Daily Sitka Sentinel

Resignation, Fund Transfers On Assembly Agenda

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

Acceptance of Rebecca Himschoot’s resignation is on the agenda of Tuesday’s Assembly meeting, setting the stage for another appointment to fill the vacancy until next October’s municipal election.

Also on the agenda are approval of several transfers among city’s departmental funds for two major infrastructure projects: the Gary Paxton Industrial Park boat haulout and construction of a seaplane base on Japonski Island.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.

The October 2022 Revised “Full Build-Out” concept plan for a float plane facility is shown. The project is estimated to cost $34 million with $2.1 million coming from the city. (Image from PND Engineers)

The unofficial count of the Nov. 8 general election shows Himschoot with more than the 58 percent of the vote for House District 2 seat in the Legislature, but the results won’t be official until the Nov. 23 final ballot count.

“Effective Nov. 24 and pending the certification of the recent election for state House on November 23, I am resigning my seat on the Sitka Assembly,” Himschoot said in her resignation letter. She has one year left on her Assembly term.

“While I understand that I will not have a vote in how to fill the seat left by my resignation, I hope the Assembly will follow a letter of interest process,” she wrote. “As we have seen following Dave Miller’s resignation, this process allows a number of Sitkans to apply for the seat.”

She said today that she would be happy to talk with anyone interested or needing information on the position. She said she will be in Sitka until December 26. Members of the next session of the Legislature will be sworn in on Jan. 17.

When Dave Miller resigned for health reasons on October 11, the Assembly asked for letters of interest and selected Sitka High teacher Tim Pike, to fill the position.

The Assembly will consider on final reading the ordinance transferring $2.1 million in matching funds for the seaplane base project from the general fund to the harbor fund.

The matching funds will help cover the cost of acquiring the land needed for the seaplane base, and to proceed forward with the “full buildout concept.” The federal grant is expected to cover $34 million – 93.75 percent – of the cost of the project.

Also on the agenda is final reading of the transfer of $8.18 million from the Sitka Permanent Fund into the GPIP capital project fund for a haulout and shipyard at the industrial park.

The item passed on first reading October 25 and will up for final reading on Tuesday.
Voters in the October 4 election overwhelmingly approved dedicating the funds from the sale of the old hospital properties toward a haulout and shipyard.

Other items include proclamation honoring the late Mike Motti, permits at Centennial Hall, a liquor license renewal and city participation at the SeaTrade Cruise Global event.