The City of Kenai is moving forward with the recruitment process for their next city manager following the approval of a plan outlined by city council members on Wednesday.
Current Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander announced late last month that he would not be renewing his employment contract with the city, set to expire on Jan. 9. Ostrander, who came on as city manager in 2017, is a former chief of staff to former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre.
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel wrote in a Sept. 27 memo to council members that the city’s current city manager job description has not been updated since 2016 — just before Ostrander joined the city.
Per the city’s current job description for city manager, minimum qualifications for the position include a bachelor’s degree in public administration or an equivalent combination of experience and training and a valid Alaska driver’s license. Additionally, the applicant may be subject to a background check, must be available to work weekends and holidays and must be a city resident while serving.
Council members ultimately opted to refer the job description to an employee subcommittee, which is composed of Gabriel, council member James Baisden and Kenai Vice Mayor Jim Glendening. That subcommittee will be able to work with city administration as needed and bring back recommended amendments to the city council.
To be determined by the city subcommittee with input from the city’s human resources director and other administrative staff, is a salary range for the position, which council members agreed should depend on an applicant’s experience.
Council members were generally in agreement Wednesday that they want to work as expeditiously as possible to ensure a smooth transition from Ostrander to his successor. The sooner the city can bring on a new manager, council members said, the longer that new person will have to learn from Ostrander and the less disruptive the upcoming holiday season will be.
Wednesday’s full city council meeting can be streamed on the City of Kenai’s YouTube channel.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, left, speaks during a “State of the City” address while Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, right, looks on at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
