The Kenai Harbor Commission voted unanimously Nov. 10 to recommend that the Kenai City Council consider sunsetting the Harbor Commission.

"I don't see the point of going on as a commission, at this point," said Lisa Gabriel, a Harbor Commission member who moved the recommendation. Gabriel, speaking by phone, told fellow commissioners she will not reapply when her term ends in December and criticized frequent lack of quorum and limited substantive work since completion of the bluff restoration project.

Director Frey, the city staff lead for harbor matters, told commissioners the body’s statutory duties include reviewing and recommending master plans for harbor or port development and advising council on tied and submerged lands, among other responsibilities. "The first is to review and provide recommendations on any master plans for development of harbor or the port facilities for the city," Frey said, while also noting routine dock operation tasks are managed by Public Works and some buoying is handled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

After discussion about overlapping duties with other city commissions and ongoing difficulty maintaining membership, Gabriel moved "that the consideration of the sunset of the Harbor Commission of the City of Kenai be moved to the next City Council meeting for the consideration by the city council." A commissioner seconded the motion; the transcript records the second but not that person’s name.

The Chair called the roll. Commissioners Gabriel, Keaton, Mathis and Rohrer voted yes, producing a unanimous recommendation to forward the sunset proposal to City Council. Director Frey explained the procedural steps: if the commission wants to proceed it would approve recommended code changes at a subsequent meeting and staff would forward repeal language for council review and final action. Frey said council could later restore the commission if new harbor projects require it.

Frey also reported that Parks & Recreation Director Tyler Best completed the annual dip-netting report (available in the City Council packet) and that the city has received lumber, angle iron and flotation materials to build new dock floats; Streets crew are planned to construct the floats this winter if weather allows.

Commission members asked the clerk about holding a special meeting before the end of the year to finalize any recommendation; the group identified Dec. 8 as a likely date to meet before the commission's next regular meeting on Feb. 10, 2026. With no further business, the commission adjourned.

What happens next: The Harbor Commission’s recommendation will be placed on a City Council agenda for consideration. Any repeal requires council action to remove the Harbor Commission from the Kenai Municipal Code; the council could choose to adopt the repeal, reject it, or request modifications.