CITY
OF HOMER
MEMORANDUM 08-116
To: Mayor
and Council
Through: Walt Wrede, City Manager
From: Anne Marie Holen, Special
Projects Coordinator
Staff to Economic
Development Advisory Commission
Date:
Subject: EDC Bylaws revision
The
Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDC) requests that the Homer City
Council approve proposed amendments to the EDC bylaws. The initial motivation
for revising the bylaws was to allow the appointment of a non-voting student
member and also allow unscheduled visitors (e.g., local business owners) to air
their ideas or concerns at the beginning of a meeting instead of having to wait
until the very end to speak to a topic not on the agenda. In the process of
examining the bylaws as currently written, other opportunities for improvement
were noted.
At
first glance it may look like the Commission is proposing a complete overhaul
of the bylaws. However, most of the “new” language is not really new and most
of the “deleted” language was not really deleted. Rather, the organization and
flow of information was changed and wording was streamlined to be easier to
read and understand.
Commission
members and I were assisted in our efforts by Julie Engebretsen (staff to the
Parks and Recreation Commission) and by
Substantive changes
consist of the following:
·
New language
specifies that the City Council may appoint a City Council member and student
representative to the EDC as non-voting members.
·
New language
states that the Mayor, City Manager, and/or City Planner may participate as
ex-officio non-voting members.
·
Added to “duties
and responsibilities” is that the EDC will review recommendations of the Planning
Commission “to ensure a business-friendly environment in Homer.”
·
The Commission is
no longer specifically tasked with providing a representative to the Kenai
Peninsula Economic Development District or with supervising and monitoring the
implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.
·
New language
allows individual commissioners and staff to put items on the agenda (prior to
packet deadline), without requiring approval of the Chair.
·
New language
refers to “public forums” as one type of meeting (in addition to regular
meetings, special meetings, and worksessions).
·
New language
allows the Chair, with concurrence of the body, to adjust speaking time limits
during Public Comment, Staff and Committee Reports, etc.
·
New language
refers to “scheduled” and “unscheduled” visitors, thereby allowing anyone to
address the Commission regarding an economic development issue (whether it’s on
the agenda or not) under “Visitors.” A distinction is made in the time limit:
Invited speakers are allowed up to 20 minutes; unscheduled visitors are allowed
5 minutes (unless the Chair adjusts the time limits with concurrence of the
body).
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution 08-___ amending the bylaws of the Economic Development
Advisory Commission.