[{"_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",6548005,"mediaKeyId","3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb","parentId",3441420,"title","Votes at a glance: Kenai council actions on rezone, land sales, appraisals, airport janitorial and historical‑society MOU","audioSeconds",2263,"startMs",5320000,"endMs",7583000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb&start=5320&end=7583","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb/thumbnail_5320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6548005/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Votes-at-a-glance-Kenai-council-actions-on-rezone-land-sales-appraisals-airport-janitorial-and-historicalsociety-MOU","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548005-9ee3ed0c6995c9e6e3627b9397fa2b8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112502&Signature=DP~A8wthk8V8wV2Lz8Z73HSkSotOLUaHyDhjz~OPjS9V~uoca~LSDeIOUWOlgwHGIFWE~CrhecNpKK3rJsndVwEdrdjvtwIJ5i2xPDpskXDe6FhSOMIW16oZW83331-yIBoGe8oeXaCFoOUF8sOhcivzQOdhNoaRZEVW408M4PUgWlGvkakrUtdX~51PvF88zn22nk3pfScXpNJsE1KMS5mSVeuymMqeA4ZZRee9OeZMrnY2EKbuRw4XWtXnOr6RZBRjvZNpUGSDw-xaAFA1~IyblRVW33sL-OJqM8OKL7pNGsjPVWcSlwAPgBkHGS2eSD~afCTe2VJ0FRW7Qu9fXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Kenai, AK","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Kenai City Council took a mix of policy and routine administrative actions at its May 21 meeting. Below is a concise list of the formal actions the council took on motions, resolutions and other agenda items.

Key outcomes
- Ordinance 3470‑2025 (rezoning): Adopted. Council rezoned 28 parcels near Kenai Spur Highway/Wildwood Drive from suburban residential (RS) to general commercial (GC). (See separate article.)

- Resolution 2025‑532 (right‑of‑way vacation): Failed. Council declined to vacate a 60'x156' portion of an unnamed right‑of‑way along Wildwood Drive amid unresolved ownership negotiations and timing concerns. (See separate article.)

- Substitute Ordinance 3469‑2025 (conflicts of interest): Adopted, as amended. The council inserted a clarifying sentence that \"Municipal officers may not submit bids, proposals, or otherwise purchase real property from the city,\" while allowing most municipal employees to participate in public sales unless they hold nonpublic sale information.

Administrative/resolution votes (summary)
- Resolution 2025‑533, authorizing award of a city‑owned lands appraisal contract: Adopted by unanimous consent. Purpose: complete appraisals required for lease adjustments on five‑year appraisal cycle.

- Resolution 2025‑534, authorizing city manager to enter agreement for janitorial services at the Kenai Municipal Airport terminal: Adopted by unanimous consent.

- Extension of the memorandum of understanding with the Kenai Historical Society (H7): Approved by unanimous consent. Two council members recused themselves from the vote because they sit on the historical‑society board.

- Board of Adjustment appeal scheduling (H8): Council set a tentative hearing for July 2, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. to allow staff time to assemble the packet (administration noted staff turnover and requested time to compile materials). The code allows limited extensions; staff said a July 2 hearing would meet notice requirements while granting several weeks for preparation.

Vote records and procedures
Several items were adopted by unanimous consent after no public objections were raised at the meeting. For items requiring roll call, results were captured in the meeting record and are included in the related item articles.

Ending
Council members and staff noted the budget adoption hearing remains scheduled for June 4; items that require budget action will be considered through that process. Administrative contracts and routine resolutions were advanced on May 21 while larger land decisions drew more extended deliberation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5/21/25 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","This roundup lists formal actions taken by the Kenai City Council at its May 21 meeting, including a rezoning adoption, an unsuccessful right‑of‑way vacation, an ethics‑code amendment, and several administrative resolutions approved by unanimous consent.","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},6548024,"Kenai children’s advocacy center warns core funding will expire; asks council to consider general‑fund support",524,1403000,1927000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb&start=1403&end=1927","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb/thumbnail_1403000.jpg","/articles/6548024/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Kenai-childrens-advocacy-center-warns-core-funding-will-expire-asks-council-to-consider-generalfund-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548024-91cce46bbadc7d3103791a9c1afe5302/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112502&Signature=HTRw9ho3NZeSLXbkSBmNvDXHN5d4Iz7baLcpkVnQsdG8Z8QmvhR3R-FVvzhqBGOJZCg-iLl6oCJxvlmI7c55CdJ~8MKGwzOaGsbWI~~V4H1JXi42yAhQ~kynURRpw4WZJL-w~GkDx7uaO34fjthreYHo3dKXF6T83WxTfrOVtmThSLFBjlmagPXKfAHvzSHKWB8i~BNxyNvhLRoTWjxgSbknhzW8LHwFZuRD9JlJmmsfw5VmtZ1mQ1dR4qawAO6L73LcMtW-7lfXBFPfiwFdHqg3xqHC5EAQX1JHYx3Vzl8YUXeCe6eKZ-P8qQ5KXlQMLq08V0LnpiK6c3WhkoJwSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Kenai Peninsula Children’s Advocacy Center told the Kenai City Council on May 21 that a major five‑year federal grant that helped pay staff and services for child abuse investigations expires at the end of the city’s fiscal year in June, and the center asked the council to consider adding unrestricted support to the city’s general fund.

