Resolution 14-110 Designating the Homer Education and Recreation Complex (HERC) Site the Location for the Public Safety Building

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                                                 Mayor

RESOLUTION 14-110

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, DESIGNATING THE HOMER EDUCATION AND RECREATION COMPLEX (HERC) SITE AS THE LOCATION FOR THE PROPOSED NEW HOMER PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING.

               WHEREAS, A new public safety building is one of the City’s highest Capital Improvement Priorities and the City Council has appropriated funds for site selection and preliminary design; and

               WHEREAS, On January 13, 2014 the City Council adopted Resolution 14-020(S) which created the Public Safety Building Review Committee and established the Committee’s scope of work; and

               WHEREAS, On March 10, 2014 the City Council approved Resolution 14-036(S) which awarded a GC/CM contract to Cornerstone General Contractors; and

               WHEREAS, A building space needs assessment and a specific set of selection criteria were used by the contractor and the Committee to review and evaluate potential building sites; and

               WHEREAS, The site selection review criteria included parcel characteristics such as ownership and size, physical characteristics such as soil stability and flood hazards, development suitability including zoning, slope, and drainage, access and visibility considerations, traffic and security considerations, proximity to utilities, and any potential negative attributes or unknowns; and

               WHEREAS, At its regular meeting on May 22, 2014 the Committee narrowed the field of potential parcels to three and vetted those in detail at subsequent meetings on June 17 and September 24, 2014; and

               WHEREAS, The Committee reached out to the public and sought input by holding public hearings and conducting open houses; including an open house at the existing police and fire stations; and

               WHEREAS, The Committee selected the HERC site as the preferred alternative at its meeting on September 24, 2014 and in doing so, cited its positive attributes which included City ownership, its size and configuration, good soils, good topography, limited flood hazards, suitable zoning, location (response times), proximity to utilities, visibility, access to major collector and arterial roads, multiple access points for the public, and good security potential; and

               WHEREAS, Potential negative attributes or unknowns identified and evaluated by the Committee include an active creek and some identified wetlands, rock outcroppings that might drive excavation costs, increased distance and response time to the Spit, and displacement of and replacement costs associated with existing uses including the Public Works maintenance shop and recreational activities at the gym, skateboard park, outdoor basketball court, and fenced in grassy area; and

               WHEREAS, The Public Safety Building Review Committee recommends that the City Council select the HERC site as the location for the proposed new Public Safety Building in Memorandum 14-163, a copy of which is attached and incorporated herein. 

               NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer City Council hereby designates the Homer Education and Recreation Complex (HERC) site as the location for the proposed new Homer Public Safety Building.

               PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 27th day of October, 2014.

CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                                                                       __                                                                                                                                                 MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR

ATTEST:

                                                            ___

JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A