5-7-2013 Borough Assembly Meeting Report

By Sue McClure

The afternoon of our first meeting in May began with an hour of instruction on use of our new iPads.  The assembly members now will be receiving our meeting packets electronically rather than by mail, in a continuing effort to eliminate paper.  These will also facilitate information transfer from the Clerk and other borough sources.  During the finance committee meeting, we heard a 20-minute presentation from Craig Chapman, Finance Director, on the fiscal year 2014 budget.  The ordinance containing the budget was introduced later in the meeting, as Ordinance 2013-19, with a public hearing scheduled for 6/4.  During the lands committee meeting, we heard an abbreviated presentation of the 2013 Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was presented in full at the board meeting of the SBCFSA the previous evening in Seward.  This is an extensive study of all hazards in the service area and potential loss assessments, and potential mitigation priorities.  It was presented as Ordinance 2013-16, and was withdrawn by request from the Mayor, pending further hearings, to eventually be placed in the KPB All Hazard Mitigation Plan.

At the regular meeting at 6 PM we heard the quarterly report from Central Peninsula Hospital, and a report from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge director on the elodea infestation of Daniels and Stormy Lakes.  This is a weed that can overwhelm lakes, and there is a request for funding assistance to fight its spread.

In the Mayor’s report, the contract for the Bear Creek Community Multi-Use Facility (and fire station) was awarded to Marsh Creek, LLC from Anchorage.  There were also 3^rd quarter reports from the non-departmentals and senior grant recipients.

We unanimously adopted two ordinances appropriating funds, one for CES for software, and the other a grant for CES to purchase portable radios.

Several resolutions were passed on the consent agenda, including Resolution 2013-043 determining $43.5 million to be awarded to the school district for FY 2014.  We once again postponed (to our 6/4 meeting) Resolution 2013-037, which would establish a fiscal note for borough actions.  We amended a resolution to waive the 2013 deadline for senior citizen and disabled veteran exemption applications, by deleting names that did not satisfy the criteria for waivers.  After much testimony and discussion, we approved, by a 6-3 vote, Resolution 2013-047 that classifies 240 acres in the Kenai area as Resource Management.

Several ordinances were moved to public hearing on 6/4, including one which accepts and appropriates $1.3 million in funds from the State for reimbursement of costs from our September floods.  Ordinance 2013-15 was also moved to public hearing, which will raise the E911 surcharge from $1.50 to $1.80 per month.

Our next meeting is on 5/21.  Ordinances up for public hearing at that time include Ordinance 2012-19-54 which appropriates $286,000 for improvement to school facilities, Ordinance 2012-19-52 authorizing expansion of the imaging department of Central Peninsula Hospital and appropriation $3 million from their plant replacement and expansion fund for this purpose, and Ordinance 2013-14 which would reduce the rate of interest charged sellers for delinquent sales taxes and would make other adjustments.

As always I can be reached for questions or comments at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us.  The borough’s website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us, and the Seward Annex office at the SeaView Plaza is available for borough assistance.

4-16-2013 Borough Assembly Meeting Report

By Sue McClure

This was our annual meeting in Seward, on a sunny spring day.  Pastor Ron Nitz of Resurrection Lutheran Church gave the invocation, including a moment of silence for the people in Boston

Four ordinances were up for public hearing.  Ordinance 2012-19-45 accepted a grant for $33,019 from US Homeland Security for training for the Bear Creek Fire Service Area, and was approved by unanimous consent.  Ordinance 2012-19-48, appropriating $343,265 for the City of Seward from the Borough’s share of the State Commercial Passenger Vessel Tax was also approved by unanimous consent.  Ordinance 2013-11, potentially allowing fireworks during winter months in the borough, after considerable negative testimony, was defeated unanimously.  There was later discussion of more public education about the fireworks ban in the borough, and more enforcement by fire agencies.

A number of resolutions were passed on the consent agenda.  One, Resolution 2013-037, establishing a fiscal note policy, was pulled off the consent agenda and was postponed until our next meeting.  Resolution 2013-038 approved updates to our manual, and added in provisions for mobile devices.  The assembly members will be receiving i-pads, and paper agenda packets will not be sent out after the next meeting.

