Kodiak Island Borough Assembly approves IT storage purchase, advances multiple ordinances and declines to protest El Chicano liquor renewal

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly on Sept. 18 unanimously authorized a $52,786 purchase of enterprise storage, advanced four ordinances for public hearing, accepted Planning and Zoning bylaw revisions, and voted not to protest a state liquor-license renewal for El Chicano Mexican Restaurant.

The enterprise storage purchase authorizes the borough manager to execute contract FY2026-13 with USI Corporation for an HP Nimble storage array replacement and one year of support. Information-technology staff said the current array has reached end-of-life and an outage would severely impact borough systems.

Why it matters: the storage upgrade affects the borough’s core servers and services; replacing end-of-life hardware reduces the risk of prolonged outages and supports the finance and assessing software migrations the borough is undertaking.

The assembly also moved several code updates forward to public hearing: ordinances FY2026-07 (compensation for regulatory and quasi-judicial boards and commissions), FY2026-08 (process for good-cause exemption hearings), FY2026-09 (clarifying assessor roles and correction-of-assessment procedures), and FY2026-10 (declaring two clerk's-deed properties surplus and establishing intent to sell). Staff said some of the ordinance changes implement provisions of Senate Bill 179 and clarify internal procedures for notice and appeals.

In other business the assembly:

- Voted unanimously to voice "no protest" to the Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office regarding the renewal application (BDL) for El Chicano Mexican Restaurant, license number 3299, and directed the clerk to notify AMCO. Staff reported a past fire-safety concern tied to the restaurant’s prior location; a pending application to transfer the license to a new location remains unresolved and could affect the transfer process.

- Approved contract FY2026-13 to purchase enterprise storage from USI Corporation for an amount not to exceed $52,786; staff reported the upgrade replaces drives and controllers and includes one year of support.

- Adopted revisions to the Planning and Zoning Commission bylaws, which update quorum/voting rules, executive-session procedures, electronic participation, and commissioner training requirements.

- Authorized moving forward with the process to advertise and sell two foreclosed properties acquired by clerk's deed in 2024 after the Planning and Zoning Commission found no public need for them; staff said sale details (sale number, advertising) will return to the assembly for final approval.

- Appointed the roster of election officials for the Oct. 7, 2025 municipal election and reminded residents that early in-person voting begins the following week.

- Declared the assembly seat vacated by Assembly Member Ryan (resignation submitted Sept. 2) and directed the clerk to advertise the vacancy and accept applications on a 30-day schedule that includes interviews and a potential appointment in October.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance FY2026-05 (amend Kodiak Island Borough Code Title 3, chapter 3.35 — Board of Equalization changes implementing SB179): adopted (roll-call vote: unanimous yes).

- Contract FY2026-13 (enterprise storage, USI Corporation): authorized, amount not to exceed $52,786 (roll-call vote: unanimous yes).

- Ordinance FY2026-07 (compensation for regulatory/quasi-judicial boards): advanced to public hearing (unanimous yes).

- Ordinance FY2026-08 (good-cause appeal hearings): advanced to public hearing (unanimous yes).

- Ordinance FY2026-09 (method of assessment/corrections): advanced to public hearing (unanimous yes).

- Ordinance FY2026-10 (disposition of properties acquired by clerk's deed in 2024; declare surplus/authorize sale): advanced to public hearing (unanimous yes).

- El Chicano BDL renewal (License #3299): assembly voiced non-protest to AMCO and directed the clerk to notify AMCO (unanimous yes).

- Planning & Zoning Commission bylaws: approved (unanimous yes).

- Appointment of municipal election officials for Oct. 7, 2025: approved (unanimous yes).

- Declaration of vacancy for Assembly Member Ryan’s seat and direction to advertise: approved (unanimous yes).

What staff said and next steps: Assessing staff and the clerk noted several ordinance updates implement statutory changes and procedural clarifications; staff will return ordinances to the assembly for public hearing and final action. Sale and bidding details for the foreclosed properties will be advertised and brought back with a sale number. The clerk will notify AMCO of the assembly's decision on the El Chicano renewal.

Ending: The assembly closed its meeting after the unanimous votes and proceeded to adjourn at 7:39 p.m.