Memorandum No. 06-112

To: Mayor & Council

From: Anne Marie Holen, Special Projects Coordinator
Staff to Economic Development Commission
Through: Walt Wrede, City Manager

Date: June 21, 2006

Re: Proposal for Second Fishing Lagoon in the Vicinity of Mariner Park

At its June 13 meeting, the Economic Development Commission (EDC) discussed under “New Business” Memorandum 06-87 from Councilmember Shadle requesting Economic Development Advisory Commission and public advisory input on the concept of a second fishing lagoon located in the Mariner Park area. At its May 22 meeting, the Homer City Council approved a recommendation to forward the concept to the Homer Economic Development Commission for input, including the validity and feasibility of the proposed project.

After some discussion, the EDC approved a motion recommending that the City Council study the issue further to determine the “highest and best use” of the area. As staff to the Commission, I was asked to investigate some of the issues involved with development at Mariner Park and bring this information back to the Commission at its next meeting (July 11). That report is nearly complete, but Commission members have not had a chance to review it.

My goal is to identify some of the issues involved, provide background information (brief synopsis), and point out questions that should be considered before a decision is made to pursue the “fishing hole” idea further. Topics in the 6-page draft report include:

· Mariner Park history

· Current land ownership

· Zoning/Comprehensive Plan issues

· Clean Water Act/Corps of Engineers issues

· Coastal Management issues

· Critical Habitat issues

· Other habitat issues

· Airport issues

· Proposed conservation easement

· Funding/availability of smolt for fishing lagoon

· Costs/benefits to the community of a second fishing lagoon

· Existing “master plan” for Mariner Park

· “Highest and best use” concept

My primary sources in the investigation so far are the “Homer Mariner Park Habitat Restoration Project Final Report” prepared by Dames & Moore, Inc. in May 2000 as well as brief phone conversations with Dave Erikson (primary author of the report), Eileen Bechtol (former City Planner), Barb Seaman (director of Kachemak Heritage Land Trust), and Nicky Szarzi (of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game).

The Dames & Moore study was commissioned by the City of Homer and funded with a grant from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. It looked at nine possible actions for restoring habitat at Mariner Park while enhancing the recreational use of the area in an environmentally compatible manner. The “preferred alternative” (Alternative 1) was preservation through conservation easements on City-owned land. (Note: While Dames & Moore determined that almost all of the Mariner Park area is City-owned, current Kenai Peninsula Borough maps show that most of the area is owned by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. I have not yet determined who is right.)

Alternative 2 was the “No Action” alternative. The remaining seven alternatives were “considered but not carried forward” either because of stated opposition of the FAA to enhancing habitats which would potentially attract birds, or because of engineering constraints and uncertainties.

The Dames & Moore study noted that any project involving placement of dredged or fill materials in Mariner Park would require a Corps of Engineers “404” permit, and that through a Memorandum of Understanding with the FAA in regard to the FAA’s “Advisory Circular on Hazardous Wildlife Attractants on or near Airports,” the Corps will defer to the FAA’s judgment and not issue permits if FAA objects. (Note: In regard to a proposal in the 1980s to develop a large campground at Mariner Park, the Corps of Engineers denied the City a permit application, in part due to concerns raised by community members.)

Following completion of a Dames & Moore draft report in 1999, the FAA issued a letter stating the agency would have no objections to Alternative 1 (conservation easement). The Homer City Council subsequently passed Resolution 00-11 “in support of Alternative 1 of the Mariner Park Restoration Environmental Assessment, the preferred alternative.” However, the proposed conservation easement was never finalized, due in part to questions regarding ownership of the land involved (as described by Eileen Bechtol and Barb Seaman).

In regard to the feasibility of developing a second “fishing hole,” the only information I have so far (other than the need to obtain permits and approval from various agencies) is a statement from Nicky Szarzi of Alaska Fish & Game, who said “There probably aren’t going to be a lot of extra smolt to put there unless local citizens really agitate for it.” According to Szarzi, efforts by Fish & Game to obtain more “free fish” for Homer are primarily aimed at stocking the existing fishing hole for both early and late runs of salmon.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve the recommendation of the Economic Development Commission to study the issue further to determine the “highest and best use” of Mariner Park for long-term community benefit. Seek input from the Parks and Recreation Commission on the same topic. Do not pursue development of a second fishing hole at Mariner Park until the draft staff report is completed and can be considered by commissions and Council.