Session 10-04, a Regular Meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Commission was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Vice Chair Ravin on July 13, 2010 at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

PRESENT: COMMISSIONER DAUPHINAIS, ERICKSON (arrived at 6:08), NEECE, RAVIN, SIMPSON

ABSENT: COMMISSIONER HOPPE, FAULKNER

COUNCILMEMBER: WYTHE

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. Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2010

The minutes were approved by consensus of the Commission.

VISITORS

There were no visitors scheduled.

STAFF AND COUNCIL REPORT

Special Projects Coordinator Holen reported that she has been working on the CEDS update and has made quite a lot of progress. She has been running pieces of it by people in town who are more knowledgeable in specific areas like health care and so forth to get further input. She will bring it to the August meeting.

Commissioner Simpson commented that he has been trying to compile information from communities that he is familiar with and hopes to bring information regarding what works in those communities and what doesn’t.

Councilmember Wythe had no comment.

PUBLIC HEARING

There were no items for public hearing.

PENDING BUSINESS

A. Homer Spit Comprehensive Plan

The Commission, City Planner Abboud, and Councilmember Wythe discussed conditional use permits in relation to financing for leases on the spit.

1.1 Zone-redefine and enforce. Specifically Fish Dock Road to make the zoning where conditional use permit are over and above what is really going on.

1.2 City needs to build the pilings and deck and make it ready for leasing. Remove the “develop a program on landscaping on the spit”, as the harsh weather conditions and $ amount aren’t necessarily conducive to each other.

1.3 Showers on the Spit. Spit Town Square/nonprofit by Pier 1, and summer benches along the biking trail.

1.4 Access to the end of the Spit by road is priority over habitat. Use the dredges to increase the spit.

RAVIN/NEECE MOVED TO INCORPORATE 1.1 THROUGH 1.4 TO THE COMP PLAN.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

They talked about section 3 recommendations 1-7 and the importance of improvements at the Deep Water Dock and the area around it not only for cruise ships but also for people that use the space on a regular basis.

Section 3 Deep Water Dock Development:

1. Cruise ship dollars to fix the area

2. Recognize different types of vessels using the dock and what do we need to do to stage that area.

a. Fueling

b. Maintenance on vessels

c. Staging – Parking

3. Bathroom/Guard shack/covered waiting area

4. Capital Improvement Plan

5. Walking boardwalk around the perimeter of the harbor

6. Finish Dock expansion

7. Fix incoming freight issues

Regarding residential uses if it is going to be allowed then a percentage should be defined. It was noted in the past there has been no residential allowed due to inadequate evacuation capability in the event of an earthquake or tsunami. Sleeping quarters are needed for security is something else.

RAVIN/SIMPSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND INCORPORATING A SPECIFIC ALLOWANCE FOR MAINTENANCE, SECURITY, AND CREW QUARTERS INTO COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONING ON THE SPIT.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

DAUPHINAIS/RAVIN MOVED THAT WE TAKE SECTION 3, 1-7 FROM THE EDC NOTES AND INCORPORATE AND FORWARD AS RECOMMENDATION TO PLANNING.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

B. City of Homer Capital Improvement Plan

Chair Erickson proposed incorporating 3 new projects regarding the Deep Water Dock:

· A guard house that incorporates restrooms and a covered area so people can get out of the weather.

· Paving the staging area, like it is at the Pioneer Dock.

· East Side of Deep Water Dock Trail Improvements.

She noted that the staging area where the cruise ships come in is unstable as it is not level, and it needs to be marked so people know where to go. Health and safety are important. We are doing okay with what we have, but there could be more than 20 cruise ship visits next year. Point was raised that it is not only necessary for cruise ships but others that come into the area as well. There was discussion of these recommendations being included as one project and Commissioner Faulkner’s suggestion of a path be incorporated into the project.

RAVIN/NEECE MOVED TO ADD THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A NEW CIP ELEMENT.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

The Commissioner’s listed each of their top five CIP recommendations and Special Projects Coordinator Holen said she would coordinate them into a list of recommendations to forward to City Council.

There as discussion that there are some cities, Seward for example, that get a lot of money every year from the State’s budget. Homer has projects that would justify more money. It is another example of why we need to develop a system or a group that is more proactive like the SEDA program.

NEW BUSINESS

No New Business Items were scheduled.

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

A. Items of possible interest from recent City Council meeting packets

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

COMMENTS OF CITY STAFF

There were no staff comments.

COMMENTS OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER

Councilmember Wythe advised the Commission that the City Council will be taking the Lease Policy up again in August. She believes there are two or three more worksessions to review the document before taking any action.

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

Chair Erickson thanked everyone for coming tonight.

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS

Commissioner Simpson said he will be absent at the next meeting. If the Commission has any questions about a city with similar demographics on the east coast he will be is willing to talk to people in Virginia Beach to see what is and is not working for their city.

Commissioner Neece said he will be working next week and then in Barrow so he may not be available for the next meeting. He said he may be able to call in.

Commissioner Ravin and Dauphinais had no comment.

ADJOURN

There being no more business to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 7:19 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 10, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers.

MELISSA JACOBSEN, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

Approved: