Kenai council approves package of ordinances and resolutions, approves consent items; several measures enacted

The Kenai City Council on May 7 enacted a package of ordinances and resolutions and approved consent‑agenda items covering land use, fees, licensing, public safety training grants and local facility funding.

Major actions adopted by the council included:

- Ordinance 34‑64‑2025, amending Kenai Municipal Code 21.050.085 to remove a fixed airport fuel flow‑fee amount and instead refer to the city’s annual schedule of rates, charges and fees. The ordinance was adopted on roll call with seven yes votes.

- Ordinance 34‑65‑2025, amending Kenai Municipal Code Title 2 (alcoholic beverages and marijuana). The change standardizes license review procedures, allows administrative non‑objection for renewals when there are no grounds to object, requires an annual list of active licensees (liquor licenses at year‑end; marijuana licenses in June), and aligns municipal code language with state statute practice. City Clerk staff explained the administrative review process and said grounds to protest would still be brought to council for action. The ordinance passed on a 7‑0 roll call.

- Ordinance 34‑66‑2025, amending Kenai Municipal Code Chapter 4.32 (residential code) to reinstate provisions that permit engineered design submissions (for items outside prescriptive code paths) and to align fire‑protection provisions for furnaces under floors with other Alaska jurisdictions and Alaska Housing Finance Corporation guidance. Building official Joe Fisher told council that the change “doesn’t mean it needs a stamped engineered plans” but allows engineered design approaches for nonprescriptive elements such as window and door headers. The ordinance passed 7‑0 on roll call.

- Ordinance 34‑67‑2025, accepting and appropriating a grant from the Alaska Animal Control Association to the Kenai Animal Shelter to cover attendance at the group’s 2025 training conference. The ordinance passed 7‑0.

- Ordinance 34‑68‑2025, accepting donations to the Kenai Community Library for the 2025 summer reading program; sponsors thanked the Derek Kaufman Fund and other donors. The ordinance passed 7‑0.

- Resolution 2025‑27, authorizing the city manager to enter an agreement with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources for a utility easement for a city water main, adopted by unanimous consent.

- Resolution 2025‑28, authorizing a contract award for an anticipated annual purchase of water and wastewater chemicals. Public Works Director Lee Fry said the purchase represents the expected annual supply for the city’s water and wastewater treatment plants and noted recent price increases. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent.

- Resolution 2025‑29, authorizing a contract award for design work on LAAC stormwater rehabilitation. Public Works described the project area as a failing storm drain that begins between Candlelight and Highbush Lane and runs down local alleys; the design contract was adopted by unanimous consent.

- Resolution 2025‑30, approving contract amendments for services at Vintage Points Manor congregate housing. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent.

- Resolution 2025‑31, amending the Kenai Municipal Cemetery Regulations and Fee Schedule (PRK‑78.001) to revise headstone and marker regulations. City Clerk Shelly Sander explained the policy change allows up to three markers per internment location (with one upright) and permits a single marker to span adjacent internment plots when plots are purchased together. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent.

Consent agenda items approved earlier in the meeting included approval of minutes from April special and regular meetings, ratification of bills, special use permits for Weaver Brothers Inc. (truck/trailer storage) and Nil Chill Solutions LLC (off‑premise sign at 11631 Kenai Spur Highway on city property, Tract B Gusty Subdivision Addition No. 2), introduction of Ordinance 34‑70‑2025 (rezoning 28 properties near Kenai Spur Highway and Wildwood Drive from suburban residential to general commercial; public hearing set for May 21, 2025), and approval of an amendment and extension to the employment agreement with City Attorney Scott Bloom. The consent agenda was approved by unanimous consent.

Several measures were discussed briefly in council before votes; the building code changes prompted technical explanation from Joe Fisher, and the licensing code changes prompted procedural explanation from the city clerk. Most enacted items passed unanimously or by unanimous consent.

Votes at a glance (summary of enacted items and outcomes): • Ordinance 34‑64‑2025 — Adopted (roll call 7‑0). • Ordinance 34‑65‑2025 — Adopted (roll call 7‑0). • Ordinance 34‑66‑2025 — Adopted (roll call 7‑0). • Ordinance 34‑67‑2025 — Adopted (roll call 7‑0). • Ordinance 34‑68‑2025 — Adopted (roll call 7‑0). • Ordinance 34‑69‑2025 — Considered and postponed to 05/21/2025 (see separate coverage). • Ordinance 34‑70‑2025 (introduction; public hearing set for 05/21/2025) — Introduced on consent. • Resolution 2025‑27 — Adopted (unanimous consent). • Resolution 2025‑28 (water/wastewater chemicals) — Adopted (unanimous consent). • Resolution 2025‑29 (LAAC stormwater rehab design) — Adopted (unanimous consent). • Resolution 2025‑30 (Vintage Points Manor contract amendments) — Adopted (unanimous consent). • Resolution 2025‑31 (cemetery marker rules) — Adopted (unanimous consent).

Council also heard several administrative reports, proclamations and public comments during the meeting; no litigation or executive‑session items were added to the agenda on May 7.