Ordinance 12-51(A) HART Funds to Re-Pave Fish Dock Road and Improvements to Outer Dock Road and Reimbursable Grant for Tidal Power Incubator Project

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA
                                                                                                                  Mayor
ORDINANCE 12-51(A)

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, AMENDING THE FY 2012 CAPITAL BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING $212,270 FROM THE HOMER ACCELERATED ROADS AND TRAILS FUND (HART) TO RE-PAVE FISH DOCK ROAD AND CONSTRUCT IMPROVEMENTS TO OUTER DOCK ROAD AND APPROPRIATING $100,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES / FUND BALANCE FOR A REIMBURSIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT TO FUND THE HOMER TIDAL POWER INCUBATOR PROJECT.

WHEREAS, Sustaining and promoting economic development are vital to the long-term success of any community; and

WHEREAS, Receiving financial assistance through State and Federal grant funds is becoming increasingly difficult; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer has identified port and harbor activities as a substantial contributor to the economic viability of our community; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer has also identified, through the Climate Action Plan, a desire to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in a variety of ways including the use of tidal energy; and

WHEREAS, More research is required in the area of viable tidal energy in order to obtain this objective; and

WHEREAS, There are a variety of low-cost projects recommended for inclusion in the 2013 – 2018 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) which will meet both the objective of tidal power and support of the port and harbor industry in Homer; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer has designated income to the Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails (HART) Fund through the collection of sales taxes for the purpose of road improvements; and

WHEREAS, Both the re-pavement of the Fish Dock Road and the upgrade to the Outer Fish Dock Road are proposed for inclusion in the CIP but also qualify for funding through the HART Fund; and

WHEREAS, The collective cost of these two projects is estimated to be $212,270, which is an amount easily covered through the HART Fund; and

WHEREAS, The Homer City Council recognizes the need to invest in the future economy of the community and that there is potential for the proposed Homer Tidal Incubator Project to generate local jobs in addition to providing for a needed research location; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer providing funding for the Homer Tidal Incubator Project through a reimbursable economic development grant, increases the probability of the investment actually stimulating our local economy; and

WHEREAS, The success of the project will be dependent on qualified leadership such as a university; and

WHEREAS,The economic benefits will be dependent on local employment, a further requirement will be that the research being conducted provides local employment opportunities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City of Homer:

Section 1. The Homer City Council hereby amends the FY 2012 Capital Budget by appropriating $212,270 from the HART Fund for the purpose of funding the re-pavement of Fish Dock Road and upgrades to Outer Dock Road as provided for and described in the CIP documents which are attached and incorporated herein as follows:

Expenditure:

Account No.                       Description                                          Amount
            60-375                 Pave Fish Dock Road /   $212,270
     Upgrade Outer Dock Road          

Section 2. The Homer City Council hereby amends the FY 2012 Capital Budget by appropriating $100,000 from the General Fund Reserves / Fund Balance for the purpose of providing $100,000 in the form of a reimbursable economic development grant to fund the Homer Tidal Incubator Project as described in the CIP documents which are attached and incorporated herein as follows:

Expenditure:

Account No.                           Description                                           Amount
            100-100                                    Incubator Project                                 $100,000
 
Section 3. The City Manager is authorized to draft the documents and take the steps necessary to initiate the Homer Tidal Incubator Reimbursable Grant Program. The rules governing the Reimbursable Grant Program will be approved by resolution.

Section 4. This ordinance is a budget amendment ordinance only, is not of a permanent nature, and shall not be codified.

ENACTED BY THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL this 26th day of November, 2012.

       CITY OF HOMER

       _____________________________
       MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR
ATTEST:

______________________________
JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK

Introduction:
Public Hearing:
Second Reading:
Effective Date:

AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:

Reviewed and approved as to form:

___________________________   ___________________________
Walt E. Wrede, City Manager    Thomas Klinkner, City Attorney

Date: ______________________   Date: ______________________