Session 06-02 a Special/Regular Meeting of the Homer Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDC)was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chair Howard at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS: COREY, FAULKNER, HOWARD, MURPHY, NEWBY, RILEY, SCHEER.

STAFF: CITY CLERK CALHOUN

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT HOLEN

The Commission conducted a worksession from 5:03 to 6:04 p.m. Agenda items: Roberts Rules of Order and Open Meetings Act (OMA) as these apply to the Commission, the Town Center Development Plan and the Comprehensive Plan 1999 Update.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. (3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT)

No member of the public in attendance wished to comment.

RECONSIDERATION

None scheduled.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Unapproved meeting minutes of May 9, 2006, Special/Regular Meeting.

The minutes were approved, as printed, by consensus of the Commission.

VISITORS

A. Chamber of Commerce, Derotha Ferraro, Director.

Chamber of Commerce Director Ferraro addressed the Commission, advising that she has been the Director of the Homer Chamber of Commerce for eleven years. She distributed a handout that included the 2005 Chamber of Commerce Annual Achievements, 2006 Economic Development Committee Priorities, Homer Chamber of Commerce Development Projects List, Boat Owners Guide to Homer, and the 2006 Official Homer Visitor's Guide. She congratulated the Commissioners for serving on the Commission and expressed her delight that there is an Economic Development Commission. After briefly commenting on her history with the prior Commission. she told the Commission that she looks forward to serving as a resource for them, noting that it is important for the City and the Chamber to work together, as they already are. She reported on the following:

• Chamber is self funded through membership and fund raisers.

• Basic stats and activities of the Chamber of Commerce and about the Annual Contract with the City of Homer to do generic marketing and 95% of the time this is used to do generic tourism marketing.

• Full time year round staff of three. Use volunteers for everything else.

• 27 Committees.

• Director reports to a Board of Directors made up of thirteen elected people from the Chamber.

• History with the Commission pertaining to the activities of the Chamber of Commerce with regard to Economic Development.

• The Shadle Resolution with directives to the Commission was her idea, although the specific items listed were not.

• Chamber Economic Development Committee. Goals of the Committee. Port Development, College Expansion, Increased Medical Services and Harbor Expansion. Anne Marie Holen serves as secretary for the Port Team. Derotha Ferraro serves as secretary for the Medical Services and College Teams. The Executive Committee: Bruce Turkington, Walt Wrede, Philip Alderfer, Julie Woodworth, Jack Cushing, Rick Eckert and Derotha Ferraro.

• Proposed Fishing Hole Lagoon at Mariner Park.

• That the Chamber has not taken a position with regard to the proposed Second Fishing Hole Lagoon at Mariner Park.

• Chamber Six Month Report at the next Council Meeting. (June 26, 2006)

• The amount of financial support from the Chamber for the current Fishing Hole.

• What the Chamber does in relationship to existing business development. Many Committees and programs that mainly use cooperative programs. Anything that helps to support existing businesses. Homer Showcase and Marine Trades Booklet. Etc. Promote tourism.

• Small Business Development Center located at the Chamber Building.

She encouraged the Commission to write some goals. She concluded by advising the Commission that she has an open door policy, that she may not be able to attend the Commission meetings and that she may work through Angie. ⁽¹⁾

Councilmember Wythe brought the Commission's focus to Item 5. of Resolution 06-48, regarding the directives to the Commission from the Council which says, " Commission provide input to the Mayor and Council on other economic development ideas and incentives." She emphasized that, basically, anything that the Commission wants to address will be within that scope. Noting that the Chamber of Commerce is addressing fishing hole and tourism economics it might be a question for the Commission to look at, how to collaboratively bring what the Chamber is already doing back through the Commission to the Council with recommendations with what the Council can do to help further support their efforts. She recommended that the Commission use the Chamber of Commerce energy on those items so that the Commission energy can be focused on other things.

Commissioner Newby commented on the Town Center Development Plan and that researching the feasibility of creating a cooperative retail alliance was assigned to the Economic Development Commission and that she has told members of the Commission that the Retail Committee actually has a strong focus on having the businesses along Pioneer work together and the Community shopping bag and that kind of thing. She suggested that next time she can get a report from the Retail Committee so that the Commission can see that would be another way of recognizing that this effort is already on going and that the Commission can support that and let it run.

Chair Howard called for a break at 6:32.21 p.m. reconvening the meeting at 6:39.40.