The center’s local representative, Morgan Lyons of the Kenai CAC, told council that the nonprofit — operated under the Haven House umbrella in Homer — coordinates law enforcement, the Office of Children’s Services, the district attorney and tribal partners for child abuse, severe neglect and related forensic services. Lyons said the office in Kenai handled “anywhere from 150 to 200 cases a year” out of the center’s wider caseload, and that the national grant awarded after a 2019 federal review of children’s advocacy centers will run out at the end of this fiscal year.

Why it matters: the center provides forensic nursing exams, multi‑disciplinary case coordination and prevention/outreach to schools and caregivers; Lyons said state law requires that children who are part of certain investigations be routed through a children’s advocacy center. Without replacement funding, she warned, the local service is at “high likely probable cause of going away.”

The center’s ask and funding context
Lyons told council the center’s annual operating budget (as reported to council) is roughly $315,000–$350,000 and covers staff positions (advocates, manager, part‑time assistant) plus bookkeeping and shared executive‑director costs through its Homer nonprofit sponsor. Lyons said some in‑kind support — for example forensic nursing time and building space at the local public health building — serve as required match for grants the center receives.

She said the 2019 national allocation the centers received was ‘‘about 70‑some million dollars’’ distributed nationally, and that the center’s portion of that funding will expire this year. The CAC also receives a core grant administered through the state Office of Children’s Services and federal victim‑services funds (VOCA), but Lyons said those streams have been cut or are being reduced and recruitment and retention of qualified staff has become difficult without stable local funding.

Council questions and next steps
Mayor Gabriel asked for the center’s annual budget; Lyons and City Manager Eubank described the approximate range and the center’s need for a 15% grant match tied to its OCS award. Council members pressed on what other jurisdictions contribute: Lyons said the City of Homer provides a modest annual line item (about $14,000 to its Haven House umbrella), that the borough and local police departments work with the CAC, and that the center’s service area extends from Nikiski to Ninilchik and out to Hope and Seward.

Council members expressed sympathy for the center’s position and several suggested the council can help pursue state funding or consider city support while the council completes its budget process. City Manager Eubank said the council is in budget deliberations and that the issue can be taken up as part of that process.

No formal council appropriation or motion was taken at the May 21 meeting. Lyons told council the center would provide additional case breakdowns on request and encouraged council members to contact state funding offices; council members said they would follow up with the center and that the request will be part of the city’s budget discussions.

Ending
With the fiscal‑year deadline approaching in June, Lyons asked for help diversifying the center’s funding and warned that, without it, the locally based service — which handles dozens of cases a year inside the city limits and hundreds across the peninsula — faces a realistic risk of closure. Council members said they will consider the request during the FY2026 budget process and follow up with state contacts and the center’s leadership.
","Representatives of the Kenai Peninsula Children’s Advocacy Center told the Kenai City Council on May 21 that a five‑year federal funding pot supporting children’s advocacy centers is ending this fiscal year and urged the city to consider adding unrestricted support to the general fund.",{"_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},6548010,"Kenai council narrows conflict‑of‑interest ban, allows most municipal employees to bid on city real property",3766,3335000,7101000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb&start=3335&end=7101","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb/thumbnail_3335000.jpg","/articles/6548010/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Kenai-council-narrows-conflictofinterest-ban-allows-most-municipal-employees-to-bid-on-city-real-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548010-48e190b1dced65356d3fec506c239a83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112502&Signature=C7PAoKAeVzBFqPJATHnxJqB3HjDFx2VBeddzheVZ81S9VMKkzwi~uJYygqwdmQVBfG-QmSLvBS~eIC0Lb6xdZPzGSVgIsBk6r00Pbw9F0v5bV3FzQ1U8bjwtM8N4K4juEfTx4ROvB3vjKmzVmP4YS2OzgdCBEx~LdV3DYY6TV8Rh0B9S-RiOfjdHRiuz76TZdL5yPb~zbUihXSTf4eRE8wt1PbEXZS0L39amjqDgwH5I~a1sUGXeV8qsS8YVDBuv6zcSARqFp5K0uPKNS31ekZ7eyZo4dmWA6N2tC~U2dj5FgiBtc2VRQgpzb73lGumqSf~7QFPgEhk7esnuyyDykw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kenai City Council on May 21 adopted a substitute amendment to an ordinance that narrows the city’s conflict‑of‑interest prohibition and permits most municipal employees to bid on and buy city real property sold through public processes, while retaining a strict ban on municipal officers.

