Soldotna’s capital budget final draft up for review

  • By Kelly Sullivan
  • Tuesday, July 8, 2014 11:14pm
  • News

The city of Soldotna is proposing a capital budget with significant attention to downtown improvement projects aimed at community identity.

New light pole banners, landscaping improvements and two gateway signs are among the beautification projects in the city’s fiscal year 2015 capital budget.

The final draft will be introduced at Wednesday’s council meeting, and the final list of capital projects will be open for public comment on July 23.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Promoting downtown development was determined to be the highest priority goal from the Economic Development section of Envision Soldotna 2030 Comprehensive Plan, according to the document.

The projects for this fiscal year were identified by the public, city administration, or council based on current needs or opportunities, said Stephanie Queen, Director of Economic Development and Planning.

“The capital budget is a way to annually implement high-priority city projects,” Queen said. “Many projects on the list were identified as goals in one of the city’s various planning documents, such as the Comprehensive Plan or Recreation and Trails Master Plan.”

This year’s proposed budget is $1.45 million to be appropriated to the city’s General Fund.

In previous years the operating budget and capital budget were in the same ordinance, but this year the two were taken on individually said Kyle Kornelis, City Engineer.

By looking at the two budgets separately, an emphasis can be directed at which projects need to get done, rather working around a number, Kornelis said.

After the first work session with the council and the public on June 27, Kornelis added an additional $172,000 allocation for extending the sidewalk on Riverside Drive, a section that receives high pedestrian traffic, he said.

The council also requested funding for improving the Soldotna City Hall sign, Kornelis said.

Improvements to the city’s parks and waterfronts were also a high priority in this year’s budget.

Proposed projects include the installation of informational and educational signage for guiding visitors and preventing environmental damage, according to the document.

Council member Pete Sprague said he was particularly pleased to see a priority placed on renovations to Swiftwater Park this year. The area needs “a lot of work,” he said.

Upgrades to Swiftwater Park include work on the water systems, restrooms and pedestrian facilities, as well as road improvements within the park, which is at full capacity during the summer months, according to the document.

Kornelis worked closely with Rachel Nash, the City Librarian at the Joyce K. Carver Memorial Library to come up with a plan to allocate funding for a self-checkout program.

An appropriation of $40,000 is set for purchasing Radio Frequency Identification tags, according to the document.

The independent system is aimed at “improving patron confidentiality,” and “decreases the potential for repetitive stress injuries in the staff members,” Nash said.

Soldotna’s Safe Routes to School Walk Zone Inventory and Recommendations plan are already receiving attention with the allocations in this year’s budget.

Park Avenue and Redoubt Avenue were identified as the two top locations for installing mid-block crossings, according to the capital budget. The project would involve “the removal of existing signs and warning lights; installation of mid-block crossings and signage; and striping.”

A final schedule has not yet been decided for implementing the proposed projects, Kornelis said. Design timeframes, weather conditions, and the bidding climate are among the many considerations required when analyzing and planning the completion of the projects.

Kornelis said it is a challenge coming up with a plan on how to implement these projects when the fiscal year ends in the middle of the short summer construction season.

 

Kelly Sullivan can be reached at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Concert-goers listen to The Discopians at Concert on the Lawn on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
‘Dancing at the end of the world’

KBBI AM 890 hosted their annual Concert on the Lawn Saturday.

Lisa Gabriel unfurls a set beach seine during a test fishery for the gear near Clam Gulch, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seine test fishery continues after board of fish calls for more data

The east side setnet fishery has been entirely closed in recent years to protect Kenai River king salmon

Jason Criss stands for a photo in Soldotna, Alaska, after being named a qualifier for the Special Olympics USA Games on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna athlete to compete in 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Thousands of athletes from across all 50 states will be competing in 16 sports.

The entrance to the Homer Electric Association office is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on May 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
HEA opens bids for real property

The deadline to submit bids is 5 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. (right) attends a change of plea hearing related to the October 2023 fatal shooting of Brianna Hetrick on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at the Homer Courthouse in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Mondragon-Lopez sentenced for death of Homer woman

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. accepted a plea deal in February for the shooting of Brianna Hetrick.

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna OKs $395,000 capital plan

This year’s list of capital projects is “nominal compared to some past years,” according to officials.

A map of areas proposed for annexation by the City of Soldotna. (Provided by City of Soldotna)
Soldotna adds annexation proposal to ballot

The proposed annexation is split across five small areas around the city.

Nets are extended from North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘A really good day’

Kenai River personal use sockeye salmon dipnet fishery opens.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna is seen here on June 1. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough assembly to consider ordinance to increase residential property tax exemption

If approved by voters in October, the ordinance would increase the tax exemption by $25,000.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in