The Sitka Assembly is taking next steps to hire a new city administrator. At its regular meeting Tuesday, assembly member Aaron Bean made the motion to post the position in the Daily Sitka Sentinel, the state ALEXsys system, and to the Alaska Municipal League. Bean said he wanted to get the ball rolling on the hire, and he wanted to avoid using a hiring service.
“These are people that are keeping an eye out. They’re interested- they know that the position is open and they’re likely to apply. This isn’t a soliciting firm that we’re paying to go out and throw an algorithmic email out to everyone who has ever signed up for their service,” he said. “I don’t want to see that- I think we’re going to drag this thing out much too long if we go that route.”
But some assembly members wanted to take more time with the process- Kevin Knox said he wanted to wait until the city hired an HR director, a position that has been vacant since May.
“The HR director is a key person or key position within hiring at this level as a conduit to be able to bring applications in and also do some of the vetting,” Knox said. “I would hesitate on moving forward too quickly.”
And mayor Gary Paxton said the assembly had just begun to reestablish trust with city staff. With other issues at the forefront of his mind, like the state budget and Paxton said he wanted the assembly to take its time.
“If anybody thinks we have trust levels in the community and between our staff, no. They’re smoking dope,” Paxton said. “We don’t. We just don’t.”
The body voted 4-3 in favor of posting the advertisement, with Knox, Paxton and Kevin Mosher opposed.
The assembly also updated floodplain regulations in the city code. FEMA will adopt a new Flood Insurance Rate map on August 1. In order to remain compliant with the National Floodplain Insurance Program, the city has to change its regulations. Just over 100 structures currently shown in flood hazard areas will be removed and over 100 will be added, which could impact some local businesses and homeowners.
Sitka’s participation in the National Floodplain Insurance Program is voluntary, but Assembly member Valorie Nelson said “not really.” Opting out of the program would make some federal loans and grants unavailable, and even some disaster relief.
“In our packet we received the copies of the two, somewhat threatening letters from FEMA that I didn’t appreciate,” Nelson said. “But I do feel like we kind of have a gun to our head right now in that if we don’t approve it we can’t get federal disaster funding. There are so many ramifications for not voting yes.”
The assembly voted unanimously to update the city’s floodplain regulations.
Find more information on the FEMA updates, including an interactive map provided by the city Public Works Department, to see if your property will be affected.
The assembly also decided to wait on a decision to transfer the remaining balance from the Southeast Economic Development Fund to the Sitka Permanent Fund. Mike Reif who heads the city’s investment committee, said the fund balance was dwindling at just over 2 million dollars, and the city could stand to turn around $150,000 per year if they invested it in the permanent fund.
During public comment, Evy Kinnear, who owns the Fortress of the Bear, said when they were getting started they received a loan from the fund. She worried that draining the fund would limit opportunities for other Sitkans trying to start businesses.
“It just feels like taking that opportunity away from other businesses that could come up with an idea that have no where else to go in this city to get money,” she said.
Ultimately the assembly decided to hold off on moving the fund balance into the permanent fund.
In other business…
- The assembly unanimously approved recommendations from the Assembly “Position” subcommittee to fill several positions.
- It unanimously approved grant applications to be submitted to the state Municipal Harbor Facility Grant program- $1.5 million electrical work at Eliason Harbor and over $200,000 for work on Thomsen Harbor
- It unanimously voted to support of grant applications for the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society, St. Peter’s By the Sea Episcopal Church and the Sitka Woman’s Club- each organization submitted an application for Historic Preservation Grants which, if won, the city would receive and then disperse
- It approved license renewal applications for VanGreens, a marijuana cultivation facility, and a retail marijuana store license for Weed Dudes.
- The body heard a report from Chief Administrative Officer Jay Sweeney on the status of the Sitka Community Hospital/SEARHC merger.
- The body heard a report from Garry White, director of the Gary Paxton Industrial Park, on the interest in building a vessel haul out at the park.
- It recognized U.S. Coast Guard Day.
Find more coverage of the Tuesday (7/24/19) Sitka assembly meeting here.
Visit the CBS website to watch the meeting, in full
