04/19/1988 Joint Work SessionKodiak Island Borough
ASSEMBLY /COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION NOTES
April 19, 1988
7:30 p.m. - Borough Conference Room
Present: Lonnie White
Jack McFarland
Wayne Stevens
Staff: Linda Freed, Acting Mayor
Absent: Alan Austerman
and, from the city of Kodiak:
Bob Brodie, Presiding
Al Cratty
Joe Perrozzi
Noreen Thompson
Ken Gregg
Tom Merriman
Gaye Vaughan, Clerk
Ann Barker
Chris Blackburn
Lou lani
Jim Ramagalia
Staff: Herman Beukers, Manager Marcella Dalke, Clerk
John Sullivan, Building Inspector
TRANSIENT WORK FORCE CAMPGROUND Herman Beukers reported that
his crew his currently working on the foundation and the rest rooms. The
main problem is sewage and the site will probably end up with a septic
system. There is a sewage system for the old bunkhouse, but it will not
handle the load from the campground. The city will apply for the permit
from DEC. There will be pads for 60 tents and a trail will lead to Sandy
Beach. The target date for completion is the end of May. The additional
cost for the septic system is unknown.
CITY /BOROUGH BUILDING CODE CHANGES John Sullivan and Linda
Freed reviewed the changes necessary to the borough code for them to
conform with the city's. It was suggested that the fee schedule be
adopted by resolution rather than ordinance. There was a discussion
about the deletion of the use of ungraded local spruce for construction of
dwellings and accessory buildings. The assembly will review the changes
at a later work session.
SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS Approximately 25 people were in
attendance regarding the proposed shelter.
Donna Wittman, member of the board, noted that the packet presented
to the assembly and council answered questions raised at previous joint
work sessions. She asked that the commitment of $25,000 from each body,
land to build on, and $1400 /month for utilities and insurance continue.
Donna Ruch, caretaker at Community Baptist Church, reported that
they provided shelter for 14 people in May and June of 1985; in 1987, that
number rose to 99 for the year; and, thus far this year, there have been
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Assembly /Council Work Session Notes
April 19, 1988
74 people. She sees an urgent need and felt a new building would be
great, but there needs to be something immediately. They can only allow
six to eight people to stay at the church per night, although they have
had eleven the past three nights and turned more away. She pointed out
that the church has changed its focus to those people from alcohol and
substance abuse programs and in the future will turn others away.
John Isenhower, Olive Tree Manager, stated that the Olive Tree is a
Christian Home for men. They have given shelter to 60 men in the past
two years and have had to turn away that many or more. He noted that
most of the men only need temporary support before they get on their
feet. Those receiving help have included an electronics technician, a
Sealand crewman who missed his ship, a commercial fisherman released
without pay, and a professional cook who was later convicted of poaching
deer for survival. These people have come from the lower 48, Europe,
South America and Asia and some have come directly from jail or the
hospital with no other place to go. Mr. Isenhower noted that the homeless
was not a great problem until the canneries stated year -round processing
and the bottomfish industry grew.
Brian Conners, correction officer at city jail, reported that the first
175 of 289 arrests thus far this year have included 47 homeless. They
have been put in jail because they refuse to leave a bar at closing, steal
food, etc. One was a felon. He noted that these are people of need and
a shelter would eliminate the jail as a place to go. He has helped these
people with their unemployment paperwork, medicaid forms, and
employment applications. The state currently reimburses the city $70 per
day per inmate.
Judy Fulp noted that Alaska has had a homeless problem since
gold rush days and that Alaska still has a smell of money to outsiders.
Anne Cusick stated that the shelter is needed before more deaths of
the homeless occur. She told of a man who frequented the library and
was sleeping under the dock. He was eventually found dead in the
harbor.
Homer Dean Loomis noted that there are some street people who want
to be street people, but there are others who cannot find work but want
to stay in Kodiak and become a part of the community.
Larry Amouk, Salvation Army, supported Br. Eaton and the homeless
shelter. He noted that the Salvation Army now supervises the community
food bank and they are currently providing 126 bags of groceries to needy
people. As a resident of Aleutian homes, he supported the proposed
location of the shelter behind the jail.
Bob Eaton, of the Brother Francis shelter in Anchorage, commended
the assembled group for what they are doing. He noted that every
community has homeless. There were about 20 deaths in Anchorage before
the shelter opened. He stated that 95% of the 200 people per night are
not intoxicated, only seeking a place out of the weather. He added that
Kodiak has those who need and those who need to give and we need to get
these street and straight people together.
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Assembly /Council Work Session Notes
April 19, 1988
Tony Durr stated the board is requesting $1400 per month for the
shelter. He added that they will provide the assembly and council with a
six month accounting of where money is going.
A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the $1400 per month and how long
they expect to receive it, and whether the insurance could be picked up
by the Catholic community services as they do in Anchorage. It was
pointed out that the Municipality of Anchorage owns the building the
shelter is in and provides electricity, water /sewer and garbage pick up.
Councilman Ramagalia wants to keep the help and volunteers coming from
the community for this project and not dropped because government is
helping. Others present felt the commitment is there from churches and
other groups to continue. Assemblyman White noted that this is the price
we pay for our community to succeed.
The board is to prepare a list of items to bring back to the assembly and
council.
FERRY SERVICE Linda Freed provided the group with a copy of the
proposed spring and fall schedule for the Tustemena noting it is scheduled
to spend every weekend docked in Seward. She asked those present to
review the schedule and get back to her. She serves on the state ferry
system task force.
MAYORS' CONFERENCE City Mayor Brodie stated he would be in Juneau
later in the week for the Mayors' Conference and would be talking with
Commissioner Hickey regarding Mill Bay Road, the breakwater, and FITC.
He said the suggestion has come up that the building be built by the city
and /or borough and leased to the university.
The city representatives left the meeting and the assembly went on to
discuss the following:
SCHOOL BUDGET The assembly members present discussed Resolution
No. 88 -25 -R which determines local source funding for schools.
MAYORS' CONFERENCE Presiding Officer White indicated he would like to
accompany Mayor Brodie to Juneau since Mayor Selby would not be
attending. The assembly members present believed it to be a good idea.
INDUSTRIAL LAND At the request of Lonnie White, Resolution
No. 88 -31 -R was added to the April 21 agenda to remove the industrial
land from over - the - counter sales. The assembly has indicated for several
months that they wish to see this land rezoned. Ms. Freed relayed Mayor
Selby's sentiment that the removal be done administratively, but the
assembly favored a resolution since a previous resolution (Resolution
No. 88 -63 -R) put it up for over - the - counter sale.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST Gaye Vaughan asked the assembly if they would
be interested in placing the question of opting out of the state conflict of
interest law on the fall ballot. She pointed out that APOC currently does
not have adequate funding for staff to enforce it on a municipal level and
that Kodiak has late filers every year. The assembly indicated that they
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Assembly /Council Work Session Notes
April 19, 1988
were not in favor of it being on the ballot but would be receptive to a
local enforcement ordinance.
IIMC The assembly members present granted permission for the borough
clerk to attend the annual conference of the International Institute of
Municipal Clerks to be held May 21 -27 in Spokane, Washington.
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