STAFF & COUNCIL REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS (5 minutes)

A. Council report from Councilmember Wythe.

Councilmember Wythe advised that she does not have a report and inquired of the Chair as to what he would like in a report? standard things from the Council meeting? or?

Chair Howard responded that he would like Councilmember Wythe to bring back items that, from her perspective, do pertain to the Commission and for which the EDC needs to be aware. He stated that some things have occurred since the Commission last met that did pertain to the EDC, that he would like for the Commission to all understand what those were and are, and what actions that the Council may have taken relative to those items. He acknowledged that Councilmember Wythe took a Resolution to the Council that received Council action and that the Council also took action on the Resolution that the Commission tabled at a previous meeting.

Councilmember Wythe noted that both of the items the Chair mentioned are on the agenda under informational materials. She noted that the Council did accept and affirm the advisory recommendations made by Councilmember Shadle and that the Council did not approve the Resolution for the assignment of the Economic Development portion of the Comprehensive Plan assigned to the EDC for separate review, although Council did recognize that this Commission would play an integral part in the review process.

The Chair expressed appreciation to Councilmember Wythe for carrying the Resolution forward to the Council. He noted that consideration of a second fishing lagoon in Mariner Park was forwarded to the EDC.

B. Staff Report EDC 06-01, from Special Projects Coordinator Holen.

Special Projects Coordinator Holen stated that she just wanted to give the Commission an idea of what she has been working on since the last meeting and about some of the resources available in her office. She advised the Commission of the existence of the Economic Development Resource Guide that the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development puts out and gave a brief summary of the contents thereof. She stated that she also wanted to point out that she is soon to be undertaking the update of the City of Homer Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that gets updated annually and that the Commission needs to review this document. She reported that Jeanne Camp, the Economic Analyst for the Borough, gave her four Situations and Prospects ( S & P), which is full of a wealth of information.

Commissioner Murphy noted that the EDC members used to be on an automatic mailing list for quarterly updates and the S & P. He asked for Ms. Holen to check into that; she responded that she would.

Commissioner Newby inquired if the CIP were on line and was advised that it is.

PUBLIC HEARING (3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT)

None scheduled.

PENDING BUSINESS

A. Resolution 06-DRAFT, Of the City Council Amending the Homer Economic Development Advisory Commission Bylaws. City Clerk (Introduction May 9, 2006, Final Reading June 13, 2006 if adopted will be forwarded to the City Council for their June 26, 2006 Regular Meeting.) Page 73

Consideration to amend by-laws to provide for bi-monthly meetings of the EDC, requested by Chair Howard.

City Clerk Calhoun, at the behest of the Chair, briefly explained what the Commission needed to do.

MURPHY/RILEY - I MOVE WE ACCEPT THE BYLAWS AS PRESENTED.

It was noted that the Resolution automatically goes to the Council for action.

Chair Howard inquired if the Commission would consider amending the Bylaws to hold semi monthly meetings, addressing one of the items in Resolution 06-48 of the City Council, to correspond with other Commissions and Council meetings.

Discussion on this possible amendment included: Recommendation to get the job done and not to meet for meetings sake. There is no decision this Commission makes that has to be fast tracked. Once a month is what most can commit to. A second meeting could be a public noticed coffee hour for an informational discussion. The Commission may call for special meetings or worksessions if and as needed.

Chair Howard inquired about the time that the Commission is meeting and if this needs to be changed.

Commission discussed the pros and cons of meeting later about 7 p.m.

Chair Howard recognized the informal call for the question by Commissioner Riley.

There were no amending motions made.

VOTE: YES: NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Memorandum EDC 06-04, from City Clerk, Re: Memorandum 06-87, from Councilmember Shadle, Re: Request for Economic Development Advisory Commission and Public Advisory Input on the Concept of a Second Fishing Lagoon Location in the Mariner Park Area. Recommendation approved by Council on May 22, 2006. Recommendation: Forward the concept of a second Fishing Lagoon located in the Mariner Park area to the Homer Economic Development Commission for input, including the validity and feasibility thereof. Place informal petitions around town at various businesses for two weeks.

RECOMMENDATION: Move to discuss and provide input to the City Council regarding the validity and feasibility of a second fishing lagoon in the Mariner Park Area.

MURPHY/NEWBY - SO MOVED THAT THIS ITEM BE BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR.

Discussion included pros and cons:

Not in favor of a second Fishing Lagoon.

Environmental impact.

Western Shorebird, protection of shorebirds.

Precedence for not creating a large tourism and, maybe, an environmental adverse situation.

