Session 07-02, a
Regular Meeting
of the Homer Economic Development Advisory Commission was called to
order at
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS: COREY, FAULKNER, HOWARD, MURPHY, RILEY, SCHEER
ABSENT: NEWBY (excused)
COUNCILMEMBER: WYTHE
STAFF: SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR HOLEN
COREY/FAULKNER – MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
There was no discussion.
VOTE: YES. NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. (3 MINUTE TIME
LIMIT)
There was no public comment.
RECONSIDERATION
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
Unapproved meeting minutes of
COREY/FAULKNER – MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
There was no discussion.
VOTE: YES. NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
VISITORS (Chair set time limit not to exceed 20 minutes)
A.
Bob
Hartley and Gary Seims of the
Bob Hartley, oyster farmer from 1992 to 2006, gave a presentation on oyster farming and answered questions from the Commission. Gary Seims, President of the Kachemak Bay Shellfish Growers Association, presented his plans for a shellfish processing/retail facility. He answered questions from the Commission.
STAFF & COUNCIL REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS (Chair set time limit not to exceed 5 minutes.)
A. Memorandum EDC 07-03, from Special
Projects
Coordinator Holen, Re: Staff
Report
Special Projects Coordinator Holen outlined her staff report:
§
City of
Councilmember Wythe commented at the Council meeting amendments to the lease committee process were made. They could be added to next month’s EDC agenda. At last night’s Council meeting two resolutions for halibut quotas failed. The City Council is not in a position to take a stand on one side or another. It is a divisive issue in the community; commercial fishermen versus charter fishermen.
PUBLIC HEARING (3 minute
time
limit)
None scheduled.
PENDING BUSINESS
A. Memorandum 07-04, from
Special Projects Coordinator Holen, Re: Possible CEDS
Outline
The format in the old
OEDP
(Overall Economic Development Plan) is cumbersome and the idea is to
consolidate topics in one place. The Kenai Development Committee
strategy was
provided in the packet. Midge Clouse from the Economic Development
Commission
runs the
FAULKNER/COREY -
MOVED TO ACCEPT
THE RECOMMENDATON AS STATED ON
Suggestions were to
leave in
links and provide an introduction that gives meat to the outline. The
concept
of
VOTE by voice: YES. UNANIMOUS.
Motion
carried.
A. Resolution 07-,
A Resolution of the Homer City Council urging the
North Pacific Management Council, the International Pacific Halibut
Commission,
and appropriate state and federal agencies to support a reallocation of
the
gross harvest limit for halibut in area 3A and specifically to increase
the
allocation to the recreational charter industry; and expressing intent
to fund
an economic impact analysis to determine the economic benefits to Homer
of
alternative uses of the halibut resource.
FAULKNER/SCHEER – MOVED TO BRING RESOLUTION 07- TO THE FLOOR.
Councilmember Wythe commented it is most apparent people deeply involved in the fishery have the facts. Those not involved in the fishery do not have all the facts to make a decision. It is a divisive issue in the community and making an uninformed decision is the worst thing you can do. It is not appropriate for the body to discuss the issue and not a function of the City Council to take a position in these types of issues. It could come in a format independent from taking a position.
Commission comments included:
MURPHY/RILEY – MOVED TO CALL FOR THE QUESTION.
VOTE by show of hands: YES. MURPHY, SCHEER, RILEY
NO. COREY, FAULKNER, HOWARD
Motion failed.
Commissioner Faulkner’s comments included:
Other commissioners recommended caution in making a decision. The Commission has no data to back their recommendations and if they act quickly without research they may lose credibility.
VOTE (main motion) by voice: NO. UNANIMOUS.
Motion failed.
FAULKNER/COREY –
MOVED TO
RECOMMEND TO THE
City Manager Wrede commented the Commission is free to write letters; the City Council has not taken a position.
RILEY/COREY- MOVED TO
AMEND TO
RECOMMEND THE
Justification could be found in the EDC’s deliberations.
VOTE by voice: (amendment) YES. UNANIMOUS.
Motion carried.
RILEY/MURPHY - MOVED
THAT THE
ADEQUATE STUDY OF THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC
Chair Howard called
for a recess
at
RILEY/MURPHY - MOVED TO WITHDRAW MOTION.
There was no discussion.
VOTE by voice: YES. UNANIMOUS.
Motion carried.
VOTE by voice: (main motion) NO. UNANIMOUS.
Motion failed.
RILEY/FAULKNER -
MOVED TO
RECOMMEND TO THE
There was no additional discussion.
VOTE: YES. MURPHY, COREY, RILEY, HOWARD, FAULKNER, SCHEER
Motion carried.
