Memorandum 12-071 Request for Support and Funding for the Baycrest Overlook Improvement Gateways Project

Memorandum ID: 
12-071
Memorandum Status: 
No Status

Details

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 12-071


TO: MAYOR HORNADAY AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE
THROUGH: WALT WREDE, CITY MANAGER
DATE: APRIL 10, 2012
RE: REQUEST FOR SUPPORT AND FUNDING CONTRIBUTION FOR THE BAYCREST OVERLOOK IMPROVEMENT GATEWAYS PROJECT

On February 24, 2012 the committee formed to work on the Baycrest Hill Overlook Gateways Project met to discuss the initial steps to get this project off the ground. Participating in the meeting were representatives of various state and federal agencies plus the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Public Arts Committee. Joe Meehan with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Wildlife Conservation was able to find in his budget half of the funding for the required Interpretive Site Development Plan. At that meeting the other members stated that upon careful review of their respective budgets they were unable to find the funds necessary to provide the remaining $3000. A motion was made and seconded to submit a request to the Public Arts Committee and the City of Homer to see if they can find in their budget the funding necessary to get this project started.

During the April 2, 2012 Special Meeting the committee moved and seconded a motion to request City Council approve a request to fund the remaining amount needed to complete the interpretive site plan required for the project. Following is the excerpt from the minutes of that meeting:
PENDING BUSINESS
A. Gateways Project – Baycrest Hill Status Update
1. Emails Regarding the project

Chair Newby introduced the item for discussion. She noted the series of emails included in the packet. She commented on the interest from Representative Seaton’s office and that is very promising to have his support of this project.

Ms. Aplin provided a brief report on the progress of the project and explained the current roadblock that they are encountering with funding. She provided the members of the sub-committee were in attendance at the last meeting on February 24, 2012. These are Monte Davis, Chamber of Commerce; Joe Meehan, Alaska Department of Fish & Game Division of Wildlife Conservation; Chris Post, Department of Transportation; Terry Thompson, Kachemak Bay Research Reserve; a ranger (name not provided) representing Joel Hard, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve and Rijil Christianson, The Pratt Museum. The committee requires $3000 more to complete the interpretive site plan before they can proceed to the next phase. Mr. Meehan has found $3000 to contribute. No other partners are able to come up with the remaining funds needed to get this project started at this time. The sub-committee approved a motion to submit a request for funding from the City of Homer.

APLIN/MILLER – MOVED TO SUBMIT A REQUEST TO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR $3000 TO COMPLETE THE INTERPRETIVE SITE PLAN FOR THE BAYCREST OVERLOOK GATEWAYS PROJECT.

Ms. Aplin explained that this site plan is required for the project and none of the other partners can fund that amount this year. She also noted that they recently have new members the Kachemak Land Trust and the Kachemak Bay Conservation Society.

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTIONS. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

Chair Newby commented that the subcommittee members have exhausted all of the possibilities for funding and maybe later on in the project there will be additional opportunities to find funding from outside sources.

There was no further discussion.

RECOMMENDATION
Approve the request of $3000 to provide the funding necessary to start the improvements on the Baycrest Hill Overlook Gateways Project.