HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-19 Council Minutesr
A. CALL TO ORDER
KENAI CITY COUNCIL -REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 19, 2023-6:00 P.M.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
210 FIDALGO AVE., KENAI, AK 99611
MAYOR BRIAN GABRIEL, PRESIDING
MINUTES
A Regular Meeting of the Kenai City Council was held on Thursday, October 19, 2023, in City Hall Council
Chambers, Kenai, AK. Mayor Gabriel called the meeting to order at approximately 6:00 p.m.
1. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Gabriel led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Roll Call
There were present:
Brian Gabriel, Mayor
Deborah Sounart
Victoria Askin (remote participation)
A quorum was present.
Absent:
James Baisden, Vice Mayor
Teea Winger
Also in attendance were:
**Xinlan Tanner, Student Representative
Terry Eubank, City Manager
Scott Bloom, City Attorney
David Swarner, Finance Director
Dave Ross, Police Chief
Tyler Best, Parks and Recreation Director
Mary Bondurant, Interim Airport Manager
Shellie Saner, City Clerk
Henry Knackstedt
Alex Douthit
3. Certification of the October 3, 2023 Election Results
The City Clerk read the results of the October 3, 2023 election as follow:
FOR CITY COUNCIL TWO THREE-YEAR TERMS I
Candidates
KNACKSTEDT, Henry H.
DANIEL, Phillip D. (Phil)
WINGER, Teea M.
PETTEY, Glenese
Write-In
City of Kenai Council Meeting
October 19, 2023
Polls Absentee I
Questioned
318 119
256 70
262 59
238 74
5 2
Page 1 of 5
Total Votes
437
326
321
312
7
MOTION:
Council Member Knackstedt MOVED to certify the results of the October 3, 2023 Election as
presented. Council Member Sounart SECONDED the motion.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested.
VOTE: Motion APPROVED; without objection.
[Clerk's Note: Reelected Council Member Knackstedt and newly elected Council Member Daniel were
administered their oath of office for a term beginning on October 23, 2023.J
4. Agenda Approval
MOTION:
Council Member Knackstedt MOVED to approve the agenda and consent agenda. Council Member
Sounart SECONDED the motion.
The items on the Consent Agenda were read into the record.
Mayor Gabriel opened the floor for public comment on consent agenda items; there being no one wishing
to be heard, the public comment period was closed.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested.
VOTE: Motion APPROVED; without objection.
*All items listed with an asterisk(*) are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the council and
will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council
member so requests, in which case the item wilf be removed from the consent agenda and considered
in its normal sequence on the agenda as part of the General Orders.
B. SCHEDULED ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS -None.
C. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENTS -None.
D. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENTS
Marion Nelson, Kenai Fine Art Center Board President addressed the Council noting the Harvest Auction
went well and provided an update regarding the current show and the upcoming shows; and the process
involved with large murals.
Tim Navarre addressed the Council regarding the development of a citizens review board for actions of the
police; and options for the public when they have a complaint against the police.
E. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Ordinance No. 3374-2023 -Increasing Estimated Revenues and Appropriations in the
Airport Fund for the Purchase of Aviation Fuel Due to Fuel Sales at the Kenai Municipal
Airport Float Plane Basin Being in Excess of Budgeted Amounts. (Administration)
MOTION:
Council Member Sounart MOVED to enact Ordinance No. 3374-2023. Council Member Knacksted
SECONDED the motion.
Mayor Gabriel opened the floor for public comment. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public
comment period was closed.
VOTE:
City of Kenai Council Meeting
October 19, 2023
Page 2 of 5
f
F.
YEA: Douthit, Askin , Gabriel, Sounart, Knackstedt
NAY: None
ABSENT: Baisden, Winger
**Student Representative Tanner: Yea
MOTION PASSED.
MINUTES
1. *Regular Meeting of October 4, 2023. (City Clerk)
G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS -None.
H. NEW BUSINESS
1. *Action/Approval -Bills to be Ratified. (Administration)
Approved by the consent agenda.
2. *Action/Approval -Non-Objection to the Renewal of a Retail Marijuana Store License for Cook
Inlet Cannabis Co., OBA East Rip -License No. 13382. (City Clerk)
Approved by the consent agenda.
3. *Action/Approval -Non-Objection to the Renewal of a Retail Marijuana Store License KRC LLC,
OBA Kenai River Cannabis -License No. 17808. (City Clerk)
Approved by the consent agenda.
4. *Ordinance No. 3375-2023 ~ Accepting and Appropriating Donations from the Kenaitze Indian
Tribe to Both the Animal Shelter and the Senior Center. (Administration)
Introduced by the consent agenda and Public Hearing set for November 1, 2023.
5. *Ordinance No. 3376-2023 -Increasing Estimated Revenues and Appropriations in the General
Fund, Parks and Recreation Department for the Purchase of Playground Equipment Utilizing a
Grant from Marathon Petroleum. (Administration)
Introduced by the consent agenda and Public Hearing set for November 1, 2023.
