Kenai Peninsula Borough

Debbie Speakman of Homer, a contracted consultant for the Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council, provides public testimony in support of an ordinance providing a $150,000 grant to the council during Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, in Soldotna. (Photo By Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs tourism marketing council funds

In his proposed FY 2020 budget, Pierce zeroed out $100,000 for the tourism marketing council.

 

Borough to spend $150,000 burning brush at the landfill

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is taking a torch to the problem of excess brush and woodland debris that has piled up at the landfill.… Continue reading

 

A sign opposing Proposition 1 stands along Kalifornsky Beach Road near Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. The ads were paid for by AlaskaYes, according to a disclaimer on the sign. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Props 1, 2 failing by wide margin

Kenai Peninsula Borough voters considered two propositions on Tuesday’s ballot that in preliminary results appeared to be losing by wide margins by the time preliminary… Continue reading

 

North Fork Fire nears containment; Ready alert canceled

Caribou Lake Fire continues to grow slowly

The 4-H kids of the Kenai Peninsula smile for a group photo at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019 at the fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Living the fair life

Residents enjoy weekend of pig races, fish throwing, and livestock auctions in Ninilchik

The 4-H kids of the Kenai Peninsula smile for a group photo at the Kenai Peninsula Fair on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019 at the fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Candidates announced for Oct. 1 municipal elections

There are a number of open seats on the Borough Assembly, the School Board and Service Area boards.

Country singer Zac Brown’s lawyer Blaine Gillam speaks for his client at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission meeting, Aug. 12, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Effort by Homer neighbors to vacate easement fails at planning commission

An effort by a group of Homer residents to close off a pedestrian easement running by their properties was shot down at a Monday planning… Continue reading

Country singer Zac Brown’s lawyer Blaine Gillam speaks for his client at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission meeting, Aug. 12, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Voters to weigh in on city manager, sales tax cap

The decision to put the measures on the ballot was approved at Tuesday’s assembly meeting.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News A plume of smoke rises from the Swan Lake fire area as vehicles head south on the Sterling Highway on July 18, near Skilak Lake between Sterling and Cooper Landing.

Kenai Peninsula suffering moderate drought

Kenai has seen a nearly 40% decrease in the average rainfall for the area from June to August.

Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News A plume of smoke rises from the Swan Lake fire area as vehicles head south on the Sterling Highway on July 18, near Skilak Lake between Sterling and Cooper Landing.

Filing period opens Aug. 1 for borough elections

The filing period for Kenai Peninsula Borough offices opens at 8 a.m. Aug. 1 and runs through 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15. In a notice of… Continue reading

A view of the back burning operations being conducted on the Swan Lake Fire as seen from Watson Lake in June 2019. (Courtesy Jessica St. Laurent/BLM Alaska Fire Medic)

Swan Lake Fire growth stalled

The latest measurement of the fire puts it at 100,812 acres.

A view of the back burning operations being conducted on the Swan Lake Fire as seen from Watson Lake in June 2019. (Courtesy Jessica St. Laurent/BLM Alaska Fire Medic)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at the Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayor vetoes bed tax

Pierce said he did not support a dedicated or targeted tax on specific activities or services.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at the Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Amy George, who used to run a bed and breakfast out of her home, started offering “glamping” experiences last year. She has two luxury tents that can sleep up to four people, as seen on June 12, 2018, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

New borough software seeks compliance with Airbnb, VRBO and other booking sites

A quick search on airbnb.com shows hundreds of home, cabins and even yurts for rent

Amy George, who used to run a bed and breakfast out of her home, started offering “glamping” experiences last year. She has two luxury tents that can sleep up to four people, as seen on June 12, 2018, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Residents filled the Kenai Peninsula Borough Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers for a public hearing regarding a controversial gravel pit in Anchor Point at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, Monday, June 10, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Planning commission postpones vote on Beachcomber gravel pit application

A meeting discussing a controversial gravel pit lasted to nearly midnight Monday, after dozens of Anchor Point residents gave public testimony on the proposed project.… Continue reading

Residents filled the Kenai Peninsula Borough Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers for a public hearing regarding a controversial gravel pit in Anchor Point at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, Monday, June 10, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly gets pushback on bed tax

The 12% bed tax would affect temporary lodging, including motels, hotels and bed and B&Bs

The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Gravel pit controversy continues in Anchor Point

‘I didn’t move down from Anchorage just to look at a gravel pit.’

Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough introduces bed tax ordinance

The 12% bed tax would affect temporary lodging across the borough

The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce vetoes $2.5 million for schools

The Borough Assembly passed an ordinance April 16 increasing the FY 2019 funds by $2,423,955.

Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Audience members stand to show their support of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District during the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting Tuesday, April 16 at Seward High School in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves additional district funding

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting was dominated by education funding Tuesday night, with the assembly passing an ordinance to increase fiscal year 2019 funds… Continue reading

Audience members stand to show their support of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District during the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting Tuesday, April 16 at Seward High School in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
An invocation is given by Debbie Hamilton at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Meeting in Soldotna on March 5, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Anchor Point residents bring unified message to borough hall: fund education

Dozens of Anchor Point residents made the trek to Soldotna on Tuesday night to give the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly a unified message: Fund education… Continue reading

An invocation is given by Debbie Hamilton at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Meeting in Soldotna on March 5, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
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