Sitka’s local “hunker down” order is set to expire today (5/12/20). And when the Sitka Assembly meets tonight, it will consider rescinding an ordinance that requires everyone traveling to Sitka to quarantine for 14 days and requires businesses bringing workers into Sitka to provide plans to the city.
The assembly is expected to sign off on next year’s budget tonight. There are rate increases across the board for the enterprise funds. If the budget passes, electric, water and wastewater will see two percent increases. Harbor fees and solid waste rates will be increased by over five percent, with a two percent rate increase at the transfer station.
Assembly members will also discuss how they want to spend federal CARES Act Funding. At its last meeting, City Administrator John Leach said the city would be receiving over $3.6 million in disaster relief funding from the federal government in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
In other business, the assembly will consider entering into final contract negotiations with a developer to construct, maintain, and operate a marine haul out and boatyard at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park
The Sitka Assembly meets tonight at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall. The meeting is open to the public, although the city is still encouraging social distancing. Raven News will broadcast the meeting live, following Alaska News Nightly.
Editor’s note: In a version of this story that aired on KCAW this morning (5-12-20), the list of rate increases did not include harbors, which are set to increase by over 5 percent if the budget passes. Read previous coverage of the city’s FY21 budget process here.
