M E M O R A N D U M 06-08

TO: MAYOR HORNADAY AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

FROM: COUNCILMAN DOUG STARK

DATE: COUNCIL MEETING OF 9 JANUARY 2006

SUBJECT: AML SUMMER MEETING, ATTENDANCE AT JUNEAU MEETING 24TH

At the 24-25 January Alaska Municipal League Board Meeting in Juneau we will be selecting the location for the AML summer meeting. Last year it was in Skagway and Sandy and I elected not to go because we felt that it was a poor location because of the time and expense to get there which would reduce the number of people who would attend. 70 people attended.

The candidates this year are Bethel, Denali Borough, Galena, Homer, and Wrangell. My estimate is that we would have 125 people with an economic impact on Homer of $24,000, plus longer lasting positive impacts.

I plan to cobble together materials to take to the meeting on the 24th. If we win, I would presume that the main City cost would be to host a reception, which would actually cost less than the money saved in transportation and lodging costs for Homer people to go to another location.

My plan has been to not ask the City for funds to attend AML Board meetings only, as it seems to me that the benefit to Homer taxpayers is indirect. For this meeting, though, the benefit is more direct, as I think we can get the nod for the summer meeting. I therefore am asking for the normal reimbursement, which I estimate at around $650. We also plan to do lobbying while in Juneau.

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve Councilman Stark's expenses to attend AML Board Meeting in Juneau 24-25 January.

Fiscal Note: about $650