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Kenai Council approves donations, land donation for housing, utility and harbor measures; appoints Planning & Zoning commissioner

3033187 · April 17, 2025

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Summary

At its April 16 meeting, the Kenai City Council approved multiple ordinances and resolutions including donations to the animal shelter, conditional donation of city parcels for restricted-income housing, utility improvements and a Planning & Zoning appointment.

The Kenai City Council took several formal actions on April 16, adopting ordinances and resolutions and confirming an appointment. Most items were approved by unanimous consent; one appointment drew a split vote.

Key actions at a glance

- Ordinance 3462-2025: Accepted and appropriated donations to the Kenai Animal Shelter for equipment and supplies. - Action: Motion to enact ordinance 3462-2025 (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; second: Council member Castena). The mayor read a list of donors. Roll call vote: 7 yes, 0 no. Outcome: enacted.

- Ordinance 3463-2025: Conditionally donated approximately 1.5-acre parcels (subdivided from a 69.5-acre tract in Kenai Meadows Addition No. 1, parcel 03901067) to a housing initiative for restricted-income and senior housing. - Action: Motion to enact ordinance 3463-2025 (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; seconded). After council discussion expressing support for additional housing, roll call vote: 7 yes, 0 no. Outcome: enacted.

- Resolution 2025-23: Redirected water and sewer capital funds to complete citywide lift-station improvements. - Action: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt). Council discussion clarified the project scope: upgrade electrical control panels and telemetry at roughly 18 lift stations to enable remote monitoring and improve response. Council adopted the resolution by unanimous consent.

- Resolution 2025-24: Implemented a new permit fee for a truck-fill station in the water-fees schedule. - Action: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt). Council discussed benefits of centralizing truck fills (reduce random hydrant use, improve backflow prevention and DEC compliance) and concerns about impacts on contractors hauling water from a single site. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent; staff said they will monitor impacts and retain flexibility.

- Resolution 2025-25: Authorized a contract to allow use of cranes and operation area at the boating facility (non-exclusive use for contractor fueling and barge access). - Action: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; second). Council noted the authorization mirrors prior seasonal arrangements and is non-exclusive; resolution adopted by unanimous consent.

- Resolution 2025-26: Authorized the city manager to continue providing animal-shelter services for the City of Soldotna at the Kenai Animal Shelter. - Action: Motion to adopt (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; second). City staff reported this is the fifth year of the arrangement; the council adopted the resolution by unanimous consent.

- Approval of consent agenda: The council approved the consent agenda at the start of the meeting by unanimous consent. The consent agenda items (read into the record) included: approval of the regular meeting minutes of 04/02/2025; ratifying bills; special-use permits for Rebecca Botcher doing business as The Fishing Grounds LLC for a snack/gift shop inside Kenai Municipal Airport; a special-use permit to the Alaska Division of Forestry for apron space at the Kenai Municipal Airport; and the introductions and scheduling of public hearings in May 2025 for ordinances 3464-3469 (fees, alcohol licensing housekeeping, residential code amendments, animal shelter grant appropriation, library donation appropriation, and conflict-of-interest code amendments).

- Confirmation of mayoral nomination: The council confirmed Jeannie Revelle (also seen as Jeannie Reveill / "Jeannie Reville" in the application packet) to a partial term on the Planning and Zoning Commission. - Action: Motion to confirm the mayoral nomination (mover: Vice Mayor Knackstedt; second: Council member Soner). The confirmation prompted discussion among council members about the applicant pool and process. Roll call vote: 5 yes, 2 no. Votes recorded in the roll call: Council member Daniel — No; Council member Douthit — No; Council member Soner — Yes; Vice Mayor Knackstedt — Yes; Council member Askin — Yes; Council member Casena — Yes; Mayor Gabriel — Yes; Student representative Tanner — Yes. Outcome: nominee confirmed to serve the remainder of the partial term.

Context and next steps

Several items were approved with minimal debate by unanimous consent as routine matters or because staff recommended them. The lift-station fund redirection and truck-fill permit fee drew substantive council discussion about operational impacts, procurement and possible effects on contractors; staff said grant/procurement processes and DEC requirements would shape the implementation and that council could revisit fee levels if needed. The Planning & Zoning appointment proceeded after a split vote; council members cited differing judgments about the applications and the mayor's prerogative to select nominees.

Ending: These actions were part of the council's regular business agenda. City staff will follow up on procurement for lift-station work, monitor impacts of the truck-fill policy and coordinate with CARTS and other agencies on pending requests and contracts.