Kenai seeks grant money, council review for Meals on Wheels vehicles and ADA-accessible van

Unidentified Speaker (S1) said the senior center hired another driver ("his name is Mark") and will return to fuller service capacity once state background checks clear. On fleet needs, S1 said current Meals on Wheels vans have very high mileage and that the city is preparing a council resolution for two replacement vehicles to appear on the council agenda next Wednesday.

S1 described options staff reviewed (including a Ford Bronco-style vehicle and small pickups) and reported a projected procurement price around $33,000 each for the selected vehicle versus $50,000 for a Ford Explorer. S1 said the finance director (Dave Swerner) identified replacement-fleet funding that could cover the purchase; the resolution had not yet gone through council at the time of the report.

Separately, staff applied earlier to state DOT grant programs (5310/5311) for an ADA-accessible vehicle with two wheelchair positions and seating for other passengers. Senior Connection committed $18,000 toward the grant-match requirement (20%); the city sought $72,000 from DOT. S1 said the Kenai Peninsula Borough ranked the city as the top priority and that the DOT decision should be known by April 1. If awarded, procurement must proceed through a municipal RFP process rather than direct solicitation.

S1 also reported equipment and communication needs: six radios approaching obsolescence at roughly $2,500 apiece and base-station costs, and staff plan to apply to a Kinakunisa Foundation grant opening Feb. 27 for radio funding.

Next steps: council will consider the Meals on Wheels vehicle resolution next week; the DOT grant decision is expected by April 1; if awarded, staff will run an RFP to procure the ADA-accessible vehicle.