Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-18 Council MinutesKENAI CITY COUNCIL — REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 18, 2026 — 6:00 P.M. KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 210 FIDALGO AVE., KENAI, AK 99611 VICE MAYOR VICTORIA ASKIN, PRESIDING MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Kenai City Council was held on February 18, 2026, in City Hall Council Chambers, Kenai, AK. Vice Mayor Askin called the meeting to order at approximately 6:00 p.m. 1. Pledge of Allegiance Vice Mayor Askin led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Roll Call There were present: Victoria Askin, Vice Mayor Sovala Kisena Phil Daniel A quorum was present. Absent: Bridget Grieme Also in attendance were: Henry Knackstedt, Mayor (remote participation) Deborah Sounart (remote participation) Glenese Pettey **Josh Bolling, Student Representative Terry Eubank, City Manager Scott Bloom, City Attorney David Swarner, Finance Director Kevin Buettner, Planning Director Lee Frey, Public Works Director Kathy Romain, Senior Services Director Dave Ross, Police Chief Ryan Coleman, Police Sergeant Shellie Saner, City Clerk 3. Agenda and Consent Agenda Approval MOTION: Council Member Kisena MOVED to approve the agenda and consent agenda. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. The items on the Consent Agenda were read into the record. Vice Mayor Askin 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: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. *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 City of Kenai Council Meeting February 18, 2026 Page 1 of 6 member so requests, in which case the item will 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 Fiscal Year 2025 Audit Report, Principal Assurance Practice Leader Joy Merriner, BDO USA, LLP. Ms. Merriner reported on the Fiscal Year 2025 Audit Wrap-up Document providing an overview of the executive summary; audit status; areas of significant risk; corrected and uncorrected misstatements; and internal control over financial reporting. She also provided an overview of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, noting the assets, liabilities and net position. C. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENTS Project Homeless Connect 2026, LeeShore Center Executive Directory Cheri Smith. Ms. Smith provided an overview of the 15th Annual Project Homeless Connect, noting there were 111 participants representing 241 household members; there were 43 vendors; nearly 70-percent of the participants were unsheltered or temporarily housing with friends or family; and presented the historical participation data over the last fifteen years. D. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENTS - None. E. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Ordinance No. 3504-2026 - Accepting and Appropriating an Increase in the Title III Grant from the State of Alaska Department of Health, Division of Senior and Disabilities Services, for Nutrition, Transportation, and Support Services. (Administration) MOTION: Council Member Kisena MOVED to enact Ordinance No. 3504-2026. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. Vice Mayor Askin opened the floor for public comment. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. A summary overview of the memorandum attached to Ordinance No. 3504-2026 was provided; and clarification was provided that funding was expected to be sustained for the next two years. VOTE: YEA: Pettey, Kisena, Sounart, Knackstedt, Daniel, Askin NAY: None ABSENT: Grieme "Student Representative Bolling: Yea MOTION PASSED. 2. Resolution No. 2026-12 - Authorizing the Use of the Fleet Replacement Fund for the Purchase of Two Ford Bronco SUVs Utilizing the State of Alaska Equipment Fleet Contract. (Administration) MOTION: Council Member Kisena MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2026-12. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. Vice Mayor Askin opened the floor for public comment. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. City of Kenai Council Meeting February 18, 2026 Page 2 of 6 It was reported there was an estimated six-month lead time for delivery. UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested. VOTE: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. MOTION PASSED. 3. Resolution No. 2026-13 - Amending the City's Schedule of Rates, Charges, and Fees to Add a Metered Pressed Septage Effluent Rate. (Administration) MOTION: Council Member Kisena MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2026-13. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. Vice Mayor Askin opened the floor for public comment. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. A summary overview of the memorandum as attached to the Resolution No. 2026-13 was provided; clarification was provided that the plant had sufficient permitted capacity to accept the additional flow and the proposed fee would adequately cover the costs to the City. UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested. VOTE: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. F. MINUTES 1. *Regular Meeting of February 4, 2026. (City Clerk) Approved by the consent agenda. G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None. H. NEW BUSINESS 1. *Action/Approval - Bills to be Ratified. (Administration) Approved by the consent agenda. 2. *Action/Approval -Confirmation of Mayoral Nomination for a Partial Term Appointment of Maeve Spiegler to the Parks & Recreation Commission. (Knackstedt) Approved by the consent agenda. 3. *Ordinance No. 3505-2026 - Increasing Estimated Revenues and Appropriations in the General Fund — Buildings Department Computer Software, for the Purchase of Permitting Software. (Administration) Introduced by the consent agenda and Public Hearing set for March 4, 2026. 4. Action/Approval - Peninsula Oilers Baseball Club Special Use Permit for Use of the Challenger Leaning Center to Temporarily House Players and Staff of Opposing Teams for the 2026 Alaska Baseball League Season. (Administration) MOTION: Council Member Kisena MOVED to approve the Special Use Permit to the Peninsula Oilers Baseball Club. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion._ Vice Mayor Askin opened the floor for public comment. City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 3 of 6 February 18, 2026 Michael Tice, President of the Oilers Board addressed the Council noting that the return of baseball to the Peninsula would more than likely not be possible without this assistance. There being no one else wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. Clarification was provided that the agreement would not interfere with potential use of the facility. UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested on the motion. VOTE: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. 