Kenai council enacts two ordinances, approves airport lease and infrastructure actions

The Kenai City Council on Feb. 19 adopted two ordinances and approved several staff-recommended actions, including an airport land lease and equipment standardization at the wastewater treatment plant.

Council enacted Ordinance No. 3,449-2025 to increase estimated revenues and appropriate grant funds for the Kenai Police Department to purchase ballistic vests. The ordinance was moved and seconded during the public hearing; a roll call produced a recorded tally and the clerk announced, “You have 7 yes votes. Ordinance number 3,449 dash 20 25 is enacted.” Chief Ross answered a council question about vest replacement, saying “five years is pretty much the life expectancy of the vest.”

Council also enacted Ordinance No. 3,450-2025, which amends sections of the Kenai Municipal Code related to personnel regulations, including definitions, promotions and probationary periods. City staff explained the changes align pay-step and probation rules adopted last summer and standardize promotion increases so a promotion yields at least a 4% pay increase in all cases. The ordinance passed by roll call; the clerk announced, “You have 7 yes votes. Ordinance number 3,450 dash 20 25 is enacted.”

By unanimous consent the council adopted Resolution 2025-15 authorizing the city manager to execute a lease of airport reserve lands to ENA LLC for Lots 5A and 5B (future Lot 5C FBO Subdivision). Staff said the lease requires the tenant to complete construction — including a hangar and fuel tank farm — with a minimum construction investment of $3,000,000 and a three-year initial development schedule with potential one-year extensions if criteria are met.

On consent, the council also authorized the city manager to modify the agreement with the Kenai Peninsula Borough to accept landfill leachate at the wastewater treatment plant. Vice Mayor Nixon moved approval by consent and the council registered no objection.

In a discussion-action item, the council authorized standardization of digester blowers at the wastewater treatment plant. Staff explained the project is funded in part by a direct congressional appropriation for about $2.9 million for the overall project; the blowers themselves account for roughly $500,000 of that total and standardization reduces spare-part inventories and training needs. The motion to “support the standardization of the digester blowers” was moved and seconded and later approved without objection.

No ordinances in this meeting included an itemized local match or specific grant amount for ballistic vests in the public record beyond the stated grant sources. Where roll-call tallies were announced, the council clerk reported the formal vote totals; some items were adopted by unanimous consent with no recorded roll call.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance No. 3,449-2025 (ballistic vests): Moved by Vice Mayor Nakstead; enacted (clerk announced 7 yes votes). Grant sources: U.S. Department of Justice and Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance Association (amount not specified in record). Chief Ross noted a five-year replacement cycle for vests.

- Ordinance No. 3,450-2025 (personnel code amendments): Moved by Vice Mayor Nixon; enacted (clerk announced 7 yes votes). Changes include standardizing probationary periods and a minimum 4% promotion step.

- Resolution 2025-15 (airport lease to ENA LLC): Adopted by unanimous consent. Lease requires at least $3,000,000 in hangar and tank-farm construction and a three-year completion schedule with possible extensions.

- H9 (landfill leachate agreement modification): Motion to authorize modification approved by unanimous consent.

- Digester blower standardization (wastewater treatment plant): Motion approved; project supported with a direct appropriation of about $2.9 million for the overall construction project, with blower equipment costs reported at about $500,000.