The Soldotna City Council is progressing in the move toward becoming a home rule city.
At Wednesday’s meeting the council approved $5,000 for the Feb. 3 special election that would elect a Charter Commission for conducting the review process that would determine the necessity of the city moving to home rule. The total cost of the special election is estimated to cost $9,500, according to the ordinance.
The question that will be on the ballot was proposed to the council at the meeting. The pending proposition would read: “Shall a Charter Commission be elected to prepare a proposed charter?”
Voters would be asked to respond “yes” or “no,” and if passed would result in the seven charter commission candidates that receive the highest votes during the special election to fill the seats, according to the ordinance.
The council was also asked to consider an ordinance that would put limitations on soliciting within public right-of-ways.
Council member Linda Murphy said she thought the proposed policy was not well thought out.
Mayor Nels Anderson told the council he would veto the ordinance if the council chose to support it the way it is written. The council chose to vote it down.
“Please bring this backing a manner that would be acceptable to all of us,” Anderson said to city manager Mark Dixson.
