Memorandum 15-003 Authorization for Councilmember Zak to Serve on the Alaska Municipal League Legislative Position Committee

Memorandum 15-003

TO:                       MAYOR WYTHE AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

FROM:                  JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK

DATE:                   JANUARY 5, 2015

SUBJECT:           AUTHORIZATION FOR COUNCILMEMBER ZAK TO SERVE ON THE ALASKA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE LEGISLATIVE POSITION COMMITTEE AND TRAVEL TO THE LEGISLATIVE MEETING AND CONFERENCES AS REQUIRED.

Councilmember Bryan Zak would like to serve on the Alaska Municipal League Legislative Position Committee for 2015. Committee membership is limited to elected officials of AML member communities.

A seat on the Legislative Position Committee requires support of the City of Homer to include travel to Juneau in February to meet during the Legislative Meeting, the Summer Conference in August, and the Annual Conference in November in Anchorage, Alaska.

The AML is a voluntary, nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide organization of 140 cities, boroughs, and unified municipalities, representing over 97 percent of Alaska's residents. Originally organized in 1950, the League of Alaska Cities became the Alaska Municipal League in 1962 when boroughs joined the League.

Cost estimates for travel include round trip airfare from Homer to Anchorage at $250.00 and room rates at $100.00 per night; from Homer to Juneau at $500.00 and room rates at $159 per night. Per diem is $58.00 per day, for three meals.

For FY 2015 Council budgeted $4,500 for transportation and $2,500 for subsistence. To date no funds have been expended from Transportation Acct. No. 100.0100.5236 or Subsistence Acct. No. 100.0100.5237.

RECOMMENDATION:

Discuss Councilmember Zak’s request to apply for the AML Legislative Position Committee and if approved allocate funds for travel as needed.