The Soldotna City Council will discuss a revised CARES Act spending plan at their November 12 meeting. The plan includes an increase in the money headed to the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, plus new grants headed to Central Peninsula Hospital and Freedom House.
Additionally, the plan to be presented by city administration will showcase updated budget estimates for all programs and spending categories.
In a memo drafted that is set to be delivered to the City Council, City Manager Stephanie Queen offers details into the proposed budgetary changes. While the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank has already received a CARES Act grant recently, Queen is proposing a $34,704 increase to that grant. The intent of that money is to provide food distribution at three weekly sites in the City of Soldotna. This plan was originally approved in September, but Queen notes that the demand for the program has exceeded all original estimates. The additional money is to pay for an additional 100 food bags per week, plus the distribution of bags for Soldotna seniors, Students-in-Transition, and the Montessori food pantry.
Also included in the updated CARES Act budget is $165,000 to be directed to Central Peninsula Hospital. The aim is to purchase of three ultraviolet light disinfection systems to help combat infection risks associated with COVID-19. Currently, there are two systems in use at CPH. Queen notes that these units have proven effective with final disinfection of areas previously occupied by COVID-positive or suspected-COVID patients. The recent surge in cases has led to the hospital to have more surface area that needs this disinfection. More systems installed, according to city administration, will make patient treatment areas more available to patient needs.
Freedom House is another proposed beneficiary of the changed CARES Act budget. The updated plan would call for $36,000 to head to Freedom House, an organization providing housing in structured sober living facilities. Funding received by the City of Soldotna would go towards housing stipends for residents of both their men’s and women’s houses in Soldotna. Residents of Freedom House have not been eligible for Soldotna housing relief programs, so this money would ensure housing stipends for fourteen residents and two on-site staff members, from April through December of this year.
The budget changes will be presented at the Thursday, November 12 meeting of the Soldotna City Council. Meetings will not be physically open to the public, until further notice, but they can be streamed live by clicking here. For those wishing to participate, the Zoom online platform will be used by clicking here or by calling (877) 853-5257. The Webinar ID is 845 1108 3895. Written comments may be e-mailed to council@soldotna.org.