government

Foreground: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland, left, and KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes, right, speak about the district’s fiscal year 2024 budget during a work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district, borough mull budget shortfall as cuts loom

The two groups convened for a work session Tuesday

Foreground: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland, left, and KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes, right, speak about the district’s fiscal year 2024 budget during a work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this Aug. 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)

Borough mulls plans for bypass parcel

The 1,000-acre Juneau Bench, or Unit 395, is located north of the Sterling Highway

Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this Aug. 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)
Soldotna City Council members and Soldotna Planning and Zoning commissioners meet for a joint work session on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna considers new commercial zoning district for downtown corridor

The zone would prioritize walkability, ‘visually pleasing’ aesthetics

Soldotna City Council members and Soldotna Planning and Zoning commissioners meet for a joint work session on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Susan Smalley (right) testifies before the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. Smalley, who attended the 2022 Pride in the Park event questioned what would and would not be considered inappropriate under the proposed legislation. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna delays action on lewdness, park legislation

The trio of ordinances is the product of months of work by city administrators to review city code

Susan Smalley (right) testifies before the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. Smalley, who attended the 2022 Pride in the Park event questioned what would and would not be considered inappropriate under the proposed legislation. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna awards $3,000 in grants to community groups

The city’s mini grant program distributes $4,000 in grants annually

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow collects in a lot near the Aspen Hotel on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The lot is the site of a planned parking lot by the City of Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna OKs downtown parking lot contract

Efforts to boost parking capacity in Soldotna come as the city looks to create a new “main street” parallel to the Kenai River

Snow collects in a lot near the Aspen Hotel on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The lot is the site of a planned parking lot by the City of Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to review mini grant applications next week

Five groups are vying for one of the two $1,000 grants available for the current cycle

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow coats an eroding bluff near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bluff project moves ahead

Kenai to buy last land parcels needed for stabilization effort

Snow coats an eroding bluff near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Foreground, from left: Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank and Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner watch as Kenai City Attorney Scott Bloom wordsmiths an amendment to an ordinance during a council meeting on Wednesday at Kenai City Hall, March 1, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. Background from left: Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, Deborah Sounart and Alex Douthit discuss the legislation, which allows more city residents to keep chickens on their property. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai OKs chickens for more city residents

Council debate on the issue lasted for roughly four hours

Foreground, from left: Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank and Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner watch as Kenai City Attorney Scott Bloom wordsmiths an amendment to an ordinance during a council meeting on Wednesday at Kenai City Hall, March 1, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. Background from left: Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, Deborah Sounart and Alex Douthit discuss the legislation, which allows more city residents to keep chickens on their property. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signage denotes the entrance to Central Emergency Services at the agency’s original entrance on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. A bond package passed by voters allows the borough to incur up to $16.5 million in debt for the replacement of Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna.(Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough bond projects take step forward

Assembly approval comes about four months after Kenai Peninsula voters approved two bond initiatives

Signage denotes the entrance to Central Emergency Services at the agency’s original entrance on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. A bond package passed by voters allows the borough to incur up to $16.5 million in debt for the replacement of Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna.(Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow surrounds playground equipment at the softball greenstrip on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. The structure is being replaced this year. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to replace greenstrip playground

The park’s existing playground structure was installed in 1995 and has exceeded its usable lifespan

Snow surrounds playground equipment at the softball greenstrip on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. The structure is being replaced this year. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assembly OKs new district boundaries

The affirmative vote marked the end of a lengthy reapportionment and redistricting process

Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Peter Micciche (second from left) is sworn in as mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche sworn in as borough mayor

Micciche received more than 50% of votes cast during the Feb. 14 special election

Peter Micciche (second from left) is sworn in as mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
LaDawn Druce asks Sen. Jesse Bjorkman a question during a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman talks state finances, fishing permit buyback at Soldotna town hall

About 25 people filed into the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Saturday, where Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, held a town hall to brief residents… Continue reading

LaDawn Druce asks Sen. Jesse Bjorkman a question during a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Tyonek Native Corporation CEO Stephen Peskosky testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in opposition to inclusion of Tyonek in the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Size of Nikiski planning group still unsettled after assembly delays action

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday voted 6-3 to delay action on legislation that would reduce the geographic footprint of Nikiski’s Advisory Planning Commission.… Continue reading

Tyonek Native Corporation CEO Stephen Peskosky testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in opposition to inclusion of Tyonek in the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter Micciche (center) listens to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly certify the results of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election, through which he was elected mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche made borough mayor

Peter Micciche is the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s new mayor following certification of the Feb. 14, 2023, special election results by the borough assembly on Tuesday.… Continue reading

Peter Micciche (center) listens to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly certify the results of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election, through which he was elected mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Special mayor election saw 13.1% voter turnout

About 13.1% of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s more than 54,000 voters cast ballots during the Feb. 14 special mayoral election, a report published Tuesday shows.… Continue reading

A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna offers city manager gig to Seward’s Bower

The City of Soldotna is extending an offer of employment to Janette Bower to become the next city manager following a decision by city council… Continue reading

Flowers bloom at Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs supporting Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidates Peter Micciche and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings are staked in the snow at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

1,700 ballots still uncounted in mayoral race

Micciche leads with runoff still possible

Signs supporting Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidates Peter Micciche and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings are staked in the snow at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dan Robison (on screen, bottom) presents a chart showing Alaska’s 10-year trend of negative net migration during a Soldotna City Council work session on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Screenshot)

Soldotna brainstorms how to lure new employees

It took the city 12 months to hire a new city clerk and eight months to hire a new utility operator

Dan Robison (on screen, bottom) presents a chart showing Alaska’s 10-year trend of negative net migration during a Soldotna City Council work session on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Screenshot)