ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES UNAPPROVED

11 JANUARY 2000

Session 00-01, of the Homer Economic Development Commission was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chair Murphy, Homer City Hall, Council Chambers, 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska 99603.

CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL

Present: Commissioners: Murphy, Strydom, Hawfield, Sherwood

Staff: Sheri Hobbs

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Approved by consensus.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

October 12, 1999 minutes approved by consensus.

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

None.

STAFF/COUNCIL REPORT

Sheri Hobbs reminded Commissioners of the Land Allocation worksession on February 14, 2000 at 6:00 p.m. and that any comments on the Plan should be forwarded to the Planning Director by January 14th.

VISITORS

None.

PENDING BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Approval of 2000 EDC Meeting Schedule. HAWFIELD/STRYDOM MOTION TO APPROVE 2000 EDC MEETING SCHEDULE.

VOTE: YES: Strydom, Murphy, Sherwood, Hawfield

Motion carried.

Chair Murphy stated now that schedule had been approved he would like to discuss the Commission. He stated the Commission was originally formed as a brain trust to come up with ideas and forward recommendations to Council. Without staff support the Commission cannot effectively follow through on ideas. Chair Murphy stated the Commission has done some good things but not on a consistent level.

Chair Murphy stated it was the goal of the Commission during Mayor Gregoire's time to have staff support to bring out ideas presented by EDC. He stated it was frustrating to spend time working on ideas with no comment back from the Council. He was proposing the Commission request Council to inactivate the Economic Development Commission until such time as staff support could be provided.

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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - Page 2

11 JANUARY 2000

Chair Murphy advised a draft statement was prepared and requested Commissioners to

review for changes or comments. He stated he could not remember when the last time a councilmember or administration attended an EDC meeting and it had been a long time since the Mayor had attended a meeting.

Commissioner Hawfield advised it was his understanding the economic development budget had been cut and the funding in place was for the Chamber to market Homer. He stated he also felt staff support was needed and some guidance or feedback from Council.

Commissioner Strydom advised that the primary objective is to set the stage for planning of economic development and a large amount of staff support is needed to do this. He suggested that money would be better spent for the Commissioners to lobby council directly as private citizens than meeting monthly as Commissioners.

Commissioner Sherwood stated it seemed that attending council meetings and publicly speaking seems to be a better way to have your message heard by the public than making recommendations to Council as a Commission which may never be heard by the public.

Commissioner Hawfield stated he did not want to just quit the Commission but the need for staff support which does not appear will happen and making the Commission inactive until there is staff support makes sense.

STRYDOM/SHERWOOD MOTION TO FORWARD MEMORANDUM REGARDING INACTIVE STATUS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO COUNCIL. MEMORANDUM STATES:

"The Homer Economic Development Advisory Commission is requesting the City Council to place the Commission on inactive status until such time as staff support can be provided.

The Commission was originally formed with the intent to provide suggestions for economic development initiatives to the Council. On an annual basis the Commission updates the Overall Economic Development Profile and forwards it to Council for review and consideration. Over the years the Commission has forwarded initiatives to Council, the most recent a business incentive program.

Each Commissioner is self-employed or has full-time job and also is involved in other organizations besides being an Economic Development Commissioner. Without staff support the commission has been unable to pursue initiatives on their own due to their time constraints.

We feel the Commission can provide valuable input with the support of city staff to provide assistance and would hope the Council would consider this in the future."

VOTE: YES: Strydom, Murphy, Sherwood, Hawfield Motion carried.

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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - Page 3

11 JANUARY 2000

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

A. Letter regarding vacant KPBEDD Seat. No comment.

B. Economic Development Report October/November. No comment.

C. Letter from Derotha Ferraro-Chamber Director regarding meeting with Centurion Company. Commissioners discussed letter no action taken.

D. Re-Appointment of Mike Hawfield to EDC.

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

None.

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS

Chair Murphy stated if the EDC did not meet again he felt improved by everyone's thoughts

and ideas and had enjoyed working with the Commission.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. by Chair Murphy. The next regular meeting was not scheduled.

Submitted by,

Sheri Hobbs, Personnel/Administrative Assistant