City of Homer

Planning & Zoning           Telephone        (907) 235-3106

491 East Pioneer Avenue                      Fax                  (907) 235-3118

Homer, Alaska 99603-7645                 E-mail             Planning@ci.homer.ak.us

                                                            Web Site          www.ci.homer.ak.us

MEMORANDUM 07-123

 

TO:                  Mayor Hornaday and the Homer City Council

 

THRU:             Carey Meyer, Public Works Director, Tamara Hagerty, Parks Maintenance Coordinator

 

FROM:            Julie Engebretsen, Planning Technician

 

DATE:             July 10, 2007

 

SUBJ:              Resolution 07-82  Adoption of the new HART program

 

Introduction

In October, voters approved the extension of the Homer Accelerated Roads Program, and the inclusion of trail construction in the program. Staff worked with the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Transportation Advisory Committee for several months on this document. There are some changes in the roads program, and the trails section was added. Most of the trails section came from the Municipality of Anchorage April 1997 Areawide Trails Plan.

 

Summary of changes

  • The new HART program calls for 90% of revenues to be allocated to road projects, and 10% of annual revenues to be spent on trail projects. Accordingly, there will be separate accounting of roads and trails funds.

 

  • Road funding may be used to pay for new local roads, not just roads platted prior to the original HART program.

 

  • Trail funding may be used to construct trails.

 

  • New subdivisions may use HART funds to help construct connecting trails.

 

  • Road funds may be used in accordance with title 11.04.05. Basically, if a developer is building a road that is designated as an arterial, the developer is only required to build the minimum road width. The Council can choose to pay the developer the difference in cost to increase the road to arterial width. In the past, this option was available but no funding identified. This has been added to the HART program.

 

Parks and Recreation Commission concerns

The Commission asked that staff relay there concerns on the following issues.

  1. A design criteria manual is needed to implement the Homer Non-motorized Transportation and Trail Plan.
  2. They would like to see some simple footpaths; not everything should be built six feet wide.
  3. They have long-term concerns that the city is not able to maintain trails, and there is little winter maintenance. As routes for schoolchildren are constructed, this is a particular concern.

 

Staff comments

The HART program calls for roads and trails to be built to city standards. Road standards have been in place for many years but there are no corresponding trail standards except for sidewalks and paved separated pathways. This issue needs to be solved in the near future as proper trail construction is key to having lower maintenance costs. Staff strongly recommends that the Council fund a contract for the creation of a trail design criteria manual in the 2008 budget.

 

2007- 2008 HART Trail priority list

The purpose of this list is to identify a variety of projects that could be used to apply for grant funding, or for construction with HART funds in a one to three year timeframe. Having a range of projects that staff has already researched helps the city be more responsive to grant opportunities. Some grants are for small amounts of money, while others are intended for large projects. Second, by having a list that is available to the public and decision makers, it is clear what staff is doing, and what we are working toward in the near future as far as grant applications and project planning. Council approves all capitol projects, funding, and the acceptance of any grant funds.

 

This list is not prioritized. Ideally, the list will have one project benefiting school children, another for seniors or special needs populations (as suggested in the adopted Homer Non-Motorized Transportation and Trails Plan), one project large project that a lot of people will use/high public need, and lastly, a recreation oriented project (as opposed to day–to day pedestrian transportation within the city).

 

Top Priority:

  1. Senior Access Trail. Connecting the Senior Center to Pioneer Avenue.

 

Not prioritized:

  1. School trail from West Homer Elementary to Homer Middle School
    1. Phase one: W Homer El to Forest Glen Drive
    2. Phase two: Forest Glen to Homer Middle School
  2. Beluga Slough Trail.  Rebuild and widen the Beluga Slough boardwalk.

4.      Fairview to Reber Trail. Construct 2500 feet of trail from the current end of Fairview Avenue, across city property to connect to Reber and West Hill

 

 

Staff Recommendation: Council adopt the resolution, enacting the new HART program, and during the 2008 budget process, include funds for a trail design criteria manual for trail construction standards.