Borough staff to offer weekly pre‑application sessions for surveyors; participation optional

Kenai Peninsula Borough planning staff told a March 7 meeting of surveyors that it will set aside a regular day each week for pre‑application conferences to give surveyors and clients an opportunity to discuss complicated plats and subdivisions before formal submittal.

Robert Ruffner, the borough planning director, said the pre‑application sessions are optional but that staff prefers a single weekly day to keep the department’s regular workflow intact and to make the service efficient. He said staff will prioritize surveyors for those sessions but will not refuse other applicants if scheduling considerations warrant an exception.

Surveyors at the meeting largely supported the idea as a way to reduce rework but urged flexibility. Christopher Mulligan said he values the ability to call the borough outside the set day for urgent matters and worried that a single weekly slot could be inconvenient for out‑of‑area clients. Other participants suggested a short online intake form and a 10‑day turnaround for answering routine questions before scheduling an in‑person pre‑app conference.

“There is a pre‑application form online,” Beverly Carpenter said; staff said they would update the form and distribute contact information. The department also agreed that pre‑application conferences could occur by phone or Zoom for out‑of‑area applicants and that encouraging—but not requiring—use of a weekly day would be the initial approach.

Staff plans to select a weekly day (Ruffner suggested Tuesdays) and provide materials and sign‑up instructions. They also said they will track whether the change reduces delays in formal submittals and will solicit feedback from the surveying community on how to structure the sessions going forward.

Next steps: staff will publish the chosen pre‑application day, update the online form and contact sheet, and test the approach while allowing exceptions when necessary.