We moved a number of ordinances on for public hearing on 5-21.  Among those is Ordinance 2012-19-52 authorizing expansion of Central Peninsula Hospital’s imaging department.  We also moved Ordinance 2013-14, which amends code to reduce the rate of interest that is charged sellers for delinquent sales taxes and also reduces the late penalty.

Our next meeting is in Soldotna on May 7^th, at 6 PM.   We will re-visit the fiscal note resolution.  In addition, we have an ordinance accepting $25,000 for portable radios for the Central Emergency Service Area, and one appropriating $27,975 from CES for incident reporting software.

There will be a meeting of the anadromous fish habitat protection task force on April 29 in Soldotna as well.

I’m happy to report that we now have a full Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board.

As always, I can be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us.  The borough’s website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us, and you can find out a lot of information at the Seward Annex Office in the SeaView Plaza.

4-2-2013 Borough Assembly Meeting Report

By Sue McClure

We had a light agenda for our first meeting in April.  Mayor Navarre proclaimed April as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month”.  We also heard a presentation on Mattie’s Farm, and an annual report from the Gilman River Center.  Two ordinances were up for public hearing, both passing with unanimous consent:  one accepted funds from the state Homeland Security and Emergency Management to purchase a portable generator for the borough, and the other confirmed the assessment roll for the Anchor View Utility Special Assessment District for their upcoming gas hookups.

Two ordinances were introduced.  One would appropriate $27,975 from the Central Emergency Service Area for purchase of Image Trend incident reporting software.  The other, Ordinance 2013-12, sponsored by Assembly member Wolf, would repeal Ordinance 2011-12, the extension of the anadromous stream protection.  After some amendments, we allowed introduction, but moved the public hearing date from May 7 to June 18.  (It is hoped that the Task Force, which has been developing recommendations to amend the ordinance, will have completed its job by that date and will present its conclusions to the assembly.)

A number of Road Service Area capital improvement project contracts were awarded via resolutions.  In addition we passed Resolution 2013-034 on the consent agenda, which supports House Bill 109 naming the Kasilof River Bridge the Michael G. Wiley Bridge.

Our next assembly meeting will be in Seward, at 6 PM April 16, in the City Council Chambers.  At that meeting we will have a public hearing on Ordinance 2012-19-45, accepting and appropriating a grant for the Bear Creek Fire Service Area of $33,019.  Also we will hear public testimony on Ordinance 2012-19-48, appropriating the Commercial Passenger Vessel Tax proceeds to the Cities of Seward and Homer for amounts of $343,265 and $21,710 respectively.   And, we will hear public testimony on Ordinance 2013-11, sponsored by Johnson and Wolf, which would allow fireworks in the borough at certain times, by making exceptions to the prohibition on fireworks that is in the current code.

An additional meeting of interest is the Anadromous Fish Habitat Protection Task Force town hall meeting in Moose Pass on Tuesday the 9th at 6 PM at the social hall.  They want to hear public opinions on Ordinance 2011-12 at this meeting.

As always, you can find the agendas of our meetings, minutes, streaming audio and other information at www.borough.kenai.ak.us.  I can be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us.  There is good information at the Seward Annex Office in Sea View Plaza as well.

The choir for the annual Easter Sunrise Service, which will be held on Easter Sunday, March 31st at 7 AM at the SeaLife Center, will begin rehearsals Saturday the 23rd at 3 PM at the Methodist Church.  Other rehearsals will be 6 PM Wednesday the 27th, and 3 PM Saturday the 30th, all at the Methodist Church.  Contact Sue McClure, 224-6784 for more details.  We usually have 25-30 singers, and there are two choral pieces to sing at this community Easter service.

19 February 2013 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

The afternoon began with a 2-hour joint work session with the KPB Planning Commission, including East Peninsula commissioner Sandra Holsten, the KPB Assembly, and various members of Advisory Planning Commissions (thanks Jeanette, Dave, and Bruce), and members of the public. It was led by Marcus Mueller, KPB Land Management director. The workshop involved the municipal entitlement land selection process, and was very productive. You still can make comments and selections on the borough’s website: www.borough.kenai.ak.us until the end of February. You can learn more about the borough’s land selection from State lands at the website also. More advisory planning commission meetings will soon occur, and ultimately a resolution will be presented to the Assembly in July, outlining the acres to be selected.

