Sitka Assembly directs staff to prepare lease for Jarvis Street community garden; $5,000 performance bond required to begin site work

The Sitka City and Borough Assembly on Jan. 24 directed staff to prepare a lease for a proposed City Community Garden at Jarvis Street and agreed on several lease terms staff outlined, including an annual lease payment of $1 and a requirement for a $5,000 performance bond to start site work.

Staff presented six lease-term items for Assembly guidance: authorization for when site work can begin; proof of funding for the project (staff said applicants can begin fundraising now and that not all construction elements need final funding immediately); additional required features that could be conditions of the lease (for example, lighting or permanent restrooms to be addressed in later planning); payment and fees (the memo proposed a nominal $1 annual lease); and assistance from staff to apply for a community-purpose property-tax exemption in the next application round.

Rachel (municipal staff) said the community-purpose exemption route was the intended mechanism for any property-tax waiver. Staff indicated they could prepare the lease and return it to the Assembly; the Assembly indicated broad support to "do everything we can to get them over the finish line" and to allow site work to begin when appropriate.

An Assemblymember confirmed the immediate requirement for the project to move forward is a $5,000 performance bond; other elements, such as permanent restroom planning, can wait until 2027 according to the staff memo timeline.

Staff answered clarifying questions about funding proof and timing and said they will prepare the draft lease for future Assembly action.