M E M O R A N D U M 03-06

TO: MAYOR AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

FROM: COUNCILMAN DOUG STARK

DATE: 20 JANUARY 2003

SUBJ: LIBRARY SITE SELECTION - ACCOMPANIES MANAGER’S 3 DECEMBER 2002 MEMO

The Manager’s Memo omitted the value of City-owned land. Including this data (which is in an appendix to his memo), the costs are as follows:

1. Intermediate School $3,778,000

2. Town Square 4,358,000

3. Hazel/Heath 3,744,000

4. Existing Library 4,391,000

5. Petro Marine North 3,950,000

which are all somewhat comparable.

Someone once said the three most important factors in commercial property are location, location, location. In our case that means Town Square, which are sites two and five, which are shown on page two of the Manager’s memo. The Pooopdeck Platt Park at the northeast corner of Town Square is basically a reality. Hopefully the 4.7 acres UAA parcel at the northwest corner will come into City ownership as part of the sale of Old City Hall to UAA.

If Site 2 is selected for the Library, New City Hall could go on the 4.7 acres. If Site 5 is selected, New City Hall could go on either Site 2 or the 4.7 acres. In either event parking for both facilities could be provided on the 4.7 acres and Town Square could be a pedestrian area. If Site 5 is selected for the Library, parking could be provided at its north end (as well as on the 4.7 acres) for both the Library and the pedestrian Town Square.

In any event, talks with the owner of the presently designed CIRI parcel at the south end of Town Square should commence following Council designation of Town Square and Library site selection for a mutually beneficial planning and use of the northerly section of the CIRI parcel. We should also start selling excess City property both for the income and to get it back on the tax rolls.

RECOMMENDATION: Select sites 2 or 5 for the Library.