Dog tag violation will cost $25 in Kenai

Driving without a license results in a fine. Gathering clams without a license nets a fine. Fishing without a license brings a fine.

Soon, owning a dog in Kenai without a license will result in a fine.

An ordinance introduced by the Kenai City Council on Wednesday would set a fine of $25 for people who fail to obtain a dog license. City code requires a person owning a dog more than three months old — other than a licensed kennel operator — to obtain an annual City of Kenai dog license.

If adopted at the Oct. 17 council meeting, the fine would go into effect Nov. 18.

The council passed an ordinance Wednesday officially making it unlawful to smoke in the city’s sole bowling alley.

Owners of Alaskalanes Family Bowling Center and a number of bowlers had seen the facility as smoke free on a voluntary basis, and the city added it to its Regulation of Smoking in Eating Establishments municipal code.

At the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting, long-time Kenai resident Thor Evenson appealed to the council to allow him to have access to land he owns along Spruce Street at the edge of the bluff.

Because the city is in the process of clarifying the right of way along Spruce Street, Evenson said he may no longer be able to get to his land by way of a trail leading down from the Kenai Care Center and across city property.

Evenson suggested he be allowed to continue using the Spruce Street right of way for access, or be allowed central access by way of a cul-de-sac that could be built splitting the city property in two.

“I’m just asking for consideration as far as having reasonable access,” Evenson said.

Council member Linda Swarner said, “Since you’ve had historic access to (the property) you should still have access to it.”

Council member Mike Boyle asked Evenson if he would consider selling the property to the city.

Evenson said he is open to discussion on such an idea.

Mayor Pat Porter said the access issue would be referred back to city administration to work out a solution.

Another Kenai resident, Randy Bostrom, asked the city for relief from a requirement to pay water and sewer service fees throughout the winter, even though the recreational vehicle park he bought in June is only open in the summer.

“I would actually pay more for not having water than I pay when I’m having water,” he said.

Bostrom, owner of Kenai RV Park, received a letter from the city saying he would be billed a monthly minimum of $83.95 during the off season.

City Finance Director Larry Semmens said, during a work session, the city council made it “very clear that billing should continue through the winter.”

Porter instructed the city administration to research the history of what has been done regarding water and sewer service to small businesses during the off season, and report back to the council at its next meeting, Oct. 17. (The meeting has been moved from Oct. 18, which is Alaska Day.)

In other business:

· The council postponed action on an ordinance that would appropriate an additional $150,000 for payment to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS);

· The council approved the purchase of a $304,000 sewer jet cleaning truck.

Phil Hermanek can be reached at phillip.hermanek @peninsulaclarion.com.