Ketchikan Gateway Borough - Regular Assembly Meeting September 21, 2026

Streaming. We ready? All right, ready. All right, welcome to the September 21st, 2026 regular assembly meeting. It is now called to order.

Will Mr. Thompson please let us in the Pledge to a Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Please call the roll.

Arnson, present. Bowling, here. Dial, here. Mattson, here. Ortez, here.

Palmer, here. Thompson, aye. All present, one via WebEx, Your Honor. All right, thank you. Before we get to ceremonial matters, I would ask the Assembly to reshuffle the agenda, restructure the agenda for 9A to go after citizen comments, as that is why everyone is here, and The makers of the other motion, 8B, do you guys want that after 9A, after citizen comments as well?

If there's any objection to that. It can stay where it's at. Is that okay? I think 8B can stay where it is. We don't have a need to move that up unless it's the will of the assembly.

Okay. Is it okay with that structure? Mr. Dial, are you okay with that? Moving 9A after citizen comments?

Uh, no concerns from me, Your Honor. Okay, thank you. Okay, uh, we— there is no ceremonial matters, so that leads us to citizen comments. And before we start, will be a strict 3-minute policy since everyone is here for the same agenda item. We are all in unity, uh, that this person should be censored.

So you have 3 minutes, uh, to, uh, speak, and we will hold you to that when you come to the podium. So again, 3 minutes. All right, first we have Tim Montgomery. Please come to the podium.

Good evening, my name is Tim Montgomery and I live at 10617 Polk Road. I'm here tonight to once more encourage the assembly to take up the issue of funding for extracurricular activity.

Once more, I want to express my ongoing support for this funding because I know how important these programs are to our youth. Our youth are our future, and keeping them engaged in these activities is extremely important to keep them out of trouble.

Participants in these programs not only show an increase in their GPA but also their graduation rates.

Participation through these activities build lifelong values and traits such as how to win and lose gracefully and with dignity. The importance of proper communication and that actions have consequences. How to build peer-to-peer relationships and have respect not only for their school, but for our community and for authority. This list is much longer, but I'm not going to name them all.

These traits, these are all traits that I think each of you have. And lastly, it also teaches them it's okay not to be my best today, but I can be the best tomorrow.

So I ask this assembly again to consider working to fund these activities and be your best today. Thank you. Thank you.

If you could refrain from clapping, that way we can go through this list much quicker. Next we have Andy Bernstein.

Andy Bernstein?

Uh, yeah, if we could line up after Andy, we have Joe Williams and Lauren Monhoven. Thank you. Go ahead. Yep. Thank you.

I'll try to not be redundant. I agree with everything Mr. Montgomery just said. Again, thank you for doing what you guys do. Thank you for your constant support, especially in the realm of activities and infrastructure for activities that you've done for this community. That being said, I'm here to double down on the request that you help us fund the activities for these kids.

Been a baseball coach for about 20 plus years. I've also finished a career, 25-plus years, where I, I've just come to realize that adults spend a good amount of their time ruining things for kids, and I don't want that to be a situation where adults made decisions and maybe even petty differences get in between finding solutions to the problems that now are being passed down to kids. The experiences that we are in charge of providing kids as coaches, along with all of the things that Mr. Montgomery said, teach these kids work ethic and how that and hard work should give you the benefit of achieving something through merit. And, and that is an important skill I think kids need to see. Things shouldn't be given to you.

Good things should happen if you work hard. And we as adults, I think at this point there is a deficit of money that obviously wasn't anything that the kids brought on themselves. Uh, the coaches, the district administrators, we have bills and we pay them every year. And so I don't know why we would punish kids. I coached through COVID.

I am seeing what's kind of set up to look like a very, a parallel to that time where just some horrible circumstances are going to change kids' experiences, especially in the twilight and the peak of their high school activities for the worse and negative experiences that they will remember forever because of things that they missed out on because, because adults let them down. And that is something I think we can prevent, and I hope you guys help us do that. Thank you. All right, thank you for your comments.

After Lauren, we have Sophia and Noah Robbins, if they can line up.

My name is Joe Williams Jr. I'm a Saknin, and I'm here to address the comments that was made by Darlene Severson. Thank you, Assembly members. Thank you, Your Honor, for making this available to us. Honorable elders that are here with us tonight, I appreciate your presence, and in the audience and staff members also, I appreciate your presence.

Most unfortunate that I'm having to be here today, and I don't take great pride and joy in doing so, but the comments that are made I just can't overcome. And that is, how much more will white people have to pay for KRC in this community?

Quite frankly, I'm totally shocked by such remarks, singling out sovereign tribal governments and portraying Native people as a burden in our own homeland. Racism does not become less harmful because someone admits that the words are not nice before they're saying them. Quite frankly, I thought that we were well past that. Because I grew up in a time when it was very, very much in my face. I'm very pleased with Ketchikan Borough Mayor's comments as well as Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce President Peterson, Tribal President for Kankenahida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the Mayor of Saxon, Grand President of Alaska Native Brotherhood, the City Mayor of Ketchikan.

Their comments, I want you to know that I echo them and support them. As former mayor of Ketchikan Gateway Borough and the former mayor of the city of Saxman, now tribal president, I want you to know that I stand alongside Ketchikan Indian community. I stand and support their position of the future that they have in mind in the development of our community. Foolish comments are made, but made like Miss Darlene has made at a public forum is done out of ignorance. And please know, ladies and gentlemen, she's still making them.

In our tribal— in our Tlingit language, we would comment and say, "Eeshan," which means "poor thing." "Doo," shame on you. Ms. Darlene, after you've heard from the 7 emails that you so stand on, about what KIC is doing or not doing. You need to do your homework and share the findings that you have with the 7 email folks that have sent to you and educate them on your findings. Here's some of the things that you need to, that you need to know. My ancestors have been in this area since time immemorial, which means time of beginning.

We have 3 minutes, sorry. I apologize.

I'm trying to treat everyone fairly. I understand. I understand. And if— I apologize.

If you could just wrap it up on the last sentence. Okay, I will wrap it up with this. Okay, thank you. Ms. Darling, you need to know that KIC has just spent $17 million and a facility to help low-income citizens regardless of authenticity so that they can have a place to sleep, so they can have a place to, to, uh, call home.

Assembly members, I am asking you to take the necessary steps to remove Darlene from her position as commissioner. You have the authority to appoint her, you have the authority to remove her. I'm asking for this to be done as soon as possible.

Thank you. Thank you.

Lauren, next. After Noah Robbins, we have Willard Jackson and Emily Edenshaw. Good evening. My name is Lauren Munhoven. I'm here because I'm extremely concerned about what the loss of activity funding means for our students this year.

I'm heavily involved with K High softball, so I know firsthand what it costs to give these kids a season. Last year, our program had approximately $21,000 available for our coaches and our nearly 30 students— that includes athletes and managers— for conference travel. Regions was covered, and if we had qualified for state, that would have been covered too. This year, the school district is contributing absolutely nothing. Toward conference travel, regions, or state?

Zilch. We are expected to fundraise 100% of those costs on top of fundraising for equipment and uniforms and clinics and everything else that our athletes need. Without reliable conference travel funding, coaches will be forced to decide which kids get to travel based on finances rather than their eligibility or development. I'm going to try not to get emotional here, but this is about much more than softball. We've had a player on our team whose connection to softball was a major reason that she continued coming to school.

For some kids, their team is their motivation to show up, maintain their grades, and stay connected. When we take away support for school athletics, we're taking away part of what it means to be a K High King. Our local businesses already donate an incredible amount for our athletes. Every sport and activity is approaching many of those same businesses over and over asking for help. I can't imagine having to ask another local business owner for more help.

My husband and I built a budget for softball last year, organized fundraisers, reduced expenses wherever possible, staying in churches, staying in schools. We are the thriftiest people you will meet.

When it comes to this, and we finished our season financially in the positive. We are willing to do our part, but fundraising should supplement school athletics, not be the entire funding model. It's putting even more stress on these coaches who already dedicate so much of themselves to their athletes. This is going to force some athletes to drop their activities altogether because their family simply, simply can't afford the $1,500 player fee or $2,000 or whatever it happens to be for that activity in lieu of year-round fundraising. So I've been researching how other Southeast communities fund student activities.

Juneau provides separate municipal funding for school programs including student activities, while Sitka has a dedicated fund supported by marijuana tax revenue. Ketchikan also collects marijuana tax revenue, and borough staff have previously discussed directing that revenue You get—. Thank you. Yeah, I got your comments. Your Honor?

Yep. Could I request, um, if, if the speaker is willing to email us those comments so we can hear the rest of their ideas? Thank you. Did you hear that, Ms. Van Hoven? If you could email that to us, and that goes for anybody too, if you haven't submitted your comments to us, you can send that to our clerk.

Go ahead.

Borough Assembly and members of the community, I am here to support funding activities outside the current cap for education. Just state your name. Sorry. Oh, sorry. I'm Sophia Cook.

Borough Assembly and members of the community, I'm here to support funding activities outside the current cap for education. I'm here to specifically talk about how being involved in music, a K-high activity, has benefited myself and others. Music allows expression and a creative outlet that no other program can provide. Without music and other activities creating opportunity to to express yourself, many kids would become shy, shallow, and lack purpose. I know I would.

It allows a sense of personal achievement. For me personally, events such as Music Fest and Honor Festival allow that achievement to be shown. For the past 3 years, I've scored a superior on my vocal solos. It allowed me to feel fulfilled and honored for my hard work. Without music and school activities in general, I would be lost along with many others, and many you can see standing here today.

Music allowed me to form a support system I would not have otherwise. I would have never met my best friends from Juneau, Wrangell, Matlakatla, let alone be close with any of the students here. It also gives students a reason to attend K High specifically. Many students will not attend K High if activities funding keeps decreasing. Our class sizes are already big enough and kids don't come to the school anymore for the wide range of academic options.

Statistically speaking, music improves brain function and memory. Music has improved math scores across the country by 33% and English scores by 32%. Sports— they promote blood flow to the brain, muscle growth, and sharper focus in class. Activities as a whole build social skills, time management, and boost academic performance. These are all things that K-8 wants for their students.

Who wouldn't want smarter and sharper brains in class? If funding isn't allotted for this quintessential part of school, families will leave. They already have in large numbers. 74 Kids are in our music program, and two-thirds of kids in the high school are in activities. Don't let down over 300 kids.

Activities are what kids go to K High for. The mistakes of the large deficit in our school district and the deficit of the previous years must have consequences. We, the students, we did not make these mistakes. But now we have to bear the weight of the consequences of the actions of the adults who have let us down. I urge you to please consider funding activities outside of the cap so we don't lose more than we already have.

Thank you. Thank you for your comments.

Good evening. My name is Noah Robbins. I'm the senior class president at K High as well as involved in many K High activities and sports. Today I'm here to represent the Ketchikan soccer team. I think nearly everyone in this room today can agree that sports and activities are imperative to our school.

In my experiences, both are predominantly components of why I go to and enjoy being a student at Ketchikan High School. As a freshman, before the first day of school, my cousin, our school's last SBA president, Brayden Young, said to me, the way to find your place in high school is through activities. That year I decided to take that advice, and by my sophomore year I had joined numerous clubs and sports. As I look back, I accredit those activities and sports to my positive high school experience. Without funding to sports and activities, it is my concern that others will struggle to find their place in our school.

This issue is not sanctioned solely to our school. It also affects our community. Fundraising may not seem like a large burden to businesses and locals now, but without funding these extracurriculars, Ketchikan will be overwhelmed with teams and clubs asking for support. I believe that just because it is a problem, it does not mean that we should convey this burden into the hands of Ketchikan's population. In relation to my first point, I believe that sports are not only vital to integrating students into K-12, I believe that it is also a key factor on why students choose to be at school.

It is my concern that without adequate activities, students will struggle to stay engaged in school leading to a surge in dropout rates and a shift from in-person classes to students taking theirs online. This year, our soccer team had the best run at the state title that a Ketchikan soccer team has ever had. Without funding, we would have been nowhere near ready to go as far, work as hard, and become the team that we were. As a student, I would much rather enjoy these activities to their fullest than be stripped of the privilege as a compensation of an issue that has already plagued our school so much. If we are unable to have most of our staff and many of our classes and electives, our school should at least receive support for what makes school a place students want to be.

With that, I strongly advocate for the reinstatement of funding to sports and activities, not simply because they are what I enjoy, but because they are what brings students together and makes them feel seen and involves our community with our school. Thank you. Thank you for your comments.

Mr. Jackson, remember you have 3 minutes.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Council. My name is Willard Jackson. I live at 332 Beuren.

I am, uh, I'm the oldest Tekwiti bear in Ketchikan. Our home is here. I was raised by my dad, Milton Jackson. And my mother Esther Shea, who taught in the school system bilingual Tlingit language.

My parents both went to boarding school and they really had a hard time.

I'm a product of that boarding school. I struggled being raised in Ketchikan.

As we got on the bus to go to school, the main school, words, words that were said on that bus, that bus went all the way out to Herring Cove to pick those up out there and come back. We were the last ones to get on that bus. And not one of my Placaw brothers and sisters, white brothers and sisters, would let us sit down on that bus. That's just the way it was then.

I've come a long ways in that process of what's right and wrong anymore.

Words that flow from one's tongue is very piercing sometimes, and I chose not to go down that road anymore.

I appreciate what I read on the internet the other night, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate that.

All my boys are grown up, but they addressed it to me, and all I could tell them was, you know, some of the best things you can do as a human being I said, watch what comes from this right here, because it starts right here. And I'm glad I read what I read.

My grandmother, Alice Harris, lived in Saxman. She lived to be 96. She was one of the last, very last Tikwiti Brown Bear, women have a tattoo, and she had a complete tattoo on her body of a bear, but all you could see was what was on her forearms.

When we went to school and she was raising us, she always washed our— she always washed our t-shirts and shorts, made sure we had clean clothes on. Before we presented ourselves at school.

I've got some really good friends from that time when I remember the small man.

If you could just wrap up your time, we're at 3 minutes now. I really thank you for your remarks. I appreciate this board and what you do is correct. Thank you very much. Thank you so much for your comments.

After Emily, we have Sophia Schultz and Winter Lauriton.

You have 3 minutes. Thank you, honorable elders, Mayor O'Dos, and members of the assembly, and everyone online. My name is Emily Eden Shaw, and I have the honor of serving as your tribal administrator of KIC. I have prepared remarks, and so I hope that my 3 minutes will start when I start reading them. I want to first go on record and say, um, I wasn't planning on speaking about the activities fee, but I just want to remind this body that, uh, we do have a crisis in our community when it comes to suicide prevention and what we're facing right now as a community.

And I just would encourage you all to really reconsider funding activities. It is suicide prevention, and I just want to go on record and say that we fully support funding activities. So for my prepared remarks, I want to start off by saying, I've been taught by elders that leadership is defined by how we handle the moments when no one is watching, but it is tested by how we respond when the world is listening. Last week, a member of your planning commission asked a question that I will not repeat and opened a door to rhetoric that should have no place in our public discourse. She claimed that 7 people had reached out to her, and I have thought a great deal about those conversations because every single one of those was an opportunity an opportunity to correct misinformation, provide facts, and say, that's not how we speak about our neighbors.

Then those words entered a public meeting. That was another opportunity. But instead of being corrected, they were handed a microphone. And no one spoke up. That silence matters.

Silence in the face of, of, of, excuse me, Prejudice is an endorsement. As of today, the commissioner has not reached out to KIC, apologized, or resigned. I do want to go on record by saying thank you to the mayor for your comments. However, this leaves us with a question that goes far deeper than a single comment. When KIC comes before local government, are we entering a room built on mutual respect?

Are we walking into a room where we must brace for bias? KIC has shown up. You all know this. We have listened, we have worked in good faith, and we have built partnerships. But trust is not a static monument.

It is a living relationship, and I should not have to wonder whether sending a staff member into a room, that means sending them somewhere where they be— where they may be scoffed at rather than respected. I should not have to look at a pattern of votes involving our tribe and wonder whether the outcome would have been different if the applicant were not KIC. So this is about trust, and trust cannot be repaired by looking the other way. It requires action, and yes, it requires courage. You all serve the people of this borough, and I honor that service, but I'm here to remind you today that we are those people too.

And I'm not going to stand here and read a balance sheet of how many lives KIC houses, how many people we employ, or the millions we invest to prove that we belong. Because dignity is not a transaction. Fairness is not an asset we purchase through economic impact statements. This is our city. This is our borough, and this is our home.

For those reasons, KIC is calling for the commissioner to resign, but the resignation should not be where this ends. Let it be where something begins. Words are not enough to rebuild shattered trust. From our most beloved elders to our youngest children, our people are waiting to see what we do next. We have a shared responsibility to step up and to meet this moment with action.

I am calling on our tribal and local governments, the borough, the city of Saxman, the organized village of Saxman, and the city of Ketchikan to journey with KIC and to make 7 commitments together. Can I read the 7 and then I'll end? Yes. Build a government-to-government leadership table. 2, Establish meaningful government-to-government consultation.

