HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-23 Council Minutes - Work Session Breakfast with KPB Assembly MembersKENAI CITY COUNCIL
BREAKFAST WITH
KENAI BOROUGH ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
OCTOBER 23, 2002
NOTES
Council present: Williams, Porter, Jackman, Bookey, Bannock and Moore
City staff present: Freas, Graves and Snow
Assembly present: Sprague, Superman, Glick, Long, Martin, Davis, Fischer
Williams explained council's desire to meet with the Assembly is to compare and share
information due to the commonality of concerns and hoped to have several more
meetings through the year. The following issues and concerns were expressed by
council:
• Lower Peninsula gas line -- the City Attorney is writing a letter of support
for the council's signature.
• Nikiski Port
• Economic ventures -- both the council's and assembly's job is to ensure
growth to benefit the citizens to help pay for affordable government.
• Transfer of ten -acre parcel in Lawton Drive vicinity for development of
city water well and possible water treatment facility.
• Urge Legislature to establish a regulatory administrator; include on a
ballot with a broad informational campaign prior to the election.
• Borough sales tax amendments -- suggested a more compatible across-
the-board effort would be a change in property taxes because changing the sales tax
wreaks havoc on different bookkeeping requirements. It was suggested the common
denominator in creating breaks in taxes is residency.
• Cooperative efforts are important in the development of the dental clinic
for under and uninsured residents of the Central Peninsula.
Assembly President Sprague and members of the Assembly noted the following items
of information and concern:
• They are in the process of rewriting the sales tax code (mostly
administrative) and have scheduled public hearings in November and December, with
additional hearings to be held in Seward and Homer. It was also noted, five public
hearings had been held on the sales tax exemption passed recently.
• They are in the process of compiling its legislative priorities list which
includes emphasis on oil and gas concerns.
• Because of the concerns about the economy, particularly in regard to oil,
gas, tourism and fishing, is really critical to develop clear and well-defined directions
for acquisition of pipeline permits.
• The topic of banning smoking in restaurants now before the City of
Soldotna council will probably come before the Kenai Council in the near future.
• Nikiski Industrial Park Feasibility Plan scope was to identify viable sites
for a dock facility. The extreme importance of unanimous support of oil and as
pp g
development on the Peninsula was stressed.
• Discussion should continue on the sales tax issue as other suggestions
for relief sales tax exemptions was noted, i.e. increase of the $10,000 exemption on
property.
• The Borough is in the process of reassessing property and the Assembly
is aware the sales tax exemption on senior rents may raise costs for seniors due to
raises in property taxes.
• Development of a Borough -wide Permanent Fund could be discussed,
using the Valdez program as an example.
• The Borough's Comprehensive Plan public hearings will begin next
month.
The importance of communication between the Borough and the Peninsula
municipalities was general consensus. Agreement was expressed by the city's
Assembly representatives to keep the City of Kenai informed of items important to the
city and the City will do the same. The City's agenda will be amended to include an
Assembly report near the beginning of the meeting.
Notes transcribed and prepared by:
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk