[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6598548,"mediaKeyId","3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58","parentId",3033187,"title","Kenai Council approves donations, land donation for housing, utility and harbor measures; appoints Planning & Zoning commissioner","audioSeconds",3275,"startMs",5665000,"endMs",8940000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58&start=5665&end=8940","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58/thumbnail_5665000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6598548/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Kenai-Council-approves-donations-land-donation-for-housing-utility-and-harbor-measures-appoints-Planning-Zoning-commissioner","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598548-bc9185246c481551f83c4abff61ddcbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168353&Signature=berH~o~YRul6HRL6sIXXV9rUIL1LEVBCMoSu-YaaHmEl4YFZ3PsCwrnmnwH7PAYxUcfbJKE15TKT2plE-i~fHCX2K62~SE7mZpTa3kD7q2LRi0GWtohi0haAxOFONQy3Fz85NA~og8b0aRYB38Yl1Q~35ezuhCzM54Nv7JEikswuWByG4xCsDPMwOZdQ0dClJ6gbV~pIif3jWvdvxMSEmcdKc3wnkXxMzB6j-QfBMemJ66UrbnymLuLFCQAkW~HhcNdk6qHEYx1RpdjxY9rnHbO0TZmIpibrgwMSC3AsFJIcAslLMOKKx0LtxgI5S8~Lru7a-MG-ZoTSJTokUD9uDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Kenai, AK","date","2025-04-17T04:45:41.2Z","article","The Kenai City Council took several formal actions on April 16, adopting ordinances and resolutions and confirming an appointment. Most items were approved by unanimous consent; one appointment drew a split vote.

Key actions at a glance

- Ordinance 3462-2025: Accepted and appropriated donations to the Kenai Animal Shelter for equipment and supplies.
- Action: Motion to enact ordinance 3462-2025 (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; second: Council member Castena). The mayor read a list of donors. Roll call vote: 7 yes, 0 no. Outcome: enacted.

- Ordinance 3463-2025: Conditionally donated approximately 1.5-acre parcels (subdivided from a 69.5-acre tract in Kenai Meadows Addition No. 1, parcel 03901067) to a housing initiative for restricted-income and senior housing.
- Action: Motion to enact ordinance 3463-2025 (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; seconded). After council discussion expressing support for additional housing, roll call vote: 7 yes, 0 no. Outcome: enacted.

- Resolution 2025-23: Redirected water and sewer capital funds to complete citywide lift-station improvements.
- Action: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt). Council discussion clarified the project scope: upgrade electrical control panels and telemetry at roughly 18 lift stations to enable remote monitoring and improve response. Council adopted the resolution by unanimous consent.

- Resolution 2025-24: Implemented a new permit fee for a truck-fill station in the water-fees schedule.
- Action: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt). Council discussed benefits of centralizing truck fills (reduce random hydrant use, improve backflow prevention and DEC compliance) and concerns about impacts on contractors hauling water from a single site. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent; staff said they will monitor impacts and retain flexibility.

- Resolution 2025-25: Authorized a contract to allow use of cranes and operation area at the boating facility (non-exclusive use for contractor fueling and barge access).
- Action: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; second). Council noted the authorization mirrors prior seasonal arrangements and is non-exclusive; resolution adopted by unanimous consent.

- Resolution 2025-26: Authorized the city manager to continue providing animal-shelter services for the City of Soldotna at the Kenai Animal Shelter.
- Action: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; second). City staff reported this is the fifth year of the arrangement; the council adopted the resolution by unanimous consent.

- Approval of consent agenda: The council approved the consent agenda at the start of the meeting by unanimous consent. The consent agenda items (read into the record) included: approval of the regular meeting minutes of 04/02/2025; ratifying bills; special-use permits for Rebecca Botcher doing business as The Fishing Grounds LLC for a snack/gift shop inside Kenai Municipal Airport; a special-use permit to the Alaska Division of Forestry for apron space at the Kenai Municipal Airport; and the introductions and scheduling of public hearings in May 2025 for ordinances 3464-3469 (fees, alcohol licensing housekeeping, residential code amendments, animal shelter grant appropriation, library donation appropriation, and conflict-of-interest code amendments).

- Confirmation of mayoral nomination: The council confirmed Jeannie Revelle (also seen as Jeannie Reveill / \"Jeannie Reville\" in the application packet) to a partial term on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Action: Motion to confirm the mayoral nomination (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; second: Council member Soner). The confirmation prompted discussion among council members about the applicant pool and process. Roll call vote: 5 yes, 2 no. Votes recorded in the roll call: Council member Daniel — No; Council member Douthit — No; Council member Soner — Yes; Vice Mayor Knackstedt — Yes; Council member Askin — Yes; Council member Casena — Yes; Mayor Gabriel — Yes; Student representative Tanner — Yes. Outcome: nominee confirmed to serve the remainder of the partial term.

