Resolution 12-093 Support of Full Funding for the State of Alaska Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program in the FY2014 Capital Budget

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA
Mayor
RESOLUTION 12-093

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, IN SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA MUNICIPAL HARBOR FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM IN THE FY2014 CAPITAL BUDGET.

WHEREAS, Harbor facilities represent critical transportation links and are the transportation hubs for waterfront and economic development in Alaskan coastal communities; and

WHEREAS, Harbor facilities are ports of refuge and areas for protection for ocean-going vessels and fishermen throughout Alaska, especially in coastal communities; and

WHEREAS, The State of Alaska has transferred most of its harbor facilities to municipalities; and

WHEREAS, The State of Alaska and the municipalities built these harbor facilities; and

WHEREAS, The municipalities took over this important responsibility even though they knew these same harbor facilities were in poor condition at the time of the transfer due to the State’s failure to keep up with deferred maintenance; and

WHEREAS, Consequently when local municipal harbormasters formulated their annual harbor facility budgets, they inherited a major financial burden that their local municipal governments could not afford; and

WHEREAS, In response to this financial burden, the Governor and the Alaska State Legislature passed legislation to create the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program, AS 29.60.800; and

WHEREAS, The Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program provides State assistance in the form of a matching 50/50 grant for municipal owned harbor facilities to be administered by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer is pleased with the DOT/PF’s administration process to review for eligibility, and to score and rank applicants to the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant, since State funds may be limited; and

WHEREAS, Many communities throughout Alaska have greatly benefitted from this program by receiving grants from the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program; and

WHEREAS, Many other communities have been recently scored and are currently eligible for Municipal Harbor Facility Grants; and

WHEREAS, All the money invested in these harbors by the State and matched by communities stimulates the economy, creates safer and more functional harbors for residents and for the fishing fleets and creates job opportunities for local residents and businesses, which is especially important in these times of economic hardship.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Homer urges full funding by the Governor and the Alaska Legislature to support the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program to ensure safety and economic prosperity among coastal communities.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 22nd day of October, 2012.
 
CITY OF HOMER

       ___________________________
MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR
ATTEST:

______________________________
JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A