Assembly debuts video streaming

  • By DAN BALMER
  • Wednesday, November 26, 2014 10:19pm
  • News

A full house took in Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting in Soldotna that debuted an online video stream.

The assembly members were each equipped with iPads for the first time. Assembly President Dale Bagley said use of the iPads should improve efficiency and allow the members to vote on them, although that function didn’t work this time. The technological gadgets are another step to save the time and expense it takes the clerk’s office to copy agenda packets for the assembly, he said.

Bagley said streaming the meetings online is another effort to improve transparency to the public.

Assembly member Wayne Ogle said the live streaming was long overdue and it will be more convenient for people to have that option to tune in from home.

The assembly passed seven ordinances up for public hearing. Among those was the Central Peninsula Hospital acquisition of the urology medical clinic on Binkley Street for $604,000 from the plant replacement and expansion fund. The ordinance was to amend the lease and operating agreement to include the 2,228 square-foot building.

Assembly member Brent Johnson, finance committee chair, said the Jonas Ridge LLC, which owns the urology business, approached the hospital and expressed interest in selling the property. Johnson said he originally had concerns when the hospital hired urologist Robert Cadoff and if that was the reason the private practice went up for sale.

According to a memo from CPH CEO Rick Davis, the urologist who occupied the building, Gary Shoenrock, planned to retire Sept. 30 and the hospital recruited Cadoff to take over Shoenrock’s practice on Oct. 16.

The ordinance passed with a 8-1 vote, with the no vote cast by assembly member Stan Welles. Welles said he felt it was a poor investment given the state budget centered on oil with looming deficits.

“The money should stay in the replacement fund,” he said. “I think we need to prepare for tight budgets.”

Gilman said the purchase is a prudent business decision because it adds to the hospital campus and increases the property value. He said the hospital has created a profitable operation and that the purchase would not cost the borough any additional funds.

An ordinance to authorize a land swap between the borough and Kalifornsky Beach property owners affected by the 2013 flooding in the Kalifornsky Beach area for drainage purposes was postponed to the Jan. 20, 2015 meeting.

An agreement was in place for a land exchange for Paula and Timothy Keohane’s 4.3-acre property on Karluk Avenue for a 1.84-acre parcel at Mile 12.1 on Kalifornsky Beach Road along the Cook Inlet bluff.

Borough Chief of Staff Paul Ostrander said a neighbor, Daniel Sterchi, had concerns that the parcel exchanged to the owners for drainage easement into the inlet would be large enough to handle the water retention the area experienced in the 2013 flooding.

Ostrander said a consultant would inspect the property and see if the original proposal would work. If not administration would look at an alternative exchange with the Keohanes for property where a 300-gallon water catch basin would be constructed to pump out water only during times of emergency, he said.

While the borough installed a temporary drainage pipe under Kalifornsky Beach Road to allow excess water to flow out to the inlet, they are actively looking at a more permanent solution, Ostrander said.

Assembly member Kelly Wolf added a resolution to the consent agenda that acknowledges the assembly’s support of the formation of the Kalifornsky Beach high water drainage task force.

The assembly passed a procedural ordinance to allow certain noncontroversial ordinances scheduled for public hearing to be placed on the consent agenda if not objection is received. Bagley submitted the ordinance. Assembly members Mako Haggerty, Wayne Ogle and Stan Welles voted against the ordinance.

Haggerty said he voted no because what is noncontroversial for him may be controversial for other people. Ogle said he would rather have transparency conducting business in a straightforward manner.

Assembly Vice President Sue McClure said placing noncontroversial issues on consent agenda is “worth a shot” because it could streamline the process.

Bagley said the meetings are sometimes really long with multiple appropriations that nobody comes to testify on. If there is something later in the agenda that people have an interest in, they can devote more time to that particular issue.

The next meeting will be Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Borough Assembly Chambers in Soldotna.

 

Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai man pleads guilty to 2019 sexual assault

The man was arrested Dec. 4, 2019, after a person reported several injuries at a local hospital.

Economist and research analyst Andy Wink presents “State of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Economy” during the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District Industry Outlook Forum in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
KPEDD forum focuses on borough economy, vision for future

Where most economic indicators suggest fairly good health, housing appears to be a cause for concern, according to an economist presenting at forum.

State Sen. Löki Tobin (D-Anchorage) reviews an amendment on an education bill with other senators during a break in floor debate Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Update: Effort to rush compromise education bill through Legislature hits snag due to ‘drafting error’

Bill returned to Senate, which passed it 19-1, to fix error in amendment; House vote expected by Wednesday

Member Tom Tougas speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Tourism Industry Working Group in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tourism working group gets 2-month extension

In a 3-3 vote, the working group had earlier this month rejected a draft document with proposed recommendations.

Various electronics await to be collected and recycled during an electronics recycling event in Seldovia. (Photo courtesy of Cook Inletkeeper)
Cook Inletkeeper celebrates 20 years of electronics recycling

More than 646,000 pounds of electronic waste has been diverted from local landfills.

Liz Harpold, a staff member for Sen. Donny Olson (D-Golovin)​, explains changes to a bill increasing per-student education funding and making various policy changes during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Revised education bill with $700 BSA hike gets new policy measures, advances to Senate floor

Changes easing charter school rules, adding new district evaluations fall short of governor’s agenda.

Students of Sterling Elementary School carry a sign in support of their school during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
District adopts budget with severe cuts, school closures

The preliminary budget assumes a $680 increase in per-student funding from the state.

A vote board shows a veto override attempt Tuesday by the Alaska Legislature on a $1,000 increase to per-student education funding falling short of the necessary two-thirds majority with a 33-27 vote. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Senate adds $700 BSA hike to school phone policy bill a day after veto override on $1,000 increase fails

Lawmakers say quick floor vote by Senate, concurrence by House may set up another override session.

The Soldotna Public Library is seen on a snowy Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna library advisory board hears update on federal funding cuts

The federal government’s dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services could cause the reduction or elimination of some statewide library services as soon as July 1.

Most Read