Session 09-01, a Regular Meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Hogan on January 13, 2009 at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:         COMMISSIONERS ERICKSON, HOGAN, NEECE, RAVIN

 

ABSENT:           COMMISSIONER SCARPITTA, YAKUNIN (Both unexcused)

 

STAFF: DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN

                        CITY PLANNER ABBOUD

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

 

Bill Smith commented regarding school population statistics. He said that the Borough has a home education program called Connections in which a student can enroll and not go to Homer High School. In looking at enrollment in the high school and in Connections we have more high school students than we did in 2000. There is a statewide competition, so to speak, to provide home schooling from different districts because it is a lucrative thing. The state gives the district money to get people signed up. There are a lot of students who are not listed in the district plan, and that is something to consider when saying we don’t have very many people here. Mr. Smith acknowledges that the age of the population is changing but outside of the City the population has been increasing.

 

There was brief discussion regarding the Connections program.

 

RECONSIDERATION    

 

There were no items for reconsideration.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

A.         Regular meeting minutes of December 9, 2008

 

RAVIN/NEECE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

VISITORS

 

There were no visitors scheduled.

 

STAFF REPORT & COUNCIL REPORT

 

Special Projects Coordinator Holen updated the Commission on the VISTA status. Applications are coming in, but Council has not given the final okay to utilize the funding. She noted that the visit from Bill Popp, CEO of Anchorage Economic Development Corp. has bee rescheduled to March 9.

 

Councilmember Wythe commented that the VISTA should be on the next Council agenda.

 

PUBLIC HEARING        

 

There were no public hearings scheduled.

 

PENDING BUSINESS

           

A.                 Lease Policies- 1/5/09 Worksession Synopsis and recommendations

 

Commissioner Erickson gave an overview of the EDC lease policy worksession and the Lease Committee meeting. She noted the Lease Committee and the Port and Harbor Commission are looking at the policy. The Lease Committee will forward recommendations to the Council.  There was discussion of a subcommittee made up of the different groups and bringing in lease holders to provide input.

 

Councilmember Wythe suggested it would be more appropriate to schedule a public hearing and do a mail out to lease holders if that is the intent. She also recommended the Commission be conscious of how they proceed as this will draw additional staff resources in a manner that could impact the finances of the City.

 

The Commission agreed to schedule a worksession on January 29 at 6:00 p.m.

 

B.         Comprehensive Plan - 1/10/09 Worksession Synopsis and recommendations

 

ERICKSON/RAVIN MOVED TO DISCUSS.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

Chair Hogan said he would like to have the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy included on their next agenda. There was discussion that this needs to be put into the Comprehensive Plan so there is at least a reference to it.

 

The Commission had brief discussion and reviewed the worksession synopsis. They agreed to have further discussion at the worksession scheduled for January 29th.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

A.         Filling EDC Vacancies, Including the Student Member

RAVIN/ERICKSON MOVED TO DISCUSS.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

The Commission discussed active solicitation to fill the student seat and making available the seats of the inactive members.

 

NEECE/RAVIN MOVED TO DECLARE THE SEAT ASSIGNED TO NICK YAKUNIN VACANT.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

RAVIN/NEECE MOVED THAT CHAIR HOGAN CONTACT MR. SCARPITTA AND POLITELY REQUEST HIS RESIGNATION.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

 

Motion carried.

 

B.         Election of Chair and Vice Chair, as per EDC Bylaws

 

There was consensus of the Commission to elect Commissioner Hogan as Chair and Commissioner Ravin as Vice Chair.

 

C.         Whistleblower

 

RAVIN/NEECE MOVED TO DISCUSS.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

Chair Hogan explained that he brought this up because he has reviewed the information in code that applies to employees. He is interested in knowing if there is anything that would protect Commissioners or citizens.

 

Council member Wythe explained her understanding that the whistle blower concept relates to employees in an organization. She said she will do some research and bring information back to the Commission.

 

D.         Support Jean Keene and successors in regard to eagle feeding on the spit

 

The Commission briefly discussed eagle feeding on the spit and agreed that while it does bring tourism into the area they don’t want to issue a statement of support for the continuance of the feeding.

 

E.         EDC representation at 2009 Council Meetings

 

The Commission discussed and adjusted the attendance schedule for the upcoming Council meetings through June. They agreed to revisit it in June to review the schedule for the remainder of the year.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

A.         Bill Popp, CEO of Anchorage Economic Development Corp. in Homer February 9

 

It was reiterated that the date has been changed to March 9th.

 

B.         Notes from 2008 Basic Economic Development Conference (Anchorage) by Julie Engebretsen, Planning Technician

 

C.         KP EDD Resolution 2008-4 regarding prospective board members

 

D.         Items of possible interest from January 12 City Council meeting packet

 

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

 

Bill Smith commented regarding goal seven item 2, discourage business monopolies in the harbor. He suggested phrasing it in the positive and say encourage business competition in the harbor. He also suggested in development items he they may want to encourage developing town center with the town square. He thinks the town square would add a lot and bring in economic development opportunities. Mr. Smith said Bill Popp presented to the Borough Assembly and it just demonstrates a website, which is something the Commission is interested in.  He advised the Commission that Mayor Carey has started a group called the Mayor’s Advisory Group. Their first focus is water and they will meet once a month in Soldotna, Seward, and Homer. There is more information on the Borough website.

 

Mr. Smith commented regarding the Alaska Energy Authority’s renewable energy grant. He explained that initially the project will map the tidal flow range and velocity to see what locations might be possible to generate electricity. There is a lot of post processing that has to happen. The plan has brought together a host of agencies that are participating. Mr. Smith said a lot of people have ideas on how to create electricity and offered the Commission his idea to see a contest where people write down their ideas and there will be a committee to select the best idea. The prize would be to pay them to build a model for a concept. He thinks we have enough people here locally that can build almost anything. There may be some things that need to be farmed out, but in general, just about anything can be built locally.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY STAFF

 

Special Projects Coordinator Holen apologized for not turning on the recorder for the last worksession.

 

COMMENTS OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER

 

Councilmember Wythe had no comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

 

Chair Hogan said he will contact Mr. Scarpitta regarding his resignation.

 

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS

 

Commissioner Ravin thanked Chair Hogan for dealing with that potential vacancy. He said he is recruiting for the group.

 

Commissioner Erickson said she is recruiting as well. She asked Councilmember Wythe if she feels the Commission is on task.

 

Councilmember Wythe responded that she feels they are doing fine. She said she is getting some negative feedback from other Councilmembers but they don’t elaborate on any specifics. She thinks it will be good when they see some of the things the Commission is working on come to them as recommendations.

 

Commissioner Neece requested an advanced copy of the specifics for the Obama plan for the stimulus package if possible. That would assist them in knowing what might be coming up and what the can stimulate at this end.

 

ADJOURN
 
There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers. There is a worksession scheduled for January 29, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room.

 

 

                                                                       

MELISSA JACOBSEN, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

 

Approved: