Tyson Cox references a sheet illustrating the rotation of seats on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tyson Cox references a sheet illustrating the rotation of seats on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna requests changes to planning commission ordinance

The measure is being considered next week

When the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday considers whether or not to shrink the borough’s planning commission, it will also mull input on the issue provided by the City of Soldotna.

Soldotna City Council members last week voted to send a list of proposed changes to an ordinance introduced by assembly member Bill Elam in April. Elam cited cost savings for the borough in bringing the ordinance forward.

The legislation, if approved, would change the composition of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission such that it resembles the makeup of the borough assembly — or by decreasing the number of commissioners from 14 to nine.

Of the 14 commissioners currently serving, nine represent the same single-member districts as the assembly and board of education. The other five represent the borough’s first-class and home-rule cities of Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Seward and Seldovia. Under the proposed changes, the individual city seats would be eliminated.

As introduced by the assembly, in cases where a borough legislative district contains a municipality, the borough mayor could consider two separate pools of applicants for the seat. In the first pool would be a list of applicants submitted by the city council from applications received by the city. In the second pool would be applicants from outside the city, but still in the legislative district, who would apply through the borough.

Soldotna City Council members first expressed skepticism over the ordinance as proposed in early May, when Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Director Robert Ruffner presented them with the changes. Multiple council members after that presentation voiced concern that the proposed reconfiguration could give non-city residents the ability to make decisions that affect the city.

Council members also pointed to historic clashes between the city and the borough over who represents Soldotna on the commission. A back-and-forth between the city and the borough dragged on for months and resulted in sweeping changes to the appointment process, including bumping membership to 14.

In a May 30 letter to assembly members, Soldotna City Manager Janette Bower outlined the changes requested by the city council.

First, the council wants there to be 11 commissioners — not nine — with two seats rotating among the borough’s five home rule and first-class cities. Next, the council asks that only city residents be allowed to serve on a city seat, and that city representatives be selected by the borough mayor from a list of at least one applicant submitted by the respective city. Lastly, council members ask that no city have more than one representative on the planning commission.

“The City of Soldotna requests the Borough Mayor and Assembly to reconsider removing the city’s ability to select a city resident to serve on the planning commission,” the May 30 letter to assembly members says. “The City reaffirms its capability and aptitude to select the best candidate to represent both the city and borough residents.”

Soldotna Vice Mayor Lisa Parker, who authored the changes articulated in Bower’s letter, said the requested amendments align with previous stances the city has taken on the makeup of the borough planning commission.

Included with the city council’s May 24 meeting materials, for example, is a resolution adopted by the council in 2021 calling for city seats on the commission to be reestablished. The council in 2016 also passed a resolution opposing an ordinance that proposed combining the commission seats held by Kenai and Soldotna.

Assembly members will hold a public hearing and be able to make amendments to the proposed ordinance during their Tuesday meeting, which will be streamed live on the borough’s website at kpb.legistar.com. A final vote on the proposed changes will be held during the same meeting.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, a Soldotna Republican who co-chairs the House Education Committee, speaks in favor overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
By 1 vote, lawmakers sustain Dunleavy veto of education bill

The bipartisan bill included $680 increase to per-student funding

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Russian River Campground closed for construction

The campground is expected to reopen on June 2

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Fish and Game announces series of closures and restrictions for king salmon fisheries

Cook Inlet king salmon stocks are experiencing a prolonged period of poor productivity, the department said

Montessori materials sit on shelves in a classroom at Soldotna Montessori Charter School on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Education debate draws state attention to peninsula charter schools

Dunleavy would like to see a shift of authority over charter school approvals from local school districts to the state

The Nikiski Senior Center stands under sunlight in Nikiski, Alaska, on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Support available for community caregivers

Nikiski Senior Center hosts relaunched Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program

Flags flank the entrance to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dunleavy vetoes bipartisan education bill

Senate Bill 140 passed the House by a vote of 38-2 and the Senate by a vote of 18-1 last month

The Alaska State Capitol on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
House passes bill altering wording of sex crimes against children

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer

Ben Meyer and Brandon Drzazgowski present to the Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Watershed Forum gives update on streambank restoration

The watershed forum and other organizations are working to repair habitat and mitigate erosion

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai resident arrested on charges of arson

Kenai Police and Kenai Fire Department responded to a structure fire near Mountain View Elementary

Most Read