HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 3513-2026KENAI
CITY OF KENAI
ORDINANCE NO. 3513-2026
Sponsored by: Administration
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING KENAI MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 7.15 - PURCHASES AND SALES,
TO REMOVE REQUIREMENTS TO PUBLISH ADVERTISEMENTS IN NEWSPAPERS.
WHEREAS, Kenai Municipal Code for Purchases and Sales of large purchases or professional services
greater than $35,000 requires publishing advertising in newspapers for public notice and distribution;
and,
WHEREAS, The Public Works Department has switched to an online bidding platform, BidExpress, and
is seeing increased public notice and distribution through this service at no additional cost to the City;
and,
WHEREAS, circulation through local newspapers has been significantly reduced and costs for
advertisements are increasing; and,
WHEREAS, KMC 7.15.040 (a) and 7.15.060 (c) contain similar language for newspaper advertisement
requirements; and,
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to revise these requirements for posting on online bidding
platforms.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Amendment of Section 7.15.040(a) of Kenai Municipal Code: That Kenai Municipal Code,
Section 7.15.040 (a) — Competitive Purchase for Large Purchases, is hereby amended as follows:
(a) Before any purchase of, or contract for, supplies, materials, equipment, or contractual services in
excess of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) is made, an invitation to bid shall be published,
a minimum of [Two (2) TIMES] at least two (2) weeks prior to the date bids are due [IN A NEWSPAPER
OF GENERAL CIRCULATION WITHIN THE CITY] on an online bidding platform available on the City
website. Invitations to bid may also be advertised in other appropriate forums.
Section 2. Amendment of Section 7.15.060 of Kenai Municipal Code: That Kenai Municipal Code,
Section 7.15.060 (c) — Procurement of Professional Services, is hereby amended as follows:
(c) Professional services procured in an amount in excess of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00)
must be solicited by issuing a request for proposals. The request for proposals shall state, or
incorporate by reference, all specifications and contractual terms and conditions to which a
proposal must respond, and shall state the factors to be considered in evaluating proposals and
the relative importance of those factors. Public notice of a request for proposals shall be published
[A MINIMUM OF TWO (2) TIMES] at least two (2) weeks prior to the date proposals are due [IN A
NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION WITHIN THE CITY] on an online bidding platform available on
the City website and may be advertised in other appropriate forums. A request for proposals may
be modified or interpreted only in written addenda.
New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
Ordinance No. 3513-2025
Page 2 of 2
Section 3. Severability: That if any part or provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any
person or circumstances is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such, judgment shall
be confined in its operation to the part, provision, or application directly involved in all controversy in
which this judgment shall have been rendered, and shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder
of this title or application thereof to other persons or circumstances. The City Council hereby declares
that it would have enacted the remainder of this ordinance even without such part, provision, or
application.
Section 4. Effective Date: That pursuant to KMC 1.15.070(f), this ordinance shall take effect 30 days
after enactment.
ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, j
ATTEST:
'chelle M. Saner, MMC, City Clerk
Introduced: April 22, 2026
Enacted: May 6, 2026
Effective: June 5, 2026
New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
KEN�I
..enai 1 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 1 907.283.7535 1 wwwkenaixity
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Knackstedt and Council Members
THROUGH: Terry Eubank, City Manager
FROM: Lee Frey, Public Works Director
DATE: April 14, 2026
SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 3513-2026 - Amending Kenai Municipal Code Chapter 7.15
- Purchases and Sales, to Remove Requirements to Publish Advertisements
in Newspapers.
Kenai Municipal Code for Purchases and Sales currently requires advertising requests for large
purchases or professional services greater than $35,000 in newspapers at least two times for
public notice and distribution. The Public Works Department has recently changed to using
BidExpress for online bidding and distribution. We have seen an increase in noticing due to this
service and the ability to subscribe to notifications and postings. It is also free to the City and free
for users to access. At the same time, we have seen a decrease in newspaper circulation and an
increase in costs to advertise in the newspaper. We request removal of newspaper noticing
requirements from the Purchases and Sales section of code and addition of posting these
purchases and services through an online bidding platform available through the City website.
It is in the best interest of the City to make these modifications for Kenai Municipal Code and your
support is respectfully requested.