfront (a new haulout and Marine Services Center seawall) and help with the Green Lake hydro plant rehabilitation, among others.
Assembly member Crystal Duncan said today that her comments Thursday related to the need to transform city spaces to increase diversity and inclusion. She said the city and tribe could take a number of tangible steps to make the city more inviting to tribal citizens. She had recommendations for both entities as “they attempt to strengthen relationships with and bridge a disconnect between communities of color which makes up 34.1 percent of Sitka residents and our government systems.”
The packet provided by the tribal council included STA legislative priorities. Among the items listed were subsistence resource protection; protecting vulnerable populations; funding the ferry at current levels or above; and meaningful consultation opportunities with state agencies, departments and boards, including Fish and Game and the board of fisheries.
STA legislative priorities included local items, such as appropriate zoning of cemeteries, and dedicated community seats on boards and commissions and consultation with the tribe on having dedicated Native seats on boards.
Another STA item listed areas in which the city and tribe could cooperate, including expanding efforts to address homelessness and services for homeless men; addressing the rising cost of living (utilities and taxes) and expanding opportunities for STA to be involved or consulted with on city decisions that impact the cost of living of its citizens.
Tribal council members Dionne Brady-Howard and Martha Moses at the meeting asked for a designated STA-specific seat on the Police and Fire Commission. Others at the meeting agreed to get feedback from STA on which boards and commissions a designated STA seat would be desired.
Also discussed, STA General Manager Lisa Gassman said today, was the prospect of an Assembly liaison for the various STA committees. Those include education, cultural resources, natural resources, marine mammal commission, and health and human services committee.
Affordability and alternatives to rate increases that are planned for most city utilities in July was another item of discussion.
“We encouraged the city to look at other ways, and we have offered in the past to help come up with other solutions,” Gassman said.
Among the ideas discussed for offsetting increases were two sales tax rates, one for locals and another for those coming here from outside.
Eisenbeisz brought up the rate studies that are planned, which could provide alternatives to planned rate increases or slow down the increases based on long-term plans for infrastructure.
All who spoke on the issue agreed that affordability is becoming an increasing problem, not just for the poorest Sitkans but those in higher income levels as well.
Brady-Howard, who is vice chairman on the council, told the group she had a negative reaction when she saw national stories about the desirability of Sitka, because of the effect she knew it would have on affordability for those who live here.
Eisenbeisz agreed today said Sitkans need to talk the long-term vision for Sitka, and ask the question, “When is enough enough? Everybody does not view economic growth in the same light. It’s good for some, but may not be for others.”
Gassman said today she thought the meeting was productive.
“We were able to talk about a lot of issues, and a lot of our council members were able to share their ideas with Assembly members, who appeared to be listening and hearing,” Gassman said.
Eisenbeisz agreed.
“The meeting went extremely well. after we were done everyone stood around and chatted and shook hands,” he said.