Funding for smolt in current Fishing Hole is a major annual $20,000.00 fund raiser in the community.

The economic issues about keeping a second Fishing Hole going are fairly dramatic and not well under stood.

For the Commission to do a good job it must broaden its view from tourism fishing. The Town Square is a wonderful project and seems like something that cuts across all interests. A Fishing Hole exists and if it already costs a lot why drain more resources to have another one. This does not make sense.

The image of Homer is a beautiful, natural environment. There has been a lot of effort to develop a shore bird festival and that image of Homer. The best thing to do for that image and the existing tourist business is to speak out strongly against a second Fishing Lagoon. Not in favor of making a sort of a Disneyland artificial salmon run, when there are, already, charter boat captains that need more customers to go out and catch real fish.

Wrong way to go and wrong message to send to the World about what Homer is all about.

Probably pretty expensive.

One of the reasons Homer has been so successful as a Charter Capital in South Central Alaska is due to the fishing.

There are a lot of people who want to come to Homer and do something, but do not want to go out on a Charter Boat. The Fishing Hole/Lagoon provides an alternative fishing experience, the reason for the Fishin' Hole in the first place.

The Fishing Hole has been very successful, it has been great for little kids and wives.

The existing Fishing Hole has been a real home run for the City of Homer, no two ways about it.

Homer has become known for eco tourism and had been known for Charter Fishing and Commercial Fishing.

This is not a simple thing of catering to just one segment of the visitor industry, need to look at the overall impacts.

How to realistically economically and physically accommodate this. Need more expert input to make a recommendation.

Heard that in two more years, or something like that, that Fish and Game is going to make free smolt available.

There are programs coming on line so that smolt would not have to be purchase for the current Fishing Hole.

Not qualified to reject or accept this out of hand.

The EDC is a Planning Commission to the degree of planning Homer's future.

There was a plan to develop the entire Mariner Park into an RV park, initially approved and then overturned.

Economy may be heavily weighted down in terms of tourism, the visitor sector. This does not mean that improvements that might be in Homer's long term interest should be rejected just to diversify.

Homer is very diversified and wants to remain so.

The Town Square Development has been successful largely because of the extensive public input and debate.

No proposal that deals with the development or reconfiguration of Mariner Park would be unanimous or endorsed by the majority of people.

The Commission is being asked to look at the long term disposition of Mariner Park and maybe one alternative is an enhanced fishery.

Looking at the beautiful, pristine and natural area of the Mariner Park area is not to say that it cannot be made better.

It was pointed out that the Mariner Park area actually is not natural and has been a combination of fill, dredging to create a natural inlet and there are a lot of things that are not natural about that ecosystem now. It can be enhanced with man made improvements to make it more fitting with Homer's image as a great place to come and visit. Is an enhanced fishery part of that - it may be?

Favor soliciting public input.

There is more economic development that accruems to this community in conjunction with that Fishing Hole, than meets the eye. Lodge sales, residential high end homes, have tremendous impact in tax revenues and have occurred as a result of the unnatural enhanced fishery on the Spit.

It is more complex and something that needs to be looked at with an open mind.

The Commission should guide the process not steer it in the direction of an enhanced fishery.

This is not a simple issue.

It is an unhealthy tidal marsh that has been disturbed.

It is a birding hot spot.

Not the place to create an artificial run. It is not an enhanced run.

Enhancing the area and improving it would be a great move, but not necessarily an economic development issue and is more Parks and Recreation.

Enhancement could be done on the current Fishing Hole to make it even better.

If Homer were a huge City with endless resources then all of these projects that may be of interest could be done.

Does Homer just want to be a fisherman's paradise or does it want to be more? This is the question that has to be asked. If the answer is yes, then focus just on fisheries.

A broader perspective of economic development needs to be looked at. Life in Homer is more than the Spit. More than tourists that come here three months a year or the people from Florida who come up for only the summer - these do not sustain this economy.

All of these elements are a very integral part of the economy. All need to be taken seriously. All need to be considered appropriately.

Whether or not a second Fishing Hole is an economically viable idea is unknown. There is a lot of information that needs to be gathered to make that determination.

The Mariner Park area is an extensive piece of real estate that has multi purpose uses that could enhance the Homer lifestyle, could enhance various elements enjoyed here.

Right now Mariner Park is a beat up Marsh that man has really worked over. Maybe man needs to continue to work it over to make it something beautiful that all can say this is an enhanced environment for shorebirds, for other marshland creatures, and a Fishing Hole may or may not be a part of this.

