Soldotna officials still hammering out event parking

It’s been a busy July in Soldotna, with full campgrounds and music in the park causing the expected traffic snarls. At last week’s city council meeting, Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis updated the council on the street situation.
    “‘Congested,’ if I had to pick one word,” Kornelis said. “I think another way to put it would be a work in progress. I know that the city administration and the chamber and the promoter of the function all met here at City Hall and discuss some changes that they did implement. They discussed a lot of the issues that they're seeing and ways to remedy them. And I think that they have already implemented some of those changes. With respect to safety and vendors, mobilizing, de-mobilizing at the same time as park users are coming and going and getting prepared for music in the night.”
    Kornelis said the city is aware that more parking is needed.
    “As far as the parking and capacity goes, we recognize some deficiencies there and are contemplating changes to the parking areas that we have,” he said, adding, “The secret is officially out. We are allowing on-street parking along Birch Street. We've got signs up that indicate where you can go you can park on Birch Street and it's at the signal there and the crosswalk. It’s pretty good.”
    Counting this week, there are five more weekly Levitt Amp Soldotna Music Series concerts on Wednesday nights this summer.