The Kenai City Council passed an ordinance that would amend municipal code to add the class title and range for a capital project manager position. According to a memo sent to City Council through City Manager Paul Ostrander, the purpose is to request to hire a Capital Projects Manager for the Public Works Department as a new full-time salaried position.
Councilman Henry Knackstedt, “Just to kind of elaborate on that a little further, some years ago I looked at the Public Works Director position when it became available and there was so much to do over the normal course of events, which included some projects, but we have a lot of projects out there, so I will also be supporting this because, as good as our public works director is, he can’t do it all.”
According to attached memo documents, the Public Works Director is currently responsible for all capital projects from inception to completion. With the development of this past year’s Capital Improvement Plan, which forecasted projects out in detail for the next five years, and the continued ongoing assessments of the city facilities and assets, it was determined that the amount of projects supported the demand for the creation of the position. Fulfilling the position will allow the Public Works Department to better serve the city by allowing for projects to be released and finished in a more efficient time period.
With the short construction season, and the number of projects that need to be ongoing at the same time, it’s reportedly been proven that it is too much for one individual to effectively manage. In order to recruit and hire a Capital Projects Manager under the newly created position in advance of the upcoming construction requires an increase to the Capital Projects Management Fund in the adopted Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, but creating the position doesn’t require an increase as the cost will be covered from the projects managed. The position is intended to be funded directly by the projects themselves.
Ordinance 3197-2021 passed the City Council and will take effect 30 days after being enacted.