3, I'd like you to— I'd like us to educate public officials and staff about tribal sovereignty, Alaska Native history, ethics, and bias. 4, Strengthen standards of conduct and accountability. 5, Strengthen fair process and recusal standards. 6, Create opportunities for community education and healing. And 7, make a shared commitment to the generations who will inherit this community.

I want you all to know that KIC is here and we are ready to partner and we are ready to build the future with you. Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments.

Sophia.

After Winter, we have Emma House and Grant Echo Hawk. Good evening, everyone. My name is Sophia Schultz and I am a sophomore of Ketchikan High School. I play volleyball, basketball, and manage the softball team. Today I would like to talk to you about school athletics.

Imagine being a student who works hard in school, participates in a sport, goes to practices almost every day, and represents your school. Now imagine being told that in order to compete and participate, your team has to raise thousands of dollars just for the basic costs of playing. This is our reality. School sports are about much more than winning games. They give students an opportunity to be part of a team, make friendships, stay active, and learn important life skills.

As well as commitment. Sports can also give students something to look forward to. Being part of a team is one of the most meaningful parts of the high school experiment— experience. However, participating in school events and activities can become difficult when teams are expected to raise thousands of dollars.

Sorry. Families may spend countless hours selling products, organizing events, and asking for donations. And reaching out to businesses. Fundraising can take time away from school practices as well as family life. It also creates an extra stress for students who have busy schedules already.

It also impacts local businesses heavily. It's not realistic to ask the same businesses over and over to support so many activities, organizations, and clubs.

It can become a significant financial burden to them, and they should not be responsible for lack of school funding. It doesn't mean fundraising is bad. It shows that— it shows students that their achievements and what they value is valuable to the community. We shouldn't— we should not wait for a team to not be able to travel, a student that cannot afford to participate.

Our families deserve less financial pressure. We shouldn't decide— we shouldn't decide that this is important when someone can't afford it, we should decide it right now. Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments.

Winter. Good evening. My name is Winter Lauritan, a senior of Ketchikan High School, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight. I want to talk about something that goes far beyond sports or extracurricular activities. I want to talk about our students, their opportunities, and what we are willing to invest in their education.

Right now, too much of the responsibility for funding these programs may fall on families, coaches, and local businesses. But families and coaches already give an incredible amount of their time and energy. We cannot assume they always have the extra time, money, or resources to constantly organize fundraisers just to keep our program going. And our local businesses should not be expected to make up for financial mismanagement or gaps in our system. These businesses are valuable members of our community, and many already give generously.

But donations should be, should be an opportunity to support our students and not an obligation to keep programs afloat. Because when you invest in sports, you invest in our students. You invest in the student who learns how to be a leader. You invest in the student who finds a sense of belonging. You invest in the student who learns discipline, teamwork, responsibility, and perseverance.

And ultimately, you are investing in their education, supporting them to show up to school, supporting them to keep their grades up. Some of these teams are places where they find a family. Some of these kids don't go home to somebody who is there to support them every single day. Some of these kids have to come to— when they come to practice, this is where they find their belonging. This is who supports them.

Supports them. This is what keeps them afloat in school, in life. Thank you. Thank you so much for your comment, Your Honor. Yep, it's, um, I just would like to respectfully again ask for the audience to not clap.

Um, for, for me, it makes it so that if somebody has a differing opinion, they may not feel comfortable coming to the podium and giving their perspective, and that's my concern. Okay. Thank you. If you guys could please refrain from clapping. Thank you.

Emma House, next. After Grant Alcohockstar, we have Hillary Reifenberg and Kelly Smith. Hi, my name is Emma House, and I am currently a junior at K High. I am also the co-captain of the varsity NOSB team. For anyone who is unfamiliar, NOSB is an academic competition centered around ocean sciences.

However, NOSB is so much more than that. Nosb is a place where people come to learn and travel and explore the world around them. Nosb is a place where kids can come and be themselves. Nosb is where I met some of my really good friends and where I get to goof off while also competing in a really fun national competition. What I'm asking here today is to not only fund Nosb but fund any and all extracurricular activities.

These activities are what give life to K High. They are a place to learn and exercise and have fun. Defunding these programs is not going to help us in the future. For me personally, one of the only reasons I am excited to go to school every day is because I have after-school activities to go to, specifically NOSB. There have been numerous studies that have shown a correlation between activities and better mental, physical, and emotional health for students.

These activities are also a place for kids to really learn valuable life skills. For example, in NOSB, we do have a research project and presentation as a part of our competition. This teaches kids how to speak in front of big crowds and teaches them how to research and care for the world around us. I know I would not be where I am today without NOSB. Academic activities tend to get sidelined because we don't draw big, loud crowds, but things like NOSB, DDF, and ACDC are just as important as sports.

And I am in no way saying that we need to start defunding the sports to fund us because sports are also incredibly important part of K High. But when students travel, it costs a lot of money and we can't fully fundraise that all on our own. And nobody should have to pay for an activity out of their own pockets. Kids shouldn't have to choose between doing what they love and not having what they need because the school can't fund them. What I'm asking today is for funding for all activities because defunding them could be detrimental to the health of the student body.

Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Next, Mr. Echolot.

Good evening, everybody. Grant Echolot. First, I want to fully support all available funding to extracurricular activities. Personally, I'm exceedingly frustrated that our Institutions of knowledge and learning and extracurricular activities are so important for young people. By my estimation, are constantly nickel and dimed while we have money going in by way of rebates, credits to large corporations who are doing just fine.

The money's there. Find it. Get creative. I'd encourage the body to look at the tax cap again. That's a conversation that I know has been— that's had.

Last I heard about, uh, cursory look is maybe about $1 million. That does not— that does not impact the residents, uh, by and large of, uh, of Ketchikan. It can, um— there are exemptions that can be made to make sure that the residents of Ketchikan aren't having to be subject to the tax cap increase, as well as it certainly does not directly impact our, our businesses, uh, The evidence, as I understand it, disproportionately, overwhelmingly benefits visitors to our island during the tourism season. So just a way, just something to look at. And then, of course, I want to speak about the comments made during the— by the planning commissioner.

I appreciate the words, Mr. Mayor Otis, not only in how prompt you were, but on the sincerity of them. Thank you very much. I think my big takeaway from this, as we've seen bold statements of condemnation all up and down the political spectrum, on these statements is that there is a clear understanding that is undeniable and beyond the shadow of a doubt what discriminatory remarks look like, what they look like when they're racially biased. There is no confusion. There is no confusion.

We all know it when we see it. We all know when we hear it. And if that means that there's no confusion, there never has been. And there's been a lot of awful things said about a lot of awful people. And I think we need to have a conversation about what's going on in our country.

And there's a broad conversation to have, but one thing I'm really concerned about is how this language is being introduced to drive policy. And the policies that I'm most concerned about right now is voter suppression, because that will disproportionately impact our Native communities. And we need to make sure that our voice is always heard. So what I'm asking of this body, of course, to do what you can to censure this individual, to look— do what you can to find a mechanism when we have appointed individuals who are not adhering to the values of the, of our community as we'd like them presented, but also to support any legislation that would strengthen voting rights in the state and to stand up against any voter suppression efforts that could infiltrate the state by way of federal legislation or state legislation. So again, thank you for your time.

Get the funding to these kiddos, they deserve it. And they—. And thank you again for your comments, Mayor. Yes, thank you so much for your comments. Next we have Hillary.

After Mr. Smith, we have Sid Hartley and Keenan Sanderson. Hi there, I'm Hillary Reifenberg, a parent in your community, and I just want to echo what Emily Edenshaw had said prior, and that as a KIC employee of almost 10 years, I stand behind their cultural values, and I would really appreciate your guys' support in this venture. But I would like to also tie into KIC being a huge support with activities in our community as well. I've got 4 children, and I've got a high schooler, and Lauren's not kidding when she tells you that these fees just come at you like so quick. They add up.

They take a lot of time. My daughter, I, I want to briefly say that, you know, she had a troubled time starting freshman year, wanted to do homeschooling online. She just absolutely had, had no motivation to go to school, and luckily she was able to find a couple of sport activities, and thankfully softball. I want to thank Lauren and Donald especially, and Paxton for being her support when she needed it the most. They gave her a bunch of resources and, you know, teaching her these skills.

And I just think that it's important that we come together and we were able to collaborate on this. And the biggest thing that I want to say is KIC helped me fill those gaps with their activities funds, and it only goes so far. So having to do this extra extra work with no budget to the schooling right now is going to be really hurtful, not only for, you know, my finances, but everybody else in our community who couldn't really afford it in the first place. So thank you. Appreciate it.

Thank you so much for your comments.

Mr. Smith.

Kelly Smith, Kay High activity director. I want to first start by apologizing to KIC and the tribal members. We had started this activity bringing people up here well before the ignorance you guys are dealing with, and my intentions were to— with everybody here talking activities— not to take away from something that is far more important than school funding. So I apologize for that, but as I look around this room, and see the diversity of this community, I think activities are the one thing that brings that diversity and celebrates it all the time in this community, whether it's on the wrestling mat, at a basketball game, in music, in, in OSB. That diversity is on display and celebrated time and time again in this community.

The importance— investing in high school activities is investing in students, and investing in students is investing in the future of this community, period. That's non-negotiable, not arguable. Roughly 82% of all students have or do participate in activities. Learning does not just happen in the classroom. Athletics, music, theater, student government, clubs, academic competitions, and other activities give students opportunities to develop leadership leadership, teamwork, responsibility, discipline, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

For many students, participation in these programs is one of the most meaningful parts of their high school experience. Where are we going? At this current trajectory, Ketchikan will become a pay-to-play school. Period. It'll be a have versus have-nots on who gets to participate.

When that happens, your dropout rate will rise, your addiction rate will rise, and your crime will go up.

What are we asking from participants? Coaches, very small stipend, probably smaller than your stipends, hours and hours and hours of coaching kids, counseling kids, mandated reporters, taking care of kids, fundraising, and preparing them to participate and be competitive players, excel in the classroom, do well on state tests. We like to talk about, oh, state testing is down and scores are down. We have devalued what the kids have to do every day in order to survive. No wonder state testing is down.

We ask them to maintain a healthy social life, be a good person, volunteer hours to graduate, and fundraise. Parents, pay, pay, pay. Is that 3 minutes already? It is. Oh wow, you're a good speaker.

I have a whole bunch. Um, I would like to address, uh, not addressed, but I'm going to stick around because I know in the past you've talked booster clubs and Title IX are issues that we have to go through. I would love to answer those questions if you have them. So when later in the meeting, if you have questions, I'd love to come up and, and ask those. All right, thank you for your comments.

Next we have Sid Hartley, and after Keenan we have Tom Guthrie and Susan Pickrell. I'll try to read really fast. Um, I'm here to respond to the hateful rhetoric spouted by Miss Fenson by way of providing some history of Native land possessions in Ketchikan, particularly from a report from the GLO, the General Land Office, circa 1910, starting with a defined reservation. All the land— this was made on August 5th, 1905 by the Secretary of the Interior. All the lands in the vicinity of the mouth of Ketchikan Creek, which lie between the lands occupied by the natives and the limits of low tide of Tongass Narrows.

In Ketchikan's early days of settler expansion, the Ketchikan sawmill would exercise fraudulent tax tactics to obtain possession of the tide flats.

Let me get to it. Sorry. Okay, the tactics used by the sawmill people to get possession and control of these tideflats seem to have been somewhat varied but always persistent.

At various times, they would drive a few piles a little further, farther over on these grounds and extend their log boom. Then they would dump slabs in a heap near the mill or yards and thus get possession of further margin that way. Each such step seems to have been met with a resentment on the part of the ball team and the people generally, but no particular step meant a total deprivation of the ball grounds. The people took no drastic action. So at this time, the sawmill would have a team of, a baseball team that they'd put together, and they would have them compete against natives of the area for littoral rights.

So that is actual Ketchikan history. And then, The result of this threat— oh, sorry. Additionally, the sawmill owner daily had considerable complaints for not paying their taxes. And later— sorry, get to this page of the report. As far as I could learn, there was only one sentiment, and that was that the sawmill people could not be allowed to encroach further on the tidelands.

But before a meeting was held, the sawmill forces heard what was going on, and they got their influence to work, and as a result, there was no resolution passed. Though the matter was discussed by the common council, Daley on his part— and they're referencing J.J. Daley, the owner of the sawmill at the time, the manager— threatened that if any adverse action were taken, he would remove the sawmill from the town. As far as I could learn, the trend of sentiment after that was that no action should be taken which would drive the sawmill away. So when Native people got together and they made a complaint that this continued to happen and that they were having to compete fraudulently for just their— for their lots one by one, in addition to the pilings continuing to take up space— sorry, I'll wrap up. The city council was going to host a meeting to address these complaints, and they were never heard because of that threat.

So, um, to end that, um, the results of this threat was that the mayor and council elevated greed above ethics. So not only do Native people not owe anything for their presence in Ketchikan to non-natives, but to the contrary, the bill has been long overdue to them. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Mr. Sanderson.

Good evening, everybody. Uh, for those of you don't know me, uh, my name is Keenan Sanderson. I live on Hawkins Avenue. And I'm here also representing the National Ocean Science Bowl team at Ketchikan High School and also Revilla High School and Fast Track Program and the Tribal Scholars Program, as we allow students from any high school age education entity to join our team. And I have the distinct honor of being able to be the proud coach of currently 20 students, which is a record-breaking year for us.

And about— I don't know the exact number over the years, but ever since I've been coaching since 2019, we've had about 75 students come through our program. Um, and I want to discuss with you briefly about how the funding shortfall is going to specifically impact Ocean Science Bowl here in Ketchikan. Um, and if I don't get to everything, I sent you a link to email yesterday. Please take a look at that as there's a lot of good information in there as well.

Ocean Science Bowl, as previously stated by one of my students, we do amazing things for our kids. Our competition inherently is based on kind of like Jeopardy. We have a tournament coming up in January. Please come watch. We'll send out dates later.

That's one of the main drivers of our program. It's very competitive. It's a very flashy thing that gets our students interested in But one of the great things about Ocean Science Bowl in the state of Alaska is that the state— we're the only state that requires our students to do a research project as part of our competition, which includes a 15-page research paper, an academic literature review research paper that's judged by professors at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. And then those same judges will then judge our students on an academic presentation that we do at state as well.

So many benefits out of those. I can talk with you about that. I could talk about that for days if you wanted to, but at our current funding level, I'm looking at only being able to do 2 of our normal 4 trips that we do every year, which is our state tournament, which will happen in February, which roughly costs us about $15,000, and then our Sitka Whale Fest trip that we do in early November, which is a relatively cheaper trip, but we're— the Sitka Sound Science Center is also at risk of losing some grants, which that $3,000 trip may be turning into a a $10,000 trip. It's not looking pretty for us.

And in my opinion, and I don't know if this is going to end up becoming reality, but this funding shortfall is going to be disproportionately impacting ocean science within our community of Ketchikan. This is kind of an opinion that maybe not be shared with many people, but I actually, I absolutely loathe asking students to beg for money in our community from our businesses through fundraising of any kind. I personally think that they need to be focused on their academics. I need— they need to be focused on their mental health, their social well-being, and every other thing that makes them who they are. I, I really don't see any tangible benefit of them fundraising.

Um, I'm so sorry, that 3 minutes went way too quick. There's so much more that I want to say. Please look at that email. One concluding comment, Your Honor. Um, one of the community entities I want to highlight, though, because they've been really helpful, especially this year, is the Ketchikan Indian Community.

They have provided us $4,000 worth of equipment that we absolutely needed this year to make sure that we had a good season this year, and $8,000 ever since I've been coaching. They've been a huge supporter of us, and I want to thank them on the record for that. But please ask any questions, and please look at that email. Thank you.

Next we have Tom Guthrie. Yep.

After Susan Pickrell, we have Matt Hamilton and Kendall Hamilton.

Why shouldn't we get— look at— she got in there. What I'm addressing is the elders. I have to speak about the elders because my Hizish was my matriarch.

When we ever, whenever we address, we speak to them first, and she's been gone 14 years or so. So my mom was her, now she's gone. Now it's my auntie. I'm a Tlingit, Heiltsuk, Tsimshian.

My grandfather taught me all the old ways and stories. My grandmother wouldn't teach me because the schools and churches would punish them for speaking their language or telling stories. So she didn't. So I know I'm a kawwantong, eagle, from a wolf house coming from Sitka, but I grew up in Matlakala. Most of me is Tsimshian.

I learned a lot about that side of me. And what my Ziiish told me, with people doing what they do to us by radically talking about our people that way, treat them with kindness. What can they do? It is important to walk the red line, the red horse, and treat people good. What can they do?

They have to treat you good too. When you follow them, they end up blaming each other and they don't know where it come from. It's important to be a good person. I wasn't when I used to be younger. Drinking and drugging was my game.

