HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-18 Council Minutes - Work SessionCouncil present:
Others present:
A. Call to Order
KENAI CITY COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION
CARES ACT FUNDING
MAY 18, 2020 -6:00 P.M.
KENAI CITY HALL
210 FIDALGO AVE., KENAI, AK 99611
MAYOR BRIAN GABRIEL, PRESIDING
NOTES
G. Pettey, B. Gabriel, R. Peterkin, J . Glendening, T . Navarre, B. Molloy, H.
Knackstedt
City Manager P. Ostrander, Assistant to the City Manager C. Cunningham,
City Attorney S. Bloom, City Clerk J. Heinz, Finance Director T . Eubank,
and Project Lead L. Persily
Mayor Brian Gabriel called the work session to order at approximately 6:00 p.m .
B. Introduction -Mayor Gabriel
Mayor Gabriel noted the purpose of the work session was to hear and discuss CARES Act
Funding .
C. CARES Act Funding Presentation -City Manager, Paul Ostrander, Finance Director,
Terry Eubank
City Manager, Paul Ostrander noted Congress had passed funding legislation in April which
was intended to assist the City through the pandemic and ensure the tax base was reinforced
as best as possible . He explained that with these funds, which were to be passed through
the state, a Special Revenue Fund and departments would be established upon enactment
of Ordinance No. 3130-2020. An overview of each department was provided.
It was noted that the state was requiring unspent funds be returned by March 2021 and the
goal was to spend the funds, not just encumber them, by December 2020.
D. Discussion
There was discussion regarding individual assistance noting a reluctance to offer it; the
suggestion was made that mental health may be an appropriate way to offer individual
assistance.
Needs related to the Personal Use Fishery and businesses and non-profits outside the city
limits that provide benefits to the city were discussed.
It was noted the Kenai Peninsula Borough was receiving $38 million; also noted that unless a
project was shovel ready there might not be enough time to spend the money before the
deadline.
Clarification was provided that the funding previously added to the general revenue fund in
anticipation of receiving funding was being moved to the special revenue fund as it was initially
put into the general fund to replenish departments that were utilizing their budgets and , with
the new funding , journal entries for COVID-19 related expenses would be made to this fund ;
added there was no requirement in code to create the fund but an amendment could be
offered to the ordinance to create the fund.
Clarification was also provided regarding the Payroll Department of the Special Revenue Fund
noting that it would be used for public safety staff and savings in the FY20 budget would revert
to the fund balance . It was noted that funding levels could be adjusted as needs became
more clear.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough and the cities within the borough working together was
discussed and it was noted that working together was not prohibited .
The suggestion was made that "Public Health Emergency" replace "pandemic" throughout the
ordinance .
It was noted that both marketing the City and advertising the availability of the grants would
be pa id for from the Resiliency and Recovery Department of the fund.
Clarification was provided that the state legislature agenda had been set to approve a
resolution dispersing the funds which had already been reviewed and approved by the
Legislative Budget and Audit Committee
Larry Persily was provided an opportunity to give overview of his work history and how he
intended to move forward with this project.
E. Public Comment (limited to 3 minutes per individual ; 20 m inutes aggregate)
None.
F. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at approximately 7:20 p .m.
Kenai City Council Work Session
May 18 , 2020
Page 2 of 2