By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A number of coronavirus-related measures are on the agenda for Tuesday’s regular Assembly meeting, including a proposal to set back the start for summertime electric rates, and another that would require most new arrivals in Sitka to quarantine for 14 days.
Other measures are aimed at relieving citizens’ financial hardship, such as extending the property tax assessment appeal deadline from April 15 to June 15 and extending the sales tax filing and remittance deadlines, and a discussion on further aid by the city to help for those affected by the pandemic.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
In line with COVID-19 precautions, Assembly members will attend remotely from home, with only a few city staff members at Centennial Hall, including City Administrator John Leach and City Clerk Sara Peterson.
The ordinance to delay the start of the additional 7 cents per KWH electric rate passed on first reading at the regular Assembly meeting March 24. Co-sponsored by Thor Christianson and Kevin Knox, the measure proposes keeping the 12-cent wintertime electric rate through June, instead of April, in order to provide financial relief to ratepayers. But concerns were raised at the last meeting about the effect the lost revenue might have on the city’s bond payment obligations.
The ordinance increasing the city’s self-quarantine regulations is being proposed as an “emergency ordinance” which can be passed on one reading.
The state currently has a mandate requiring a 14-day quarantine for everyone arriving in Alaska from out of state. The ordinance going before the Assembly says “people arriving in Sitka, without exception unless determined a critical health care worker, are required to self-quarantine for 14 days before working for critical workforce infrastructure businesses and requiring such businesses to submit a protection plan to the City and Borough of Sitka that must be approved by the municipal administrator.”
The ordinance says it is consistent with state health mandates “while providing individualized orders which address the unique circumstances of Sitka.”
Co-sponsored by Christianson and Richard Wein, the ordinance states the new restrictions are needed because of Sitka’s isolation and limited medical capacity, among other reasons.
Also on the agenda are board and commission appointments, a grant application for a critical secondary water source, liquor license renewals and a discussion/direction item for the No Name Mountain and Granite Creek master plan.
Also on the agenda is a proposal to hire Scott Elder as the head of the city electric department. The department has been operating under interim directors since the resignation of Bryan Bertacchi in 2019.
The meeting is open to the public, but city staff is encouraging citizens to watch the meeting through links on the city website.
“While the meetings are open to the public, I’m hoping citizens will comply with the local ‘hunker down’ order in place and the state mandates regarding social distancing and group gatherings of 10 or less,” said Peterson. “I’m also encouraging citizens to take advantage of alternate ways of providing testimony.”
A link for public testimony is on the lower right-hand side of the city website, under “Public Comment Submission Form.”
