The Kenai City Council passed an ordinance that would establish no wake zones in the Kenai Harbor at their council meeting Wednesday.
In addition, council approved two ordinances and four resolutions and spent about 45 minutes discussing a travel policy before deciding to postpone that resolution.
The no wake zone ordinance was brought forth by council members Bob Molloy and Brian Gabriel and gives the authorization to the city manager to establish a no wake zone for motorized boats within the city harbor.
Molloy, who is the harbor commission council liaison, said citizens have voiced their concerns to the council on the issue of damaged property and public safety created by boat wakes at high tide during the dipnet season. The ordinance addresses those concerns and will impose enforcement by posting signs within their jurisdiction as well as receive help from the Coast Guard to ensure no boats are traveling faster than five miles per hour in the harbor, he said.
The ordinance reads, “No wake zones may be established on a temporary or permanent basis.”
The council passed an ordinance to accept and appropriate $4,693.06 for the city’s participation in a statewide drug enforcement unit with the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Bureau of Investigation.
The city also approved the purchase of a 2014 Ford Interceptor sedan police cruiser from Kendall Ford in Wasilla for $27,000 to replace the one totaled in a March 8 traffic stop.
The city also heard a proposal from Ryan Tunseth and Al Hull from the parks and recreation commission to accept one of two options and move forward with plans to select new playground equipment for children 2-5 years old while replacing the existing playground equipment in Municipal Park in hopes of completing the project this summer.