I was mean. I didn't care about anybody. But I've been sober for 34 years. I love it. I wish I could have done it when I was younger.

But running into Ketchikan and meeting people who didn't like brown people, that gave me the incentive to be that person. I don't like him, he's put away. I have a lot of Apsawa friends and Indian friends over here, and I love it. It's important to treat people with kindness. I love that you gave me time to speak because it's important that this lady who says this listens or hears what all of us have to say, both sides of it, meaning the Amsaawa.

Amsaawa is white. And us, Simjian, Haida Tlingit. So they know we aren't afraid to speak up for who we are. It's important that we walk the same way, treat each other with respect. It's important.

My name is Anuyuk. It means earthshaker. I carry that name well because my great aunt told me to carry it.

And it's important that we take our native name and Omtoa name and take them both for respect. You got 3 minutes if you can wrap it up, sir. Huh? You got 3 minutes if you can just wrap it up. I didn't hear a bell.

Good point. I said good point, but you're now at 3 minutes. Yeah. Is it 3 minutes? Yes.

Well, let me hear the bell. My phone's about about to die, so I switched to the computer timer. So I just said 3 minutes.

All right, Miss Pickrell is next.

Mayor and assembly members, thank you for having me here tonight, and I appreciate your letting me speak. I also want to thank the KIC tribal members that showed up tonight. My name is Susan Pickrell, KIC Deputy Tribal Administrator. In my previous presentation to the Borough Assembly a few months ago, I addressed all that we have done to be community partners, and you have already heard presentations on KIC's economic impact. In fact, much has been made of the false premise that KIC is a burden on others in this community.

I want to address the very specific positive dollar amount that KIC provides, and even more importantly, the human impact addressing the quality of life issues that a healthy, caring community shouldn't ignore. Regarding the unhoused, more— for more than 3 years in a row, we have provided more than 120 people services during the winter months of November through April. We were able to provide a warm meal, access to resources, a place to get out of the cold for a few hours, and human kindness. KSC is now providing through congressionally directed spending and other sources what was once funded by the city and borough in less than adequate facilities. We have built and operate a 28-bed facility for Native and non-Native elderly and other disabled people.

This helps them achieve stable independent living. It also provides public costs— lowers public costs by 50 to 60%, reducing reliance on emergency shelters, hospitals, and EMS calls in this community. Regarding the elderly, we have provided more than 9,000 rides and over 14,000 meals a year to more than 500 elders for 15 years. The city and borough would have to help fund these if KIC was not providing vital services to the most vulnerable population. Regarding the suicide rate, Tragically, in the last year, many people in Ketchikan have lost their lives to suicide, and the Tribal Council was so concerned they declared this an emergency, immediately authorizing additional dollars for suicide prevention.

In terms of prevention, our impact on education— KIC provides $500,000 in direct dollars that saves the school district from having to pay for Northwest Arts classes, language, and alternative high school classes to include 4 classrooms at the high school level including 200 Native and non-native students, nearly one-third of the student population. In addition to teaching, our teachers are seen as aunties who provide a safe place to visit, a safe place to hang out, and a place to get food they wouldn't be able to get anywhere else at the high school. It is the best way to reach teens without having to label it suicide prevention. You heard tonight about funding activities. For more than 5 years, KIC has paid more than $200,000 a year to the borough parks and recreation and school districts so our members can take part in healthy activities.

Those dollars go directly to businesses, sports leagues, school teams, the arts, and schools, ensuring more than 600 of our tribal members are participating in healthy activities. Again, the very best suicide prevention. So this is why we are here, to share the real facts about the important work we do every day, to explain how and why the funding we bring and invest in this community is is so valuable. We know our tribal members know how much we impact their lives. Thank you so much for listening, and I appreciate your service to this community.

Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Mr. Hamilton. After Kendall— some of my paperwork here, is that okay? Yeah, you can pass it out.

Yes, you can pass it out to all of us. Yeah, after Kendall we have Judy Leask and Brianna Gilson. If you guys could line up. Oh, Kendall's gonna be with you. Yes.

Okay, cool. Uh, Matt Hamilton, Kendall Hamilton, 8634 North Tongass. Uh, what I gave you guys is the funds that, uh, I've spent for wrestling, uh, last year. Our season, our season totaled, um, $47,119. And I fundraised the hell out of that.

Our kids did that. Yeah, they rocked that. They did it because they not just love this sport, but they love the kids that they get to meet on these trips. The time they get to spend with their friends, go see different places, go get involved in other communities that may prevent you from becoming a bigoted idiot in situations. But that's one of those moments that we get to be a part of.

I don't want to find out how to make $65,000 next year or this year. I do my best every time we do a fundraiser. I want to be the person that solves our community's problems. So we do a fundraiser where you get a freezer and, and meat with it. You get all the protein, right?

But we're looking at it right now. I have so many wonderful kids that I'll be leaving at home this year. That's what I just— I have to do. And I've had to have some hard conversations with some kids that, you know, some of these kids that were in this position, you know, I started— I started a women's team, I think, the day she was born to give her the opportunities because I didn't see that was being given. And what was nice about it was I started the team, and a few years later we had our first female state champion.

Some of the ones that are in here today, they saw me— Coach, Coach! It's such a great moment to be a part of that, but we don't have that unless we have people like you backing us up. So more than anything, I would like to sit here with my daughter and show her what this community can pull off, what we can make happen. If we can, we can do that, maybe we'll fix some of the other issues that are in this room. Okay, thank you very much.

Have a good night. Thank you for your comments. We have Ms. Guthrie next.

After Brianna Gilson, we have Mr. Putta— is it Juran Putta?— and Richard Harney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, honorable council. My name is Judy Lise Guthrie. I live at 240 Carlana I'm a citizen of KIC, a proud citizen. I'm a resident of Metlakatla, or resident of Ketchikan, sorry.

Originally I was born and raised in Metlakatla. I think the first thing that I want to say is that I'm really proud of all of the kids that came and spoke here this evening. I wasn't planning on talking about that, but as many of you know, I'm a school board member, and it, it just gives me great pride to, first of all, just hear them speak. I could never speak in high school. I think I've said that before.

Not one word. But I do know I talk a lot. And not only did they come and speak, they know what they're talking about. And what they're talking about is very serious. I wish that— I wish that our borough, our school district could do everything they can to do what they do— can do to help our kids.

And like Sue Pickrell said, all of these activities activities are actually suicide prevention. Earlier this year, KIC, and I'm on that tribal council at KIC, earlier this year we passed an emergency resolution regarding suicide. And so since then, we've put a lot of time and effort into bringing activities to our kids. And just FYI, my granddaughter graduated this year and she's off to college. I have another granddaughter who is a junior here at the high school.

And I have— my last name is Guthrie, my other name is Leask, so you know I'm related to a lot of people. And so I have a lot of nieces and nephews that go to school here.

And I wish our new school board a lot of luck. I didn't run again, as you may know. I'm gonna donate full time to KIC. Um, I, I just want to say— how much more time do I have? 18 Seconds.

18 Seconds. Oh no. Well, anyway, um, I just want to say real quick that I'm really glad of the support that we— and the words of encouragement that we heard from the mayor, from the assembly, from the city mayor, from Saxman, from Metlakatla, from Tlingit and Haida.

I'm sure I missed some organizations, but many, many other people beyond. Ketchikan. And also, just so everybody knows, we have a lot of allies. We have a lot of non-native allies here in Ketchikan. And I think that there are some people that believe that that can't even be possible, but it is possible.

And some of you I see tonight. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you so much.

Next we have Brianna Gilson.

Good evening, my name is Brianna Gilson. I live at 3760 Alaska Ave and I'm a senior this year. I want to start by asking you guys all to imagine walking onto a field wearing your school colors. Your teammates are beside you, your friends are cheering, and you know that all the early mornings, hard practices, and difficult losses helped you become stronger. Now imagine being told your team cannot replace worn-out equipment, travel to an important game, or continue offering the same opportunities because there's not enough funding.

This is why I believe our schools should invest in school sports. Sports are much more than just winning games or collecting trophies. They give students a place to belong. They teach us to show up, work hard, communicate, take responsibility, and keep going when things do not go our way. Those lessons matter outside of sports too.

In my personal experience, sports have given me a second family and taught me things I would not have learned without them. They've taught me teamwork, leadership, determination, and school spirit. Here in Ketchikan, these opportunities can be especially expensive. Equipment, uniforms, transportation, travel, and even officials have to be flown in sometimes. When there is little or no funding, those costs fall on families, athletes, and our community.

I'm not saying sports should be funded at the expense of academics or other important activities. I am asking us to recognize that sports are also an important part of our education. When we invest in school sports, we're investing in students, in teamwork, in determination, in school spirit, and most importantly, we're giving the students the opportunity to discover what they can achieve. As a student to be college athlete, I know how important these opportunities can be, so I want to ask a few questions. So we can all think outside of the box.

Are there organizations or nonprofits in Alaska that could provide grants for high school sports? Could cruise line agencies, um, companies invest in our local high school athletes with the CPV money that helps support schools— sports? So I'm asking, back our teams, support our students, and invest in school sports. Thank you, guys. Thank you so much for your comments.

Next we have Mr. Putta. Is it Jaren? Jeevan, sorry, I must have typed it wrong. Jeevan, that's okay.

Jeevan. Good evening, my name is Jeevan Putta, the student representative on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District School Board. Tonight I will be speaking on behalf of myself and the student body at Ketchikan High School. As a member of a board and an active member in a variety of activities through K-Hive, I've witnessed the struggle to adequately allocate funds from the budget to address the needs of all of our students, from CTE electives to staff members to activities. Our school budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year has led to many unfortunate decisions that have heavily impacted the students and staff within the halls of K High.

With the loss of many staff members due to budget cuts, class sizes have severely increased, putting more strain on both teachers and students as they acclimate to the new school year. Students are forced to spend more time on their work as they are unable to get the same guidance from teachers as in previous, previous years. Additionally, sports and activities take up a significant portion of a student's day-to-day life, furthering the strain placed on these students with the increase in schoolwork. On top of this, putting the responsibility of students to fundraise for all activity-related events is outright unattainable. Many sports-related events will be missed, and the success and well-being of students in our community will significantly decrease, not to mention the continuous community funding that would have to occur in order for our school's activities to travel to their meets.

With the abundance of activities at K High, this is not feasible whatsoever. I think everyone can acknowledge the absurd financial circumstances our school board has placed us in the recent years, creating unfair challenges and hindrances for our students to succeed academically in our, our activities. Yet at At its core, education is meant to prioritize our students' success rather than create more and more barriers to it for reasons we did not create whatsoever. Through the numerous budget cuts in our schools, we recognize the need to make some challenging decisions, such as the loss of various electives and staff members. We understand that in order for our board to address the financial obligations they have accumulated due to their costly mistakes, funding for sports and activity has been, has been cut from our fiscal year budget.

Budget. We understand that the absurd financial events that have occurred are now in the past. Yet through this understanding, we also recognize that there are other methods through which our sports and activities programs can be funded, such as an activities fund channeled directly through the borough. Without adequate funding for our KI sports and activities, our students will be overwhelmed with the responsibility of supporting their respective teams on top of the increase in work at school. Why are we putting more burden on our students students for reasons we have absolutely no correlation to.

Just as we've seen through the loss of our CTE opportunities, our students are having more and more reasons to consider online schooling due to a lack of support for the opportunities available to them at K High. For these reasons, I implore you to consider the implementation of an activities budget independent from our 2026-27 fiscal year budget plan. If implemented, our students will be able to succeed not only academically, but also excel in the very activities that drive many of them to stay in school. Please take the time to consider what this means for us students and its immense effects on our mental health, well-being, and overall success as individuals. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your comments. Mr. Harney, next. Richard Harney.

He's got to be around here somewhere. He's covered. Okay, after Mr. Harney, we have Richard Jackson and Ezra Harney.

Just give us one minute so we can get your handout. I appreciate it. Thank you. Sorry, I was out there trying to email this to— that's okay, I figured you're around somewhere. You ready?

Whenever you are. Okay, we'll start the timer now. Thank you, Mayor and Assembly. There was a question that was asked. My name is Richard Harney.

I'm still the tribal planner for Ketchikan Indian Community.

There was a question that was asked earlier this week or last week. And as you all know me, I don't shy away from hard questions. And I want to address address those— that question that was asked.

The question was, how much more do white people have to pay for KIC in this community? Well, the answer is the community doesn't pay for KIC. The money comes from federal trust responsibility treaties over 200 years ago, and this has been upheld by the courts multiple times. The Snyder Act, the Indian Self-Discrimination and Education Assistance Act, they were founded on and the basis for providing funding to the tribes through the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The self-governance compacts.

Congress put these in place so that way the tribes could rule themselves. And they could provide the services to themselves that were promised through those treaties—health care, housing, economic development.

There are about 5,500 tribal members in Ketchikan.

We wanted to know what our impact was, what the tribe's impact was on the community. This before you is a snippet of some of the information in the data points that were provided from the analysis that we did. There are 582 jobs in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough that the tribe provides and serves. 266 Of those are KIC employees. 316 Of those are other local businesses—contractors, grocers, physicians, all of it.

$32.9 Million in local earnings, $38.7 million in total economic output. Put that in perspective.

If KIC was a public industry, it would excess— it would outweigh and exceed the jewelry retail and the hydro power generation, two industries that we really found ourselves on as economic pillars in this community. Through that, $764,000 of tax revenue is generated to the City of Ketchikan, an additional $70,000 to the borough, even though KIC is tax-exempt. What does that look like in practice? It's the warming shelter. KIC cares.

KIC heard the call, and they funded 100% for the warming shelter. Is that 3 minutes already? Okay. Wrap up your thought. I really like your thing.

It's really good. So if you have any questions about that information, please feel free to reach out and ask any questions. And as a personal note, I do support funding the athletic program. Please do so as well. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your comments.

Mr. Jackson, the other Mr. Jackson.

I'd like to introduce myself before I speak. I'm the de facto leader of the Native communities in Alaska for the Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand Camp. I'm the Grand President Emeritus, a 4-time president for KIC.

And have been involved in policies, ordinances, constitutions, authorizing constitutions with Ketchikan Indian Community as well as the Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand Camp in 2011. What I'm saying here is not a reflection on the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly. It's just, well, factual information. I have a lineal critical thinking mind that comes across as, as, uh, not passive. So I apologize before I speak.

There's no intent to harm anyone, and I tend to be a defender, so it'll show up in my talk. So I'll start my talk.

I stand before you tonight as a Grand President Emeritus of Alaska Native Brotherhood to address a profound institutional breach and enforce an absolute standard of structural connection— correction. On September 15th, an appointed official weaponized a public microphone to launch a racially hostile attack against the Ketchikan Indian Community, demanding to know how much more white people have to pay for KIC. By remaining silent, the Planning Commission violated Chapters 43 and 47 of Roberts Rules of Order, legally transferring the individual prejudice into a documented corporate liability for this borough. Let the record be clear: all land held in Kitskat Indian Community is free, simple, private property. The narrative that local taxpayers are drained draining resources subsidizing the tribe is fabricated lie.

Ketchikan actively pays standard property— KIC actively pays standard property taxes and service area fees directly into your ledger. In reality, the economic obligation is completely reversed. This municipality is coasting on the structural altruism of a sovereign and capital of the tribe. KIC brings millions of federal dollars into this region, anchoring hundreds of sustainable jobs inside and outside the umbrella that directly feed local small businesses. When this bureau failed to care for the vulnerable, vulnerable, KIC stepped into those vulnerable— KIC stepped in to build an open homeless shelter for elders and all of all welfare backgrounds.

She serves mental health services and VA community care coordinates. The tribe provides essential life-saving critical infrastructure that this town can never afford to deploy on its own. The city and borough are the ones receiving special treatment and economic stability from the tribe, yet your administration permits public officials to bite the very hand keeping Kitskan from financial collapse. Your attorneys are paralyzed by the defense bluff claiming your hands are tied by a silent local code, but state code overrides your administrative paralysis. State Alaska Statute 29.25.030 grants this assembly the supreme legislative authority to pass immediate immediate emergency measures, supersedes standard local rules, and forces an immediate vote on the floor.

Furthermore, the fundamental common law principle states that the authority charged with the power to, to appoint the advisory board member inherently possesses the reciprocal power to remove and suspend that appointment. I have two more paragraphs. If you choose the political cowardice of administrative delay tonight. You faced a twofold state and federal lawsuit for civil rights violations under 42 USC Section 1981 and Section 1983, alongside the open-ended damage ledger for tortious interference with multimillion-dollar assets at North Tongass Mud Bite, at the Wellness Center, and downtown KIC. KIC holds an independent, unassailable right to sue this borough regardless of your next move.

I hope they don't. We will only conditionally— we will only conditionally— conditionalize a stay of litigation on a legal binding out-of-court settlement with 3 restrictive requirements: a formal admission of error read on this floor, a permanent ledger entry of structural apology, and the mandatory tribal education of all municipal staff and restore the balance under what we call wuch'in, which is reciprocation, respect, and harmony. Could you just read your last sentence? The administrative problem to be managed, the Native community will retain the final authority of word on this record. Thank you very much.