At our committee meetings we heard a review of the borough’s investment portfolio, and a report from the Cook Inlet Regional Citizen’s Advisory Council on their study of marine vessel traffic risks.

There was only one ordinance up for public hearing at the regular, 6 PM, meeting. Ordinance 2013-04, amending code to repeal the requirement for assembly approval of administrative position job descriptions, was unanimously approved, with no public testimony.

Two ordinances were introduced for hearing on 3-19. One will appropriate funds for the Bear Creek Fire Service Area to pay for their new building, by issuing of bonds, which will be sold on March 12th. The other, Ordinance 2013-09 standardizes the language in code for all service areas to allow members to hold office until a successor takes office. An additional four ordinances are up for public hearing at the 3-19 meeting. Of those, Ordinance 2013-07 amends code to repeal the 60% voter approval requirement to increase the sales tax maximum rate, and Ordinance 2013-08 amends code to require certain reports from the Planning Department on the benefits and effectiveness of Chapter 21.18 (stream protection). The only assembly meeting in March will be the 3-19 meeting.

Since our meetings now begin at 6 PM, if this presents a hardship due to work and travel time, please let me know and we can arrange (with advance warning) a teleconference from Seward, or we could schedule public hearings later in the meeting if needed. I can be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. You can utilize the Seward Annex office in Sea View Plaza for information as well.

We have two vacancies on the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board at this time, and you can be appointed if you live anywhere within the boundaries of that service area!!

2-5 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

There was a fairly light agenda at our first meeting in February. We passed four ordinances, all scheduled for public hearing. Ordinance 2012-19-42 authorizes about 3.3 million for professional design of a new Central Peninsula Hospital Medical Office Building. This will be accomplished in phases, with a Certificate of Need required for part of the process, so potentially the entire amount will not be used. Ordinance 2013-01 was also passed unanimously, changes the starting time of our regular meetings to 6 PM. So plan to listen an hour earlier!!! We also passed, by a 6-1 vote, Ordinance 2013-02, which allows the possible loan of borough funds to Homer and Kachemak City for construction of their natural gas infrastructure. The borough would plan to receive a higher interest return from these investments than other sources.

A total of 6 resolutions were passed on the consent agenda. Those included resolutions: designating the Clarion as the newspaper to publish the 2013 tax foreclosure list, requesting the governor and DOT to limit the right-of-way clearing to 75 ft. on each side of the highway, supporting CARTS priorities with the state DOT, requesting the state administration and legislature to consider expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and urging the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to adopt measures to reduce Chinook salmon bycatch in the Gulf and Bering Sea.

Four ordinances were introduced to have public hearings on 3-19. Among those was Ordinance 2013-07 which would amend code to repeal the 60% voter approval requirement to increase the sales tax, as it has been ruled invalid, and Ordinance 2013-08, sponsored by Assembly member Wolf which specifies reporting on the benefits and effectiveness of KPB Chapter 21.18 by the planning department.

Our next meeting will be February 19. We have only one ordinance for public hearing at that meeting, Ordinance 2013-04, which would repeal the requirement for assembly approval of administrative position job descriptions.

Of note to the Seward area, Mayor Navarre will be at the Seward Annex Office in Sea View Plaza on Wednesday, February 13 from 10 AM to noon and 1-3 PM and you can make an appointment by calling 714-2157, or just stop by, if you would like to talk with him.

As always, I can be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. The borough website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us, and you can access the municipal land selection input process on that site as well as seeing assembly meeting information. Our meetings are broadcast on FM 88.1 in the East Peninsula (now at 6 PM!!)

