Memorandum 12-070 Baycrest Overlook Improvement Gateways Project

Office of the City Clerk 491 E. Pioneer Avenue
Homer, Alaska 99603-7624
Jo Johnson, CMC, City Clerk (907) 235-3130
(907) 235-8121
Melissa Jacobsen, CMC, Deputy City Clerk II Extension: 2227
Renee Krause, CMC, Deputy City Clerk I Extension: 2224
Fax: (907) 235-3143 Email: clerk@ci.homer.ak.us

MEMORANDUM 12-070

TO: MAYOR HORNADAY AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ANGIE NEWBY, CHAIR, PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE
THROUGH: WALT WREDE, CITY MANAGER
DATE: APRIL 10, 2012
RE: BAYCREST OVERLOOK IMPROVEMENT GATEWAYS PROJECT

The Public Arts Committee has an extraordinary opportunity to move our new Baycrest Hill project forward. Baycrest Hill is another part of our overall gateway project. You all remember that the beautiful airport diorama photo display which was an outgrowth of the original Gateway concept. Through the efforts of PAC member Marianne Aplin, we received an incredible display with an estimated value of $35000, for zero City dollars. This was collaboration between partners at the National Parks, State Parks, the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve and USF&W.

These same folks plus the Homer Chamber of Commerce, Pratt Museum and Alaska State DOT have agreed to work together again on making the Baycrest Hill an outstanding gateway to our community. We have met to review how we start the process of visioning, planning and design of interpretative material that will eloquently be the voice of our Homer story. State Parks have offered the services of their planning staff as project facilitators and designers for a bare bones fee of $6000. Joe Meehan, Lands and Refuge Manager for ADF&G has stepped forward with $3000 towards that effort. The public Arts Committee has voted unanimously to request a match for the remainder $3000 from the City of Homer. This project will have a major economic development impact since the Baycrest Hill access to Homer is the primary way we draw people into our magical Cosmic Hamlet by the Sea. In addition, it will provide a signage format for other locations including the Port of Homer. The members on this Baycrest subcommittee are all decision makers in their agencies and include Joe Meehan, Lands and Refuge Manager for ADF&G, Joel Hard, Lake Clark National Park Superintendent, Terry Thompson, Reserve Manger of KBRR, Roger MacCampbell, Kachemak Bay State Park Ranger, Monte Davis, HCOC Executive Director, Chris Post, Alaska DOT Project Manager, Rygil Christianson, Director of Education at the Pratt Museum, Marianne Aplin, Visitor Center Manager at Alaska Islands and Oceans, Louie Flora, from Rep. Paul Seaton’s office, and Angie Newby, current PAC Chair.