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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 1 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. 2 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 3 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. 4