Richard Jackson. Thank you for your comments. Thank you so much. Ezra, I'll leave this for a copy. I gave one to the— we'll take it.

Oh, either one of us.

Good evening, Borough Assembly members. My name is Ezra Harney and I'm a 3-sport varsity athlete at Ketchikan High School. I'm also a junior. I'm here today to talk to ask to continue supporting the school sports and the students who participate in them. Being a student athlete is more than playing sports, uh, than playing sports.

Sports teach students discipline, responsibility, teamwork, leadership, and how to handle both success and failure. For many students, athletics also give us a reason to stay involved in the school and stay connected to our community. With our school losing funding, fundraising for our sports just increased drastically. Taking time out of our practices to go and fundraise Fundraising is not how school sports should be. We are also an isolated community of 14,000.

That's a lot of money from that all the sports will have to beg and borrow from businesses. We have practices 5 days a week and even maybe 6 on the weekends, traveling to remote places, responsibilities at work, and most importantly, schoolwork. We are student athletes. We keep a GPA to just be able to go to practices and participate in games. And now we're worrying about if we can fundraise enough to go on these trips or even keep the sports going.

We are aware that fundraising is important and it comes with the sport, but it also takes time away from the things that we are actually trying to do. Instead of using the time to practice, improve our skills, recover, study, spend time with our families, or simply even enjoy being teenagers, we are often selling things or asking for donations or organizing fundraisers. As teenagers, we only get one chance to experience high school. Our time isn't unlimited. We shouldn't be choosing between spending time with our friends and fundraising just so we can afford the equipment, transportation, or opportunities that our teams need.

This isn't about asking the school district or borough to pay for everything. It's about giving student athletes the support we need so that fundraising doesn't become another major responsibility on top of everything else we already have. Also, if we haven't said it before, thank you for all this, for supporting us throughout the years, and I hope that you can continue to support us for years on. Thank you. Thank you for your comments.

We are at the end of our signed-up citizen comment sheets, but the podium is still open. Whoever has not not spoken can come to the podium and speak.

Just state your name.

Jared Garlick, K-8 principal. Thank you for this opportunity.

The two things I just really want to say. The first is KIC. We value our partnership. We are blessed to have them in our schools teaching our students and We just love and respect having them in the community and especially the huge impact they play at the high school. So thank you, and we look forward to continuing to grow on that partnership as well.

The second thing I want to just talk about has already been talked about a lot. It's activity funding. I think the students have done a great job talking about how it impacts their lives. I'll just tell you a little brief thing. You know, Kelly Smith, the AD, and I got together in our office and we were just talking about about how to make things work with the amount of money that we have.

I do want to let you know that whatever's given to us, we will find a way. That's what we do. We do our best for the kids. We do our best for them because they give our best— their best for us and for our community. What I would just ask is the borough is that you do your best to try to find a way to help fund these kids.

Give them more opportunities than we can try to give them with what we got right now. I know there's challenges, there's budgets, but I think this kind of thinking outside the budget and thinking outside the cap, and I think this is an opportunity for you to show these students that they don't have to pay for what's been done by adults in the past, that there's grace, that there's compassion. And care for these kids that will one day be sitting in the chairs that you're in, making the decisions that you're making as well. Thank you. Thank you for comments.

Podium is still open. Please come up and speak. Just state your name. Hi, my name is Sean Weston. I am a student at K-8 High School.

I— so my native name is Shamgod, and that means true heart. And it has been a long road to achieve that. I got into a lot of trouble growing up. I'm still growing up, but you get what I mean. I— so there are a lot of kids like me who did stuff like me and they're struggling.

Sports are a way out of that. With me, last year, my sophomore year, I almost I was so totally flunked out. I was like having Fs and Ds. I mean, and then like, what do you call it, soccer came around and I really started getting my grades up. I started staying after school, something I never did, even though I knew I had homework.

It's something that drove me to be better, to want to be better. And that's the breaking point for me is like these sports are, they help kids, they help kids like develop, they help kids like just be the people you guys want them to be. And there are kids who go home, don't have anything. There are kids who go home to abusive households.

School sports are a way out of that. School sports are, an outlet. School sports can help them be like, hey, I don't have a good home life because some kids won't have those friends if they don't have sports.

And on the other hand, we have that comment made last Tuesday. I went to NCAI with KIC and like I said, true heart, we talked about so many problems, not just within the Native community in Ketchikan, but within the whole community of Ketchikan with funding, with homelessness, with all, all of everything. KIC focuses on Ketchikan as a whole, especially within those certain, certain meetings. Um, and I just want that to be known. Um, but I do want, I do want to say that funding for school sports and activities are, are crucial to just the children like me in our development.

It will really help us, like, yeah, like I said, be the people you guys want us to be, be the people we want to be when we are out of high school. That's all I really have to say. Thank you. Thank you for your comments.

Podium is still open for anybody that'd like to come and speak. Podium is open.

Hi, good evening. I'm Coach Juan. I coach soccer for the boys soccer team.

I co-head coach with Jacob Potts. I am an extremely proud coach. A lot of my kids from the program have stepped up and spoke today, and that makes me want to come up here and speak today because I'm so proud of all these student athletes, coaches, our principal, and our AD, and all the people up here brave enough to do that. I wouldn't have been brave enough to do that. Had that when I was their age, so it's very cool to see that.

I want to support the funding. We need to keep this in our community. It's so— it's such a big pillar, not only for the students but the community itself. How many people like to go and enjoy a baseball game, a soccer game, the basketball games, Clark-Calkerin? Like, we have to keep these things afloat.

Um, like Sean said, we don't know the lives that kids live through the shoes that they walk through in class, at home. But sports are a big safe haven for these kids to express themselves in a way that they cannot do that in a classroom. And we can't look at sports as something that's separated from school, but something that is part of it. It's— it should be part of the same education because everybody learns in different ways. And it's part— I mean, we have physical education in school for a reason, and sports— we in sports, we represent K High for that same exact reason.

We're doing it for the school because we have pride in the school, because it brings us together, not just as those kids on the team, but it brings a whole school together to represent one community. And that's so, so important, and we have to keep that going. And if we defunding these things in our community, we are losing essences to what we are as Ketchikan, as KHI alums, as people that live in this island. And tying into what's going on outside of that, like, it brings everybody together regardless of your skin color or your political views or anything else. It brings everybody— everybody doesn't It doesn't matter if you vote for red or blue, you're going to go watch the baseball game, you're going to the Clark Hockerin game, you're going to the soccer game because it brings us together in a world where we are so split right now.

So by keeping this program going, all the programs going, we are trying to bring our community together. And I think that's important. And I'm really proud of everybody that stood up, listened to all these voices that are speaking It takes a lot of guts. I'm nervous right now speaking honestly, and I'm not usually a nervous talker, but I'm sweating a little bit. But as a coach that got formed through K High Sports, I ran for Mr. Ortiz, I played soccer for other coaches, I represented K High, and it made me have an essence to that.

I beg you guys to keep that going. So that's my time. Thank you guys. Thank you so much for your comments. Podium is still open for anyone that would like to come and speak.

Just state your name. Hello, my name is Josephine Jackson, or Josie. Good evening, Ketchikan Borough Assembly. It's nice to see you all, familiar faces. I just like to come up here, and I know this is getting redundant, but talk about funding for sports and activities at K High.

I just like to talk about the friendships, the experiences I've had through swim team and through track and field. I have so many friends that I've made through these organizations. My coach is someone who I adore, and I just— he's such a great man. I talked to him about this problem earlier today. I'd like to impress that funding, it's not singular team thing.

It's not a students versus the borough or a coaches versus the borough problem. It's a community issue, and therefore it needs to be dealt with as a community. And I can— I think we're doing a great job of that. I see so many people rallying and talking and using their voices and their freedom of speech up here today, which I just think is something that is great for us to do as a community. I have so many friends that I've made through sports.

I know every girl that I swim with in the state. I have all of their contacts in my phone, the ones who have numbers, and I am so, so grateful for every person that I'm— that I've met through sports. I'm very grateful for the girls I've met through track and the coaches I have through track and the people who I never would have thought I would meet And I just want to say that I don't believe that this is a problem that we can solve just by simply giving more funding. That's not how this works. It's a push and pull.

We have to take away money from certain things, add money in other places, and it's not black and white. And I just— I am very grateful for you guys and your time and consideration in this matter. Thank you so much. I just thank you for listening to me talk. Good evening.

Thank you so much for your comments. The podium is still open for anyone that would like to come and speak.

Hi, I'm David Vargas. I come representing the Alaska Native Brotherhood as the vice president. I have Bertha Williams with me. She is the president of the ANS, Alaska Native Sisterhood. I am reading on behalf of Bertha, but know that it is us together as Camp 15.

Okay? So when I reference some things, it's not me. I'm speaking for someone else. Okay?

So it says, I am writing as the president of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, Camp 15, in Saxman, Alaska. She's a Native woman. She's a Tlingit woman. And she is writing as the president of the organization whose very existence is rooted in the struggle for the rights, dignity, equality, and self-determination of Alaska Native people. On September 15, 2026, the Planning Commissioner Darlene Dolomets Finson publicly asked, "How much more do white people have to pay for KIC in the community?" Those words cannot simply be brushed aside as a poor choice of words.

Words matter, especially when they come from someone sitting in a position of public trust. The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Planning Commission is responsible for matters involving land use, zoning, subdivisions, conditional use permits, variances, and development within the borough. When Alaska Native community appears before government body, we should not have to wonder whether the people sitting across the table see us as neighbors, citizens, tribal citizens, business owners, families, and human beings, or as a burden being imposed upon someone else's community. Let me be very clear: we will not accept language that divides this community by race. We know where the roads lead.

Our people remember when the sign said "No Indians or dogs allowed." We remember segregation. We remember being told where we could go and not go. We remember being— remember our children being punished for speaking their own language. We remember our culture being treated as something that needed demanded to be erased. We remember our grandparents being told that their way— their ways were inferior.

We remember the generations of discrimination that came before us, and we remember the people who stood up and said enough. The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sistershood were born out of that struggle. Our organizations were fighting for Alaska's Native civil rights long before many Americans even recognized the movement for civil rights as a national issue. So I'm not speaking from anger alone. I'm speaking from I'm here to remind those who may have forgotten, we survived.

We survived assimilation. We survived discrimination. We survived the taking of our lands. We survived the attempted destruction of our languages and culture. We survived being told that we did not belong, and we are still here.

So if someone sitting on public commission believes that Alaska Native people are somehow talking too much, receiving too much, costing too much, or asking for too much, then perhaps they need to learn the history of the land on which they are sitting. The Klinkitáani, this is our ancestral homeland. Our relationship with this land did not begin when government drew a boundary on a map. It did not begin when the municipality was incorporated. It did not begin when a zoning code was written.

It did not begin when property taxes were established. We were here first and we are not leaving. I am that savage who is still standing here after more than a century of attempts to civilize, assimilate, silence, and diminish our people. I am here to remind you that our ancestors were not waiting for permission to belong. They already belonged, and so do we.

We will continue to build. We will continue to raise our children. We will continue to teach our culture. We will continue to speak our language. We will continue to open businesses.

We will continue to purchase property. We will continue to strengthen our villages. We will continue to invest in our communities. We will continue to reclaim what was taken from us one parcel at a time. And to anyone uncomfortable watching Alaska Native people succeed, grow, organize, purchase land, build businesses, and create opportunities for our families, watch us.

Watch us grow. Watch us build. Watch our children become leaders. Watch our families become stronger. Watch our businesses multiply, watch our communities prosper, watch us take our rightful place, not because someone gave it to us, but because we have always belonged here.

Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments.

The podium is still open for anyone that would like to come and speak.

Just state your name. Hi, my name is Aaron Burns. I'm here with KIC. My sister is President Gloria Burns, and she's down in the hospital with my grandmother, who is 96, for some medical reasons. But this issue for youth health is very important to her, and she would like to state for the record that she is going to donate $10,000 to the activities fees for the KI programs.

Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments.

Podium's still open if anyone would like to come and speak.

Oh, I'm not a very good speaker, but it hurt my feelings with that lady. If you could just state your name for the record. I'm Carol Skoka Shields. My Indian name is Shtai. I was brought up at Cape Fox Dancer and Tongass Tribe, and We came a long way.

We finally got to teach Tlingit classes and sewing classes in public school. I was the march over from Old Main School to public school. I'm pretty grateful for y'all letting us speak. But those words hurt. I came too far to— I'm shaking.

I came too far for her. To walk on me. I can vote. I can help raise a family.

We just need to be kind. And another thing, suicide is real. We need to pay attention. We don't know everybody's battles. And one more thing, the sports cost.

Oh my God, my granddaughter If it wasn't for wrestling, the coach, it wouldn't have opened my granddaughter's eyes. She, she's very academic. She helps raise money.

I don't want her to go through school thinking what that lady said was right. I'm grateful you guys are taking steps to correct what was wrong.

Don't forget about us natives. We came a long way. We don't need that kind of treatment. We had it. We're done with it.

I'm not here to get mad. I'm here to let you know that hurt. I got a lot of friends, all different shades and colors. One thing though, we all bleed the same blood. And we all fight for the same reason, to stay alive and watch our kids grow up, and hopefully they don't have so much of this.

It just takes a little kindness, please and thank you, and open the door like you were brought up to. Don't let that one person ruin the pit of everything that we came so far from.

Thank you very much and thank you for your time. Thank you for your comments. If you could just state your name. Marcy Haynes. Thank you for your service and thank you for being here tonight.

I know it can get really long when we show up. I wanted to say something in gratitude and a thank you. At first I was really hurt. Some comments Words have power. They hurt.

But what I saw after, like, I went to sleep feeling a little bit sad for my tribe. And when I woke up, I saw so much support. I saw letters from the community. I saw comments from the community. I saw a letter from you.

And I think it was Bob Marley that said, the only thing stronger than hate is love. And I saw so much of that. And that's what I'm going to take away from this whole thing. And I just wanted to thank everybody for being here. I appreciate you all, and I'm very grateful for this community and proud to be here today.

Thank you so much for your comments.

Good evening. I wear many hats in this community. I'm a school board member. I'm a councilwoman for Ketchikan Indian. My name is Allie Gator.

For those of you that don't know me, I'm a councilwoman for Ketchikan Indian community, but most importantly, in the hat I am choosing to wear tonight, I am a mother of 4 Tlingit Unangan children. I'm not here tonight to beat a dead horse. I have great faith in the members seated here tonight that you will do the right thing. And after this evening, I refuse to give her name or this incident any more of my time or my energy. My comments tonight are for the people listening, our young people, our elders, our families, and our community.

I want our Indigenous community to hear this clearly. We are still here. We are still living. We are still thriving and we belong here. Every Indigenous person in this room is likely a descendant or relative of a boarding school survivor.

Our families have already lived through generations of being told that our language was wrong, our culture was wrong, our ways were wrong, and that we somehow did not belong. My grandparents lived through it. My mother lived through it. My aunts lived through it. I will not tolerate I will not tolerate that continuing into my children's time, and I will not tolerate it becoming something my grandchildren have to endure.

There should be zero tolerance for racism toward Indigenous people, just as there should be zero tolerance for racism towards anyone. Our people have been discriminated against for far too long. So, so to our Native youth especially, you are not a drain on society. You are not a hardship on our economy. You are not something this community has to carry.

Kerry. This is your home. Your families have lived, loved, worked, harvested, raised children, and cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial. You belong here. Your culture belongs here.

Your language belongs here. Your families belong here. And to the community members, organizations, leaders, and public figures who have stood beside Ketchikan Indian Community and our Native community, thank you. Gunalchéesh. I think it is incredibly important that we acknowledge our allies.

Our people survived enormous efforts to erase our cultures, our languages, and our ways of life because of the strength and resilience of those who came before us. And today, as we continue protecting our people, our cultures, and our lands, we also need people willing to stand beside us. We build those allies through education, relationships, love, understanding, and by sharing our stories. Our children are watching us. I want them to grow up knowing they never have to shrink themselves to belong here.

I want them to know they can be proud of who they are, and I want them to know that they are not merely surviving here. We are thriving here. To every Indigenous person listening tonight, you belong here, you matter here, and you are part of the past, present, and future of this community. We are still here. Thank you so much for your comments.

My name is Charlene Meeks. I can get real mouthy on Facebook, but I've never been in front of people, so my heart felt a bump out of my chest. Anyways, and to be clear, I'm not Darlene, I'm Charlene. So all jokes aside, I've been listening to this meeting online before I decided to come over. I actually just live down the street.

Thanks, Charlie. And I want to show my support for my Native friends. I'm sorry, I'm going to get emotional.

First of all, I want to apologize on behalf of all of the native, non-native people in this community that have made you feel any smaller, any small at all. I really do, okay? Because I'm hearing you guys. Miss Gulka, I could hear it in her voice. Y'all are hurt, and it hurts me that you're hurt, okay?