The ordinance change (substitute for ordinance 3469‑2025, as amended) adds a final sentence making explicit that “Municipal officers may not submit bids, proposals, or otherwise purchase real property from the city.” The council’s motion passed by roll call after an extended discussion about perception, trust and administrative enforcement.

What the amended code does
Under the adopted substitute, municipal officers — defined in code to include the city council, the planning and zoning commission, the city attorney, the city manager and the city clerk — remain prohibited from acquiring real property the city sells. The amendment allows municipal employees who are not “municipal officers” to participate in public land sales and outcry auctions provided they do not possess privileged or nonpublic information about the property or the sale process.

Council debate
Debate centered on two themes: the risk of actual conflicts versus the appearance of conflict, and how the city would administratively police employee participation. Supporters argued the change gives city employees a benefit comparable to other local jurisdictions and that existing employment ethics and the city’s internal controls (and potential disciplinary measures) can address misconduct. Skeptics said perception matters and expressed concern that employees with easy access to planners or file information could gain an advantage.

Staff and attorney comments
City counsel and administration staff said the code already defines ‘‘municipal officers’’ and that municipal employees who are involved in a sale process would be barred because they would have access to nonpublic information; the new language was meant to focus the strict prohibition on officers while leaving administrative discretion and enforcement to staff.

Vote and next steps
The council adopted the substitute as amended by unanimous roll call. Council members said they expect administration to continue to police for inappropriate information sharing and to enforce employment rules where necessary.

Ending
The ordinance narrows the blanket prohibition but retains a bright‑line ban for municipal officers. Administration said employee participation will remain subject to prospective conflicts checks and disciplinary rules if misconduct occurs.
","The City Council on May 21 adopted a substitute amendment to the municipal conflicts‑of‑interest code that bars municipal officers (council, planning commission, city attorney/manager/clerk) from buying city real property but permits other municipal employees to participate in public sales unless they possess nonpublic information about the sale.",{"_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},6548016,"Kenai council declines proposed vacation of Wildwood Drive adjacent right‑of‑way amid ownership, timing concerns",2075,3240000,5315000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb&start=3240&end=5315","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb/thumbnail_3240000.jpg","/articles/6548016/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Kenai-council-declines-proposed-vacation-of-Wildwood-Drive-adjacent-rightofway-amid-ownership-timing-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548016-4a04075ea491b0809ac12bafa5f589bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112502&Signature=Iq0ptzSxSixp5ym1ZsF5TmubteYA0E2yU1M8U2zxDVjixU-KL2S05Rfb06WOasTk5JYhQu7k5AKW-R8CEJCv2FCzCcAi-DavxixQQsAJS-mFK54Fd8rxDwSKrJvmZJTBWze5vnjSkPK8dRvrxkyPJnkigmrnvtNkfTxYu1x5G-tlgN01WRo7BwXKwlOOctIwFSi2eB2XmmcXTPCd6zQd21dfEYmXir5F2YGEUZzD-LsM8nNjpopfMKTEEW8fBoRnx8Gi4Kp9wDnhXEy3Rnwqpvr2AxYB02KpP8NBI6365qTaIh~uG0Lrb-U80x5jO0CAkT-SsR0JWP27QL-440jBCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kenai City Council on May 21 rejected a resolution that would have declared a 60‑by‑156‑foot portion of an unnamed road by Wildwood Drive not needed for public purpose and vacated it to adjoining owners. The vote failed after a lengthy council debate about timing, local drainage needs and a parallel dispute over Wildwood Drive’s underlying ownership.

Council discussion and recusal
Councilmember Douthat had earlier publicly recused himself on this matter because of property ownership ties to nearby lots. The resolution — numbered 2025‑532 on the agenda — drew divided comments at the dais. Supporters, including the applicant (a property owner who described flooding and drainage problems on the lots), said vacating the narrow right‑of‑way would allow the owner to remediate ponding and combine adjacent lots for future development.

Opponents, including the mayor, the city manager and several council members, said the timing was wrong. City Manager Greg Eubank and Mayor Gabriel said negotiations over the broader Wildwood Drive ownership and potential state paving funding were ongoing with the Kachemak Native Association (KNA) and the Alaska Department of Transportation. Council members warned that vacating the adjacent right‑of‑way now could “muddle” talks with the state or KNA and could undercut the city’s leverage in negotiating access or compensation.

A second line of concern was public perception. Several council members said vacating a right‑of‑way closely associated with a council member who stood to benefit would create an appearance problem even if the legal procedures were followed; that concern added weight to arguments about delaying action until ownership and negotiations are resolved.

