Session 09-02, a Special Meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Hogan on February 19, 2009 at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:         COMMISSIONERS ERICKSON, FAULKNER, HOGAN, NEECE, RAVIN

 

STAFF:             SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR HOLEN

CITY PLANNER ABBOUD

DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

 

There were no public comments.

 

RECONSIDERATION    

 

There were no items for reconsideration.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

A.         Regular meeting minutes of January 13, 2008

 

Chair Hogan noted that item D. “Support Jean Keene and successors in regard to eagle feeding on the spit” was not brought to the floor for lack of a second.

 

The minutes were approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

VISITORS

 

There were no visitors scheduled.

 

STAFF REPORT & COUNCIL REPORT

 

Special Projects Coordinator Holen gave the Commission an update on the VISTA recruitment. Of the four applicants, three didn’t want to interview and the fourth didn’t respond. If they don’t have a selection to make the April 1st start date, the next one will be in July. She commented that she didn’t want to start on the CEDS project until the VISTA is in place.

 

There was brief discussion regarding an overview of the stimulus funding.

 

PUBLIC HEARING        

 

There were no public hearings scheduled.

 

PENDING BUSINESS

           

A.         Lease Policies

 

RAVIN/ERICKSON MOVED TO DISCUSS THE LEASE POLICY FOR 20 MINUTES.

 

There was comment that this needs more than 20 minutes to discuss.

 

FAULKNER/ERICKSON MOVED TO AMEND TO DISCUSS WITH NO TIME LIMIT.

 

There was brief comment about the past discussion of the Lease Policy.

 

VOTE: (amendment) NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

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

 

Motion carried.

 

The Commission discussed and Commissioner Faulkner commented at length providing his historical view of previous handlings of City leases on the spit. He emphasized that the people making recommendations for the lease policy should review all the leases that the City has in place to see their inconsistencies as well as analyze illegal subleases. 

 

City Planner Abboud commented that several valid and true points have been brought up on the inconsistencies of the leases, but he doesn’t have a hammer big enough to hit them all. Perhaps through comprehensive planning an acceptable way of dealing with them can be developed, or a systematic way of dealing with leases can be established. City Planner Abboud said he is interested in some guidance to figure out what can reasonably be done with the current leases and what can be established trough the development of the spit comprehensive plan long term goals.

 

They discussed the benefits of privatizing some of the properties on the spit. By allowing people to purchase the lots, they will invest more into their developments and it will take a huge administrative burden off the City.

 

Special Projects Coordinator Holen commented that she has been thinking about what the EDC can do to see some good result from their discussion. She is not sure that re writing the policy is going to get them where they want to go. It may be more productive to compose a well organized memo that lays it all out showing systemic problems, with examples of each one, and recommendations on how to proceed in solving the issue. She suggested providing information on the next steps and asking Council to take the action needed to accomplish those steps. These are problems that can be discussed endlessly.

 

Discussion continued on current lease issues.

 

The Commission scheduled a worksession for February 26th at 6 p.m. to have further discussion on lease policy recommendations.

 

B.         Comprehensive Plan

 

RAVIN/NEECE SO MOVED TO BRING THIS TO THE FLOOR.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

The Commission discussed the amended version of chapter 8. It was noted that they would like to see reference to the CEDS in the introduction/overview of the chapter.

 

ERICKSON/NEECE MOVED TO FORWARD THIS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THROUGH THE CITY PLANNER.

 

There was brief discussion about the break down of near term, which would be a within few years, mid term probably 3 to 5 years out, and long term 5 to 10 years. There was agreement that tourism management plan should be immediate.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

C.         Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) - first steps

 

RAVIN/NEECE SO MOVED TO BRING TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

It was recommended that the Commission schedule a worksession in the near future to talk about the CEDS.

 

Question was raised as to whether the City can advertise for the VISTA, as the perfect person might be here at the college. Special Projects Coordinator Holen said she would check into it. They agreed to discuss the VISTA situation on the next agenda.

 

The Commission agreed to schedule a worksession on April 23, 2009 at 6 p.m.

 

D.         Land Allocation Plan - upcoming City Council worksession

                 

RAVIN/NEECE SO MOVED TO BRING THIS TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

Chair Hogan reviewed the recommendations of the Port and Harbor Commission.

 

There was discussion of the parcels the City owns on the spit that are leased. Point was raised that the City shouldn’t micromanage the lots out on the spit but instead sell them to the lease holders at fair market value. In order to see good development down there the land needs to be turned loose from the City grasp and let property owners develop it. Right now there are a lot of little shacks that the City will own under the current lease policy.

 

ERICKSON/RAVIN MOVED THAT THE CITY SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SELLING LOTS 22 THROUGH 26.

 

The Commission discussed that selling the lots would turn a light bulb on out there. The City can structure it how they want, they don’t have to sell them in a down market or four at once, but putting these spit lots up for sale with the overslope would bring real investment and development out there. It will happen as soon as some one is able to buy the lot. What you have on the lease lots now is moveable buildings.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

Chair Hogan called for a short break at 8:19 p.m. and the meeting resumed at 8:21 p.m.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

A.                 Plastic Bag Ordinance

 

ERICKSON/RAVIN MOVED TO BRING THIS TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

The Commission expressed their objection to Ordinance 09-01 and discussed making a formal statement on a position of opposition to it.

 

ERICKSON/ MOVED THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL NOT ADOPT ORDINANCE 09-01 BECAUSE IT IS COUNTER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

A.         North Pacific Fisheries Economic Survey Summary

 

B.         EDA/APA Planning and Economic Development Toolkit

 

C.         Creating Climate Prosperity

 

D.         Email from Special Projects Coordinator Holen Re: Student Representative for EDC

 

E.         Items of possible interest from Jan 26 and Feb 9 City Council Meeting packet

 

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

 

Bill Smith, City Resident, commented to the Commission that the plastic bag ordinance has only been introduced by the Council at this point. He further commented that he had a conversation with the Mayor of King Salmon who said they had to quit harvesting fish last year because they didn’t have enough processing capability, and they were hoping someone here would be able to work with them to process fish. Mr. Smith told him he would ask around. There was some discussion about harvesting Bristol Bay salmon.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY STAFF

 

There were no staff comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER

 

There were no Councilmember comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

 

Chair Hogan thanked the group for their work tonight and at the worksessions.

 

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS

 

Commissioner Erickson suggested everyone come prepared with their specific lease policy recommendations for their upcoming worksession.

 

ADJOURN
 
There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers.

 

                                                                       

MELISSA JACOBSEN, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

Approved: