The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly on Oct. 16 unanimously approved multiple routine and policy items, including a two-year lobbying contract, a negotiated ground lease for the Kodiak Rodeo and State Fair, adoption of the 2026 meeting calendar, certification of the Oct. 7 local election results and the advancement of a zoning amendment on childcare uses to public hearing.

Why it matters: The contract and leases set short-term spending and land-use expectations for the borough; certifying the election completes the post-election legal process; advancing the childcare amendments begins the formal ordinance process that could change where licensed child-care providers may operate in the borough.

The assembly authorized contract FY2026-27 with Hickey and Associates for lobbying services, describing the proposed agreement as a two-year contract at $45,000 per year (a $90,000 total term). Borough staff said Hickey has worked for the borough since 2000. Assemblymember Jared Griffin moved to authorize the borough manager to execute the contract; the motion passed unanimously on roll call.

The assembly also adopted Resolution FY2026-7 to authorize a negotiated ground lease with Kodiak Rodeo and State Fair Incorporated. Borough staff reported the nonprofit has occupied the Kodiak Fairgrounds under a long-running lease that expires Nov. 3, 2025, and that the new draft lease would run 25 years at an initial rate of $500 per year, a rate borough staff said is below fair-market value as allowed under Kodiak Island Borough Code (KIBC) 18.40.020B. The resolution passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

Resolution FY2026-8 adopting the assembly meeting calendar for 2026 carried unanimously after clerk Nova Javier reviewed the code requirement that the assembly set its schedule.

Clerk Javier also recommended the assembly adopt Resolution FY2026-9 certifying the results of the Oct. 7, 2025 borough election. Javier told the assembly the canvass board had counted by-mail, absentee and special-needs ballots and had found no illegal activity; the assembly adopted the resolution unanimously.

On ordinances for introduction, the assembly advanced Ordinance FY2026-11, a set of zoning-text amendments to Title 17 related to child-care facilities, to public hearing at the next regular meeting. Borough staff said the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the amendments; the code changes would allow certain in-home childcare uses in multiple residential districts and allow child-care centers in some multiunit or institutional buildings, and would add parking and definitions aligned with state requirements. The motion to advance the ordinance to public hearing passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance (from the meeting record):
- Contract FY2026-27 (Hickey and Associates lobbying services): Moved by Assemblymember Jared Griffin; second recorded; roll-call: Ames — yes; Griffin — yes; Johnson — yes; LeDoux — yes; Smiley — yes; Whiteside — yes; (motion passed unanimously). Notes: staff described proposed compensation as $45,000/year for two years (total $90,000).
- Resolution FY2026-7 (negotiated ground lease with Kodiak Rodeo & State Fair Inc.): Moved by Assemblymember Jared Griffin; motion passed unanimously. Lease term: 25 years; initial rate: $500/year; referenced KIBC 18.40.020B.
- Resolution FY2026-8 (2026 assembly meeting calendar): Moved and approved unanimously; clerk presented statutory/ordinance requirement for adoption.
- Resolution FY2026-9 (certify Oct. 7, 2025 election results): Moved by Assemblymember Jared Griffin; clerk reported canvass board findings; adopted unanimously.
- Ordinance FY2026-11 (Title 17 zoning amendments related to childcare uses): Advanced to public hearing on unanimous vote. Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval (vote recorded as 4–0, three absent).

What the assembly did not do: No amendments to the contract or the lease were recorded in the public meeting discussion; the zoning changes were advanced to public hearing and will return for final action only after public notice and hearing.

Provenance: The items and votes above are supported by staff reports and roll-call recordings in the meeting transcript; the Hicks contract discussion begins in the packet and staff remarks at the FY2026-27 contract item, and the ordinance introduction appears in the meeting materials and staff report advancing the code changes.

Ending note: Items advanced to public hearing (Ordinance FY2026-11) will return to the assembly after notice and public comment. The other actions approved are effective as recorded in the meeting minutes and contract/lease documents once executed by the borough.