The Kenai Recreation Center Improvements Project will receive supplemental funding through Kenai City Ordinance 3330-2022 with the Kenai City Council ordinance enacting an increase of estimated revenues and appropriating the General and Recreation Center Improvement Capital Project Funds.
Members of the Council were in support in the enacting of Ordinance No. 3330-2022; however, some discussed the additional funding that could be needed in the future and questioned if the same support would be shown. The Ordinance will allow the facility’s roof, which is actively leaking in several locations, to be replaced extending the life of the facility and the replacement of multiple failed and end of useful life HVAC units will assist with the long term safeguarding and maintenance of the facility; and address some code issues.
The following budget revision is authorized: General Fund $210,000; Increase Appropriations – Kenai Recreation Center Improvements Project $210,000
The Kenai Recreation Center is a facility that is extensively and heavily utilized according to statistics provided by Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander.
Ostrander elaborated on maintenance needs and future considerations.
“These structures that are reaching 40-years-old, they are not inexpensive to fix. I do believe and agree that the work that we are proposing to do, has to be done to save the facility. Doing the roof-we already have active leaks over there, numerous air handling HVAC-type equipment is failing or about to fail. And whether we keep the building or sell the building, I think you would have to do that. I wanted to make a point about the additional $1 million (in the future) because we are not addressing a lot of interior items with this project.”
Ostrander listed interior items including, water heaters, locker rooms, flooring, refinishing gym floor and other items that need to be addressed.
City Council Member Teea Winger voiced concern over continued expenditures on 40-year old building.
“At this point we are at a pivotal point with this facility that we need to look at. Do we continue to put $2.5 million into a building that may not have the value. I think that this is a decision for the people; the people have to decide if they want us sinking $2.5 million into this 40-year-old building.”