The Soldotna City Council passed an ordinance that would increase estimated revenues and appropriations by $100,000 in the COVID-19 relief special revenue fund for grant funds provided by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. In April of this year, the city was awarded over $195,000 to implement community-driven strategies that support COVID-19 related activities, including increasing access to testing and vaccination, and implementing strategies to decrease health inequities.
City Manager Stephanie Queen:
“As we were planning for boosters to become available in the fall, several months ago we had conversations about whether we could potentially staff up, increase hours, increase members of staff to add additional capacity at the walk-in clinic when boosters came online and vaccination for children was available. We reached out to the state, asked them whether additional funds would be available. They had identified that an additional $100,000 could be awarded to the city. If the council approves this ordinance, it would allow us to essentially amend our existing grant agreement to accept an additional $100,000. At the state’s suggestion, it would also amend the end date of the grant extending it through the end of FY23. We didn’t know that that was an option when the original grant was provided to us, but they have that flexibility, and they encourage us to do that amendment. That’s the second part of what this would do is extend that end date. The city is not required to spend all of these funds in the way we are currently doing it. So, at some point in the future, that need is no longer there, we would be able to work with the state and potentially propose a different use that’s still in line with the purpose of the funds and the eligibility.”
In recent months, the clinic has seen a marked increase in demand for vaccination as the Delta variant surged across the state. Clinic administrators have expressed a willingness to expand staffing and operating hours at the clinic, to both keep up with current demand and prepare for the administration of booster shots to specific populations, according to a September memo.
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