The Kenai City Council adopted a resolution to redirect public safety capital project funds to complete the Emergency Services Facility Assessment. The facility has significant maintenance issues, requiring a new roof and other elements that could cost millions of dollars.
Resolution No. 2025-13 is sponsored by Kenai City Mayor Brian Gabriel.
Through the FY24 budget and Ordinance 3422-2024, $100,000 was appropriated for the Fire Department Flooring Replacement project, which is currently on hold to complete the Emergency Service Facility Programming and Assessment project.
The city budgeted $150,000 for the programming study on its 50-year-old public safety building. The study also estimated the city’s future needs for the next 20 to 40 years while determining the best course of action for the city currently.
However, it is underfunded since the Public Works Department recommended redirecting $60,000 from the $100,000 funds from the Fire Department Flooring Replacement project to the assessment. This will cover the shortage of funding for consulting services and fund project management time allocated to the project.
It had six respondents to the RFP, one of which was a bid for $172,300 from K+A designstudios in Soldotna.
With the additional funding, the new project budget came to $210,000.
Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank mentioned the funds would provide time for Lee Frey, the Public Works Director, and the Public Works Department to work on the project’s administration. It also provides contingency if there’s additional environmental testing, but he said the “contingency won’t be spent unless it’s needed.”
“We know that that facility has asbestos in it. We’ve been battling that on some other upgrades we’ve been doing over time, and we just want to make sure we have enough money to complete this project.” Eubank said.
Eubank says the remaining $40,000 from the flooring project will likely be returned to the general funds or transferred to other projects in the FY26 budget.
As a result of the approval, the council then moved to adopt Resolution No. 2025-14, which authorizes a contract for the 2025 Emergency Services Facility Programming and Assessment.
Council member Alex Douthit expressed his enthusiasm for the project and said he was in favor of the resolution.
“I know there were some discussions last year about whether we’re going to do it or not, and I think it’s an important part of the community that we need to move forward with ideas because by doing this, it moves forward to where possibly, once we have a plan, we might be able to find grant funds, and we can start applying for those kinds of things and asking for funding. This gives us that plan to start being able to move forward.”