Cape Town, South Africa, is a major port city of 3.75 million people. Unlike Sitka’s past contracts, Greengold has place to put large volumes of water: Directly into Cape Town’s storage system. (Creative Commons photo/Andrew Massyn)

The recent drought in South Africa has presented a unique business opportunity for Sitka. The local Assembly will consider a bulk water offer when it meets in regular session tonight (03-13-18).

Greengold Distributors (PTY) LTD wants to export Sitka’s water in bulk to Cape Town. A draft water purchase agreement calls for Green Gold to ship 50 million gallons of water within a 6 month period at a price of 1 cent per gallon. The Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board, which manages Sitka’s raw water supply, is recommending the Assembly approve the contract.

See Greengold’s Purchase Agreement: Green Gold Purchase Agreement

See the Assembly’s meeting agenda for tonight here: 180313_agenda

The Assembly has received offers to export Sitka’s water since 1996 and held purchase agreements since 2009. Not a drop has shipped yet, but the city has received revenue in exclusive water rights. Green Gold states in their business plan they’ll deliver water to the Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, which has facilities to store and process shipments.

The Gary Paxton Industrial Park board is also recommending the Assembly create a port tariff for the multi-purpose dock. Maritime users would be charged for using to dock and the money would go towards maintaining it.

The Assembly will also consider cutting a garbage route. The 4×4 route services 97 Sitkans on specialty roads. These roads are not maintained by the city and too dangerous for trucks to traverse. Sitka’s past contractor, Alaska Pacific Environmental Services, picked up garbage along this route at no additional charge. The new contractor, Alaska Waste, wants to charge the city over $71,500 to continue. The City is recommending the Assembly move to discontinue the route to save money.

In other budget news, the Assembly will also consider appropriating an additional $290,000 dollars to fix the O’Connell Bridge Lightering Float in 2019. The float, a popular moorage spot for yacht customers, was damaged in a storm last year.

The Assembly previously appropriated $280,000 for a marketing research study (Cost Study and Marketing Research Results and Recommendations), which concluded that moorage rates at the float could be considerably raised.

In old business, the Sitka Assembly will revisit a conversation from last meeting. Assembly member Aaron Bean wants to reconsider their vote in support of a national carbon fee and dividend policy. This initiative, led by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, seeks to put a federal price on carbon-based fuels.

The Assembly will also give first reading to a utility subsidization program, which would provide a monthly utility rebate low-income households that qualify. Co-sponsors, Bob Potrzuski and Kevin Knox, have revised the ordinance (Motion Memo and Ord 2018-04S) to include Sitka’s liveaboards.

The Assembly will enter executive session twice tonight. Earlier in the meeting, they’ll review a liquor license request from JL Sitka, doing business as the Westmark Hotel, that must satisfy a note or payment plan to be approved. At the end of the meeting, they’ll go behind closed doors to discuss a financial matter with Baranof Island Brewing Company.

Raven News will join the meeting live in progress at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall with KCAW Reporter Emily Kwong, immediately following Alaska News Nightly.