22 January 2013 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

We had no ordinances for public hearing at this meeting. However, we were given two important presentations at the lands committee meeting in the afternoon, and also at the evening meeting. Marcus Mueller, KPB Land Manager, gave us an update on the municipal entitlement land selection process. This ongoing process is getting us closer to selecting the remaining land that the borough is entitled to select from the State of Alaska. To participate in this process, you can go to the borough website at www.borough.kenai.ak.us and access the project information and participation section. You can see the maps, and make comments and suggestions on lands to select and what the potential uses might be.
We also heard an update on the status of the Cooper Landing highway bypass, given by a consultant for DOT. We were shown four possible alternatives, and given a timeline of perhaps one more year before public hearings and input would be solicited. The website for more information and the maps is sterlinghhighway.com.
We also heard the quarterly report from Central Peninsula Hospital, at the regular meeting.
We passed three resolutions on the consent agenda. Resolution 2013-006 establishes the federal legislative and funding priorities for fiscal year 2014. For federal projects, we list only two for the borough, the first being the Cooper Landing bypass project, and the second being an asking of a total of $4.2 million for flood mitigation and management projects in the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area. The three federal transportation projects, in prioritized order are Road Service Area upgrades, Road Service Area paved approaches, and $18 million for improving Lowell Point Road. The booklet also includes the federal requests from the cities in the borough.
We moved to public hearing on 2/5 an ordinance appropriating an additional $40,000 for updating of the spill prevention plans. We also moved Ordinance 2013-04 to public hearing on 2/19. This would repeal the requirement that the assembly approve administrative position job descriptions, basically undoing a 2009 action by the assembly.
Our next meeting will be on 2/5, and we will hear Ordinance 2012-19-42, authorizing $3.3 million for design services for the Central Peninsula Hospital medical office building project. Also we will hold a public hearing on Ordinance 2013-01, amending code to change our start time from 7 PM to 6 PM for assembly meetings.
As always, you can reach me at smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us, or 224-6784. Great information can be obtained at the Seward Annex Office or the Flood Service Area Office, both in Sea View Plaza in Seward.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough now has information on its website: www.borough.kenai.ak.us about the land selection process. Go to the website and under “Hot Topics” click on “Participate in identifying borough selected lands of local importance” to see all the information and to get involved. If you have questions, call Sue McClure, Borough Assembly rep, at 224-6784 or contact the Seward Annex office in Sea View Plaza.

Community Choir rehearsals will resume this Thursday, January 17th, from 6:30-8 PM, at the Seward High School music room. We rehearse most Thursdays at that time and place, with a few breaks that will be announced on SCN. This is truly a community choir, with no auditions, and few requirements, other than being willing to rehearse and perform in one concert, scheduled for May 2nd at 7 PM at the auditorium. Last semester we had about 25 singers, ranging in age from 8th grade to over 65 years old. The choir will be directed and accompanied by Sue McClure. For information, contact Sue at 224-6784. See you there!!!

January 8, 2013 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

At our first meeting since early December, the one item that had brought about the most public comment and had brought the crowd to the meeting was pulled from the agenda. Ordinance 2013-03, sponsored by Assembly Member Kelly Wolf, would have amended borough code by basically repealing Ordinance 2011-12, which had increased the coverage of the anadromous fish protection in the borough. When possible violations of the Open Meetings Act were pointed out by President Murphy and also by the Clerk, Mr. Wolf chose to pull the ordinance from being introduced. There currently is a Task Force dealing with Ordinance 2011-12, and we heard a scheduled presentation from the facilitator of that group, Chief of Staff Paul Ostrander, on the group’s progress. It is hoped that by mid-April they will have recommendations to present to the Assembly.

In other business, we passed Resolution 2013-001 on the consent agenda. This finalizes the borough’s State Capital Project Priorities for FY 2013, which will be presented in Juneau. On the list of borough-wide priorities, the Tier 1, #1 request is for $5 million to establish a capital fund to fund flood mitigation projects in the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area. This would require a local match of 25% from local, state or federal sources.

We moved several ordinances on for public hearing on 2/5, including Ordinance 2013-01, which would amend borough code to change the start time for Borough Assembly meetings from 7 PM to 6 PM.

Three ordinances were approved unanimously. One authorized the acquisition of two properties by Central Peninsula Hospital, for the sum of nearly $3.6 million. Another, Ordinance 2012-39, amends borough code to require notice by mail to owners of properties located in zoning districts proposed to be created, amended or abolished.

Of local note, we also confirmed the reappointment of several board members, including Ron Long to Alternate A on the Board of Adjustment.

Our next meeting will be January 22. As always, I can be reached for questions or comments at smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us or 224-6784. The entire agenda is available at www.borough.kenai.ak.us. Our meetings are broadcast in the Seward area on FM 88.1. The Seward Annex office and the Flood Service Area offices in the Sea View Plaza in Seward are good sources of information as well. An additional note: there still is an open seat on the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board, and that individual can live anywhere in the service area.