Vote and outcome
After debate, the roll call was: Council member Askin — No; Council member Casana — No; Mayor Gabriel — No; Council member Daniel — Yes; Council member Sonar — No; Vice Mayor Nakstead — No; Student representative Tanner — No. The motion failed; the resolution did not pass. Councilmember Douthat had recused earlier and did not vote.

Why it matters
Council members and staff described Wildwood Drive as a priority road for improvements; state participation and KNA’s land claims (ANCSA allotments) were cited as complicating the effort to obtain state funding or a negotiated access agreement. Opponents argued that acting now could jeopardize progress on a larger repaving/drainage solution; proponents argued the vacation was needed to fix immediate drainage problems and to allow a property owner to consolidate lots for future development.

Ending
The council’s vote preserves the status quo for the disputed right‑of‑way. City staff told council they will continue negotiations with state DOT and KNA and that a future request could return to the council once the broader ownership and financing questions are clearer.
","After extended debate and a member recusal, the Kenai City Council on May 21 voted down a resolution to vacate a 60‑by‑156‑foot portion of an unnamed right‑of‑way along Wildwood Drive, citing unresolved ownership questions and ongoing negotiations with state and Native association stakeholders.",{"_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},6548020,"Kenai council approves rezoning near Kenai Spur Highway to general commercial",490,2746000,3236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb&start=2746&end=3236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441420-439c824cf1ea72b7554ab53a66e6fecb/thumbnail_2746000.jpg","/articles/6548020/Kenai/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Kenai-council-approves-rezoning-near-Kenai-Spur-Highway-to-general-commercial","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6548020-fdc986cbaaac9498105cc90302d6bbb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771112502&Signature=i2fcRP0uRmaXWCgogHkHWtZYb8U~8JcNO0ofZDhMyrRgdqx7~RX~jk7mLN3j-aKVMf0mubIH5ptnlm~tKCsBHoWnM3oE75deoJX3g17s2LWPhuxuyIPoAkut23BkFNs-OobUB0zKKC4zSTRbNd-tU11BxHgsu5rFde3v-B4W710a7pO3PuaXYwr0ntml1j8eGC8WmyyIYDk1IdUEyfXMn8xIbdKdZ~enfC2nsna~hOqKjXzEcKzYudyDnxdUR~yKv~t8pPLh4MaVheb4GGsPNc-Tixnm1qzDkNOgXe6zXZXg4MOyHwCNDXUdQxrYB8wjsEogUCXPXjSK~0ePqenQ3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kenai City Council voted unanimously on May 21 to rezone 28 parcels near the Kenai Spur Highway and Wildwood Drive from suburban residential (RS) to general commercial (GC), a change city officials and some property owners said brings zoning into alignment with existing and advertised land uses.

Council member Sonar moved to enact ordinance 3470‑2025, a rezoning that applicants and the borough planning packet describe as a “clean‑up” to mirror commercial development across the highway and to allow several lots currently marketed as commercial to be used as such. The motion passed in a roll call with all voting members in favor; Council member Dauphin had recused himself earlier in the meeting because of property ownership interests in the affected area.

Why it matters: the rezoning changes allowable uses from residential to commercial on multiple small parcels; proponents said it will make the lots more marketable and reduce zoning mismatches that complicate sales and development.

What council heard
Citizen and property owner testimony emphasized that several lots were already being marketed for commercial use despite their residential zoning and that the change would create a contiguous commercial corridor on the Wildwood side of the highway. The applicant noted written letters of support from property owners filed in the planning packet; city staff said no formal letters of opposition were received during the public notice period.

City planner and administration comments
City administration staff and planning staff explained the rezoning was limited to the parcels shown in the packet and did not alter parcels on the opposite side of the highway except as previously rezoned. Staff said they had received no formal objections through the normal public‑notice process and that the proposal was intended to reduce irregular spot zoning where plats and prior actions left mismatches.

Next steps
With council approval on May 21, the ordinance proceeds as adopted; the council record shows the action passed on the council floor after public hearing.

Ending
Council members said the rezoning is expected to make the properties easier to develop for commercial uses and to align the zoning map with how the area is being used and marketed.
","The Kenai City Council on May 21 approved an ordinance rezoning 28 parcels near the Kenai Spur Highway/Wildwood Drive area from suburban residential to general commercial, a move proponents said cleans up spot‑zoning and aligns zoning with existing commercial uses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Kenai council actions on rezone, land sales, appraisals, airport janitorial and historical‑society MOU

Kenai children’s advocacy center warns core funding will expire; asks council to consider general‑fund support

Kenai council narrows conflict‑of‑interest ban, allows most municipal employees to bid on city real property

Kenai council declines proposed vacation of Wildwood Drive adjacent right‑of‑way amid ownership, timing concerns

Kenai council approves rezoning near Kenai Spur Highway to general commercial