Mariner Park potentially has a lot of potential.

Need to look at this futuristically, what the Mariner Park area will look like fifty years from now. Don't think people would want it to look the same as it does today.

Don't have enough answers to decide whether or not there is an economic development component of that area that needs to be pursued. Do not want to dismiss something that may or could occur there.

One common theme runs through all of this conversation - Look, look, look. Successful economic development planning comes from non prejudicial thought process, letting the facts decide, not letting one's opinion drive the facts.

It would be good to have more than one option. Fishing Hole, enhanced shore bird, town square. Ask the people what they want. Not just what some Councilmember, who happens to be in fisheries, who wants another Fishing Hole.

It is the Commission's responsibility to look at multiple options. Want the information on what are the options and what is best for the Community.

This particular memorandum was very, very specific. The existing Fishing Hole is a multi million dollar energy engine coming into the Community. Brings people in to buy groceries, buy real estate, buy housing/accommodations, restaurants, and has been a great thing.

One objection is on the specificity of the instructions being received from the City Council.

Nothing wrong with looking at the area in terms of what it is, but have to also be historically aware of some of these major community efforts. Such as being recognized as a premiere shorebird habitat in the entire western hemisphere. That will go right out the door if one starts building high rise affordable housing there or a Fishing Hole.

Could go along with this if the Commission is being asked to consider the Mariner Park area for a variety of elements of economic development.

Councilmember Wythe stated that she recognizes the specific nature of the comment, but believes that Councilmember Shadle has asked for something specific to be looked at and that it does not limit the Commission. Even though the Councilmember asked very narrowly, Ms. Wythe stated,;that the wide picture is what he is asking of the Commission and that he is saying what he thinks would be good, wanting to know what the Commission thinks. A better use? Is there a better way to go about doing this.

Discussion ensued, points made are as follows:

Exhortation to the Commission that whatever is brought before it that the Commission have the mind set to think on a much larger basis, and that they have to look at the overall impact of everything.. Emphasis that this should just be the Commission's automatic posture and that the Commission should never take offense when somebody comes and says, for example, "Hey, I want to put a Dog Pound in Land's End Parking Lot." Okay, let them ask.

When the Commission looks at the matter, it must look at it from all aspects.

In the Mariner Park area case, the western fly zone was supported by the Commission.

The Commission supported NERRS and many things that were not thought of as economic development.

There is no reason to stop supporting these types of things or to be threatened by specific requests. Commission encouraged to look at these as opportunities to come up with a better idea or plan or a better way as opposed to seeing it as an edict.

Parks and Recreation may look at this as a park. Port and Harbor Commission may look at it for some other reason. The EDC can have a broader perspective that incorporates all potential uses of any City land.

The EDC also has to take into account:

1) Very little public park land on the Spit for a public rest point. Every year the beaches become narrower and narrower and lower and lower. Rip rap takes up public area. No oasis for the public.

2) Its possible the City may need, in the future, the existing Fishing Lagoon for harbor expansion. It has been discussed before. It has actually been part of the economic development agenda. That day may come when that Fishing Hole has a higher and better use.

3) Not convinced that the fisheries won't someday also be restricted. There are fishing closures already.

It is not just maintaining what exists it is thinking about the potential loss of what exists and the impacts thereof.

Fisheries are not a given.

The EDC needs to take a cautious approach, this is critical to the economic approach and critical to the enjoyment of life in Homer.

The Mariner Park area could be a park, it could be anything. Stretch your imagination.

There was some comment about the petition and question box type scenario. The City Clerk responded to the Chair's inquiry regarding the petitions in circulation at this point, a copy of a blank petition is in the Commission's packet.

The Commission asked that the Special Projects Coordinator, with regard to Mariner Park, summarize the history, commitments, and agreements and what is in existence today. It was stated that this would be an excellent starting point and that in order to make decisions the Commission has to have the facts.

There were objections to the petition approach.

Discussion ensued.

FAULKNER/RILEY - MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE FOLLOWING ACTION WITH RESPECT TO MEMORANDUM EDC-0604, THE EDC REJECTS A SINGULAR USE APPROACH TO PLANNING AND ENCOURAGES THE COUNCIL TO DIRECT THE EDC TO PERFORM A HIGHEST AND BEST USE ANALYSIS FOR MARINER PARK CONSISTENT WITH COUNCIL WISHES.

MURPHY/ - OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO STRIKE THE "CONSISTENT WITH COUNCIL WISHES".