B. Memorandum from Commissioner Faulkner Re: Lease Negotiating Committee
FAULKNER/COREY -
MOVED TO ACCEPT
THE RECOMMENDATION AS STATED IN MEMO DATED
The Commission would be able to hear proposals from private sector developers and act on those proposals. Leases would be negotiated by a lease negotiating committee and then go to City Council for final approval. If the EDC is playing a role it will not finalize anything. While the highest and best use translates to the biggest dollar return, it doesn’t always.
Councilmember Wythe commented the recent change from Council will come before the EDC at their next meeting. The Commission can look at the existing procedures and offer recommendations for modifying it.
FAULKNER/RILEY -
MOVED TO
POSTPONE TO THE
There was no discussion.
VOTE by voice: YES. UNANIMOUS
Motion carried.
C. Memorandum from Deputy City Clerk Re: Landscaping Ordinance
SCHEER/COREY - MOVED TO BRING THIS ITEM TO THE FLOOR.[1]
There are issues in
the Central
Business District (
Commissioner Faulkner explained raising funds for beautification of landscaping as a form of art could be 1% of building value up to a maximum of $5,000 as reasonable. It will fund occupancy making financing available. It would be enforceable and a sustainable resource to be embraced by the community. One percent could be assessed against the value of the building, payable upon occupancy. Funds would be paid to the City to administer the landscaping.
Councilmember Wythe clarified the 1% art fund does not actually come to the city; it guarantees some form of art will be used in the development. The 1% for landscaping would be put towards landscaping by the owner.
Commissioner Faulkner said with no ongoing funding source for Parks and Recreation they should come through the building process. Parks and Recreation could manage the ongoing beautification of Homer.
Commissioner Riley’s preference is to leave the money in the developer’s pocket for use on his own property as 1% for the arts could provide a tax break.
Commissioner Murphy commented it was a Council action to fund Parks and Recreation. It was suggested a request be made when the next budget negotiations come up. Currently several hundreds of thousands of dollars go into Parks and Recreation each year.
Special Projects Coordinator Holen is to look for funding to support 1% landscaping and beautification.
The Community Design Manual is needed for the next packet.
INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS (NO ACTION
A. Email regarding the KPB
Economic
Analysis
Website
B. Email regarding Economic Analysis Site Update
C. Kenai Economic Development Strategy
D.
Bradners’
E. Memorandum
from Mayor Hornaday Re: Report on
COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE (3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT)
Malcolm Milne, commercial fisherman,
works in Homer. He applauded the
Commission’s decision on the halibut issue, as it is prudent to not
take sides
and wait for more information. Condoleezza Rice and the Secretary of
Commerce
both need to be noticed. The one bag limit is a significant economical
impact
and will not help the community or the charter in a positive manner.
The EDC’s
main task is to protect the halibut resource. The charter industry, if
not
curtailed in its growth, will be a serious threat to the resource. More
people
will come and the fish will not grow with the population. Short term
there is the
one bag limit; long term something is needed to curtail the limit.
Commissioner Corey commented when she
came here in 1954 there were big
king crab and shrimp and now they are gone.
COMMENTS OF
THE
Special Projects Coordinator Holen had no
comments.
City Clerk Johnson asked if this was a
normal meeting.
COMMENTS OF
THE
COUNCILMEMBER
Councilmember Wythe had no comment.
COMMENTS OF
THE CHAIR
Chair Howard commented he attended the
NPFMC
meeting and it is an ongoing issue. He believes they are headed towards
a
resolution. It is a long process with every meeting another
step in the
right direction.
COMMENTS OF
THE
COMMISSION
Commissioner Riley requested an excused
absence for next month.
Commissioner Murphy said although he
brutalized Mr. Faulkner repeatedly he values his efforts on behalf of
the
Commission. If you don’t get all sides of debate, good and honest, you
go
nowhere.
Commissioner Scheer had no comments.
Commissioner Faulkner said Jeff and I
compliment each other; the Commission is designed to compliment
viewpoints.
They worked through a difficult issue and came to a wise decision. He
hopes the
City Council picks up the flag and realizes it is an issue that doesn’t
have to
be studied to death in order to act in a limited capacity for the
short-term
impact. If they guard against complacency, who else takes up the issue
if not
the EDC? The right thing is never easy or popular. Ethics is grand
scale on
everyone’s mind. You have to live at this level by acting on what your
gut and
heart tells you are the right thing for the community. No one would
regard
annexation as a mistake today. We have to push ourselves to look at
what has
made us the great town we are. It will take both sides, with the
commercial
fishermen sending a letter of protest to Condoleezza Rice.
Commissioner Corey had no comments.
There being no further business to come
before the Commission, Chair
Howard adjourned the meeting at
______________________________
JO JOHNSON,
Approved: _____________________