Context and next steps

Several items were approved with minimal debate by unanimous consent as routine matters or because staff recommended them. The lift-station fund redirection and truck-fill permit fee drew substantive council discussion about operational impacts, procurement and possible effects on contractors; staff said grant/procurement processes and DEC requirements would shape the implementation and that council could revisit fee levels if needed. The Planning & Zoning appointment proceeded after a split vote; council members cited differing judgments about the applications and the mayor's prerogative to select nominees.

Ending: These actions were part of the council's regular business agenda. City staff will follow up on procurement for lift-station work, monitor impacts of the truck-fill policy and coordinate with CARTS and other agencies on pending requests and contracts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/16/25 City Council Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 16 meeting, the Kenai City Council approved multiple ordinances and resolutions including donations to the animal shelter, conditional donation of city parcels for restricted-income housing, utility improvements and a Planning & Zoning appointment.","taxTitle","Kenai, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska","taxId",56073,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598553,"CARTS asks Kenai for $10,000 local match after ridership jump; agency says $312,000 shortfall threatens federal funds",494,2706000,3200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58&start=2706&end=3200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58/thumbnail_2706000.jpg","/articles/6598553/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/CARTS-asks-Kenai-for-10000-local-match-after-ridership-jump-agency-says-312000-shortfall-threatens-federal-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598553-5e31e7dc54a07eebf3e373a06b91d013/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168353&Signature=M8ff37Q98GgAq1T01-Bjrhi8lfbVmBWPyxioYKO-yuzo8oHZAqk~LOKaQguq4n47J0oi9wgVAFdROWhGZoDK0UWvvURkWxJKF5w-YkrwJf8zimHowb8njr8lb8AmH6WHPEvUQzZchL8fHAFbSrgEeXasNViv6Vq5YnWcdwZbmS46BPGBFqHjp3T8UxAhDwEosnGBHVj9bxO4dEF0Dg-zcXSOpraGBGGiDCyoY3EwZvUZwbx97j3Dy3HHvVs8yWp3oBVpAHk3jej1OIrv8q7PCJxWcXJwO97g5gXAuFgZsqnHwmNB-pWS4v3HoMkNGgBvdfXrTfz7SKT0tXk3yuj-QQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Central Area Rural Transit System (CARTS) briefed Kenai City Council on April 16 about ridership growth, operational improvements and a request for a $10,000 city contribution to cover required local match for dispatching software and a new mobile app.

Executive Director Jessica Schultz said ridership grew 21% in 2024, delivering nearly 36,000 rides, and noted that 66% of trips are employment-related. \"The city of Kenai represents 39% of all of our drop offs making it the most traveled to destination within our service area,\" Schultz said.

Schultz said the agency's operating budget is approximately $1.2 million with nearly 75% coming from federal sources and about $310,000 needed in local match. CARTS reported a current shortfall of about $125,000 in local match that prevents the agency from accessing roughly $190,000 of federal funds; the combined shortfall CARTS described was approximately $312,000.

Schultz described operational gains in 2024 including on-time performance above 90 percent, expanded staff, upgraded communications and new dispatch software and a rider mobile app. She credited a prior $5,000 Kenai contribution as the required match for the new dispatching software and said an additional $10,000 would allow CARTS to direct other local dollars toward critical operating costs such as driver wages, fuel and contract services.

Board president Tim Dillon and board members told council CARTS had stabilized governance and finance staff in the past year and is pursuing additional local partnerships and revenue sources; Schultz said three new accessible vehicles are expected by September and that CARTS contracts for overflow service with Alaska Cab.

Council members asked about historic city contributions and zone-based fare structure; CARTS said the city had not consistently contributed in recent years and that the customer fare covers roughly 15% of the true cost of rides. CARTS said it is forming an ad-hoc committee to review zonal fares and to explore additional funding sources.

Ending: Council did not take immediate action during the presentation; CARTS requested the $10,000 contribution and said it would follow up with city staff on funding options.","Central Area Rural Transit System reported a 21% ridership increase in 2024 and requested a $10,000 contribution from Kenai to meet local match requirements for new dispatch software and mobile app, citing a $125,000 shortfall in local match and a total $312,000 operating gap.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598558,"Boys & Girls Club previews new Kenai \"forever home,\" teen programming and open house",400,1636000,2036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58&start=1636&end=2036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58/thumbnail_1636000.jpg","/articles/6598558/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Boys-Girls-Club-previews-new-Kenai-forever-home-teen-programming-and-open-house","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598558-efadc11114d8b6668cfb78d90677ba30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168353&Signature=D5AQd5Ll4PNaNAgWYexlVonjJl0y7WDx47QEg3GR0HmtRY5~EA8YJKEDI0kTr99FMRec51chFf05jt6dpLF821t-IPyS2NxqSbp60Ivmly6YAAe546hFuC0RwbHQ-MfSl3YkjekTTosf16uk-Pi-cG5nCtRIdnWOe7IiWv~lmIMtLCJV00HvFWVlQMhuKzWetfxWAK068RNik67wOg9xnEFRKvIjPMWcdLtjitLgNSiFHlIHHWHvIzjs9gWW6ZdRPR~FDLfCzZb8pBVd2Dzf~X1obUfWsA7RqtPHmihB3GWAxncybnuvbwgV1gcP45NvHvYP6beikQPVSfxy4bM0OA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Boys & Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula updated the Kenai City Council on April 16 about construction progress on its new clubhouse and recent fundraising wins that will support programming, particularly for teens.

Shanette Wick, chief executive officer, said the organization has secured several major gifts and grants that have allowed construction to proceed on land the city donated. The new clubhouse will total more than 7,000 square feet, include three large classrooms, an embedded childcare center (the childcare opened August 1), a commercial kitchen and a full-size high-school gym floor. Wick said the club has received a $25,000 Gary Wendt grant, a $25,000 Think, Learn & Create (NFL) grant, and other support, and that Murkowski and Murdoch (donors described in the presentation) contributed to the capital campaign.

Wick said the clubhouse will support year-round programming from infants to teens and that the teen center has a strong record: locally the teen center serves more youth on average than comparable clubs in Anchorage and other larger cities. She said teen programming includes community-service activities (food bank, Salvation Army), mentoring and a new TLC project focused on mental health awareness.

Wick invited council members to an open house on May 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. and said the clubhouse is already being used for activities while site work finishes: \"We started clearing the land that you guys donated. The clubhouse's got its windows in. Our childcare center opened August 1. So May 17 from 3 to 5, we have an open house,\" she said.

Vice Mayor Knackstedt and multiple council members praised the donation of city property and the club's fundraising, and council members asked whether the teen center would remain on its current site or move into the new campus. Wick said the preference is to create a single campus serving ages 8 weeks to 18 with shared facilities such as the kitchen and greenhouse, but she acknowledged cost and programming considerations and said teens would continue to be involved in planning.

Wick also described donor naming opportunities tied to a capital-campaign donor wall and said the club expected strong community interest in small and larger donations.

Ending: Council thanked the Boys & Girls Club for its ongoing programming and for the invitation to the May 17 open house; no council action was required.

","Club CEO Shanette Wick told council the organization secured major grants and is opening a new 7,000 sq ft clubhouse with childcare, a full-size gym and teen programming; an open house is scheduled May 17.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598563,"Kenai receives clean FY2024 audit; auditor flags lease accounting and IT access controls",1186,413000,1599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58&start=413&end=1599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58/thumbnail_413000.jpg","/articles/6598563/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Kenai-receives-clean-FY2024-audit-auditor-flags-lease-accounting-and-IT-access-controls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598563-cc588d5dedea285ac39e9ae7a3dc10c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168353&Signature=gcG5tY7dEzRfoPPQHtLmLSyisX5VHBHG5K~9~3E4ujE72ceeSw8MEU9~UnvPyGg4sw3ru2nCZPsjHpFYhlAy8PUHNTEIS2OzXL6Lw6-hHmoN9jHn2bTuogLXmWy4btXOT0B9ZGU7RkEnulUC4GJHmiHm2lHdyvOGKPlACotDauNU8dx7AEu3trR3CizF34FGhNxJga4wgWNcecsMrC-Vb2Mmfzrk0he~WCGnlKlGIhbtiYOTlLwAz6945i3Or6fCGkaX-Wj59eE5CgJL8N6LDgd590jN0-DWS3KDQYkylb6JEzfJwJk3LxerowzTqI9ahtE8UjwMRlebSKd6O0O7dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kenai City Council received the results of the city's fiscal year 2024 audit on April 16, when Joy Mariner, the lead partner from BDO USA, presented a clean opinion on both the financial statements and federal award compliance.

Mariner told council the auditors issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the city's financial statements and on compliance with its federal awards, noting the city reported about $1,660,000 in federal expenditures this year, much of it through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). \"We issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements. That's a clean opinion. It's what you, as the council, would want to see,\" Mariner said.

The audit found no misstatements requiring modification of the financial statements, but the auditors identified two areas for management attention. First, lease accounting required additional review: some airport lease entries led to audit adjustments in the airport special revenue fund. \"Our recommendation there is that there's multiple people here at the city who are trained in the accounting for leases, and there's another level of review before it gets to the auditors,\" Mariner said.

Second, auditors noted segregation-of-duties and IT-access issues after turnover in the finance department left too many users with elevated permissions in the city's IT and banking systems. Mariner recommended more frequent monitoring of user permissions and quicker removal of access when employees leave. \"We're looking specifically for those things and didn't find anything that was a concern,\" she said, adding the findings reflect system design and process controls rather than detected misuse.