4 December 2012 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

During the committee meeting time prior to our regular meeting, we heard a report from KPB Land Management concerning the municipal entitlement process. They have put together a plan for requesting the remaining State lands that are due the borough. Expect a series of public input meetings soon, as many acres are in our District 6. Meetings are being scheduled for Hope, Moose Pass and Cooper Landing APC’s as well as other local entities. Stay tuned for announcements. We also received the draft version of the State funding priorities for 2013. This includes Capital Project requests from communities and service areas, as well as the cities, including Seward, and the Capital Project priorities for the KPB. Of note is KPB Tier 1 #1 priority: an asking for $5,000,000 for Seward Bear Creek flood mitigation, which would establish a capital fund devoted to ongoing flood mitigation, including a 0.25 mill tax rate increase in the service area to generate local matching funds.

At the regular meeting we heard the quarterly report from the KPB School District, indicating a projected small enrollment increase, and our ranking as top performing large district in Alaska on standards based assessments. The district has not requested an amount for local funding as yet, but will once they know the impact of the new negotiated agreements. There will be a budget presentation in Seward at the SHS library on February 19, 5:30 PM. We also heard a positive quarterly report from South Peninsula Hospital.

We passed a number of resolutions on the consent agenda, including Resolution 2012-091, which provides for the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds not to exceed $1,400,000 to pay the Bear Creek Service Area’s new fire station. The service area voters had approved this in 2007. We also passed resolutions approving the 2013 labor negotiation procedures, and supporting the naming of the KPB as a Purple Heart Borough. We moved three ordinances on for public hearing at the January 8 meeting. One of those, Ordinance 2012-19-41, authorizes the acquisition of properties by Central Peninsula Hospital, using $3,591,500 from their plant replacement fund. Another, Ordinance 2012-39, would require notice by mail to owners of property in or near zoning districts proposed to be created, amended, or abolished.

We passed four ordinances by unanimous consent with no public input received. Of these, one of local interest, Ordinance 2012-19-38, appropriates $400,000 from the general fund to deal with gravel deposited in the Old Mill Subdivision as a result of the emergency removal during the fall flood.

Our next meeting will be January 8, as we have only one meeting in December. Remember, the meetings are broadcast in the Seward area on FM 88.1. The borough’s website has all sorts of information: www.borough.kenai.ak.us. My phone number is 224-6784, and email is smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. Also, the Seward Annex Office in Sea View Plaza, and the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Office next door are great sources of information.

20 November 2012 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

We had a fairly short meeting but it began with a full house. The Soldotna High School football team and coaches were in attendance to receive a commending resolution as the Alaska medium school state champions for 2012. We also heard a number of people testify with concerns about abandoned and abused animals in the borough.

We had a 10-minute presentation on the Alaska Small Business Development Center by Bryan Zak and Debi Fowler. One of the “nondepartmentals” that we regularly assist with funds is the SBDC.

In his report, Mayor Navarre stated that he would be announcing, at our next meeting, a further delay in implementation of Ordinance 2011-12, the extension of the anadromous stream protection. We will receive an update on the task force work dealing with this issue in January. (The next task force meeting will be Dec 3 at 6 PM at the Gilman River Center in Soldotna).

We passed three ordinances by unanimous consent. One appropriated funds to the City of Seldovia to complete their comprehensive plan. Another amended code to allow an increase in the amount the borough can invest in special assessments.

A number of resolutions were on the consent agenda, including one authorizing Bear Creek Fire Service Area to loan a pumper truck to the Cooper Landing Emergency Services.

We moved Ordinance 2012-19-38 to public hearing on December 4. This appropriates $400,000 from the General Fund to move debris from the Old Mill buyout land that was placed there during the September flooding event. It needs to be moved, as the buyout grant doesn’t allow storage of gravel on that land. It is anticipated that FEMA will reimburse this under the declared disaster.

In other business, we approved the 2013 meeting schedule, and began a discussion of changing our meeting start time to 6 PM. An ordinance to this effect may be forthcoming, as it would be needed in order to change borough code.

Our next meeting will be December 4, and this will be the only meeting in the month of December. As always, I can be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. The borough’s website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us, and the Seward Annex office in Sea View Plaza is available for information and assistance.

