HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-20 Council Minutes - Work SessionKENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
DECEMBER 20, 2000
6:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Council Present: Porter, Bookey, Frazer, Bannock, Swarner and Williams
.Staff Present: Freas, Graves, La Shot, Kornelis, Walden, Ross, Semmens,
Cronkhite
Others Present: R. Daly, B. Arbelovsky, B. Eldridge
Council discussed the limit of topics they wanted to have presented at the city's
economic development forum scheduled for February 3, 2001 at the Senior Center.
They wanted to ensure there will be enough time for speakers and data to be given and
discussion to follow.
Ideas discussed were:
• Contact merchants from Kenai and ask them what they see as problems
that businesses don't use Kenai as their location.
. • Invite representatives from utilities to offer information of what is needed
to have available up-to-date computer access, etc. which might affect businesses
locating in Kenai.
• Because of its link to the city's economy, the airport should be discussed,
but not the majority of the time.
• No one area of discussion should last more than an hour.
Discussion took place as to what extent zoning should be discussed in the program
and concerns were stated that zoning should be reviewed as it relates to economic
development. Because the Comprehensive Plan will be updated and in-depth
discussions of zoning will take place during that process, it was thought discussion
should not go into rezoning. It was suggested maps of the city showing developable
properties owned by the city and their zoning could be on hand and some realtors be
invited to discuss developable properties in the city (without getting into rezoning),
utilization of empty buildings, etc.
Ground Rules Discussed
• Don't do two days, but consider a ten-hour day instead of eight hours.
• Get best experts, maps available, general public comments.
• Re-evaluate Section 36
• Include utilities in land -use discussion (costs for placing in developable
properties)
• Invite M. Kebschull and her GIS computer program.
• Invite Salamatof Native Association, Kenai Natives Association, Inc.,
Kenaitze Indian Tribe representatives to discuss their holdings and the state/tribal
government link.
• Because the availability of training and education is a part of a company
moving to an area, invite representatives to comment what training is available (but as
a secondary concern).
• Invite two or three specialists in the health care field in regard to aging
population, process in looking after an aging community (look at senior housing,
businesses that compliment an aging community
KENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
DECEMBER 20, 2000
PAGE 2
• Invite persons to discuss the hotel/ convention center issue outside the
realm of just the Visitors Center, looking at what the potential might be in developing
city property.
• Keep the topics to what council can do, to inform the council and
what the council can do to improve the city's economic development.
Swarner noted she acquired an application for outlet malls and requested
administration to complete it and send it in. There were no objections.
Decided Topics:
Airport
Location of businesses to Kenai
Land Use
Health Care
Hotel/Convention Center
Williams noted a change in the state law will be required in order for a prison to be
built somewhere other than Greeley. He asked if council wanted to discuss the issue
more, take a position, etc. Ross noted nothing would be known by February 3 in order
to discuss the matter at the forum. Williams noted he didn't expect it to be discussed
at the forum, but noted placement of a facility at Wildwood could have an impact on
the development of Inlet Woods lots.
Work Session:
Arbelovsky will identify realtors, utility representatives, banking representatives, small
business representatives, fishing industry, contractors, etc. who will be invited to the
forum, keeping in mind council wants the best two or three representing the areas of
discussion. Arbelovsky suggested having underlying goals in economic education to
discuss during the day as was done at the borough's forum. There were no objections,
however she was cautioned to keep in mind the city's forum is more for the edification
of the council so that the council will have identifiable goals with which they can take
action.
Council chose to have a work session prior to the January 3, 2001 meeting, beginning
at 6:00 p.m. to review a draft agenda, ' etc. Council is to contact Arbelovsky with
additional ideas.
Work session ended at 7:04 p.m.
Notes prepared by:
Carol L. Freas, City. Clerk