And, um, I may meet just one member of this community, and my voice may not carry much weight, but I I said, I can hear that pain, and I am just really sorry that you guys are even having to deal with this right now. And that's really it, because I was listening to another man who said that he was 30 years sober, and I could feel that pain in his voice, and I immediately was like, I just got to get out of my bed and I got to come over here. That's it. Thank you so much for your comments.

Podium's still open for anyone that wants to come and speak.

Hello and good evening. My name is Theresa DeWitt, and I am here as a Sanyaa Kwan Nahadi woman, an auntie of many. And I say that of many because as an auntie and uncle in our people of our Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian holds a great regard. It shows example of who our people are, and it shows a countless love because knowing how our assimilation process sprawled us out, unfortunately was successful into breaking up our clans. But with that, we accept people in our lives no matter what their DNA is.

I have some people in my life that have no DNA in them of our Indigenous people, but they still call me Auntie, and some of them still call me Mom. Some are Italian, some are Caucasian, and a wide variety. But the main thing is we're inclusive no matter what, and we're always here as a people to educate who we are, what our ways of life are about. In regards to the comment that was made last week, obviously it hit home for a lot of people. And for my generation, I know it hit home for us because both of my parents suffered a lot in their lifetime.

When my father was 16, he was beaten so bad and put in jail at the age of 16, and his mother went to try to get him and they said, no, he's not 16, because he was He was close to 6 foot and he was a broad guy full of muscle because he was a hunter and gatherer. And it took her to get one of her white friends to come say, yes, he is 16. Then they believed him. My mother was beaten in the schools because she spoke Tlingit words to her sister to the point her older sister had to come and get her and carry her home. I thought a lot of that was left behind.

And it still could be left behind. So I encourage you to look at what we're leaving for the younger generations because we're proud to say who our shagoon is, who our very essence is. But we need to lift people up because of the suicide rate, because of the growing rate, knowing that we're here as a community because the newcomers decided to come to our land, our Tlingit territory. Knowing that you come here respectfully with all hope. So knowing the anger that goes on, I encourage you to get educated.

And yes, I now work for KSE, but most of all, I come here as an auntie of many, and I come here as a Saunihuan Nahadi woman because I worry about the younger generation and everything they do. Knowing that you're cutting sports programs But KSE is here uplifting and donating what they can, no matter the DNA. And as we move forward, real briefly, I had a chance to go and work for the city at the Heritage Center for 11 years. I educated people about their interests about our people. I encourage you to reach out because there's definitely lifelines to learn about our people, to embrace our ways of life.

So the ignorance that goes on in life that is always there, I urge you to reach out to KAC to have a sit-down meeting with them and to learn how we do things. It's not with anger, but it's with love because we have to learn to appreciate everybody in life as we uplift each other. And as we go forward, I know I already crossed my bit of beeper. But our Tlingit women have a libret that we carry very dearly. And those that have the piercings in the lip, it tells us and reminds us our words carry a weight.

It could hold somebody up and tell them igwaiakwun, that you'll be there for them, love them, encourage them. Or it could weigh somebody down and sink them and drown them. So your words that come out of your mouth is your responsibility. You could hold somebody up or sink somebody down in life, and that words are precious when it comes out of your mouth. So I urge you to reach out and acknowledge the land.

Many different places have land acknowledgments, but please don't stop there. Learn about who we are. Learn about our ways of life. Learn about what KIC is doing in our communities, no matter your DNA. So I say gunas-cheesh for those that have supported and sent out letters to acknowledge our tribal members.

That means a lot to us to know that there's so much love out there beyond our island. But at the same time, it's an eye-opener to know that ignorance is still there. And we say it holds a limit, and that limit is how far are you going to sink somebody? When somebody responds, it's your choice to react and how you're going to react. Are you going to educate yourself and go forward, or are you going to let somebody sink down because you don't know the proper information?

So I, I'll leave this with you there though, but please reach out to KIC. Please reach out to the community because I know I had chances to go talk in school district here and tell the young ones and tell the teachers So please, there's always bridges there. Take advantage of them while you can. Thank you. Next up at the podium.

Oh, this is always the fun part. Hey, Mike Weston, 82 Shoup Street. I hate talking about these things. So we're going to try to run through this as quickly as possible. I really had no intention of coming up here and speaking because I can't speak nearly as eloquently as most of the people have come up here about the issues.

Um, what I can point out is working for KIC and specifically with veterans, when I took that role, I wasn't told that I could just work with the tribal veterans. I was told to work with everybody, which is exactly what I do. More than half the people I see are not tribal citizens. KIC finds— they are actively looking for problems that Ketchikan has so they can solve them. We had a housing issue, so what happens?

They built a house. Not just one house, they built a space for 28 people to help alleviate the burden on the community. During COVID how many people did KIC help with food?

With bills. I mean, tonight alone, President Burns just committed $10,000 to an issue that is, is a really big issue because, I mean, you guys heard it earlier, my nephew— I, I, I can't talk, I can't explain exactly how much the changes that have had— I've seen in him since he's gotten more active in, in some of these extracurricular activities. It's night and day.

And while I'm sure most people when they come up here had a really point, I, I really just wanted to emphasize that changes are going to happen. We're still going to keep fighting for the community because it's our community too. Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments. Podium is still open.

Good evening, honourable assembly members.

Um, I want to speak to the issue of the offhand comment, public comment made by Planning Commissioner. But first, I want to acknowledge and commend everyone. Can you state your name? My name is Praddy. I work as in-house legal counsel for Kitchener Indian Community, speaking as a private resident today.

Um, I want to commend everyone who's had the strength and courage to speak today and advocate, especially our youth standing shoulder to shoulder. It's very inspiring, and it reminds us and instills that the fight is never over, not against each other, but to work together to make the system better.

This moment of outrage did not arise from an isolated event. It arose in response to KIC directly engaging the borough's own process in good faith to build a navigation center meant to serve every member of the community. Community. So we need to understand this is more than one difficult remark. Over the past several months, public testimony submitted to this borough has questioned the tribe's trustworthiness, tied Native recovery patients to crime statistics, and described neighborhood fears in language that signaled out who those patients were.

This hasn't shown up once. It's shown up systematically because it's systemic. Before this body acts tonight, it needs to understand what it's actually acting KIC became a federally recognized tribe in 1939 and ratified its own constitution on January 27th, 1940— KIC Day— 19 years before Alaska became a state, 23 years before this borough existed. But the tribe's right to self-governance goes back long before any of those dates. The land this body zones is the extension of thousands of years of stewardship by Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people whose home we have all arrived on.

And I must starkly clarify that the federal trust responsibility the United States owns to the tribe is not a handout, and it's not about race. It flows from the tribe's inherent sovereignty, sovereignty that predates the United States itself, as recognized under the Constitution, stated firstly and forever in the Commerce Clause as a government-to-government legal obligation. Confusing that with racial preference is exactly the kind of misunderstanding that perpetuates harm. 81 Years after Alaska passed the first anti-discrimination law in the United States, The tribe is still fighting the same fight again against all fan comments that has lingered on to be platformed by sitting public official. Although 4 other requests were on that same agenda tonight, that night, only tribes got measured against what white people pay, even after the borough staff had already clarified what this was about— a hard site constraint, not special treatment.

However, we still don't have an apology, no resignation, and fortunately not silence. But we must wait for accountability. I want to thank the mayor, this assembly, and everyone who's spoken up. And thank you for moving so quickly to censure. But censure must meet accountability to close this gap.

I support all efforts for formal commitments to strengthen your own laws for accountability and removal. Because this gap is not about one person. It's about not yet having a standard for when public comment crosses from policy disagreement into discriminatory framing. Without that standard, this issue is not rooted out. What resolves this is real government-to-government recognition, consultation, and co-stewardship, not just when it's absolutely necessary, but as a standing practice that informs better laws, better government, better governance, and legal inclusivity.

The detriment of what is perceived to be done to one strand or one voice impairs the whole and chills the ability to provide community service and accessibility. Efforts for building the First Navigation Centre in Ketchikan meant to bring healing should not be reduced to a racial flashpoint. Respectfully request you to consult with the tribe to develop standards and extend a meaningful seat to the tribe in this process to empower governmental collaboration, foster consensus, and ensure reciprocity. Um, I just want to end with a quote that means a lot to me from Natalie Diaz, a Mojave artist, a writer, an artist. Um, it's never been about blood, it's about how you arrive to a place, how you make connections to the land, and then how you receive others after that reciprocity.

Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments.

Podium is still open if anyone would like to come and speak.

All right. That gets us to the item. I will close public comment. We will move on to— go ahead. Okay.

I was just asking if we could take a short break. But no, let's get over this and then we'll get— okay. All right, uh, that leads us to 9A on our agenda. Motion to condemn discriminatory comments of a Planning Commissioner and urge the Planning Commission to adopt a motion of censure. I will ask the assembly for a motion.

Your Honor, uh, Miss Mattson, I move to condemn the discriminatory comments of Planning Commissioner Darlene Dolamont-Svensson on September 15, 2026, and call upon the Planning Commission to adopt a motion of censure against Darlene Dolamont-Svenson. Second. Your Honor. Yep, go ahead. I move to amend.

Can I amend? Yeah, go ahead. So that was seconded by Bolling. I move to amend to add to express no confidence and request the resignation of Darlene Dolamont-Svenson. Second.

Amendment that was seconded, moved by Mattson, seconded by Thompson. Discussion on the amendment? Uh, Mr. Thompson. Thank you, Your Honor. I stand with KIC and the rest of the community in that discrimination and ethical lapses of this commissioner have no place in our government, and I believe that we are owed an apology, and I think we're owed a resignation.

Thank you. All right, any other discussion?

All right, please vote on the amendment. Please call the roll.

Palmer, yes. Thompson, aye. Ortez, yes. Arnson, yes. Bowling, yes.

Dial, yes. Mattson, yes. 7 Yes, Your Honor. All right, that takes us back to the main amended motion. Any more discussion?

Uh, Miss Mattson, you have We'll give her time. Thank you to all who have spoken both prior to this night and this night. I say gnaashii shi:wa and thank you for your words. Thank you for recognizing that as a body, we stand with you in abhorring the words that were spoken last week. I would echo what Joe Williams Jr. said earlier today.

Forgive me if my pronunciation is incorrect, but "Ishondu, poor thing, shame on you." Maya Angelou said, "Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible." Elizabeth Peradovich said, "Speak your intent to help us overcome discrimination." I think that I appreciate that so many of us express our allies and stand with abhorrence at the fact that these words were spoken in a public forum and recognize that words do carry weight, especially when they're platformed, and that when words are unacceptable, that we stand together in condemning those.

Willard Jackson, in his comments, spoke and said, "Words that flow from one's tongue can be very piercing sometimes." I express, along with others, the regret that these words were piercing to so many, um, and that pierced tender places in so many. Um, as, as a borough, um, and as partners and neighbors, uh, together, I'm grateful to be part of this community. I'm grateful to be part of a community that stands together against racism and against discrimination, um, and condemning that as not part of the community that we all want to be a part of. So I am in full full support of this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Arnson.

I very much want to thank all of the people that came and expressed themselves today, and thank you to those for holding back on some of the applause. I just really want to make sure that everybody feels like they can be heard in this forum. I'd like to make some brief comments as a former planning commissioner, and because I'm deeply disappointed in how Commissioner Dispensing conducted herself by engaging in ex parte communication, failing to disclose it before the case was presented, and then relying on those conversations to inject race into a matter where it did not belong. She violated the clear standards set out in Borough Code 2.115.120: Officials, boards, or commissions, while acting in their quasi-judicial capacity, shall be impartial in all matters matters, both in fact and in appearance. No member of any board, commission, or any official shall receive or otherwise engage in ex parte communications.

The Planning Commission is a quasi-judicial body. Its decisions are subject to judicial review.

Sorry, I lost my spot. Commissioners are not elected representatives of constituencies They are appointed lay citizens expected to apply the code impartially. When a commissioner cannot be impartial or unbiased on a matter, the proper course is to disclose and recuse or seek a ruling from the chair. This is a place where the blind scales of justice are supposed to prevail, where every citizen and taxpayer is treated equally under the code. The comments made at the end of that meeting fell short falls vastly short of that standard and damaged public trust in the process.

I appreciated Mr. Thompson's comments also and agree that we are due an apology and his resignation. I obviously support urging the Planning Commission to censure the commissioner. I believe it is prudent also for this body to develop a clear policy for addressing situations in which an appointed commissioner fails to meet the basic expectations of the role. Ketchikan has long shown it can hold people accountable while still working together across differences for a better community. That is the standard we should uphold, and thank you all for being here and being a part of that.

Thank you so much. Uh, Mr. Dial?

Uh, yes, thank you, Your Honor. I'd like to give a little background in my thoughts on this matter. Um, can everybody Can you hear me okay? We're turning you up. Just give us a minute.

We can kind of hear you. Okay, how about now? Is that okay? It's better for us. Is that okay for everyone?

You can continue to speak and we'll raise the voice on you. All right, thank you. So years ago when I was the mayor, I made several annual appointments to the Planning Commission like all mayors do. And at the time, there were 4 applicants for 3 positions, 1 city seat and 2 rural seats. Ms. Winston was one of the applicants.

She submitted a resume that listed extensive planning experience, provided a statement of qualifications, and even went above the other applicants by providing personal references. I had 2 rural vacancies and 2 applicants who had completed the application process. I forwarded those names to the assembly and the assembly confirmed them. Now, there was nothing in Ms. Swenson's application or references that gave me reason not to appoint her at that time. But it is a decision that I now regret, and I apologize to the Indian community, and I ask that you please forgive me for that decision.

Last Thursday, when the borough packet was distributed, I learned of the comments she made during the planning commission meeting, and my opinion is there is simply no excuse for them. Whatever her intent may have been, the result brought discredit upon the Planning Commission and the borough. The comments were hurtful, inflammatory, and offensive. The Planning Commission is one of the harder boards to be a part of because they frequently make decisions that are controversial that many will object to, but people will generally accept the outcome of those decisions if they feel the process is fair. So for me, this is not a free speech issue.

It's about a responsibility that comes with the position to be fair and impartial and maintain public trust. Now going forward, the larger concern I've heard loud and clear is a potential bias, or at least a perception of, that could lead to discrimination in future decisions that she would be involved in. Having said all that, I'm a bit surprised Ms. Swenson hasn't resigned. We all make mistakes. The right thing to do is to take responsibility and ask for forgiveness.

Don't rationalize it or justify it, just do the right thing and learn from it. So with that, I'll be voting tonight to condemn the comments made because I believe it is the right statement coming from this body. As far as how we can learn from this, I would ask that all citizens consider that regardless of if you believe in evolution or creation, If you go back far enough, we all had the same mother. Everyone is in the same family tree. Now, Jesus warned us in the Gospels that a house divided against itself will not stand.

And in Matthew 24, Jesus told us we would get to a time that nations shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. In the original Greek translation, the word nation is translated from the Greek word ethnos. Which is the root word for ethnicity. So anyway, without turning this into a sermon, I would just ask the community consider that there are forces pitting us against each other for reasons that are not in our best interest. So don't play along.

Love your neighbor and we'll get past this. And thank you. Thank you so much. Mr. Ortiz. Thank you.

I, first of all, would like to express my full support for the recommended action that's before us, for the amended recommended action that's before us. When I heard, first heard of the comments that were spoken by Ms. Benson, I was astounded. I was like, I just could not believe it. With that said, Tonight, I would like to say thank you to all that have come forward to speak on this particular issue. And let me say that you made me proud.

You made me proud to be a part of this community. When I look out into this room right now, I see so many of you that I've grown up with, that I went to school with, with, that I taught in school, and it makes me proud to be able to be a part of this community and for the contributions that the indigenous people have made over hundreds of years to this community. I came here in 1969. I went to Maine School, like somebody spoke about tonight, and at that time We were a diverse community and we continue to be a diverse community, a community that works together, that helps each other out together, and that includes the great contributions of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people who are part of our community. And I say thank you.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of that community. Uh, Ms. Bowling. Thank you. Um, to the Alaska Natives and American Indians in our community, if you are injured, we are all injured.

And I'm looking forward to voting yes on this amended motion to start the healing. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, yes, go ahead. Thank you.

Yes, um, I just want to echo everyone on this body and also join in KIC, the mayor, City of Saxman, City of Ketchikan, ANB, ANS, Tlingit and Haida, and Representative Bynum in condemning the words of Ms. Dispenson. We all know racism has no, no business on our island, right? And, and especially not in a public service position. We're here to represent everyone equally and make sure all services all the time are happening for all people equally. And so anyway, I want to touch on a couple of themes tonight because it's always powerful when people come to the podium, and I appreciate a lot of the storytelling that happened tonight because it's also— it's teaching moment for everyone, right?

Hearing the history of what some of you experienced, your grandparents did, and then having to retell that in 2026 because somebody said something out loud at a podium, which is unbearable. But some of the themes that were pretty heavy and actually quite great were of kindness and speaking to kindness to fight hate with that and love. I loved whenever— gosh, where's— Earthshaker, hearing your Native name out loud at the podium, that was pretty powerful. And asking for people to respond with kindness instead of hate, because always online we see a lot of hate all the time, and people are very quick with their keyboards, and it's pretty nasty sometimes. So appreciate the response, the podium, of meeting this with kindness and love instead, and taking the time to teach and share from the heart, especially the young man whose Native name is True Heart.

Thanks for the courage of getting up here and speaking tonight, because that says a lot about you and where you're going in life too. One day you'll be up here sitting here. And then also pride for place, because it's very clear everyone is very proud of this home and this island. When the youth were getting up and speaking, talking about their sports, all of a sudden the tone also shifted where many of you had no idea they were going to be here, but then you joined in saying, wait a minute, yes, Yes, fund youth sports. We need to do that because it's also suicide prevention and we need to take care of everybody here in that regard, right?

And so, um, I appreciate that we're all here tonight for this purpose of, um, figuring out a path forward and asking this person to step down since we don't have a method currently for removing appointed folks from positions, which is pretty insane when you think about that from the fact that we can say, okay, great, folks are on the consent agenda, and we just slide them on to these bodies. But there's no way to slide them off when mistakes happen and they do something that's pretty egregious. So we're going to work on that, and you'll see that come forward. But thank you all for being here. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Your Honor. We received a lot of correspondence this past few days with regards to this issue, and one of the items that came was from Lillian Tucker. She asked it be part of the written record, but there are two paragraphs in here I would like to read for the record because they struck me as being very appropriate to what we're talking about tonight. The first one, it says, Ketchikan is a melting pot of cultures and histories, but being a community means standing together, especially when injustice happens. We can disagree about government funding, policies, and decisions without turning those disagreements into judgments about entire groups of people.

At the end of the day, we are still neighbors. Accountability does not require cruelty, and kindness does not require silence. And she ended her letter with this. She said, this is not only about what happened at one planning commission meeting or what action the borough ultimately takes. It is about what we do with this moment.

Do we speak up? Do we strengthen policies where gaps exist? Do we hold ourselves to those same standards long after this moment has passed. Our children are watching what we choose to do now. They will inherit more than the community we leave them.

They will inherit the example we set. And I thought those words were very appropriate to tonight's discussion. Thank you, Your Honor. All right, thank you. Any other comments?

I would just like to let you guys know this, this will go beyond just a censure. I've called a special meeting for next Monday, same time at 5:30. We'll be announcing that. For our code change to remove someone that's been appointed by a mayor, it takes 2 hearings. So that will be next Monday at 5:30, September 28th, and then we'll have the second hearing October 5th.

And at that time, if Ms. Svensson obviously has not been resigned, we will create the removal process for that. So about 2 weeks that will take us to create the code change. So just letting you guys know. All right, any other discussion? All right, please call the roll.

Arnson, yes. Dial, yes. Ortiz, yes. Thompson, aye. Palmer, yes.

Bowling, yes. Mattson, yes. 7 Yes, Your Honor. All right, we'll take a 15-minute break. We'll come back at 8 PM.

8 PM meeting is in recess.

Request. Okay. Kansas. That would have been fun. I would love to be— and statistics.

Okay, you are streaming. Okay, ready? Welcome back to the September 21st regular assembly meeting. We are on item 4A, report and direction for borough manager, recruit recruitment application screening criteria and scoring rubric. Go ahead, Ms.

Eklund. Good evening. Carolyn Eklund, Human Resources Director. I just lost the screen. That isn't going to be helpful, is it?

Rodney's definitely going to need you to speak in the mic too. Can't hear you. I could do that, but right now I'm trying I'm going to— I can see it. You can't see it. Give me a second.

There we go.

OK. So we are 99% of the way there tonight. We're just finishing up a couple of items. We're approving the application as presented, the screening criteria. Um, which is the 5 required and 6 preferred and the revised rubric.

We removed one item and moved some points around. So we'll get to that. Let's do it. Um, the application is already built in NeoGov. Any changes that you direct tonight will be made before the posting opens.

Our target date right now is October 5th. It's a Monday. Uh, so we do have just a little bit of time if we needed to come back for that meeting. Fine, we can still open it on the 6th. So we're, we're going to be okay.

All right. So the posting is still set to go out on the borough website, neogov, AML, AMMA, ICMA, NACO, Ketchikan Daily News, all of those places. So it's one application. I don't need to spend a ton of time here because we've kind of already set these criteria. This is just kind of a recap.

Here's the 6 supplemental questions. So these are scored against the rubric, which was adopted by you, and the applicant will be encouraged to answer them with specifics rather than general statements of philosophy. So it's a budget under constraint, working with the school district, which is the new question, Um, so that explanation was the Ketchikan Gateway Borough funds the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District and owns the district's facilities, but the district is governed by its own elected board and led by its own administration. Describe your experience working with a school district or a comparable separately governed entity. Address what the working relationship was like, how you cooperated on budget matters, funding request and multi-year forecasting, how facility and/or capital needs were handled, and how disagreements between the two bodies were resolved.

It's a lot of words, but in order to kind of nail down to what you're looking for, kind of needed to go a little long. And then also the remainder are capital delivery, labor relations, working with the governing body, and familiarity with Alaska and Baroka local government. So these items are required, which means pass or fail. So if an applicant misses one of these, it's not— they are not scored and do not advance. Required criteria is bachelor's degree or equivalent education and experience.

So while it sounds like a lot, it can mean a lot, right? So 7 years of progressively responsible local government management, direct responsibility for an operating budget of comparable scale, a written agreement to abide by the ICMA Code of Ethics, and no disqualifying conflict of interest. So nothing crazy or out of the norm there.

Um, here's how preferred items enter the score. Um, so So a preferred item would be like if you were the chief administrator or deputy in a city, borough, or county. So that overall weight is 20, and then we would take— when we're scoring, which is back here further, there's an example also included here where these preferred items kind of just help influence the overall score.

One of the actions that I'm gonna need you to take tonight is to adopt the required and preferred criteria as that affects the rubric. So this is what feeds each category. So if you read a row across, the category is what gets rated, the weight is what the rating is worth, and everything to the right is evidence a reviewer looks at. So financial and budget acumen, the weight is 30, and the supplemental questions that it refers to are questions 1 and 2. The preferred item that may inform it, none, because this is weighted so high.

So the 6 questions are the evidence. The 6 categories are what gets scored. A preferred item doesn't earn points on its own. It raises the rating in a category that it informs. So financial acumen and communication, 45 of the 100 points can't be moved by the preferred list at all.

So that's just the only one because it carries such a great weight. It could throw it way out if we entered any of the preferred weight into it. But leadership and management, that overall weight is 20, and that kind of goes towards like the labor relations, and this is where the preferred item like administrator, deputy service, or, you know, work with collective bargaining, that type of thing, that would influence that. So, this is just kind of like an overview of what will feed the scoring.

This is how a score is actually built. So, you rate each category, apply the weight, and average the panel. It's pretty self-explanatory. The reviewer puts the applicant at an overall score of 64. The score of record is the panel average.

75 And above is an automatic finalist. 60 To 74 are to be considered, and below 60 technically doesn't advance. However, every application will be viewed by the Assembly in executive session. These will just automatically be categorized by the scores.

So what changed since August 24th? The interview performance came out and its weight moved to 3 categories that the assembly identified. So you can see financial and budget, budget acumen was 25, it's now 30. Leadership and management is unchanged. Communication and community relations is unchanged.

Operational and project Execution increased. Uh, Alaska and borough government familiarity increased. Um, education credentials remain the same. We removed interview performance, so an overall of 100 points. Um, and that is one thing that I'm gonna need you to do tonight is adopt these revised, um, weights.

This is where the October 5 target puts us. Kind of in a roundabout way.

So we'll open it for 30 days initially.

Like I said, we're targeting October 5th, which would mean it closes early November.

HR panel will be screening every application, and then the review will be done by the Assembly either in the last meeting of November or the only meeting of December. So somewhere in there.

Potentially, uh, beta interviews in January, selection in February, if all goes according to plan. But it still leaves us plenty of, plenty of space for plenty of time to take our time if we choose to do so.

Um, so So with that, there was included just kind of a sample application of what it's going to kind of look like in NeoGov for the applicant, as well as a brochure that was attached to the agenda item. Those are just kind of last button-up items for you all. So, let's see here. What I need from you is to approve the full application as presented.

Anybody object? Thank you. I really appreciate the presentation and going through the slides. I just had a couple questions and they seem a little silly, but it just for the record, like when you ask about the— the mayor, when, when there's a request to approve the application and that, but this is a sample is what I heard, and there— so in the sample, there were some marks that had already been checked, some yes boxes, and so I was curious if you could speak to that and how they're going to input all of the other information. Like, there's— I just want to make sure it's— there's one category here for work experience, right?

But we were asking for 7 years of history, so all that's already built into the application, I I just wanted to— that's correct. And then, and then about the, um, and the boxes won't already be pre-filled. Okay, okay. And then I just had a question, a curiosity question. Um, in on your application slide, it says voluntary EEO data kept out of screening.

Um, I just— can you speak to that kept out of screening portion? Oh, it's not a weighted value, it's just a required item. Yeah. So when it says we have to gather that and report on it. OK, thank you, Mr.

Thompson. And then, Miss Mattson, just a couple of quick questions for clarity. Who's going to do the review? Is that going to be staff or the assembly and the review and the ranking on the rubric? So right now it will be a panel of 3.

We could do it however you prefer. Well, the reason I'm asking that is it does say that the Assembly will review the field in executive session, and I wasn't sure, is staff going to do the initial scoring? Yes. Okay. And so then the second question is, what happens if nobody advances, nobody scores a 64?

Do we take them by their rank or do we start over? That will be up to you because you will get to see all of the applications in executive session. Okay. Thank you. Ms. Manson?

Thank you. Thank you for this. I had just a couple clarifying questions. One is multiple slides back, but it was talking about references, and on that it listed two elected officials as a reference. Is that a requirement for all applicants, or those were suggestions?

Right, we ask for that. Mm-hmm. It doesn't disqualify you if you don't provide those. That would kind of indicate if you have that experience. Just my suggestion, I guess, through the mayor to this body is if we serve as a reference for a candidate for this position, we would need to recuse ourselves from that process as a reference because we would be biased.

Just— Good point. Just to throw that out there if people are looking for that from us. Yes, it would. It would potentially be problematic. Thank you.

It doesn't have to be current. Correct. Former. Correct. Could be another community, could be anything, but you are absolutely correct.

That would not be advisable.

Any other comments? Questions? No? Okay. Okay.

And then the next item is the Screening criteria, so the 5 required and the 6 preferred.

We had already basically approved all of that except for the— we have the addition of the school district question. So if you're satisfied with that, I will mark those as okay. Okay. And the rubric, the moving of the values and the scoring, if we're okay with those. Are we okay with those?

Is there any comment, Mr. Thompson? You need a motion, Your Honor. There is a recommended motion in the packet. I just have one other question before— about the presentation. Go ahead.

Through the mayor, it was a silly suggestion, but I read through the brochure, which looks fantastic, and in the first paragraph it talks about the community, and it says Known as the First City, it is the economic and medical hub of southern Southeast Alaska and the gateway to the Misty Fjords National Monument, which may be true, but aren't we the gateway to Alaska? Like, isn't that how we typically— we could say gateway to Alaska, huh? We can say gateway to Alaska and the Misty Fjords National Monument. We're a gateway and we're not— you could say it however you'd I was like, this was— that paragraph was verbiage from our last recruitment. I think this is— I think it's great, and I really want to start kind of capitalizing on that economic idea that we are the gateway to Alaska.

Thank you. Easy fix. Yep, go ahead, Mr. Thompson. I think we should call ourselves the wet paradise. Your Honor, I move to approve the borough manager application, adopt the required and preferred screening criteria, and adopt the scoring Rubric and Advancement Thresholds.

Second. That's moved by Thomson, seconded by Mattson. Discussion? Mr. Thomson? I think staff's doing an outstanding job in moving this forward, and I'd like to move it along.

Any other? The only thing you missed in here was how much rainfall we get. Darn it. I can fix that. I can fix it.

All right, thank you. Average. Yeah, don't tell them. That would be bad.

Okay, any other discussion? No? Mr. Dial? No?

Okay. Please call the roll. Dial. Yes. Artez.

Yes. Thomson. Aye. Bowling. Yes.

Mattson. Yes. Palmer. Yes. Artson.

Yes. 7 Yes, Your Honor. Okay, that's Item 5 on our agenda. We do not have any public hearings. That takes us to Acceptance of Claims.

I'll entertain a motion Any discussion from the assembly? Your Honor? Yep, go ahead. I move to approve the presented claims totaling $4,542,537.11.

Second. It's moved by Mattson, seconded by Palmer. Uh, discussion? Presentation of claims? All right, please call the roll.

Ortiz? Yes. Palmer? Yes. Thompson?

Aye. Arnson? Yes. Bowling? Yes.

Dial? Yes. Mattson? Yes. 7 Yes, Your Honor.

All right, that takes us to our consent calendar. On the consent calendar, uh, this week is 7A, approval of assembly minutes, September 8th, 2026, regular meeting. 7B, amendment number 3 to the contract with Nortec Inc. for Point Higgins fuel spill response in the amount of $90,473.45. 7C, assembly review of marijuana renewal application license number 11957, doing business as Last Frontier Joint Corporations LLC. Do any members wish to pull an item from the consent calendar?

Your Honor, Miss Arnsen, item B. Item B. All right, item B will be removed. Any others? All right, I'll entertain a motion from the assembly.

Your Honor, yep, I move to approve the consent calendar as amended. Second. Moved by Mattson, second by Thompson. Discussion on that? All right, please call the roll.

Thompson. Aye. Mattson. Yes. Arnson.

Yes. Palmer. Yes. Dial. Yes.

Ortez. Yes. Bowling. Yes. 7 Yes, Your Honor.

Okay, that takes us to Item 8A, transfer consent calendar of 7B. I'll entertain a motion from the assembly. Your Honor. Yep. I move to approve Amendment Number 3 to the contract with Nortec.

Mosaic Incorporated for Point Higgins fuel spill response in the amount of $90,473.45.

Second. Moved by Bolling, seconded by Palmer. Discussion? Ms. Arnsen. Thank you, Your Honor.

I was wondering if we could use this opportunity to get an update from staff regarding the insurance.

To staff. Sorry, regarding the insurance— insurance, that's what I thought I heard— repayment. I had a discussion this morning actually with the Scottsdale— the outside counsel representing Scottsdale. We're at the point now where it's obviously a full tender of the $2 million from Scottsdale. We have some finer points of a release to go through.

And as soon as I believe that's ready and appropriate for assembly consideration, I'll put that release before the assembly. But I think we're very close. On the other side, with our carrier Ironshore, which is the remaining $1.5 million in coverage, we have been doing the financial review process with Ironshore. I think we received last week the final follow-up requests for documentation backing all of our claimed expenses. And that's gone much better than it did with Nationwide/Scottsdale.

If you remember, Scottsdale farmed out the financial review to its parent company Nationwide, and there was a lot of delay in the course of them completing their financial review. Scottsdale's done and Ironshore has used an outside adjuster who we have dealt with previously, so it's gone well. I think we're going to close both of those claims out much closer in time to one another than I originally estimated. But I think we're— like I said, I am hoping to have a release for Assembly consideration shortly, the next meeting or two, with Scottsdale for the $2 million Sorry, Monday. Well, when I was talking to her, I wasn't quite sure we were going to have a meeting on Monday, but I did mention that October 5th to her.

So I will effort to do that, as they say. I think we should put that on as a possible agenda item on special meeting. Just put it on the agenda. Yeah, single item.

Yeah. Any other questions? Can I also just add relative to this agenda item itself? In the packet, there were two pieces of correspondence from DEC, one October 26th and the other September 17th. They were the two phases of the DEC closeout.

They've been very, very happy with the borough's response and Nortek's handling of the cleanup project, not at no expense, but the last pieces necessary to get the closeout, including— and this last piece of the contract involves projecting out the monitoring that we'll continue to do going forward, you know, potentially for a period of years, and then by what standards we will then end our monitoring of the soil and the air quality in the building so that we'll be back to where we began last August.

Any other questions? No? Okay. Thank you.

That's right, we are still in discussion. Any other discussion? No? Okay. Please call the roll.

Yes. Mattson. Yes. Dial. Yes.

Arnson. Pass. Ortez. Yes. Palmer.

Yes. Thompson. No. Arnson. Yes.

6 Yes, 1 no, Your Honor. Okay, that takes us to Item 8B, work session and consideration of Borough Code of Conduct providing for ethical expectations, professional standards, and progressive accountability. That's postponed August 3rd. Postponed August 24th, 2026, sponsored by Assemblymembers Arnson and Mattson. I'll entertain a motion from the Assembly.

