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Kenai Parks and Recreation Commission forwards 2025 work plan goals to council; staff report on events, master plan and housing request
Summary
At its April 3 meeting the commission approved a recommendation to send the Parks and Recreation 2025 work plan goals to City Council, and commissioners heard staff updates on spring events, summer hiring, a master-plan kickoff, a requested land donation for housing and river-monitoring funding requests.
The Kenai Parks and Recreation Commission on April 3 voted to forward its 2025 work plan goals to the Kenai City Council, and received staff reports on upcoming community events, hiring, a parks master-plan process and two items that may come to council for separate action: a housing land-donation request and a funding request from the Kenai Watershed Forum.
By unanimous consent the commission approved a motion to recommend that the City Council adopt the commission’s 2025 work plan goals, which include a new line encouraging the commission to identify a “unique, one-time goal” for 2026. Staff said the standalone goal item is meant to allow commissioners to develop a nonrecurring, commissioner-owned project after touring parks and reviewing the capital improvement plan.
During a staff report, Tyler, Parks and Recreation director, listed spring and summer events staff are scheduling: an Easter egg hunt on April 20 for ages roughly 2 to 9; a community cleanup day on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (supplies hub at the Chamber parking area); a kite festival on May 31; and a plant-day event on June 7 followed by a barbecue. Tyler said the city will post event details on the city calendar and create Facebook events; flyers will be shared with commissioners. Tyler also said the department is hiring seasonal summer positions (including a path for 17-year-old applicants) and that job listings close after an April 16 job fair.
Staff reported the city has begun a parks master-plan process with consultant Corvus Design. Tyler said a community kickoff meeting is expected at the end of the month, a community survey will be circulated in August, and a draft master-plan will come to the commission in the fall for feedback.
City staff also updated the commission on items that will move before the City Council. Alex (city staff) reported that the Kenai Watershed Forum presented a request for funding to restore water-monitoring support to $5,000; the item had been reduced to $1,500 last year and the organization asked the city to return to prior support levels. Alex also said the Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative requested a city land donation of up to 5 acres—adjacent to existing units along Readout—so it can apply for a grant that would support development of as many as 42 additional low-income and senior rental units. Alex said the land-donation request is on an accelerated timeline because a relevant grant application is due April 30; the donation would require City Council approval.
Alex also reminded commissioners of council-level items including an Army Corps of Engineers public meeting on the bluff stabilization project, tentatively set for April 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Chamber building, with construction planned to begin in mid-May. In the parks operations update, Tyler said the recreation center will be closed for approximately three weeks after April 12 while a contractor corrects an earlier court resurfacing measurement issue; one week after that the whole facility is expected to close for a short period for final work.
The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 1; staff said the revised Leif Hansen Memorial Park policy draft will be on the May agenda for review.
