The Kenai Peninsula Borough held an orientation session for newly elected assembly members that outlined the borough's legal foundation, meeting procedures and the basic schedule and structure of the annual budget process.

The session, led by Borough Attorney Sean Kelly with presentations by Borough Clerk Michelle Turner and Finance Director Brandy Harbaugh, offered a primer on Title 29 authority, the assembly's legislative role and administrative responsibilities, and where to direct constituent or procedural questions.

Kelly, the borough attorney, opened the session by asking whether members wanted questions taken during the presentation or held until the end. "As they come up is fine," he said, and added that there would be time at the end for additional questions. Kelly emphasized that the borough is a second-class borough operating under Title 29 of the Alaska statutes and described the assembly as the legislative body and the mayor as the chief executive.

Michelle Turner identified the clerk's office as the assembly's immediate staff and asked members to route inquiries through her or the borough attorney so staff can direct requests to the correct department. "I am your immediate staff," Turner said, explaining that the clerk's office also prepares committee and meeting materials and serves as parliamentarian under borough code.

Brandy Harbaugh, the borough's finance director, gave an overview of the budget calendar and structure. She described steps leading up to the mayor's budget proposal in May and the goal of adopting the budget and mill rates by mid-June, and said the finance office will return with a deeper budget briefing in February. "We bring that budget forward. And in month in May, we have a couple of hearings," Harbaugh said.

Why it matters: the orientation clarified statutory limits and delegated powers, how staff and elected officials should communicate, and the calendar and mechanics that drive spending and taxation decisions — information new assembly members will use when introducing or evaluating legislation and budgeting requests.

The remainder of the session covered parliamentary procedure (the borough follows Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure with some code exceptions), committee and packet deadlines, public comment time limits, and how service area boards and department directors interact with the mayor's administration. Kelly and Turner both encouraged members to seek staff guidance early when they have potential legislation or procedural questions.