HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 3267-2022 SubstituteKENAI
Sponsored by: Administration
CITY OF KENAI
ORDINANCE NO. 3267-2022 (SUBSTITUTE)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, AUTHORIZING COVID
LEAVE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES THAT TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, AND AUTHORIZING
THE USE OF FUNDS FROM A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF ALASKA - DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES — DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH — COVID-19
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER TO FUND THE LEAVE AND COVID-19 TESTING.
WHEREAS, the City of Kenai was awarded a grant for $326,985.32, enacted through Ordinance
3208-2021, to support COVID-19 related activities related to recovery and prevention strategies;
and,
WHEREAS, recent expansion of this grant allows funding to be used for leave time of employees
who contract COVID-19 and are required by City policy and CDC recommendations to be away
from work due to illness; and,
WHEREAS, this additional leave, to be used for employees who test positive for COVID-19, may
be used by employees in lieu of their personal leave; and,
WHEREAS, as the result of new variants to the virus, the State of Alaska and the United States
continues to see high levels of COVID transmission among all populations; and,
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to keep and promote a healthy working environment
for all employees ensuring its capacity to provide essential services to the community; and,
WHEREAS, addition of this leave will encourage employees to test for and stay home if they test
positive for COVID-19, thereby protecting other City employees and the community from further
spread; and,
WHEREAS, due to the recent near exponential growth of the omicron variant and the increasing
number of employees impacted by the virus, temporary COVID-19 employee leave will be
provided retroactively to January 20, 2022; and,
WHEREAS, authorizing the expansion on the use of grant funds for COVID-19 employee leave,
is in the best interest of the City; and,
WHEREAS, placing reasonable expenditure limits on these funds, ensures efficient use of grant
funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA,
as follows:
Ordinance No. 3267-2022
Page 2 of 2
Section 1. That notwithstanding the provisions of Kenai Municipal Code 23.40.030 — Annual
Leave, the City Manager is authorized to use funding approved through Ordinance 3208-2021,
not to exceed $110,000, to provide leave for use by employees testing positive for COVID-19
beginning January 20, 2022 to support the safety of employees and the public, to execute all
needed grant agreements, and expend the funds in accordance with grant provisions, and this
ordinance. The leave provisions authorized by this ordinance may be repealed at any time by
Council resolution and without further legislative action will sunset on June 30, 2022.
Section 2. That the City Manager is authorized to use funding approved through Ordinance
3208-2021, not to exceed $50,000, to provide COVID-19 testing for City employees and
immediate family members only unless needed for emergency overflow if local testing facilities
are overwhelmed.
Section 3. Severability: That if any part or provision of this ordinance or application thereof to
any person or circumstances is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such
judgment shall be confined in its operation to the part, provision, or application directly involved
in all controversy in which this judgment shall have been rendered, and shall not affect or impair
the validity of the remainder of this title or application thereof to other persons or circumstances.
The City Council hereby declares that it would have enacted the remainder of this ordinance even
without such part, provision, or application.
Section 4. Effective Date: That pursuant to KMC 1.15.070(f), this ordinance shall take effect
immediately upon enactment.
ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 2nd day of February, 2022.
ATTEST:
Mic elle a er, C, City Clerk
X 74,4-r
BRIAN GABRIEL SR., MAYOR
Introduced: January 19, 2022
Enacted: February 2, 2022
Effective: February 2, 2022
New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
I OV
KENAI
City of Kenai 1 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 1907.283.75351 www.kenaixity
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Gabriel and Council Members
FROM: Paul Ostrander, City Manager
DATE: January 25, 2022
SUBJECT: Substitute Ordinance 3267-2022 — Authorizing COVID Leave
This substitute ordinance makes several amendments to the original ordinance. Because of the
significant increase in COVID cases in our community and within our organization due to the
Omicron variant, it became apparent prior to introduction of this ordinance that the availability of
COVID leave immediately after introduction was necessary to keep our employees healthy and
to continue to provide essential services. This substitute amends the original ordinance to make
COVID leave available retroactively, beginning on January 20, 2022.
Additionally, Council Member Winger suggested that the amount of grant funds that would be
expended on COVID leave be capped at $110,000, and that the costs associated with testing
also be authorized to be paid for out of these grant funds and capped at $50,000. These changes
are incorporated into this substitute and are appropriate amendments that both expand our ability
to effectively use these grant funds and also put reasonable restrictions on the amount of grant
funds that can be utilized. This Ordinance is needed to protect public health, safety and welfare.
Your consideration is appreciated.
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