10-23-2012 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

Before reporting on the meeting, I want to thank all of the community members who attended my community meetings on October 13, where we discussed the Capital Project requests and State Revenue Sharing plans. I met with Lowell Point, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing and Hope (and stopped at the Bear Creek Fire open house as well). State Senate candidate Cathy Giessel and Representative Mike Chenault also attended. District 6 now includes part of Sterling (to Otter Trail Road), and so I spent a couple of hours at the Sterling Senior Center before the assembly meeting today, visiting and playing the piano. I plan to make that a regular stop on the way to the assembly meetings.

We began our afternoon with a joint work session with the KPB School District administration and members of the School Board to discuss school funding and to receive a review of the district’s finances.

After committee meetings, we attended a reception hosted by the Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council.

At the regular meeting, we elected Assembly Member Linda Murphy President and Hal Smalley Vice President for the upcoming year. Mayor Navarre read a commending resolution that he and I sponsored for Autumn Ludwig for her service and award of 2012 Firefighter of the Year by the State of Alaska Department of Public Safety. Mayor Navarre also proclaimed October 2012 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”, the third week of October as “Freedom From Workplace Bullies Week”, and November 2012 as “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month”.

We heard the quarterly report from Central Peninsula General Hospital, and a report on the economics of the seafood industry by UAA professor Gunnar Knapp. This brought up the topic of further studies of statistics of salmon fishing in the borough.

In his report, Mayor Navarre announced two new hires: Stormy Brown as the Human Resources Director, and Michelle Aranguiz as Special Assistant to the Mayor.

After hearing public comments on a variety of topics, we unanimously enacted the three ordinances up for public hearing. One appropriated $12,848 from US Fish and Wildlife to supplement the river debris removal project. Some of this will be used in the Seward area.

Our next meeting won’t be until November 20, as we meet only once in November.
I can be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. The borough’s website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us. The Seward Annex office is a great source of borough information, and our meetings are broadcast on FM 88.1 in the Seward Area.

10-9-2012 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

Although the agenda was light, this was one of the most well attended meetings yet. Two groups came to voice their opinions during public comments: those opposed to Ordinance 2011-12 which will ultimately expand the anadromous waters protection, and those speaking in support of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Working Group’s progress. Concerning Ordinance 2011-12, there is a Task Force, which is still meeting to forward its results to the assembly.
We heard a 10-minute presentation from spokespersons for the PETS Working Group as to their progress. This is a group that I was a part of, and it came up with a plan that has been tested and has been approved by the borough contractor, and next will be reviewed once more and then brought to the assembly as an ordinance. It is intended to comply with federal requirements concerning evacuation of people with their pets during emergencies.

The municipal election results were certified on the consent agenda, and our newly elected assembly members were sworn in. This included myself, Mako Haggerty, and Hal Smalley, all incumbents, and Kelly Wolf the new District 1 assembly member. At the end of the meeting we said farewell to District 1 member Gary Knopp, our President for the past two years.

We unanimously passed three ordinances. One of note is Ordinance 2012-37 and its accompanying Resolution 2012-080, reincorporating the River Center Department into the Planning Department as it had been prior to 2010, and changing the job description for the River Center Manager. This is in part a result of the retirement of the current River Center director, and was introduced by the mayor.

We confirmed some appointments to the KPB Road Service Area Board, including Ed Holsten for the East Region, and the appointment of David Story to the KPB Cooper Landing Advisory Planning Commission.

I will be holding Community Meetings on Saturday October 13th to discuss revenue sharing fund use and also legislative priorities for the unincorporated communities: Lowell Point at 9:30 AM, Moose Pass at 1:00 PM, Cooper Landing at 3:00 PM and Hope at 7:00 PM. The notices of those meetings have gone out to those communities. In addition, due to the census-generated redistricting, I now also will represent a portion of the Sterling area, to Otter Trail Road, and their community meeting is October 17 at 7:00 PM at Sterling Elementary.

Our next meeting will be October 23. As always, I can be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. The Seward Annex Office in SeaView Plaza is a great source of borough information, and the borough’s website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us. I’m looking forward to another three years representing you!!!

