Memorandum 12-093 Offer to Purchase Land for Downtown Restroom and Extension of Bartlett Avenue South

Memorandum ID: 
12-093
Memorandum Status: 
Backup

Details

CITY OF HOMER
PUBLIC WORKS TELEPHONE (907)235-3170
3575 HEATH STREET HOMER, AK 99603 FACSIMILE (907)235-3145
 


MEMORANDUM 12-093

TO: Walt Wrede, City Manager

FROM: Carey Meyer, Public Works Director

DATE: June 1, 2012

RE: Request Approval to Make an Offer to Purchase Land
In Support of Downtown Restroom and the Extension of Bartlett Ave. - South
__________________________________________________________________________________

This memo summarizes the reasons why purchasing the property south of the Pioneer Avenue/Bartlett Street intersection supports two projects – downtown restroom construction and the extension of Bartlett Street. See attached property map showing the property (Attachment A).

The Homer Transportation Plan recommends an additional east/west access corridor through the central business district; the main purpose being the creation of an alternative east/west access corridor other than Pioneer Avenue or the Sterling Highway. The Plan recommends that Bartlett Street be extended south of Pioneer Avenue, turning east and connecting into Main Street. From there the new road would run through the “town center” property to Grubstake or Hazel – ultimately connecting to Heath and Lake Streets. Attached is a map from the Plan showing the recommended alignment (Attachment B).

Public Works is coordinating the design of two restrooms in the downtown area. One is planned for WKFL Park. The Parks and Recreation Commission has approved a location for a restroom in the Park. The second restroom was planned for the top of the “town center” property. There is concern that this location is not ideal; a restroom near the Bartlett/Pioneer intersection is preferred, based on its proximate location to shopping/museum/tourist destinations. Attached is a map showing contemplated restroom locations along Pioneer Avenue (Attachment C).

Both projects benefit from the purchase of the above described property. See attached map showing how the property would be utilized in support of the road extension and restroom construction (Attachment D). The property could be purchased utilizing HART funds.

If the Council authorized the City Manager by resolution to sign a purchase agreement, the Council could approve the purchase price by ordinance at a meeting later this summer/early fall.

Recommendations: The City Council pass a resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign a purchase agreement on the property south of the Pioneer Avenue/Bartlett Street intersection (Lot 75, Bunnells Subdivision; KPB Parcel 17514301).