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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-04-19 Council Minutes - Special MeetingKENAI CITY COUNCIL, COMMISSION, COMMITTEES, ANY) CITY STAFF April 19, 1080 - 10: 00 AM Sheffield House STATUS OF CITY Mayor O'Roilly reviewed the importance of committees. The relationship of the Council to the Administration has changed, with the commissions being added. The question should be asked, should we change the form of government to Council, Administration and Commission? The Mayor reviewed the City in 3 different manners: Geography, Economy and Government. Geography*. The City is 28 square miles, with a popu- lation of 4,374. This is compared to Nikiski- 3, 000; Soldotna-2,000, Ridge- way-1, 400 . Economy: The main increase in the economy is duo to the in- crease in fish flying. Thoro is 11.0% unemployment. The economy is mains,: Transportation, Commercial and Manufacturing (Fish is the most important) Government: The situation in Juneau - revenues will be $4.5 Billion, avail- able June 30, 1081. The State has proposed $545 Million for Capital Improve- mont Programs: $25 Million for Kenai Peninsula Borough and $4 Million for the City of Kenai. The Harbor is a proposed $4 R411lion. The Culture Center Is $400,000. Other proposed programs are: Caro ("enter, Kalifonski Road, Harbor Improvements and road grid, Water 4 Bower for Section 36 if $750,000 and recreation to $600,000. Compare this to Soldotna - $5 Million, plus $1 Million for roads. Revenue sharing from the State is $31 Million, the City new receives $107,000, the proposed sum is $329,000. Municipal Assistance Funds could be $40 Million for the 1980-91 year to municipalities, however the chances are not good for this. Proposed Public Works projects for next year are: Willow Street - 41 Million, Care Center - $450,000, City Hall - $1 Million, road grading - $2 Million, Air- port - $60,000, sewer treatment plant - $3 Million and airport lighting. This is a total of $9 Million. We can add to this the water is sewer for Section 30 at $750,000 and the warm storage building, Chief Ross spoke for the Police Department. He said the trend for patrols is by call only. Property offenses are high as a result of less patrol time cruising. Statistics on crime are misleading, the age of our population is very young. Chief Winston spoke for the Pine Department. He said there is a large area for the department to respond to. The fire Class rate has dropped, there Y' is a 5% to 11% drop, due to the 3 Million gallon water tank, the generator and the pump. Our Class 5 rating could possibly go to a Class 4, with v— additional improvements. 1/3 of the City is covered by City water. The Media program covers the area between Soldotna and Nikiski. All the man - are medics now and are certified. He would like to make them a separate agency. The airport crash truck is stationed at the Public Safety building. it should be at the airport, eventually, The proposed sub station will be l' s C/ �2- STATUS OF CITY at Heaver Loop. There should possibly be one at Wildwood. Statewide, our fire losses are low. They average 6 fire calls a month and 20 plus ambulance calls. This total was higher during the Collier boom. Bob Peterkin of the harbor Commission spoke. IIe said the objective of the Commission was development of the mouth of the Kenai River and the boat harbor. They have boon successful with their proposed projects. Their needs Are primarily secretarial. As the Commission develops into a Transportation Commission, they will need two additional people to handle the projects with Airport Manager Jim Swalloy. The Harbor Commission and Planning a Zoning must got together and dofine their duties. IIe feels the Harbor Commission should remain a recommendation committee. John Williams of the harbor Commission spoico. Ile agreed with Mr. Peter - kin. He noted the harbor is revenue producing and is the main catalyst of growth. The City has a good transportation facility. Mayor O'Reilly spoke on the Energy Committee. This was created to utilize the 4 Million cubic feet of natural gas surplus. The Committee has not met yet. Andy Johnson of the Energy Committee spoke. Ile noted XUBCO has the gas, the City of Kenai does not. This gas will cost $.00, Chugach costs $.20. We should keep this in mind. Kayo McGillivray, Parks & Recreation Director spoke. He explained there is a difficulty in defining use of leisure time. The problems are: limited facilities, and money. Regarding facilitios, he is working with the Arts Council. Ile will need facilities for adults and children. Legislative action will help the program. Projects proposed are: BOR projects (now called Heritage Recreation), trails program, softball - adults, Little League, Youth Center, parks ale feels Section 30 should have park lands), trails, and a multi -use facility (he prefers one we can take care of). Bileen Bryson of the Recreation Commission spoke, She felt we should emphasize trails and recreation for sub -teens. Kathy Settle of the Culturo Center Committee spoke. She noted it was originally proposed as a civic center, not a cultural facility, It will be 27 thousand sq. ft. It is not in State bonding, but in appropriations, "Whatever happens in Anchorage, will happen in Kenai," on a percentage basis regarding funding. Rev. Arthur Knight of the Council on the Aging spoke. He said the Council is funded primarily by State, Federal and Borough funds. Their needs are recreation, transportation and food. Regarding transportation: this is more I i A I q � , •, . , . r -'0 . @ ", -- 1, -3- STATUS OF CITY important because of distances in the area. Regarding; food: there is a1w) companionship involved in the food program. There N an apartment house in the local area that is a primary service for senior citizens. As of the lot of the year, the senior citizens will handle the food service. Betty Warren spoke on the Senior Citizens. She said the City does well for its senior citizens. She would like to have a two story museum. She would also like to have an exercise area for the senior citizens in the Fort. Rev. Knight added the Council now serves about 300 people. Francis Meeks of the Library Board spoke. She said this is the oldest service committee in the community. Their primary need is additional storage. Karen Mahurin spoke for the library board. She noted the additional services offered by the library. They include movies, slides and story hours. Phil Bryson of the Planning a Zoning Commission spoke. He said they had a problem with authority between the City, the Borough, and the Borough Planning a Zoning. The Harbor Commission has taken over some of the duties of P&Z. The approach of the commission is more passive than active. Jerry Andrews of the Planning a Zoning Commission spoke. He noted that PAZ is a police power of the City, taking rights from the people. Condition- al Use Permits and variances return the rights to the people, but it takes too long. The City should take PaZ powers from the Borough. He thought it would be better U PaZ and the Harbor Commission were a joint committee. Karen Mahurin of the Planning a Zoning Commission spoke. She felt there were problems with no guidelines on the City -owned lands. John Williams spoke regarding the Planning a Zoning Commission. He said we should proceed as rapidly as possible with the Transportation Commission. In reply to Jerry Andrews, we should be protected from individuals also. This is the purpose of planning a zoning. Finance Director Charles Brown spoke. He said there are 40 different funds In the City. They have a $g Million operating budget. Investments are $6 Million. In the past five years the budget has increased from $2 Million to $5 Million, with no increase in personnel. They have compensated for this by going to automation. There is some confusion in the growth of the committees and commissions, they have given the administration more work. n ,. -4- STATUS OF CITY The matter must be addressed as the commissions grow. Public Works Director Keith Kornelis spoke. lie explained the secretarial service has boon working together to got the work of the administration and commissions out. The work load is getting worse for them. He said regarding roads: most roads in the City wore accepted in sub -standard condition, this is a real problem. Ile listed the duties of the Public Works Department: plans s specs, capital improvement projects, water & sewer, water permits, excavation, radio communications, citizon services, water testing, as-builts, equipment purchasing, building inspections s permits, building maintenance, advertising, roads, Planning a Zoning paperwork, bluff erosion, blueprints, work with Homer Electric on lights and electric contracting, contractor bonds and file records. Councilwoman thick spoke for the Council. She noted the commissions sub- mit numerous requests, but the Council must prioritize requests. Mayor O'Reilly spoke for the Council. He said as the commissions grow, they will need additional support from Council. Jim Hendricks of the Borough Planning Office spoke. He noted the depart- ment has had a slack time, this was used to coordinate their plans of the area. Their proposed needs: a taskmaster (this has been settled, with the new City Manager), flow -through on planning s zoning and capital improvement plans, the lands issue -Section 36- he emphasized the need of a person to handle the City lands, development of the business area (centralization, pedestrian availability and amenities) ,and finally - he suggested the City Administration make a point of coming to the Planning 0 Zoning meetings (they have boon lately) . Bill Brighton, City Manager, spoke. Since he has just aiarted with the City, he had no opinions or suggestions, he is learning about the City. lie was impressed by the number of unpaid volunteers that help with the development of the City. Sylvia Johnson spoke from Senior Citizens program. She suggested the City add beautification of the community to local projects. Meeting adjourned at 12: 00 Noon. Respectfully submitted, A /anaetHNhelson, City Clerk O1' i J J