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Home My WebLink About2026-08-19 Council MinutesKENAI CITY COUNCIL — REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 19, 2026 — 6:00 P.M. KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 210 FIDALGO AVE., KENAI, AK 99611 MAYOR HENRY H. KNACKSTEDT, PRESIDING MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Kenai City Council was held on August 19, 2026, in City Hall Council Chambers, Kenai, AK. Mayor Knackstedt called the meeting to order at approximately 6:00 p.m. 1. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Knackstedt led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Roll Call There were present: Henry Knackstedt, Mayor Sovala Kisena Bridget Grieme A quorum was present. Absent: Glenese Pettey Also in attendance were: Victoria Askin, Vice Mayor Deborah Sounart (remote participation) Phil Daniel **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 Ryan Coleman, Police Chief Shellie Saner, City Clerk 3. Agenda and Consent Agenda Approval MOTION: Vice Mayor Askin 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. Mayor Knackstedt 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 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. City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 1 of 7 August 19, 2026 B. SCHEDULED ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - None. C. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENTS - None. D. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENTS Mitch Michaud, Interim Executive Director of the Kenai Watershed Forum thanked the City for the contributions toward the costs of the baseline water sampling; provided an overview of the water sampling procedures; reported there is a chemical used in tires and brake linings that have proven in studies to be lethal to only silver salmon; and provided information other activities such as the StreamWatch program, and Trashercise where volunteers pick up anywhere from 100 to 400 pounds of trash. Appreciation was stated for the Kenai Watershed Forum and the benefits to our community from their work. E. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinance No. 3537-2026 - Increasing Estimated Fiscal Year 2026 Revenues and Appropriations in the General Fund - Police Department and Accepting a Grant from the US Department of Transportation Passed Through the State Of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for Traffic Enforcement Overtime Expenditures. (Administration) MOTION: Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to enact Ordinance No. 3537-2026. Council Member Grieme SECONDED the motion. Mayor Knackstedt opened the floor for public comments. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. VOTE: YEA: Askin, Kisena, Sounart, Knackstedt, Daniel, Grieme NAY: None ABSENT: Pettey "Student Representative Bolling: Yea MOTION PASSED. 2. Ordinance No. 3538-2026 - Increasing Estimated Fiscal Year 2026 Revenues and Appropriations in the General Fund - Police Department and Accepting a Grant from the Alaska High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area for Drug Investigation Overtime Expenditures. (Administration) MOTION: Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to enact Ordinance No. 3538-2026. Council Member Grieme SECONDED the motion. Mayor Knackstedt opened the floor for public comments. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. VOTE: YEA: Kisena, Sounart, Knackstedt, Daniel, Grieme, Askin NAY: None ABSENT: Pettey "Student Representative Bolling: Yea MOTION PASSED. 3. Ordinance No. 3539-2026 - Amending Kenai Municipal Code Section 14.20.030 - Establishment of Zones and Official Map to Add Airport Light Industrial. (Administration) City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 2 of 7 August 19, 2026 MOTION: Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to enact Ordinance No. 3539-2026. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. Mayor Knackstedt opened the floor for public comments. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. A summary overview of the memorandum as attached to Ordinance No. 3539-2026 was provided. MOTION TO AMEND: Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to amend the Ordinance No. 3534-2026 as follows: Fourth whereas clause to read, "the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on August 12, 2026, and recommended the City Council enact this Ordinance; and," Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested on the motion to amend. VOTE: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. VOTE ON MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED: YEA: Sounart, Knackstedt, Daniel, Grieme, Askin, Kisena NAY: None ABSENT: Pettey **Student Representative Bolling: MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED PASSED. 4. Ordinance No. 3540-2026 - Accepting and Appropriating a Gift Distribution from Meals on Wheels of America to the Kenai Senior Center. (Administration) MOTION: Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to enact Ordinance No. 3540-2026. Council Member Grieme SECONDED the motion. Mayor Knackstedt opened the floor for public comments. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. A summary overview of the memorandum as attached to Ordinance No. 3540-2026 was provided. VOTE: YEA: Knackstedt, Daniel, Grieme, Askin, Kisena, Sounart NAY: None ABSENT: Pettey **Student Representative Bolling: Yea MOTION PASSED. 5. Resolution No. 2026-55 - Authorizing a Contract for Digester Pumping and Disposal. (Administration) MOTION: Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2026-55. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. Mayor Knackstedt opened the floor for public comments. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. A summary overview of the memorandum as attached to Resolution No. 2026-55 was provided; it was noted that about $200,000 was deducted from the contract amount for the construction project to handle this in-house. City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 3 of 7 August 19, 2026 UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested. VOTE: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. 6. Resolution No. 2026-56 - Authorizing the Renewal of the City's Caselle Software Licensing and Support, and Corresponding Purchase Order for Accounting, Payroll and Human Resources Operations. (Administration) MOTION: Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2026-56. Council Member Grieme SECONDED the motion. Mayor Knackstedt opened the floor for public comments. 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. 7. Resolution No. 2026-57 - Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Grant Agreement with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to Support Community Access to the Kenai Central High School Swimming Pool. (Administration) MOTION: Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2026-57. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. Mayor Knackstedt opened the floor for public comments. Kevin Lyon, Planning Operations Director for the Kenai Peninsula School District addressed the Council in support of Resolution No. 2026-57, noting the Kenai Central High School Pool is an asset to the community that serves students, families and residents; the district remains committed to maintaining community access during fiscal year 2027; the requested contribution helps offset rising utility costs; and the partnership with the City of Kenai and the district demonstrates a shared commitment. Mr. Lyon clarified: although the district was working with the Kenai Peninsula Pools group, funds from the group were not available immediately; the fee increases were necessary to keep the pool open until the end of this fiscal year; if the City wanted discounted rates for City residents it would need to be established within the agreement; the students from Soldotna High School would be joining Kenai to have a stronger presence in swimming; the Kenai pool would not have the resources necessary to remain open without the grant from the City; funding included in the State of Alaska budget had not yet been distributed; and it was too early to predict operations for fiscal year 2028. There being no one else wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. A summary overview of the memorandum as attached to Resolution No. 2026-57 was provided; and the process taken to reach this point was reviewed. There was discussion regarding the possibility of being in this same spot one year from now; and adding additional carveouts to the agreement to address the possibility of receiving funding from other sources. UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested. VOTE: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. 8. Resolution No. 2026-58 - Redirecting Previously Appropriated Capital Funds in the Vintage Pointe Improvement Capital Project Fund for the Repair and Replacement of Windows. (Administration) MOTION: City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 4 of 7 August 19, 2026 Vice Mayor Askin MOVED to adopt Resolution No. 2026-58. Council Member Daniel SECONDED the motion. Mayor Knackstedt opened the floor for public comments. There being no one wishing to be heard, the public comment period was closed. A summary overview of the memorandum as attached to Resolution No. 2026-58 was provided. UNANIMOUS CONSENT was requested. VOTE: There being no objection; SO ORDERED. F. MINUTES 1. *Regular Meeting of August 5, 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 Nominations for a Partial Term Appointment of Sherry Powell to the Beautification Commission. (Knackstedt) Approved by the consent agenda. 3. *Ordinance No. 3542-2026 - Providing for the Submission to the Qualified Voters of the City of Kenai, at the Regular Election to be Held on November 3, 2026, the Question of Enacting Kenai Municipal Code, Section 7.05.031- Residential Property Tax Exemption, to Establish a Residential Property Tax Exemption in the Amount of $75,000. (Knackstedt, Kisena) Introduced by the consent agenda and Public Hearing set for September 2, 2026. I. COMMISSION / COMMITTEE REPORTS 1. Council on Aging Commission No report, next meeting September 10, 2026. 2. Airport Commission No report, next meeting September 10, 2026. 3. Parks and Recreation Commission No report, a work session will be held on August 27, 2026. 4. Planning and Zoning Commission Council Member Daniel reported on the August 13, 2026 meeting, next meeting August 26, 2026. 5. Beautification Commission No report, next meeting schedule for September 8, 2026. J. REPORT OF THE MAYOR Mayor Knackstedt reported on the following: • Industry Appreciation Day is next Saturday. City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 5 of 7 August 19, 2026 • School Started today. • Presented Student Representative Bolling with a certificate of appreciation for his service as Student Representative. K. ADMINISTRATION REPORTS 1. City Manager - City Manager Eubank reported on the following: • Welcomed Nicholas Bowman new Police Officer and Jacob Nagel new Utility Operator. • Provided an update on open recruitments. • Surplus Auction is currently open. • Provided an update on the Denina Point Estates development. • Wildwood Drive repave would be completed this fall. • Airport Runway Rehab project was underway and the new approaches worked. 2. City Attorney - No report. 3. City Clerk - City Clerk Saner reported on the following: • Candidate filing period will close on August 31, 2026; and currently recruiting election workers. L. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS 1. Citizen Comments (Public comments limited to (5) minutes per speaker) 2. Council Comments Student Representative Bolling congratulated KCHS football team for their recent win; provided an update on current sports activities; thanked the Mayor, Council and administration for warm welcome to Council over the last year and for giving him an opportunity to participate in conversations regarding students; and thanked Council members who came and presented to the leadership class. Council Member Grieme updated everyone on upcoming High School sport events. Council Kisena thanked Student Representative Bolling for his service and for inviting Council members to present to the leadership class; and thanked the election workers from their work at the Primary Election. Council Member Daniel thanked Student Representative Bolling for his service; Mr. Lyon for his testimony on behalf of the school district; stated his appreciation for the work session and discussion on property tax exemption; and reminded everyone to watch out for the kids with school being back in session. Council Member Sounart wished everyone well. Vice Mayor Askin thanked Student Representative Bolling for his service; stated appreciation for the work session; reminded everyone Saturday was Industry Appreciation Day and Saturday night was the Food Bank fundraiser. M. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None. N. PENDING ITEMS O. ADJOURNMENT P. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None. City of Kenai Council Meeting Page 6 of 7 August 19, 2026 P. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None. There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. I certify the above ep esents accurate minutes of the Kenai City Council meeting of August 19, 2026. i "Sanr, City Clerk ** The student representative may cast advisory votes on all matters except those subjects 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 7 of 7 August 19, 2026