By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly agreed at a Tuesday work session to make a decision about the repaving of Lincoln Street at a future meeting.
Although the 5 p.m. work session was not billed as a public hearing, the Assembly allowed members of the public who were present to state their views on the plan. At the end of the work session they agreed to have the discussion/direction item on the Dec. 23 meeting agenda. (Interim Administrator Hugh Bevan said today the discussion has been moved to January.)
The plan for changes to the downtown street was presented to the public several months ago, but after many different opinions about various design elements were expressed by the public and elected officials, the Assembly decided at that time not to go forward with it.
Bevan has brought it up again, saying it is a $2.1 million “bare bones” plan for repaving Lincoln Street with required ADA improvements.
Bevan has asked the Assembly for clearer direction since the plan has apparently been on hold, and he wants to get a start on it before the new administrator arrives, and take advantage of the construction window after the busy summer season in 2020.
The draft design includes “bulb-outs” on sidewalks into the road, to meet ADA standards on ramps. The feature also improves safety by increasing visibility for motorists and reducing the crosswalk distance for pedestrians, engineers said. The draft calls for making Barracks and American streets one-way.
There is also added sidewalk space in front of the church, with two separate crosswalks to improve safety for pedestrians. Some Assembly members brought up past disagreements about the plan, but Bevan said in the end the Assembly should approve the plan as presented or establish a budget for a facilitated community process for a new design.
“Otherwise we will be back to where we are,” Bevan told Assembly members.
Richard Wein said he was “not crazy about the design,” but Bevan said the city didn’t have many options, given ADA requirements.
“I don’t think we can get a lot different design than you’ve got here,” he said.
The Assembly opted to discuss the matter further at one meeting, and introduce an ordinance for funding the project at two subsequent meetings.
City Engineer Cliff Richter said a “yes” vote on the plan will provide public works with clear direction, but “no” could mean a number of things.
Although it was a work session, at which public testimony is not usually allowed, the Assembly opened the floor for public comment by the members of the public who were there because of their interest in the issue.
Bill Foster commented that he liked the proposed changes, and didn’t agree with comments he has heard that the improvements were “just for visitors” since residents would benefit as well.
“This is not just for visitors,” he said. However, he said he didn’t like the yellow markings on the curbs to restrict parking, since more attractive and more welcoming options were available.
Rachel Roy, director of Visit Sitka and the Chamber of Commerce, said engineers have responded to requests to add more parking on the street, and said the Chamber will be participating in the discussion if more planning is involved.
She added that during the paving project she hopes the city makes sure the street is accessible for people with disabilities and that customers can reach businesses. She said she hopes the project is done before the city hosts the Alaska Tourism Industry Association conference in October 2021.
Some members of the Tree and Landscape Committee commented on the need for more planning and making room for landscaping features.
Regular Meeting
The regular meeting lasted about an hour, during which the Assembly:
– approved a liquor license renewal for Agave Restaurant, and Ludvig’s Bistro, as well as a new retail marijuana store license application for AKO Farms at 1210 Beardslee Way.
– approved the acting administrator list for 2020: Controller Melissa Haley, Public Works Director Michael Harmon, Fire Chief Dave Miller and City Clerk Sara Peterson.
– reappointed Dave Gordon to the Port and Harbors Commission and Joe D’Arienzo to the Tree and Landscape Commission.
– approved on a 4-2 vote a budget ordinance to provide
in additional funding to cover outside attorney fees on the Hanson Maritime purchase of the utility dock at the industrial park. Wein and Valorie Nelson voted against.
– corrected clerical inaccuracies in city code.
– rejected a bid from Little Susitna for refrigeration repairs at the Marine Service Center and approved a contract with Wyatt Refrigeration for $99,980. Valorie Nelson voted against, summarizing today that she felt there was not a good reason to reject the Little Susitna bid in the second round, and select a company that had not participated in that round.
The city clerk said today that a special work session has been set for 5 p.m. Dec. 23 to discuss the Halibut Point Marine proposal to build a boat haulout facility at Gary Paxton Industrial Park in exchange for land out Halibut Point Road, and that a budget special meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.
