During their regular meeting Tuesday night, the Sitka Assembly approved – on first reading – a dedicated fund for student activity travel using marijuana fees. See ordinance here: Ord 2016-39
The ordinance, co-sponsored by Assemblyman Steven Eisenbeisz and Deputy Mayor Matthew Hunter, proposes depositing all money generated from marijuana licensing fees into a specific fund for student travel. Depending on how Sitka’s marijuana industry evolves, Eisenbeisz believes this could generate $8000 to $10,000 a year for activity travel sponsored by the Sitka School District.
This year, Sitka High School received roughly $132,000 for student activities from the city. The local contribution has been fairly stable, but with more teams and clubs flying to meets, the need is greater.
Superintendent Mary Wegner appreciates the Assembly’s work.
“Activities and athletics are a great antidote to smoking marijuana. When you’re involved with activities, you don’t want to. So it is a very interesting and novel approach, but I appreciate the [Assembly’s] creativity in keeping the students first and foremost in their minds and in their actions,” Wegner said.
The Assembly also decided – on first reading – to move $250,000 from the general fund into a committed fund balance for landslide mitigation. This includes legal, geotechnical, and other costs anticipated by the city.
Specifically, the city wants to proceed with geotechnical mapping around Keet Goshi Heen Elementary School, which has been identified as a moderate risk area. City Administrator Mark Gorman said some of the money could also be used for legal fees related to the Kramer Avenue landslide.
“We have two suits that have been filed against the city, related to the landslide. These came in about six weeks ago. We are working with council – David Bruce, who you met with several times – and he’s given us his best case scenario as to what the expenses are going to be this year. And it includes geotechnical work,” Gorman said.
Bruce, an attorney based in Seattle, has been working with the city since November. Gorman also hopes the city’s insurance will kick in to help with legal fees.
In other business, Sitka Community Hospital took a major step toward paying down its line of credit, which the Assembly increased two years ago to resolve the hospital’s cash crisis. The hospital is in a much better financial position now, with 81 days of cash on hand. And Tuesday night (09-27-16), they presented the Assembly with a check for $463,000 towards that line of credit.
“That will bring us down where we’ll owe slightly less than $1 million dollars,” said hospital CEO Rob Allen. We’re also set up so that from this month forward, we’ll be making monthly payments on the line of credit.
ECG Consulting is currently looking at ways for Sitka Community Hospital and SEARHC to integrate operations. Allen says the hospitals will hold a work session with the Assembly in November to discuss the findings.
During his report, City Administrator Mark said that construction on Jeff Davis Street may take longer than anticipated due to issues with the old sewer main.
The Assembly’s next meeting will take place on October 11th in their new chambers at Harrigan Centennial Hall. During that meeting, the current Assembly will resolve old business and then change hands, welcoming a mayor and either one or two new Assembly members.