Kenai Council removes newspaper-ad requirement for city procurement

The Kenai City Council on May 6 approved an amendment to the city purchasing code that removes a requirement to publish procurement advertisements in local newspapers, shifting formal notice to the city’s online BidExpress platform and the city website.

Public Works Director Lee told council the city has seen growing engagement on BidExpress, which allows contractors and subcontractors to subscribe to notices, download plans and receive automatic alerts at no charge. “It’s getting a lot more engagement for us using that online bidding platform,” Lee said. He said advertising in print is increasingly costly for the city and reaches fewer readers.

Council members asked how small or new contractors would learn about opportunities without a newspaper notice; Lee said users can create a free BidExpress account and subscribe to postings for the city and borough. Vice Mayor Askin and other members expressed support, noting the borough has used the platform for about a decade.

The ordinance (listed in the agenda as 35-13-20-26) passed by unanimous vote. City Clerk recorded six yes votes and one absence.

The change takes effect as an update to procurement practice; staff said they will continue to post bids on the city’s website and that the platform’s subscription feature will allow broader, automated distribution. Any future changes to publication practice would require council action.