Resolution 17-090 Supporting Full Funding of State Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program FY2019

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA

City Manager/Port Director

RESOLUTION 17-090

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, IN SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING ($9,820,141) FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA MUNICIPAL HARBOR FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM IN THE FY 2019 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET.

                WHEREAS, The majority of the public boat harbors in Alaska where constructed by the State during the 1960s and 1970s; and

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

                WHEREAS, These harbor facilities are ports of refuge and areas for protection for ocean-going vessels and fishermen throughout the State of Alaska, especially in coastal Alaskan communities; and

                WHEREAS, The State of Alaska over the past nearly 30 years has transferred ownership of most of these State-owned harbors, many of which were at or near the end of their service life at the time of transfer, to local municipalities; and

                WHEREAS, The municipalities took over this important responsibility even though they knew that these same harbor facilities were in poor condition at the time of 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 Legislature passed legislation in 2006, supported by the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators, to create the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant program, AS 29.60.800; and

                WHEREAS, The Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators, is pleased with the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities administrative process to review, score and rank applicants to the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program, since state funds may be limited; and

                WHEREAS, For each harbor facility grant application, these municipalities have committed to invest 100% of the design and permitting costs and 50% of the construction cost; and

                WHEREAS, The municipalities of the City of Anchorage, the City and Borough of Juneau, City of Ketchikan, City and Borough of Sitka, City of Whale Pass, and the City of Whittier have offered to contribute $9,820,141 in local match funding for FY2019 towards eight harbor projects of significant importance locally as required in the Harbor Facility Grant Program; and

                WHEREAS, Completion of these harbor facility projects is all dependent on the 50% match from the State of Alaska’s Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program; and

                WHEREAS, During the last ten years the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program has only been fully funded twice; and

                WHEREAS, During the last ten years the backlog of projects necessary to repair and replace these former State owned harbors has increased to over $100,000,000.

                NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that City Council of Homer, Alaska, urges full funding in the amount of $9,820,141 by the Governor and the Alaska Legislature for the State of Alaska’s Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program in the FY 2019 State Capital Budget in order to ensure enhanced safety and economic prosperity among Alaskan coastal communities.

                PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of Homer, Alaska, this 30th day of October, 2017.

CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                                                _______________________________
                                                                                                                BRYAN ZAK, MAYOR

ATTEST:

______________________________
MELISSA JACOBSEN, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A