Chair Howard allowed for a verbiage change, there were no objections to reflect Commissioner Murphy's suggestion.

There were no objections.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: (primary amendment, with friendly amendment)YES: NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

There was no further discussion.

VOTE: (main motion as amended) YES: NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

The Commission asked Councilmember Wythe to carry this forth in the spirit for which the Commission intended it.

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS (NO ACTION MAY BE TAKEN ON THESE MATTERS, THEY MAY BE DISCUSSED ONLY.

A. Resolution 06-48, Of the City Council Providing Direction to the Economic Development Advisory Commission. Shadle. Adopted May 22, 2006 by Council.

A. 1. Memorandum 06-89, EDC Input through Councilmember Wythe.

B. Resolution 06-61, Of the City Council Assigning the Economic Sections of the Comprehensive Plan to the Economic Advisory Development Commission (EDC) for Review and Recommendation. Wythe. EDC. Tabled on May 22, 2006 by Council.

C. City Council Unapproved May 22, 2006 Regular Meeting Minutes.

Appreciation was expressed for the informational materials.

There was comment about the packet and providing it at the earliest possible time, comments included: The agenda with links to all of the documents, except the Staff Report, was emailed to the Commissioners. The hard copy was published as soon as the Council's packet was done. It was request that the email that the Commissioners really need to read be marked. It was noted that it will be difficult to satisfy everyone.

Councilmember Wythe responded to inquiry as to whether or not Resolution 06-61, deadline of August 14th for providing input on the Comprehensive Plan rewrite, of this issue would be coming back to the Commission, by relaying that the Resolution failed ⁽²⁾.

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE (3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT)

There were no audience comments.

COMMENTS OF THE CITY STAFF

There were no comments of City Staff.

COMMENTS OF THE COUNCILMEMBER

Councilmember Wythe had no comment.

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

Chair Howard reported meeting with the City Manager about three weeks ago, since he is one of the people that the Commission can use as a resource, to speak with him regarding his view of the EDC. It is the EDC role to determine what type of economic viability that the Commission wants to see in the City, what kind of City the Commission wants to have and that this is where the Commission should aim their actions to build the economic environment desired for this City.

Special Projects Coordinator Holen interjected, "make recommendations for that kind of development."

Chair Howard noted that there are only a few sitting around the table trying to pull this off and that it seems that a lot of public input is needed. He reported that the City Manager stated that in all likelihood the Commission may want to conduct public hearings to solicit input from the Community as to their views on the elements that should be considered as looking at the economic development program.

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION

Commissioner Corey expressed appreciation for all of the Commissioners and that she hoped she is able to lend something to the Commission.

Chair Howard welcomed her as Vice Chair and hoped that she had the strength of a mule, because they are going to load her up.

Commissioner Corey stated that Commissioner Riley had said that she could do it. Ms Corey stated that she will do her best.

Commissioner Riley had no comment.

Commissioner Murphy addressed the obvious, as far as a few things: That this is a new group of people who have not worked together and a staff that has not worked with them. That this is a real challenge and that it takes time for this to jell. He stated that he is thrilled with tonight's meeting, the Commission being in the embryonic stages. He relayed that he foresees some potential for really good, high quality output from this group with its diversity. He encouraged everyone to think along those lines and to realize that many don't know each other and some do and how one takes comments really changes six months down the road after getting to know a person. He expressed his belief that everyone is going to make a great contribution and that he is excited.

Commissioner Scheer had no comment

Commissioner Faulkner stated that their challenge is to focus, noting that they have a lot on their table, on their plate. He noted that the Commission does have to balance the long term planning with the short term gain. He pointed out that there is business pressing, as much as they might like to wish it away for ten years. He commented that they all know that Homer is growing and growing rapidly, to the extent that they are faced with immediate decisions and that if the Commission divorces itself for the sake of taking a long term perspective it may not be doing Homer justice. He expressed recognition of the diversity and tremendous amount of talent on the Commission, reiterating that the challenge will be to remain focused and to balance the long term planning with some short term assistance to the Council, which, in his opinion, they sorely need and look forward to. He concluded by saying that he looks forward to the challenge.

Commissioner Newby had no comment.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Commission, Chair Howard adjourned the meeting at 7:47.32 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 6 p.m. All meetings scheduled to be held in the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

____________________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Approved: __________________________

1. Believe to be a reference to Commissioner Newby.

2. Resolution 06-61 was tabled at the May 22, 2006 Regular City Council meeting.