By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Steven Eisenbeisz was sworn in as Sitka’s new mayor, and Crystal Duncan and Rebecca Himschoot as Assembly members, at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The meeting, the first since the Oct. 6 municipal election, also included the certification of the election results, recognition of out-going members Richard Wein and Mayor Gary Paxton, commission appointments, and approval of the new city seal.
As is customary, old business was conducted by the out-going Assembly and new business taken up after the new officials were sworn in.
Before stepping down, Paxton said he was grateful to city staff for their professionalism, and hard work during a time of transition at the department head level.
“I know the new mayor will have the same appreciation I’ve had,” he said. “Pax out.”
Wein had commented earlier to Paxton under Persons to be Heard, “Everything you did you had Sitka’s best interest in your heart.”
“Sometimes you took risky political stands and not caring whether someone would vote for you or not,” Wein said. “I view that as a true sign of leadership ... Thank you.”
ABOVE LEFT: New Assembly members, Crystal Duncan, left, and Rebecca Himschoot are sworn in Tuesday night at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
ABOVE RIGHT: Steven Eisenbeisz is sworn in as Sitka’s new mayor by Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson as his grandmother Eleanor King, far right, watches. King flew in from her home in northern California in order to watch the ceremony.
LEFT: Outgoing mayor, Gary Paxton, left, and outgoing Assembly member Richard Wein hold up a cake baked in their honor as they sit on the vacated Baranof statue base outside Harrigan Centennial Hall Tuesday evening. Tonya Bonorden and Karen Lucas organized the tribute, which took place after a break in the regular Assembly meeting, to show appreciation for the men’s service to the city and to continue a city tradition that had been omitted this year because of COVID concerns. (Sentinel Photos by James Poulson)
After the certification and swearing in there was a break. After Eisenbeisz took the gavel, he reviewed how he plans to run meetings.
“As an Assembly we need to conduct our business in an efficient, timely manner, for both the public and each other,” he said. “I ask that members keep their comments on topic and relative to the motion at hand. ... We will not attack or question the motive of other members, and we will speak to each other in a respectful manner.” He said he pulled the guidance from Sitka General Code.
Eisenbeisz encouraged fellow members to have goals for what they want to accomplish to “move the city forward” and “work in partnership” with city staff.
“The way we treat staff can have a profound effect on morale and working conditions, especially for department heads,” he said.
Old Business
Items taken up in the first part of the meeting were voted on by Paxton, Wein, Eisenbeisz, Valorie Nelson, Kevin Mosher, Kevin Knox and Thor Christianson.
They included approval of a new city seal design, changes in vehicle registration requirements, and funds for harbor restroom improvements.
The seal re-design process was open to all, and entries were reviewed by commissions, the public and the Assembly, with design improvement suggestions given. The artists’ names were kept confidential until the final design was approved Tuesday night by the Assembly.
Aaron Traz Hill. (Photo Provided)
The new city seal. (Photo provided)
The design selected was by freelance artist Aaron Traz Hill. Hill, 30, is a 2008 graduate of Sitka High School, currently living in Idabel, Oklahoma. He and his family were here in the spring visiting his parents, Ron and Sonja Conner, when they told him about the seal contest and suggested he enter.
“I’m glad I did,” he said today. Hill grew up enjoying art, and being creative, in such activities as the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. “I’m glad I could give back to the city.”
The logo features a bear totem design, a fishing boat and buoy, O’Connell Bridge, Mt. Edgecumbe, and a Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter.
The vote was 7-0 on the resolution to adopt the new city seal; and Assembly members and staff gave credit for a smooth process to Planning Director Amy Ainslie.
“It could’ve been a divisive process, but it wasn’t. It brought people together,” Christianson said.
Hill will receive $1,000.
In other business, the out-going Assembly:
- approved spending grant and harbor funds to improve harbor restrooms, and the restroom at Lake and Lincoln streets, to prevent the spread of COVID. The cost of all projects was $597,000, with more than half of the costs covered by grants.
- voted 4-3 to allow for the permanent registration of noncommercial vehicles eight years old or older, and noncommercial trailers. Voting in favor were Knox, Eisenbeisz, Mosher and Christianson; Wein, Paxton and Nelson voted against.
- certified the election results, 7-0.
New Business
The second part of the meeting included a service award to Wein for serving from 2017 to 2020; and for Paxton, for his service as mayor from 2018-2020.
A member of the public, Karen Lucas, said she appreciated Wein’s “lone no” votes, his diligence and research, and his care for the health of the community.
The Assembly gave quick approval of a marijuana cultivation license renewal for Vern’s Wicked Weed. It also appointed Max Rule to the Investment Committee; and Chris Ystad to the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board, with little discussion.
There was considerable debate over whether to appoint Katie Riley or Adam Chinalski to the Sitka Planning Commission.
Assembly members said both were qualified for the position, but expressed their reasons for favoring one candidate over the other. Riley is the policy director for Sitka Conservation Society and Chinalski is a private contractor.
Chinalski said he felt his experience would be an asset, and he wanted to offer his help. Two members of the public spoke in favor of Chinalski, citing his knowledge and practical experience.
Riley read a prepared statement, noting Sitka’s cost of living challenges, her interest in planning issues, her work experience, and her interest in finding “creative” and “practical” solutions to such issues as affordable housing.
Nelson and Mosher voted for Chinalski, with Nelson citing his experience in the building industry, and knowledge of the planning and subdivision code. Mosher agreed that Chinalski’s technical expertise would be an asset.
Knox commented, “Both candidates are qualified,” and that Riley would bring a “fresh perspective” to the panel. Himschoot, in giving the edge to Riley, said, “I feel there’s a lot more room for young people to be participating in our processes in Sitka.”
“I think she brings more of what I’m looking for: a planning commission that ... has a broader scope, than looking at variances, and that kind of thing,” Himschoot said.
“We can’t go wrong (with either choice),” Christianson said, before casting his vote for Riley. The vote was 5 for Riley (Knox, Himschoot, Eisenbeisz, Duncan, Christianson), and 2 for Chinalski (Nelson, Mosher).
In other business, the Assembly at the end of the meeting elected Thor Christianson as deputy mayor and Valorie Nelson as vice deputy mayor.
A few other items - deciding on a haulout strategy, and approval of an expenditure for the Green Lake hydro rehabilitation project - will be covered in a later edition of the Sentinel.
