Resolution 14-106 Requesting Department of Transportation Construct a Bridge and "Daylight" Woodard Creek

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                                           City Manager

RESOLUTION 14-106

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, REQUESTING THAT THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES CONSTRUCT A BRIDGE AND “DAYLIGHT” WOODARD CREEK AS PART OF THE PIONEER AVENUE REHABILITATION PROJECT.

               WHEREAS, Woodard Creek is a beautiful stream which traverses through the heart of downtown Homer; and

               WHEREAS, As a result of community growth and development pressures over the years, the stream has been significantly degraded and suffers from undersized and poorly designed culverts, damaged riparian zones, erosion, point and non-point source pollution, sedimentation, placement of fill along stream banks, and urban runoff related to impervious surfaces; and

               WHEREAS, Numerous organizations and concerned citizens have been working on a Woodard Creek urban stream health and restoration project for at least fifteen years; and

               WHEREAS, The Woodard Creek Coalition was recently established and its partners include organizations like Cook Inletkeeper, the Friends of Woodard Creek, the Kachemak Bay Conservation Society, the Homer Soil and Water Conservation District, the Pratt Museum, the Homer Council on the Arts, the Bunnell Street Gallery, adjacent property owners, and numerous interested and concerned citizens; and

               WHEREAS, The Woodard Creek Coalition has made an application to the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program for technical assistance on a Woodard Creek watershed project that focuses on restoration, stewardship, trails and urban greenbelts; and 

               WHEREAS, The City of Homer is a Coalition partner, is a major landowner near the headwaters of Woodard Creek, and has committed to providing planning and fundraising assistance for the project; and   

               WHEREAS, The adopted Karen Hornaday Park Master Plan calls for creek restoration and a trail and other pedestrian amenities within the park boundaries; and

               WHEREAS, An important component of the Coalition’s goal of restoring Woodard Creek is to remove as many culverts as possible and “daylight” the creek; and

               WHEREAS, The City has begun the “daylighting” process by removing culverts and replacing them with bridges on Soundview and Spruceview Avenues; and    

               WHEREAS, The Pratt Museum, located close to and North of Pioneer Avenue, plans to “daylight” the creek on its property as part of its proposed capital improvement project; and

               WHEREAS, The Homer Council on the Arts, located on the opposite side of Pioneer Avenue, plans to remove the culvert under the parking lot and “daylight” the Creek on its property; and

               WHEREAS, In addition to the restoration benefits “daylighting” would bring, the City of Homer believes “daylighting” would help with disaster mitigation, reduce future flood and property damage, and reduce labor costs associated with maintaining and cleaning culverts; and

               WHEREAS, In 2002, back to back 100 year storms resulted in crushed and blocked culverts, geysers where manhole covers once were,  and significant flooding and debris damage to roads, infrastructure and properties adjacent to Woodard Creek; and

               WHEREAS, Serious damage and debris blockage occurred at culverts located on Fairview Avenue and Pioneer Avenue which motivated the City to begin removing Woodard Creek culverts under City streets to protect against future flood damage to roads and area properties; and

               WHEREAS, Woodard Creek flows under Pioneer Avenue and the City has received reports that the culvert is not functioning properly and may be causing damage to adjacent structures and foundations and further, that it increases stream velocity which impacts downstream properties; and

               WHEREAS, The City has identified the Woodard Creek / Pioneer Avenue culvert as one of the most important drainage problems that should be addressed as part of the Pioneer Avenue Rehabilitation Project.

               WHEREAS, The City hopes that DOT/PF will conclude that “daylighting” Woodard Creek is in the State’s interest and that it will become a partner in the Woodard Creek Coalition.

               NOW, THEREFOR,E BE IT RESOLVED for the reasons described above, the Homer City Council hereby requests that the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities construct a bridge and “daylight” Woodard Creek as part of the Pioneer Avenue Rehabilitation Project.

               PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 13th day of October, 2014.

                                                                                          CITY OF HOMER 

                                                                                          ____________________

                                                                                          MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR

 ATTEST:

___________________________

JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK  

Fiscal Note: N/A