The City of Kenai extended the COVID-19 disaster declaration as a response to the public health emergency. That decision was made Wednesday night by the City Council and adopted unanimously.
In addressing Resolution 2021-09, Councilman Jim Glendening said, “It’s important that we extend this one more time and that also important that we understand that when we first started looking at this issue that our world was a lot different. Since then, we’ve had election change up in administration, change of how CARES money or its sequential programs are developed at the federal level. There’s discussions in Juneau on whether to have a disaster declaration or not. It’s important that we declare that we are still in a precarious position and need to declare this. I agree with the City Manager Paul Ostrander’s letter and the time for talking about when we come back when all the commissions and committees come back to chamber and whatnot, that’s for another time. It’s important that we continue to have this understanding of and these discussions and I know City Manager Ostrander is working his issues very hard and I also see that we’re opening up the city incrementally. We’re on a good path.”
Am emergency disaster declaration was announced on March 18, 2020 by the city and has been extended since then multiple times. The resolution that was sponsored by the administration states that the impacts of COVID-19 continues, including the public health risks, restrictions on travel, and economic impacts, will be of a severity and magnitude that’s beyond the authority and capacity of the City to provide an effective response without assistance.
In continuing the disaster declaration, the City requests the State of Alaska provides disaster assistance by making resources available in the ongoing response and recovery from the current and potential impacts of the public health emergency, to provide assistance for businesses and individuals, and to provide expertise and guidance to help the city in its response and recovery.
The City’s Disaster Emergency Declaration has been further extended till March 31, 2021.