Sorry, we're entering the work session. Your Honor, yep, I move to enter into work session to discuss the code of conduct presented by Assemblymembers Arnson and Mattson. Second. Moved by Mattson, seconded by Arnson. A discussion to enter into work session?

Okay, please call the roll. Thompson. Aye. Palmer. Yes.

Ortez. Yes. Mattson. Yes. Dial.

Yes. Bowling. Yes. Arnson. Yes.

7 Yes, Your Honor. Okay, we are now in a work session. Uh, rules, rules are relaxed so we can start off however we want. Maybe from the makers of the motion. Yep, go ahead, Mr. Arnson.

I just like to give a brief summary of where we are today. Um, as mentioned before, this— the heart for this item came out of an AML meeting last December, and I thought, well, we have such a great body that we should probably develop some kind of standard that which we can agree to measure our own conduct against. And so this is what has come out of that over a few different revisions, but mostly what I'm looking for tonight is feedback from the assembly. There was an additional email that was provided back on the original meeting date where I had shared some of my information, but my hope tonight is to hear from the assembly. Thank you.

All right, thank you. Any other discussion? Work session? We were going to have maybe some input from, from staff, Mr. Brown, about this.

I had— there were a number of challenges with the code as presented. I had lengthy meetings with both the sponsor and co-sponsor on this to get a better sense of where they were wishing to go with the code. The problems there— there had been an amendment to excise employees from the code at the last meeting. There still are remaining challenges in its application to volunteers and contractors. It really— it needs— for it to go forward in something close to its present form, it would need pretty significant work in terms of setting out the processes and the progressivity of response for violations that are addressed early on, But it needs— it would need a lot of refinement and more detail placed into that.

And the— probably the biggest challenge from a law end is we have a lot of provisions in Title II and Title III that are covered by what's in the code of conduct. And integrating those sections of the code of conduct into code so we weren't ending up with essentially two sets of standards. Two processes. So that was the initial conversation I had with Assemblymember Mattson and Arnsen. And I think they may be able to speak better to what came from those discussions.

But I think we have some idea of what might come forward, perhaps in lieu of the code as it's presented in the agenda.

Yeah, go ahead, Ms. Bowling. Yes. So here's my, my thought after this is our second meeting on this— reading through it, and part of me— part of me kind of feels like this is busywork, that it sounds nice, but I question the necessity of it or the usefulness of it. You know, I like the idea of it, but I'm also thinking about the amount of staff time.

To work on this AI-generated document. It's not written yet.

But if I vote no, then I'm voting against an ethics policy. I mean, it puts us in a really awkward, awkward position. I don't like that. This, I don't think, is ready at, you know, any length. As Mr. Brown discussed, but, um, I, I'm just— I just feel now that if I vote against it, it's like, oh, she voted against an ethics policy.

But this is, this is not that yet. It's just the idea of it. And I'm just— right now I'm not supporting this whole process.

And I don't know if we want to invest more staff time into doing this when our ethics and codes of conduct exist in other formats. So I'm just concerned that if this is something that we want to spend more time on. Thank you. Go ahead, Ms. Palmer. Thank you, Your Honor.

I'm curious if when we take our oath of office, if it has enough depth depth in it that covers a lot of these topics anyway? Because we swear that we're going to do these things, right? And we're going to uphold the— I don't even remember what it says, it's been a long time. But is the oath of office strong enough for setting the expectation of this body? And then we already have the ethics board, we have a recall mechanism, you know, for the public.

So I guess, can you speak to our oath of office and if it's strong enough to cover all of this? Or could we expand that and cover the same ground?

The problem is, what is— what is the mechanism to pursue a member who violates the oath of office as it's written? Our ethics code itself actually goes to financial and fiduciary conflicts of interest, so it doesn't really address other conduct-related behaviors that we may be trying to address in the code of conduct.

There are other mechanisms in statute. You know, recall, we are a high voter access state, so they have recall initiative and referendum available. In terms of a body policing its own, there are remedies under the Robert's Rules of Order also, where a body can discipline its own members, as we have discussed recently. Mm-hmm. So I don't know that the oath by itself— you would still need another mechanism to police what was alleged or perceived to be a violation of the oath of office.

Okay. And if I may, Ms. Paxton, could you tell us what is in the current oath of office for assembly members? For assembly members, you affirm to uphold the laws of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the state of Alaska, and the Constitution of the United States. So there's lots of laws in the borough, the state, and the federal government. Parliamentary procedure is one of those because it's adopted by your code.

So everything that's part of parliamentary procedure governs your actions at this body— the personnel code, the conflict of interest code, the assembly rules of procedure. So anything that's not in those those would not essentially be a violation of your oath of office, but anything within those already adopted laws and rules, if those were violated, that would be a violation of your oath.

Ms. Mattson. Thank you. One of the things that I have supported in this is when Assemblymember Arnsen brought this up last year. I, I have seen both in bodies that I've served in and in other bodies in our community where often the only mechanism is a public recall, and that even having a discussion about ethical violations becomes personal.

It becomes something that maybe my values are not in line with someone else's values and that when I'm bringing that up to the body, it feels like it's punitive or personal. Some of my goals for supporting this is that if, you know, one of the things that we, that I discussed with Attorney Brown was potentially adopting canons of conduct or, you know, the IUPAC CMA has a code of conduct that we're looking at, you know, asking our borough manager to sign that they agree to. But to have people understand that that is the code of conduct or the canons of conduct that we would expect from one another, that we could expect from our employees, and that the public can expect from us. And that if there are incidents where we would violate some of those things, whether it's that we're using language that is not in line with what our code of, or canon of conduct says that we value as a body, that we can call that out with specificity and in alignment with not my personal values are not in line with somebody else's, or I don't like somebody else, but that there's specific agreements that we make as a commitment to our community, to our borough, to our offices, and that we also hold our, you know, our specific 3 employees to that level of conduct as well. And like was mentioned, those aren't mentioned in our Code of Ethics necessarily.

We can think, you know, that maybe making sure that we don't use derogatory language or that we, you know, like a lot of that is determined by financial or fiduciary responsibilities and ethics, but not necessarily that we hold values to be foundational to our work, and I think that there is merit to having this discussion. And I think that's what, you know, Assemblymember Arntz and I know myself, you know, the goal with bringing something forward wasn't that we would necessarily identify the whole thing, but that we could have a conversation of, um, do we feel like we could have a value that we agree on, whether that's a canon or code of conduct, to hold each other to account? And that if a future board decides differently, they need to have that discussion publicly about why they no longer want want to have that standard for the body, and that we have a mechanism to hold each other accountable publicly and transparently. And I can see the advantage of having something in place for that, both on boards that I've served on and, and things that we've seen in our community in the more recent few— uh, past. So I don't know that this is the exact mechanism, but I think that there is a lot of merit in determining, determining that.

Thank you. Any other discussion? Mr. Ortiz? In your efforts— this is a question— in your efforts and research, both by staff and Ms. Arnson, on this particular issue, was there an effort to say, to look and find out, are there existing codes of conduct out there already for bodies like us, assemblies around the state of Alaska, assemblies across the United States so that we don't feel like we have to create the wheel if there's something that would work for us already that's there, rather than trying to figure out something from scratch? That's my question.

Yeah, and as— yes, to answer Mr. Ortiz's question, absolutely. And as I mentioned at a previous meeting, we looked through NACo. I did provide a lot of the links in the previous email that showed that I couldn't find anything substantial. There are communities that have more specific— they're very pointed, they're very exact about issues or violations, and we have that. We have that in our code.

I was really looking for something, as Ms. Mattson was referencing, that we could use to foster conversation in a way that doesn't come across as personal or attacking when we have standards that we're seeking to uphold from this body.

So yeah, we did look into that, and, and I have appreciated the time that Mr. Brown took took to go through and kind of understand a little bit more about why I was asking what I was asking, and then put together something, you know, in the form of canons that may be more palatable is just kind of like a general statement of how are we going to conduct ourselves. And I think of one of the— some things that I talked to Mr. Brown about is, and forgive me if I'm repeating this, but I think of Miss Diana Coffin. I don't know if any of you ever had her as a preschool teacher or had your kids as preschool teacher, but she had 3 rules in her classroom, right? It was be safe, be kind, and take care of things. You know, we kind of expanded it in our family and it's take care of people, places, and things, right?

Like, you— 99% of all of my issues with my kids could fall underneath those rules. And if they were doing something, I could say, is that safe? Is that safe? Or is that kind, right? Or are you taking care of your brother by hitting him over the head with the, you know, and so that is really the heart of what I was looking for, is so that we don't have to get— the other conversation that I had with Mr. Brown was the idea of the Rotarian test, right?

So there's 4 standards, right, that you gauge And you have to ask yourself, right? So it's really kind of supposed to be more of a self-reflective and then conversation starter for how are we going to move forward together as a body or address this particular issue that, that could be a problem for us or a conflict.

And I would just also like to say that it was not an AI-generated document. I wrote this with Ms. Mattson, and we ran it through— I ran it through I can't remember if it was Copilot or Grok, just to try to have it in the format that was good enough to bring to the body. Thank you. Uh, Miss, uh, sorry, uh, Dial and then Bowling.

Uh, thank you. So I just think we need to be clear that nothing in this agenda item, if adopted or not adopted, changes the other issue that we dealt with tonight. I'm just kind of worried how these two issues that are separate and not related will be perceived by the public if they're reported in the same paper. So just to the attorney, can you just confirm that passage of this or not passage of this, either way, does not solve the other problem that we're presently dealing with? That's a good point.

I can absolutely confirm that.

Okay, thank you. And the only other thing I would like to add is I'm I'm kind of with Ms. Bowling on this. I'm really not sold on the need. I'm a little bit worried about the unintended consequences that we might not be able to identify at this time.

But I really do appreciate the attempt of the sponsor. Thank you. Ms. Bowling. Thank you.

My concern is the more specific we get, the more deep in the mud we're going to be. I like the idea of 3 or 4 just guideposts. You know, that sounds nice. It's a way to— something to reference back to. And we've just shown that we can certainly censor a borough representative if we need to.

But I'm just hesitant. You know, our staff time is taxpayer money time. And, you know, maybe we can just have our own little Assembly Committee to come up with 4, 3, whatever, guideposts, single sentences, but I'm not interested in another entire policy. I appreciate the work and the thought, and these are things that we really, we really do expect from each other and the people in our lives. So I mean, I appreciate the work.

I just I see it as one more policy. Thank you. The clerk has something to say for us about the procedural of this motion. Thank you, Your Honor. It's so— it— the, the comments that I'm hearing from assembly members are supportive for the work that's been done and a desire to not vote against the motion that would be on the floor.

There are a couple of options. The assembly, when you come out of work session, the assembly could withdraw, agree to withdraw the motion that was made on August 3rd, or the assembly could also postpone indefinitely. And then separate from that, a separate item could be brought forward when it's refined. So just a couple of options for how the assembly can dispose of the motion that's on the floor.

Okay. Makes sense to everybody? Okay. We are still in work session, so— go ahead, Mr. Thomson. Thank you, Your Honor.

I tend to agree with Assemblymember Bowling that this may be superfluous to other things that we have staff working on right now.

I like the thought behind it. As you say, nobody's going to vote against an ethics policy, but we already have an ethics policy entitled Title II, and we have personnel in Title III. This is intended to supplement that. I would like to have it gone through to make sure it, A, is supplementing it, and B, doesn't conflict with it and is very clear. And so, I don't think it's ready for primetime at this point, and I'm not sure that I want to spend a lot of time on it.

I think we have a process, we're refining that process as we as we speak this evening through some things that we're going to make changes to the code so that we can take care of situations such as Rose last week. And we can do those as we go forward and we can create ordinances to take care of that. And I think that if there's something specific in here that the authors were intending to cover, be it anything that has to do with sexual relationships and romantic relationships or appearance of a conflict collective interest as opposed to specifically a direct financial that's called out existing in our code. If we need to enhance the code with that, we should bring back amendments to that code rather than trying to create a new policy that might just duplicate some of what's already in the intent behind the original code. That's just my thoughts on it.

Okay. You got one more thing, Liz? And without elaborating any further, I would generally concur with the comments made by Assemblymember Bowling, Assemblymember Thompson, Assemblymember Dowell. Okay. Thank you.

All right. We're still in work session. Good to come out. Okay. We are now out of work session, but the following motion from the previous meeting is still on the floor for debate.

So discussion on that. Go ahead. Ms. Arntzen. Unless somebody else has discussion, I would say I'd like to move to postpone this item indefinitely.

Second. It's moved by Arnson, seconded by Thomson.

Is that allowed in Robert's Rules of Order that they're— okay, they are. I didn't know if you could speak negatively. Okay, okay. Um, any discussion on to move to postpone indefinitely? Does anyone need that explained, what that does?

Yeah, go ahead. The motion to postpone indefinitely basically kills the motion on the floor, the assembly at any time can bring back a separate item, or staff could bring back a separate similar item.

That makes sense to everybody? Okay, please call the roll. Arntzen. Yes. Dial.

Yes. Ortiz. Yes. Topson. Aye.

Palmer. Yes. Mattson. Yes. Yes.

Bowling? Yes. 7 Yes, Your Honor. Okay, we—. All right, new business has already been completed.

That takes us to reports, committees, and executive administrators. Manager's report. Thank you very much, Mayor and Assembly. I wanted to take a few minutes on the report given the hour, but I think there's some good things that the community should see. One is borough and city staff joined along with our airport staff on training of ICS 300, which is operations on— it's one of the elements within FEMA for operating under emergency situations.

And I think it was planned months ago, but it's very timely that following the anniversary of the landslide, that we once again retrain. And many of the people that were in this training session are new. We need to do this periodically because personnel do change. And we need to stay current. There were some individuals that had been through it before, but they hadn't been through it in several years.

And this is one of the items, as the borough being responsible for emergency management, we provide the training, we provide coordination, and to make all of that happen. And I want to make sure that you see that that is happening. And I'm very pleased to see it, and we'll continue to strive for excellence in this area because it's needed.

South Tongass Fire moved out today. They are in their building, and they'll be looking for an open house in October. There's a punch list. There's always a punch list at the end, and they're going through that punch list. Very excited about being there, and that is going to be happening.

Terminal expansion, a lot of information. And if it's— if there's any curiosity about, uh, there's a photograph with large tubes Those are the new inspection, uh, bay inspection machines used by TSA, and they needed to be delivered this month. So that was accelerated ahead of the rest of the building that's being finished out. That's why that had to get, that had to get done. TSA, well, their contractor was on a tight schedule.

So we got the carpet in, everything else. Now that'll be closed off with plastic while they finish the rest of the downstairs. They are still moving quite well along. There's also photographs that you'll be seeing released showing the new jetway being put in place.

And that's— that's for the second one. And then when all this is done later this year, they'll switch over and the old side will get remodeled on the inside.

Rainbird Trail. Rainbird Trail, yes, the— as you can see on the viewing platform, we'll open up at the end of this month. They're going to take some photographs. We'll be publicizing that. The trail itself will be a little later, but we know people are going to start using it right away.

But we want to let them know it's not quite done, but it's moved right along. And I know it's been a long time. It's been 2 years and trying to get that trail open to the public. So I want to thank staff for really working on that to try to make all that happen. There was comments recently about the stairs going to the slide tower at the pool.

There's a photograph here. That is getting repaired. As you saw in the last report, Public Works is pushing a lot of projects along with our recreation staff of getting facilities up and running and repaired. Just been a lot of work that you had budgeted for, and we're trying to make it all happen. There's Walker Field discussions.

There was an individual who hit our fence, and we'll be pursuing the damage on that. But folks, these things happen, and we carry insurance, and we will look at this at the end for the individual who caused the damage to see how that can be recouped, and we reported it.

But overall, things are working very well. We've also hired in a maintenance worker who, quite frankly, used to work for the school district, and that's going to help us take care of those extra buildings that we now have. And he has a background in that, so that's going to work out quite well for us. I'm going to skip over a little farther in because on page 10, we talk about the temporary office space request from the City of Ketchikan. They're going through a project to replace their HVAC, and they're going to be pulling down their ceiling.

I believe the original way they were going to try to do it piecemeal. But the new manager came and asked if there was space in here, they can move people out so they could get the project done floor by floor. And after looking at space, working with the clerk's office, the finance department, the public works, all of the— everyone in this building, we believe we found enough space for them to pull almost everybody out of there so that the contractor can go in there and gut it and get it done quickly. And it should save them some money. And so we had— because the empty spaces that were rented by the school district and the fire department, South Tongass moving out, we think we can get everyone in.

And so does the city. You'll be seeing a lease come forward to you that'll indicate the rent rate, which is required under the code. That'll be all happening. And this is all going to be happening over the next few weeks. Would you like to speak to any more of that?

Our assistant's been working on that.