Special Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

The assembly held a special meeting at 1PM September 28 and unanimously passed Resolution 2012-076, which extends the previous declaration of disaster emergency due to flooding for another 60 days. We also unanimously passed Emergency Ordinance 2012-19-33 which appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund for flood response and recovery under the declared emergency referenced in Resolution 2012-076. The assembly members from Homer, South Peninsula, and I attended via telephone.

Due to the closure of the high school and the flooding situation, the regular community choir rehearsal has been canceled for tonight (Thursday the 20th).

18 September 2012 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

We met in Homer at their City Council Chambers. After the committee meetings we were taken on a tour of the South Peninsula Hospital, and saw their MRI and other improvements. Their quarterly report was presented at the regular meeting and we heard that they are doing quite well financially.

We also heard a presentation from Dave Brann on the Kachemak Bay Water Trail, a trail that is being proposed to go around the coast of the bay, from the Homer Spit to Seldovia.

At the regular meeting Mayor Navarre reported that KPB School District Superintendent Dr. Atwater is the Alaska Superintendent of the Year!

We approved some Advisory Planning Commission appointments on the consent agenda: Karl Romig for Cooper Landing, Jan L. Odhner and Bruce Jaffa for Moose Pass, and Erica Miller for Hope/Sunrise. These folks are to be commended for their involvement in their communities.

We had six ordinances up for public hearing, and five of them were passed unanimously with no public input. Ordinance 2012-19-29 appropriated $769,228 from the Central Peninsula Hospital Plant Replacement and Expansion Fund for some remodeling and relocation of the infusion therapy unit. Ordinance 2012-34 amended borough code to rename the General Services Department the Human Resources Department. We postponed one ordinance, which would have authorized a full-time mechanic for the Kachemak Emergency Service Area.

Of local interest, Ordinance 2012-19-32 was withdrawn from introduction. This would have authorized the purchase of property at Mile 5 on the Seward Highway for the Bear Creek Fire Service Area’s new building. This was withdrawn by request, as it was determined that the best path will be to build the new fire hall at the existing site.

Our next meeting will be in Soldotna on October 9. The borough and city election is to be held October 2, so we have scheduled our meetings for October 9 and 23.

As always, I can be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us and the borough’s website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us. The Seward Annex office in SeaView Plaza is also a source of borough information.

9-4-2012 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

We had a fairly short meeting, on a rainy night. In presentations, we received the quarterly report from the KPB School District, and of local note, attendance is good at Hope, Cooper Landing and Moose Pass schools this year (14, 12, and 17 students at this time.) Also, Seward Elementary’s enrollment is up 25 students, which tops the schools that increased in enrollment.

In the Mayor’s report, it was noted that the contract for the Beach Drive catchment basin and culvert project at Lowell Point was awarded to Metco. This project should begin this fall.

We enacted a total of 11 ordinances by unanimous consent, most of which were ones accepting and appropriating State of Alaska grants. Among those of local interest: Ordinance 2012-19-20, with a total of $3,976 000 for Bear Creek Fire Service Area for the construction of their new multi-use project, and Ordinance 2012-19-24 for the Community Revenue Sharing funds, offering $27,756 to each of the 27 qualifying unincorporated communities (including Hope, Cooper Landing, Moose Pass, Crown Point, Primrose, and Lowell Point). I will be holding community meetings October 13 with all of those communities to discuss use of those funds. Times will be announced later. We also passed Ordinance 2011-19-92 recording expenditures by the State of over $2 million toward the borough’s unfunded PERS liability.

Two resolutions were passed on the consent agenda that affect our area. Resolution 2012-073 approved a mutual aid agreement between Bear Creek Fire Service Area and the Lowell Point Volunteer Fire Department. Resolution 2012-074 authorized an amendment to the agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service involving the Old Mill Subdivision buyout project. This would result in the removal of a requirement for a federal survey and title work, saving funds and expediting the project.

Our next meeting will be in Homer on September 18. We have six ordinances up for public hearing at that time. Ordinance 2012-19-29 would appropriate funds from the Central Peninsula Hospital’s fund for remodeling the obstetrics area and relocating the infusion therapy departments among others. Ordinance 2012-34 would amend code to rename the General Services Department to Human Resources, and would eliminate that department’s oversight of Risk Management.

