Resolution 11-042 Opposition to Kenai Peninsula Borough Ordinance to Reduce Number of Borough Planning Commissioners

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA
City Manager
RESOLUTION 11-042

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH ORDINANCE 2011-07 WHICH REDUCES THE NUMBER OF BOROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS FROM THIRTEEN TO ELEVEN AND COMBINES THE DESIGNATED HOMER AND SELDOVIA SEATS INTO ONE.

WHEREAS, Kenai Peninsula Borough Ordinance 2011-07 was introduced on April 5, 2011 and if enacted, would reduce the number of Borough Planning Commission members from 13 to 11 and combine the designated Homer and Seldovia seats into one; and

WHEREAS, KPB 2.40.010 provides that the planning commission shall include one member from each first class or home rule city of the borough; a requirement that is more stringent than AS 29.40.020 which requires that representation on the planning commission from within first class and home rule cities be proportionate with representation of the planning commission on a non area-wide basis; and

WHEREAS, The Borough Assembly, when it adopted 2.40.010, recognized that home rule and first class cities within the Borough exercised planning functions that were unique to those communities and were more expansive and complex than the Borough exercised itself on behalf of the remainder of the Borough, and that therefore, separate designated seats for home rule and first class cities was warranted; and

WHEREAS, Homer is the second largest city within the Borough and should not be penalized because of its geographical proximity to Seldovia or because Seldovia does not have many issues on the planning commission agenda; and

WHEREAS, A commission member from Seldovia cannot adequately represent Homer’s interests nor can a member from Homer adequately represent Seldovia.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer City Council hereby expresses its opposition to Kenai Peninsula Borough Ordinance 2011-07 for the reasons stated herein.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED if the Assembly’s goal is to reduce travel expenditures and increase efficiency on the Planning Commission, the Council urges it to do so in a way that does not unfairly impact Homer and Seldovia.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 25th day of April, 2011.

CITY OF HOMER

_____________________________
JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR
ATTEST:

______________________________
JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A