6. Action/Approval -Airport Terminal Landscaping Project Revision -Bronze Bear Project.
(Administration)
It was reported that during the Airport Terminal Rehabilitation Project the landscaping and irrigation
systems were removed; landscaping and irrigation were included in the City Capital Improvement Plan
as they were not eligible to be funded in the rehabilitation project; an individual from the US Fish and
Wildlife services contacted the City regarding the creation of a bronze statute for the Airport; these bronze
statutes are becoming very popular; the estimated cost of the statute is $200,000; and the administration
is looking for general direction to move forward on this project by looking for community partners,
sponsorships and other opportunities to bring the bronze statutes to the Airport.
There was general consensus to proceed with the project prioritizing landscaping at this time; and, to
pursue grant funding opportunities and working with community partners for the statue funding.
I. COMMISSION / COMMITTEE REPORTS
City of Kenai Council Meeting
October 19, 2023
Page 3 of 5
1. Council on Aging
No report, next meeting November 9, 2023.
2. Airport Commission
Council Member Askin reported on the October 12, 2023 meeting, next meeting November 9, 2023.
3. Harbor Commission
No report, next meeting November 6, 2023.
4. • Parks and Recreation Commission
Council Member Knackstedt reported on the October 5, 2023 joint work session held with the
Beautification Committee.
5. Planning and Zoning Commission •
No report, next meeting October 25, 2023.
6. Beautification Committee
No report, next meeting January 10, 2024.
J. REPORT OF THE MAYOR
Mayor Gabriel reported on the following:
• Attending the Kenai Fine Art Center Harvest Auction
• Thanked Vice Mayor Baisden for filling in for him at the last meeting; thanked Council Member
Knackstedt for filling in for him at the Alaska Historical Society meeting; and thanked Council
Member Douthit for filling in for him at the Pumpkin Festival's Pumpkin Drop.
• He congratulated newly elected Council Member Daniel and re-elected Council Member
Knackstedt.
• Thanked all of the candidates who ran for office.
• The Kenai Post Office was eligible for an award based on customer feedback and was competing
against a town from Idaho for the award.
K. ADMINISTRATION REPORTS
1. City Manager -City Manager Eubank reported on the following:
• Three Public Safety Life Saver Awards were awarded to City Emergency Services employees.
• Provided an update on the Bluff Stabilization Project noting the Authorization for Construction
was signed today.
• Employee benefits renewals and classification study was currently in process.
• Attendance at the International City Manager Association Conference (ICMA).
• The City was given no notice from Ravn that they were ceasing operations at the Kenai
Airport, the City received notification when the Ravn employees were notified.
2. City Attorney -No report.
3. City Clerk-City Clerk Saner reported on the following:
• Commission and Committee requirement is now open, with an application deadline set early
enough so that appointments can take place prior to January 1, 2024 when the new terms
begin.
L. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
1. Citizen Comments (Public comments limited to (5) minutes per speaker) -None.
City of Kenai Council Meeting
October 19, 2023
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2. Council Comments
Council Member Askin congratulated Council Members Knackstedt and Daniel on their election; noted
she had attended the HAVA Alaska fundraiser; and volunteering in the cemetery imaging project.
Council Member Douthit reported that the Pumpkin Festival was a lot of fun, the pumpkin drop target was
expanded, there were 1,500 attendees; and reported that the Board of Fish did not schedule a meeting
on the Kenai Peninsula.
Student Representative Tanner reported on Connection Home School Activities: attending the Kenai
Peninsula Borough Home School Program Meeting; PSAT testing; community service opportunities; and
Civil Air Patrol activities. Kenai Central High School: update on athletic competitions; volunteered at the
annual Ski Swap event; and the Kenai Central High School Football Team won the Division Ill
Championship.
Council Member Sounart stated she had heard Mr. Navarre's comments; congratulated Student
Representative Tanner for being selected as a student flutist who was selected for the Alaska All State
Band.
Council Member Knackstedt reported attending the Alaska State Historical meeting; the Kenai Peninsula
Borough meeting hosted by Mayor Micciche that include representatives from the State of Alaska
Department of Transportation to discuss the use of brine on our roads, noting there was a lot of testimony
and that apparently brine was not being used in Anchorage or Palmer.
M. EXECUTIVE SESSION -None.
N. PENDING ITEMS
0. ADJOURNMENT
P. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS-None.
There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
esents accurate minutes of the Kenai City Council meeting of October 19, 2023.
Michelle M. Saner, MMC
City Clerk
** The student representative may cast advisory votes on all matters except those subject to executive
session discussion. Advisory votes shall be cast in the rotation of the official council vote and shall not
affect the outcome of the official council vote. Advisory votes shall be recorded in the minutes. A student
representative may not move or second items during a council meeting.
City of Kenai Council Meeting
October 19, 2023
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