I believe the report refers to an MOA, but in discussions with the attorney, it was determined that a lease format would be better. And the current lease rates are going to be the same as what the borough pays because the rent in this building is based on the operating costs. But then with the ability for— to charge for things that are going to increase because of the occupancy load for cleaning products, paper products, and we're trying to figure out how to look at the increased utilities with that many more people in the building. It will— the lease will include use of this space by coordinating with the Clerk's Office. We've got some other common spaces, conference rooms and things like that, that it will also include.

And currently, we don't have an exact list of which spaces they have selected, but we had a tour with the manager and some of his staff on Friday. And then with another portion of the city personnel on today— or yes, yes, today. So we should know pretty quickly which spaces they want, and then the intent is to have the lease in front of you on October 5th because they would like to move in as soon as they get— they wanted to start moving in like last week. So, yes. So, and, uh, and I think, uh, she can speak to the use of this room because the City Council will be migrating here also.

Would you like to speak to that? I think you covered it pretty well and can answer questions if there are any. Okay. So yes, we're—. Again, they found themselves in a bind.

They were trying to do it without, and that's when the city manager approached me and we sat down, brought other staff in, and through a quick series of meetings, we arrived at that we can— we'll help you as much as we can and without displacing anyone. And looks like we're going to be able to do quite a bit for them. So I'm glad we were able to step up and do that for them. They can get their work done, keep the cost to the taxpayer down at their building, at their current building, and get them back. This could go on for 4 months at least.

Once they open up the ceiling, a lot of work has to happen. So with that, I think that is everything I was going to— oh, yes. And then there was The clerk's office also has completed its preparation and training for absentee voting for this October 6th, and there's a report on all the work that's been done to assure that's secure. Any other questions, please give us a call. That is everything I wanted to cover in the report.

Mr. Thomson has a question. I just wanted to point out that, and I mean, this might sound facetious, but we do have excess space in Fawn Fawn Mountain as well at this point, do we not? Well, they first came to us with Fawn Mountain and they said, "Well, we guess we could move it. We hate to move it outside the city." So why don't we look at the space we have here? But if they— if we don't have enough space for them here, they might have some offices that would lend itself well to.

Thank you, Mayor, members, Thompson. They are well aware of that. And when they found that there was space here, they're looking at how their customers come in. And because they definitely wanted to have finance here, and the more we looked at it, the more we looked at it, they kept finding, well, we could fit that in, we could fit that in. And then with the fire department, with South Tonkas leaving, they could fit a little bit more in.

And there's coming down to they think they can just about get everything in, but they're aware, and we've indicated that's the Fawn Mountain was available, but, uh, they're also trying not to spread out their staff any more than they have to. Thank you. Go ahead, uh, go ahead, Miss Palmer. Thank So approximately how many staff is that?

Somewhere between 22 and 32, uh, depends on what's coming in there because they're also looking at their own off-site buildings that they have of where they can keep. But they're pulling about 30-some people out of their— out of the City Hall facility. They're keeping a few IT folks there because their servers are there and they have to maintain those. But clearly, the more— if they can get— more they can get out of there the faster the project can move. And are they comfortable-sized offices?

They're better than being on a Navy ship.

I just think it's pretty great that we could have one central location for the two governmental bodies on the island to be right here in this giant building. And so once they have the HVAC finished downtown, wouldn't it be an opportunity to sell it and create some housing downtown or do something with it? And hit their own deficit privately anyway. Privately, some of us have had that thought, but we're gonna let this develop— what's the term— organically. Okay, all right.

Wouldn't we want to wait till we're consolidated? Yeah, start the ball.

Yes. Any other questions for the manager? Go ahead. Was that the end of his report? Yes.

Okay, I was wondering if Mr. Duran, you could if you could speak a little bit to the new construction reviews.

This is great having these numbers. And so I just wanted to click confirm I'm understanding what I'm reading here. I'm on page 9 of the manager's report or 76 of the packet. And it says construction reviews and count of properties, finish percentage for— for— can— is there— Can you clarify some of those numbers? Is that possible?

Or provide a little bit more detail via email? Because it looks like we have 135 new buildings. That's a lot. That's fantastic. I'll ask the assessor to clarify that to the assembly.

That's where this information came from. So I don't have that detail. Okay, that would be great. Yes, we've asked for this so that once the new construction cycle was done, what was coming out of their reports so we start getting an idea of what was happening. Yeah, that's, that's great for numbers for new construction.

Thank you.

Any other questions for the manager? Go ahead. I have one other one based on the comments tonight. I was really surprised to have so many people at the podium talking about a lack of school activities funding. And I was just curious if that's something that borough staff had been noticed about because in a school board liaison committee hearing, we were told multiple times that school activities, while pared down, were not going to be cut.

And it's a little concerning to hear that, for example, one of the teams had $21,000 last year and this year has zero. So that doesn't sound like a pared down to me. So I'm just curious if staff has any additional information from the school district. No, but I think that will come up. I'm hoping to have a meeting next week with the superintendent, and that's one of the questions, but also maybe one that is brought up when the report's given, because we're— my understanding was there was reduction, but there was activity funds when they were presenting the budget back in May.

So I— hearing there was zero, and some may have received zero with that, what happened in May, they also— the school board had to make some hard decisions in June and then into July. So that may have changed and we just may not be aware of it. And since you brought the subject, I wanted to just make the comment that the assembly doesn't provide specific funding to the school district. They provide— well, I think, I believe it's about $8 million in local funding this year. I think it was $8 million.

And the school district sets where their priorities are. And You're actually— that's not in statute for you. I mean, as gentle as I can, but the school district has set those priorities. So even if they do come in and ask for funding and you can certainly suggest things, I'm not saying you couldn't, but at the end, the school district, school board determines where funding goes.

Yep.

I see that there's people here, but there's no process for you guys to come and speak at the podium. I'm sorry you guys came during this meeting, but you have to wait until we have an agenda item specifically for what you guys are talking about. I know there's maybe a forehands direction tonight during member assembly or comments, but there's just no place in our agenda for you to come and speak at the podium now. So I know you guys all waited till the end of the meeting. Yeah.

Any other questions? Any other questions? No. Okay. That takes us to the mayor's report.

Southeast conferences next week, September 29th through the 1st. That's next week. Yes. And then, like I said, we'll have a special assembly meeting for the September 28th at 5:30. Regardless if she resigns or not, I would still like to get this on an expedited process for approval on the October 5th meeting.

So we have to have 2 hearings. So yeah, that's all I have to say. That takes us to committee reports. Any committee reports? Any committees?

Yep, go ahead. I don't have a specific assembly or committee report, but I just want to call attention to all of the vacancies that exist on our boards and commissions and also speak to the fact that we don't usually have a long line of folks signed up to join these things, so So if you're passionate, take a peek, sign up. Okay. Okay. That takes us to Mayor, Assembly of Comments.

We'll go to you first because it sounds like you have something. Thank you, Mayor. Go ahead. First of all, Mayor, I would like to do a shout-out for one of the people in the audience tonight. Mr. Sean Weston has been here all night.

He was a very eloquent spokesman who came to the podium. And I spoke to him briefly before the meeting and I could tell he was a little bit nervous about the whole thing. But Sean, oh my gosh, you rocked it. You did a wonderful job and hats off to you for coming and speaking so eloquently. You speak better than I do, Sean.

I'm just telling you that right now. Good job. Anyway, with that said, yes, after hearing the numerous eloquent comments from both KI students, students, students, coaches, parents, and community members tonight concerning the current status of student activities in the Kitsap County School District and the impact that a lack of funding for activities is having on our students, on our school, on our community as a whole. I'm asking for, uh, for hands and support for staff to report back at our next regular scheduled meeting on Monday, October 5th, concerning the legality and the fiscal impact and the overall advisability— fiscal impact on our borough finances and then the overall advisability of— for '26-'27 school year only of funding district activities outside the cap. And so So if I can have those forehands of support or raise the forehands, then it would be the request of the staff that they would report back on these issues.

Would it make more sense for like a work session and during—. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If that's acceptable to the— Sure.

—Maker. Schedule a work session for the 5th? For the 5th of October? Sure. Forehands direction?

Clerk? Okay. Okay. Can I ask— Tonight before the election? Oh, I see.

Tonight before the election. Is it possible we can put it at the special meeting on the next—. No, just fine. No? Well, maybe it should go after the election.

That's a lot to ask the clerk. Yeah, yeah. It's fine. It is. And the only reason why I would hesitate on that is right now things are not happening at KI for certain activity groups.

For example, the KI cross-country team was scheduled to go to Petersburg this weekend and they're not going. And— or maybe it was last weekend. They're not going because the funding is not there for them to go. And that's something that, you know, when I was KI cross-country, we'd never miss a Region 5— Region 5-sponsored event. We just wouldn't miss those.

But they're not going because they don't have the funding for it. And so the longer we wait, there's just more and more impact. If we could clarify things, whether we're going to do something or not, it's just so they have an answer one way or the other. I think the sooner the better. Go ahead, Mr. Thomson, and then— Thank you.

I'd just like to speak to the whole activities idea because I did sit on the school board, and as did— sorry, Madam Chair— and the manager is right. The board decides how the money is spent. We just provide the funds and they actually have the authority. So if we were to fund them more money, they might decide to use it for some instructional CTE, advanced placement. They could do anything they want to with the money.

We could say, hey, we really wanted this to go to activities, and they could say, no, that's not our priority. So that's one of the concerns I have with whether it's— you know, and I agree we should have the investigation of what we can and can't do. The other thing The thing is, where's the money? Where are we going to get it now and in the future? And then if we were to try to impose upon the school board that our desire is to fund specifically activities outside the cap, we probably are going to have to have some sort of a grant or an MOA structure to make that happen.

That might ruffle some feathers on the board as well. And then again, is it, is it actually allowed outside the cap. So there's a lot of issues surrounding this, I think, that would be very well discussed in a work session. And I'm in favor of having that work session because it's obvious that there's not a lot of activities going on. And, you know, like the NOSB— I didn't even know about NOSB, and I've been on this body for a long time, and I just dropped my jaw when I heard about it.

And I was like, and they won 5 out of 6 times first place in the state. This is outstanding, and it's academic. It's kind of a no-brainer. So I'm not on the school board anymore, but I would have been really pushing hard for some of these activities that are very wholesome and helping our kids, that that's as important as the rest of their curriculum. It should be just part of the curriculum, and I think it's been overlooked.

That's my personal opinion, but I'm not on the board anymore. Thank you. OK, thank you, Your Honor. I echo some of Mr. Thompson's concerns about having the conversation about funding outside of the cap for those reasons. I almost wonder if in— as part of the work session, we could talk about it in the vein of our economic and recreation powers instead.

Like, I'm on the Dribblers League board, and in Juneau, for example, their recreation basketball league is run by their Parks and Rec. They're not— it's not run by a nonprofit organization. And that— so I'm just thinking of ways, how can we think outside of the box? And I think that that would also, you know, we'd have to invite our activities leaders to also give us some input into what they're seeing and what the impacts would be if we are trying to do something more creative.

I'm blown away and impressed by the kids' comments, by the youth comments. Students tonight. They were incredibly articulate. It felt orchestrated. I don't— I heard word that they just— the message went out, and it was incredible to me that every student had a little different perspective.

And even Josie, who came up, and she said, I'm sorry for being redundant, but she brought up something that no other speaker had, which is the impact of relationships and the networking that also happens. And as we know, you know, we're talking about raising raising up a whole child to, to have all the skills that— and opportunities that we want them to have. And I do think that activities is really critical to our young people. And I have that experience in my household as well. If there wasn't sports, I have kids that probably wouldn't, wouldn't want to go to school.

So I'm in support of a work session and figuring out what are legal and appropriate ways that we can help support the school, get through this this challenge. Before we have more comments, we're just trying to figure out a date for a work session. What date would you like? We've already given 4 here. October 9th.

Or October 5th. Okay. So it's going to happen on October 5th. Okay. Let's hold off on our comments until October 5th, okay?

Great. Yeah. It's happening October 5th. We'll have a work session on the exact topic that you're talking about. Okay.

So you guys in the audience, you probably want to come back to that meeting on October 5th. Okay, um, we'll go Mr. Dial next since he's online. Uh, thank you, Your Honor. Um, well, I do have some good news.

So the federal PILT change that we've been advocating for for a few years now, which is the Small County PILT Parity Act, has passed out of Senate committee. I had a meeting with NACo staff about a week ago, and they're actually extremely optimistic that this could actually pass next year in a divided Congress. They say that this is not shrinking the pie, this is actually growing the pie. So it should have broad bipartisan support is what they're saying. So we need to continue to advocate for this and to check the status with Congressman Begich's efforts to submit a companion bill in the House.

They've also already started with SRS reauthorization efforts because we have one more payment that that's coming, and then you have to fight for it again. Uh, and then finally, I just wanted to say that I appreciate all the young people that came out tonight and took the time to speak. It was almost like a civics class. Um, I honestly, I wish we could fix every problem with money and we had unlimited dollars, but this is actually a more complicated issue than I think some people realize, um, than just us funding it. The first thing we would have to have, in my opinion, is we'd need an FY27 balanced budget plan from the district, because without that, the likelihood that they are going to run short of cash before the end of the year, just like they've done the last 2 years, is high.

And we will be in a position where we potentially have to find millions of dollars to cover their cash shortfall. I'm also concerned that based upon their projections, that we're going to get into a situation around around May where they're going to say that they don't have the funds for the scheduled principal and interest payment on the $5.4 million in debt next year. And then the next thing in it that we would have to do, and this has already been mentioned, is we got to identify where we're going to get the funds. We're already carrying about another $600,000, $700,000 a year in holding costs for the two schools. I just, the only way that I thought, I kind of looked into this, the only way I could really see where we could potentially get some money is if we just decided that this was more important than the other grants we fund and just end the other grants and then just switch that funding over to the school district.

I mean, that's a possibility. But anyway, those are my comments. Thank you. Wish it was there. Thank you.

Uh, we'll go Miss Bowling next. Um, thank you, Your Honor. So, um, from students to elders, um, thank you to all those who came to tell us what was, what was on your hearts. Um, we are honored. You honor us when you are willing to come to the podium or write letters, and I just want to thank you for that.

Thank you. We'll go Mr. Thomson. Thank you, Your Honor. This whole situation with the Planning Commission was very unfortunate. And one of the— when that comment was made, it was said— I'm going to say something that's not nice, and my mother always taught me, if you can't say something nice, shut up.

South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department Station 4, yes, got back in the in their place. I'm excited about that. I'm also thrilled that Rain Bird is now back open. That was very unfortunate that the landslide took out that trail, so I'm really happy that we got that back. I did a quick napkin analysis, and I think a 0.25% sales tax increase would cover our activities for the schools.

I think that would raise about $1 million. And then finally, one of the things that I think we need to be looking at in terms of this ordinance that we're looking at next at the special meeting is we need to determine how we can deal with someone who is determined to be unfit for office that's an appointed position so that we have an actual process, due process, and has— we'll probably have an appeal process with it, et cetera, et cetera. So it's not a simple thing to do, but I think I think that it's important that we do that because we kind of got caught with our pants down in this circumstance, because I think we should have had the authority and the ability tonight to terminate that position. And we don't have that. So we need to fix it.

That's all I had. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Arnsen. Thank you. I kind of jumped the gun with my previous comments when we were trying to get the work session, but that essentially was my comments.

I was just blown away by our youth speakers. Tonight. I really appreciate everybody who came respectfully and, and spoke at the podium. And I'm— the only other comment that I would have is that as we, as we go into, um, this next election cycle, just to really encourage everyone to get out and vote. Your voice matters, your vote matters, and I hope to see everybody at the polls.

Thank you. Thank you, Miss Mattson. Um, thank you. To all that spoke tonight. It's such a— I am repeatedly reminded of what a privilege it is to be part of Ketchikan as a community.

And then also, just as we enter into both the election season and then also the end of kind of the tourist summer season, it's, you know, as the ferry, double ferry wound down on Friday and I I flew in on Saturday, and, and we see the, like, the, the helicopters bringing all the gravel into the Rainbird Trail, and just all the work that is done to make Ketchikan such a great place for both the people that are privileged enough to visit and the people that are privileged enough to live here. I am, I'm grateful to be a part of it and grateful for your work. Thank you. And Ms. Palmer. Thank you, Your Honor.

I think we were all quite horrified last week, and tonight we're leaving quite hopeful. So I appreciate, like everyone else, everyone that spoke tonight and spoke kindness into the world. And pretty proud of this place and the chance to live here. Also pretty tickled about the future of all those students who spoke up because they are sharp, and it was awesome to see them at the podium speaking their minds, and their voice weren't shaken. They were just It was awesome.

I was pretty tickled. I want to hire all of them. So, um, with a different hat, um, but also to everyone who came, thanks for, um, holding us accountable and always holding us to higher standards because when we take on these positions and when we take that oath of office, that's just an expectation. That's how we should behave. We should be up here, um, doing what's best for everyone on this island or all of these islands.

But anyway, thank you to everyone who spoke. All right, thank you. No executive session, so we are adjourned. Seeing and hearing no objection, we are adjourned at 9:13. Remember, next month.