As always, I can be reached for questions and comments at 224-6784, or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. The borough’s website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us, and the Seward Annex office in SeaView Plaza is an excellent source of information.

21 August 2012 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

As I predicted in my last report, this was a short meeting. Committee meetings ran only about 1 hour, and there were two ordinances up for public hearing at the regular meeting. Both were enacted unanimously: One appropriated $8000 for the Nikiski Fire Service Area Station #1 bunkroom remodel, and the other, $1010 in donations for the youth programming at the Seldovia Recreational Service Area.

We heard a quarterly presentation from Central Peninsula Hospital, outlining their future plans as well as reporting that they are doing well financially.

We moved three ordinances on for public hearing. Ordinance 2011-19-92, to be heard on September 4, records the State’s expenditures of over $2 million on behalf of the borough’s unfunded PERS liability. The other two will be heard on September 18 at our annual Homer meeting: one appropriates funds for a mechanic position at Kachemak Emergency Service Area, and the other accepting a state grant of $23,693 to fund the borough’s Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Other ordinances up for public hearing on September 4 include Ordinance 2012-19-20 which accepts the State grant of $3,976,000 on behalf of the Bear Creek Fire Service Area for their multi-use facility project, and Ordinance 2012-19-24 accepting the $772,200 from the State for the Community Revenue Sharing Program. This will be divided among 27 communities, including Hope, Cooper Landing, Moose Pass, Primrose, Crown Point, and Lowell Point.

We also passed a resolution on the consent agenda awarding the Road Service Area project funds for Starr Lane, off Nash Road, to Kee Construction.

To see details of this meeting’s agenda, visit www.borough.kenai.ak.us. You also can find election information, and Task Force information regarding Ordinance 2011-12 (the anadromous stream ordinance) on this website. As always, I can be reached at smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us, or 224-6784. And, the Seward Annex office in the SeaView Plaza is available for information.

7 August 2012 Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure

We had a busy meeting schedule with public hearings on 14 Ordinances. Two were very important to the Seward-Bear Creek area. Ordinance 2012-28, amending borough code to provide that all 7 seats on the Seward-Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board be at-large was enacted by unanimous consent. This means that anyone living within the boundaries of the service area may run for the open seats. The deadline to file for seats for the October 2nd election is 4:30 PM Wednesday August 15, and you may contact the Seward Annex office in SeaView Plaza or go to the borough website for filing information.

Also, Ordinance 2012-19-16 which approved the acquisition of 150.44 acres in the Salmon Creek area for flood mitigation and wetland preservation was enacted by unanimous approval. The Seward-Bear Creek Flood Service Area provides $27,700 for the purchase and the remainder comes from the Conservation Fund.

Most of the remainder of the ordinances were ones accepting and appropriating State grants, including $8,050,000 for Road Service Area capital improvement projects, $1,067,500 for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District for equipment and supplies, $3,100,000 for Soldotna and Kenai High School’s track and field improvements, $1,625,000 for security cameras in borough-owned facilities, $1,000,000 for hazard tree removal, and $2,000,000 for Central Peninsula Hospital for their radiation oncology facility construction project.

We also passed Ordinance 2012-29 by an 8-1 vote. This deletes the requirement that all administrative position vacancies be advertised for two weeks.

Resolutions that were passed on the consent agenda include Resolution 2012-058, sponsored by myself, expressing support for the Kenai Mountain-Turnagain Arm Corridor group’s development of an Alaska based school curriculum, Resolution 2012-062 authorizing the mayor to sign us up for the 2012 Alaska Land Mobile Radio Communication System Membership, and Resolution 2012-064 authorizing the borough to participate in the AMLJIA loss control incentive program.

We moved 12 ordinances on for public hearing. Coming up at the 9-4 meeting is Ordinance 2012-19-20, accepting and appropriating a State grant for $3,976,000 on behalf of the Bear Creek Fire Service Area for their multi-use facility construction project, and Ordinance 2012-19-24, accepting and appropriating $772,000 from the State for community revenue sharing. This will provide $27,756 for each of the 27 communities that are eligible, which is a substantial increase from last year.

Our next meeting will be August 21. This should be a light agenda!! As always, I may be reached at 224-6784 or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. The details of this and all meetings may be found at the borough’s website: www.borough.kenai.ak.us.