By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will discuss details on the distribution of CARES Act federal funding, and go over the possible sale or lease of a large tract of city land on Kramer Avenue, at Tuesday night’s regular meeting.
The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centenial Hall.
The Assembly also will consider an emergency ordinance allowing the mayor “to waive aspects of the city code with regards to teleconference participation in public meetings in order to preserve the health of officials and staff during the pandemic.”
The ordinance is described by City Administrator John Leach as a “housecleaning” measure to legitimize some of the city’s pandemic-related procedures, such as remote participation and teleconferencing, that were not strictly in compliance with the city code.
As an emergency ordinance this measure can be passed on one reading. In his memo to the Assembly Leach said that if it passes he will “prepare a declaration for the mayor which addresses past and future practices and procedures which can be read by the mayor at a future regular meeting.”
In previous meetings, the Assembly has agreed to distribute CARES funding in various categories, from the school district and individual utility payers to businesses, nonprofits and city-funded programs.
In the packet for Tuesday’s meeting Leach asks “what level of information would the Assembly like to see before the Administrator enters any contracts or sub-recipient agreements?”
Leach notes that some items can be time sensitive and could be delayed if multiple Assembly meetings are needed.
Also on the agenda is a proposal to issue a request for proposals regarding the possible sale of 41,000 square feet of unsubdivided land zoned R-1 near the corner of Cushing Street and Kramer Avenue. Planning director Amy Ainslie said in a memo that the planning staff recommends issuance of the RFP, and asks direction from the Assembly on the timeline for completion and criteria for evaluation of responses.
The geotechnical and environmental consulting firm Shannon and Wilson has reported the property is in a “low risk area for landslides,” Ainslie said in the memo.
In another item related to the benchland area, the Assembly will consider the lease of land on the Harbor Mountain Bypass Road for a cell tower.
The Assembly also is to discuss an ordinance allocating $100,000 to fund an engineering consultant for developing a marine haulout at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park. In a related item the Assembly will appoint two of its members to serve on the GPIP Haulout Task Force.
Included in city correspondence is a letter from the city administrator to Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Work Group requesting a minimum of once weekly ferry service to and from Sitka.
“At an absolute minimum, we believe that one weekly northbound stop and one weekly southbound stop, year-round, is essential to support community, economic, and social well-being that cannot be met by other means. Many small communities that connect to Sitka don’t have year-round air service, nor can Sitka residents gain access to the road system without ferry service,” Leach’s letter reads.
The Assembly will also hear a special report by Police Chief Robert Baty and vote on a marijuana license renewal.
The full Assembly packet is public at cityofsitka.com under the Municipal Clerk tab.
