Memorandum 16-061 Land Allocation Plan 2016

Memorandum 16-061

TO:                                      Mayor Wythe and Homer City Council            

FROM:                                Julie Engebretsen, Deputy City Planner

DATE:                                 April 5, 2016

SUBJECT:                        Land Allocation Plan

Background

Planning staff will attend the April 11th Committee of the Whole meeting to answer any questions. Council typically discusses the plan at this meeting, and will adopt a resolution at a following meeting.

The Land Allocation Plan is a listing of each property the City owns. Each year, the City Council reviews and approves which city properties should be made available for lease through the Land Allocation Plan. Commissions provide comments by memorandum to the Council on which lands should be leased. Staff also provides a memo updating Council on any changes to City lands during the prior year. Council considers the comments, and then passes a resolution adopting the draft plan for the year, including any changes to lots available for lease.

Requested Action: Provide staff direction on which Commissions should review the Plan.

The Lease Policy states 3.2 Procedures “The City Council shall identify which City properties are available for lease through its annual land allocation workshop process which includes the Lease Committee, the Planning Commission, the Port and Harbor Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Commission.”

Historically, the plan has been reviewed by all city bodies, including the Library Advisory Board, Public Arts Committee, Economic Development and now the Cannabis Commissions. This process takes a lot of time for our public bodies without generating many comments beyond the groups listed in the policy. Staff recommends in the future, the LAP follow the manual with the addition of the EDC. Council’s action and staff memo can be provided to the rest of the city bodies as an informational item.

Commission Recommendations:

Planning, Port and Harbor, Parks and Recreation, Economic Development and the Cannabis Commission all recommended the following:

Designate the 40 acres acquired through tax foreclosure in the Bridge Creek Watershed for watershed protection purposes. (Page F-7)
The old harbormaster office property on page D 20 is designated for parking and restrooms. Expand designation to include the Boat House.

Additional recommendations:

(P&R) Recommend lots 9A and 10A not be leased but used for short term, fee parking to include RVs. (located at the corner of Fish dock and Homer Spit Roads).

Changes to municipal lands over the past year

In the 2015 plan, Council designated several parcels for sale. City Administration moved forward with the properties in the Lillian Walli Estates Subdivision, but to date has not received any offers.

New Land Acquisitions

Purchased property behind the Post Office to the extension of Grubstake Ave. to Lake Street. Ordinance 15-30 stated the proceeds from the sale of the lot would be used to reimburse the state grant (about 75%) and the HART fund (about 25%). Sale of cabins resulted in $92,789.91, appropriated to the Waddell Way Road Improvement Project.
Acquired 40 acres of Borough tax foreclosed property in the Bridge Creek Watershed Protection District.

Attachments

1. 2016 Draft Land Allocation Plan