5. Action/Approval - Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District Strategic Asset Partner Designation (Pipeline to Pipeline Initiative). (Administration) MOTION: Council Member Kisena MOVED to approve the Strategic Asset Partner Designation. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. Vice Mayor Askin opened the floor for public comment. Cassidi Cameron, Executive Director of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District addressed the Council regarding the benefits of becoming a strategic asset partner. There being no one else wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. There was discussion in supported of the partnership and that the partnership provided a tangible way to engage with local organizations and addressed needs identified in the City's latest survey. UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested on the motion. VOTE: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. 6. Discussion/Action - Request for Council Direction to Prepare Legislation to Determine a Portion of City Owned Land - Tract A, Woodland Subdivision Part 4 is No Longer Needed for a Public Purpose. Vice Mayor Askin opened the floor for public comment. Elizabeth Cooper addressed the Council in support of bringing forward legislation to designate the land as no longer needed for a public purpose; noting her home had a fence that encroaches onto City owned land and she was interested in acquiring that portion of the land; the land was currently unavailable for sale due to its designation; and although the sale would primarily benefit her, it would not negatively impact the City. There being no one else wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. It was reported that the parcel was currently designated for Parks and Recreation; if the designation was lifted, the sale would still require subdivision and appraisal; the administration recommended against lifting the Parks and Recreation designation due to the limited public benefit; and noted concerns about establishing a precedents and potential inconsistency with non -comparative sale criteria in code. Clarification was provided regarding the next procedurals steps required; the fence was not constructed by the City; and the fence encroachment was recognized when the resident inquired about reconstructing the fence. I. COMMISSION / COMMITTEE REPORTS 1. Council on Aging Commission Vice Mayor Askin reported on the February 12, 2026 meeting, next meeting March 12, 2026. 2. Airport Commission Vice. Mayor Askin reported on the February 12, 2026 meeting, next meeting march 12, 2026. City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 4 of 6 February 18, 2026 3. Parks and Recreation Commission No report, next meeting March 5, 2026. 4. Planning and Zoning Commission No report, next meeting February 25, 2026. 5. Beautification Commission No report, next meeting April 14, 2026. J. REPORT OF THE MAYOR Mayor Knackstedt reported on the following: • Thanked Vice Mayor Askin for presiding during the meeting; the Administration and Public Works Department for fixing the watermain leak; and the Airport and Streets Departments for snow removal efforts. • Congratulated the Finance Department for the clean audit. K. ADMINISTRATION REPORTS 1. City Manager - City Manager Eubank reported on the following: • Staffing update: Airport Manager recruitment closed with 50 applicants; and currently active recruitment for a Firefighter position. • Meeting with Kenai Chamber of Commerce Board to review City survey results. • Planning Director Buettner presented during the Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Symposium. • Receipt of an application for lease of land on Marathon Road for a gas storage facility; and additional development applications were in progress. • Capital Improvement Project priorities were being entered into the State CAPSIS and Federal CDS programs by Public Works. • The library was awarded an $8,000 grant for digital health literacy programming for adults. • The City received approximately $180,000 from our healthcare provider as a result of lower than projected claims. • Updates to the right-of-way/road standards was underway. 2. City Attorney - No report. 3. City Clerk - No report. L. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS 1. Citizen Comments (Public comments limited to (5) minutes per speaker) 2. Council Comments Student Representative Bolling reported on winter sports activities; the Student of the Month lunch hosted by the culinary class; the upcoming drama department presentation of The Adams Family; and students will be participating in the upcoming job shadow event. Council Member Kisena congratulated the Finance Department for the audit, Maeve Spiegler for appointment to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the 10U AA KPHA and 14UA teams for their wins; thanked Public Works for the prompt response to the watermain leak and staff for their midmonth reports. City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 5 of 6 February 18, 2026 Council Member Pettey thanked the Finance Department, Administration, and department heads for their work. Councilmember Daniel congratulated the 12U team for taking second place and reported he attended the Small Business Symposium. Councilmember Sounart thanked Vice Mayor Askin for attending the Airport Commission Meeting on her behalf, and the Finance Department for their work on a successful 2025 audit. Vice Mayor Askin reported attending the Small Business Symposium; thanked City staff and departments for their hard work; and congratulated Student Representative Bolling on his appointment to the Alaska School Advisory Board. M. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None. N. PENDING ITEMS - None. O. ADJOURNMENT P. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None. There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. I ce=.-- accurate minutes of the Kenai City Council meeting of February 18, 2026. _ Michelle an M C City Clerk ** The student representative may cast advisory votes on all matters except those subject to executive session discussion. Advisory votes will not affect the outcome of the official council vote. Advisory votes will be recorded in the minutes. A student representative may not move or second items during a council meeting. City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 6 of 6 February 18, 2026