Mariner also described management-letter items the auditors discussed with staff related to capital asset disposals and the financial close process and said the city adopted GASB Statement 100 in the year with minimal effect on the financials.

On the financial statements, Mariner highlighted key balances: total assets of about $246.5 million, total liabilities near $19.9 million (including a $13.9 million net pension liability established by the state), and total net position of about $222.2 million. The city's general fund ended the year with an approximate $990,000 increase in fund balance. Investment income was $923,000. Mariner noted the congregate housing fund reported a small positive change in net position for the year and was cash-flow positive by about $100,000 but recognized depreciation expense of roughly $140,000 that impacts long-term replacement funding.

Council members asked clarifying questions about whether the control issues represented changes from prior years and whether the city planned to replace functioning pumps versus replacing on failure. Mariner and city staff said some permission changes were new because of turnover and that the city planned to address them going forward.

The auditors also performed the single-audit compliance procedures required for federal awards and found no findings for the audited federal programs.

The council received the report and had no formal vote tied to the presentation; Mariner thanked city staff for their cooperation during the multi-month audit process.

Ending: Council members and staff said they would follow up on the two control recommendations; Mariner said BDO would make the detailed management-letter recommendations available in the single-audit report for staff action.","BDO issued an unmodified opinion on the city's 2024 financial statements and federal awards but recommended improved lease accounting review and tighter segregation of duties for IT and banking access.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598543,"Resident urges council to intervene after new Kenai golf-course rates exclude some disabled players",304,3760000,4064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58&start=3760&end=4064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033187-5f637504fb96b3415f98215999be6e58/thumbnail_3760000.jpg","/articles/6598543/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Resident-urges-council-to-intervene-after-new-Kenai-golf-course-rates-exclude-some-disabled-players","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598543-48261f44b2d0923cc34f266ab5c3c5fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168353&Signature=ETpGbLGAkTMdICHy2SvsG1zv17wRNYrjx6Bfm2tsKH75Tc1I4T-oziSVe3w1QPwEaPvl4uQaBQeYHtXLQ2fQgqxNYxyD5MGT4JHJmUNOv4ZYSZEyH7yafgCQYXWDyc2L35zyV4QHugM5PgV6UQSjD65FfOqzQN9oWrirB2g1Y~pOPvHS3AY52MowWrhuXZOuB7FWqKm9XP6K6crpWJw1HLabA26md15UqqH2jSYbqKo4rYu1dfVKJIV-Zy9b3d1PFL4jDBYRS1ibJQP-P9FhjIXCkAXJ-UP8G79XLg-iUvR1XKO3XDrC4DNutBq56E8lzH1iBlMS8kj~a86DN5YRxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During unscheduled public comment on April 16, a Kenai-area resident, identifying himself as Bobby Croom of Sterling, urged the council to intervene over recent price increases at the municipal golf course and asked the council to suspend the operator's license.

Croom said he is disabled and that under a new operator (identified in the meeting as KNC), the cost of a seasonal single pass rose from about $900 last year to $1,400 this year. He asserted the new operator expanded discounts for seniors and juniors but did not maintain discounts for people with disabilities and that his monthly disability income makes the new rates unaffordable: \"When you think muni and muni, you know, similar things, that's just out of my — that's more than what I get in disability for a month,\" Croom said.

Croom said he had tried to resolve the issue with the operator and with city management but felt the responses were inadequate and therefore asked the council to act, saying the operator had been unresponsive and dismissive. He requested the council immediately suspend the contractor's license to compel a discussion of pricing and accommodations for disabled players.

Council members asked clarifying questions about whether other municipal courses offer disability passes and whether the operator had signaled any weekday or off-peak discounts. Staff noted some municipal courses use time-of-day discounts and that Russian Jack (an Anchorage municipal course mentioned for comparison) offers a lower seasonal pass and no differentiated discounts. Mayor Gabriel and other council members thanked Croom for speaking and indicated staff would follow up; they did not take immediate action during the meeting.

Ending: The council did not suspend the operator's license at the meeting; staff said they would look into the complaint and the concession agreement and report back to council.","A Kenai-area resident told council the golf-course operator's new seasonal pass pricing and elimination of disability discounts effectively priced him out; he asked the council to suspend the operator's license pending review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kenai Council approves donations, land donation for housing, utility and harbor measures; appoints Planning & Zoning commissioner

CARTS asks Kenai for $10,000 local match after ridership jump; agency says $312,000 shortfall threatens federal funds

Boys & Girls Club previews new Kenai "forever home," teen programming and open house

Kenai receives clean FY2024 audit; auditor flags lease accounting and IT access controls

Resident urges council to intervene after new Kenai golf-course rates exclude some disabled players