Kenai council enacts ordinance to ban using private property to bypass public roadways; enforcement requires witness

The Kenai City Council on June 18 enacted Ordinance 34-78-2025 to prohibit driving from a public right-of-way across private property and back to public right-of-way — a practice residents and the Kenai Chamber of Commerce said was creating safety problems at the Visitor Center parking area.

Samantha Springer, executive director of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce, told the council the Visitor Center parking lot has been used as a through-route for drivers trying to avoid the traffic light, producing hazardous conditions for staff, visitors and children playing nearby. “It is dangerous the way people have driven through the parking lot,” Springer said, adding that speed bumps and temporary barricades have reduced but not ended the behavior.

City staff said traffic-calming measures are planned: City Manager Derek Eubank told council the street department will install two “No through traffic” signs and complete speed-bump installation. Once speed bumps are in place, staff intends to remove painted jersey barriers that are currently blocking some movements. Eubank said the changes are intended to eliminate the parking lot’s use as a shortcut off the highway.

Kenai Police Chief Ross warned council that enforcement of the new rule will face the same limitation as other traffic infractions: an officer generally must witness the infraction or have a witness report to issue a citation. “If we didn’t see the infraction and we don’t have a witness, then we don't have something we can cite somebody for,” Chief Ross said, adding that a reckless-driving charge could apply but carries a high threshold for prosecution.

Resident Alex Cook asked how officers could distinguish a vehicle that was legitimately exiting a parking spot from one cutting through a lot to bypass a signal; Chief Ross reiterated that enforcement will depend on observation and evidence. Councilmember Andrew Daniel (through the mayor) clarified the ordinance’s scope: it applies only if a driver leaves public right-of-way, goes through private property, and then returns to public right-of-way; it does not criminalize travel between adjoining private lots.

The ordinance passed on a recorded vote of six yes, zero no (Council members Casena, Gabriel, Daniel, Sonart, Knackstedt, Askin and student representative Tanner recorded as “yes” in the roll call). Council members said the measure adds an enforcement tool for police and allows the city to complement engineering changes already planned.

Ending: Councilmembers said they did not expect routine, pervasive enforcement at every site but said the ordinance offers a mechanism to cite habitual offenders when observed and will be paired with signage and speed bumps to reduce safety risks at the Visitor Center parking lot.