City of Homer

Memorandum 08-128

TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Walt Wrede, City Manager
FROM: Anne Marie Holen, Special Projects Coordinator
DATE: September 2, 2008
SUBJECT: 2009-2014 CIP; FY 2010 Legislative Request

The City of Homer Capital Improvement Plan for 2009-2014 is ready in draft form for your review. First, a few notes:

· Nine proposed new City of Homer projects are presented separately. These projects will not be included in the CIP without specific approval by the City Council. The proposed new projects are:

PROJECT:	SUBMITTED BY:
Water Storage/Distribution Improvements	Public Works Director Carey Meyer
Sewer Treatment Plant – Bio-solids Treatment Improvements	Public Works Director Carey Meyer
Fishing Lagoon Improvements	Nicky Szarzi, AK Dept. of Fish & Game
Fire Engine 4 Refurbishment	Fire Dept. Chief Bob Painter
Brush/Wildland Firefighting Truck	Fire Dept. Chief Bob Painter
Fire Pump Testing Trailer	Fire Dept. Chief Bob Painter
Beluga Slough Trail Reconstruction	Planning Technician Julie Engebretsen
Ramp 3 Gangway and Approach Replacement	Port & Harbor Director Bryan Hawkins
Community Recreation/Multi-Use Center	Community Schools Coordinator Mike Illg

· Eight projects have been requested by non-profit organizations in the Homer area. Some of these were in the 2008-2013 CIP; others are new. I am waiting for Council direction before including any non-profit projects in the 2009-2014 CIP. Depending on the will of the Council, they can be included in the main CIP, as in past years; included in a separate section or Appendix after Council has reviewed each one; or left out entirely. The proposed non-profit projects are:

PROJECT:	SUBMITTED BY:
NEW: South Peninsula Hospital Back-up Water System	Derotha Ferraro, South Peninsula Hospital
NEW: Kevin Bell Arena Floor Upgrade	Cinda Eckert, Homer Hockey Association
NEW: Pratt Museum Renovation	Heather Beggs, Pratt Museum
NEW: Senior Independent Housing	Fred Lau, Homer Senior Citizens
Visitor Information Center Parking Lot	Tina Day, Homer Chamber of Commerce
Cottonwood Horse Park	Marian Beck, Kachemak Bay Equestrian Association
Haven House Greenhouse and Dog Runs	Peg Coleman, South Peninsula Haven House
Ohlson Mountain Ski Facility Improvements	Bob Shavelson, Kachemak Ski Club

· I am waiting for Council direction on whether to include State road projects in the main body of the City of Homer CIP, in a separate section or Appendix, or not at all. In this draft, the projects are within the main CIP as they have been in past years (under Roads and Trails). However, I have not attempted to include information about “schedule” or “need.” (Cost information has never been included for state road projects.)

Some of the state road projects are within Homer city limits and some are not, as shown below. One new project is proposed; the others were included in the 2008-2013 CIP.

PROJECT:	LOCATION:
NEW: Lake Street Reconstruction (proposed by Public Works Director)	Inside city limits
Homer Intersection Improvements	Inside city limits
Kachemak Drive Rehabilitation/Pathway	Inside city limits
Main Street Reconstruction/Intersection	Inside city limits
Pioneer Avenue Upgrade	Inside city limits
East End Road Rehabilitation–Mile 3.75 to Mile 12.2	Outside city limits
Sterling Highway Reconstruction–Anchor Point to Baycrest Hill	Mostly outside city limits
Sterling Highway Reconstruction at Cooper Landing	Outside city limits

· Several projects that were in the 2008-2013 CIP have been deleted from this draft:

PROJECT:	REASON:
Reber Trail	Funded through state grant and HART program
Engine 4 Replacement	Funded through state municipal energy grant
Water Treatment Plant	Funded through combination of state legislative appropriations and DEC loans
South Peninsula Hospital Helistop	Funded by SPH as add-alternate construction item
Williamsport–Pile Bay Road Rehabilitation	Funded through federal transportation earmarks

· Project “schedule” dates: During a meeting with the City Manager and Public Works Director, we tried to arrive at more realistic projected completion dates for the CIP projects, rather than showing every project scheduled for completion within six years. However, not all projects were considered and some questions remain. Please see my handwritten questions and notes throughout the draft CIP. I will add a “Later Years” column to the CIP project tables if the City Council agrees with this approach.

· Recommendations from City Commissions

The Planning Commission recommended the following CIP projects in priority order:
1. Water Treatment Plant Upgrade/Alternate Water Source
2. Deep Water Dock Expansion, Phase 1
3. Main Street Reconstruction
4. Homer Intersection Improvements
The following projects, in no particular order, are also important to the Commission: Town Center Infrastructure, East Boat Harbor, Firefighting Enhancement–Aerial Truck; Paving Freight Dock Road; Public Restrooms; Skyline Fire Station; Spit Trail Completion; Sterling Highway Reconstruction–Anchor Point to Baycrest Hill.

The Parks and Recreation Commission ranked their top eight projects as follows:
1. Karen Hornaday Park Drainage Improvements
2. Kachemak Drive Separated Pathway;
3. Jack Gist Park;
4. Mariner Park;
5. East Trunk Trail;
6. Homer Greenhouse;
7. Main Street Reconstruction
8. Homer Intersection Improvements

The Library Advisory Board ranked their top five projects as follows:
1. Aerial Fire Truck
2.  Homer Intersection Improvements
3. Public Restrooms–Downtown
4. Homer Greenhouse
5. Haven House

The Port and Harbor Commission ranked their top seven projects as follows:
1. Deep Water Dock Expansion, Phase 1
2. Harbor Float Replacement, Phase 1 with Ramp 3 Gangway and
Ramp 3 Approach Replacement added
3. Harbor Entrance Erosion Control
4. Pioneer Dock Fenders
5. Spit Trail Completion/Harbor Pathways
6. East Boat Harbor
7. Williamsport–Pile Bay Road

The Economic Development Commission ranked their CIP priorities as follows:
1. Alternative Water Source
2. Firefighting Enhancement–Aerial Truck
3. Paving Freight Dock Road
4. (tie): Main Street Reconstruction, Intersections Improvement, Kachemak Drive
Rehabilitation/Pathway, Williamsport–Pile Bay Road, Rescue Systems Upgrade, and
Bridge Creek Watershed Land Acquisition
5. Skyline Fire Station

· Reminder about State funding for water/sewer projects: The City receives 50 points in the DEC scoring system if the project has been identified as our number-one capital improvement priority; without the 50 points it is unlikely a project will score high enough to receive funding.

· Remaining Steps in 2009-2014 Capital Improvement Planning Process: The public hearing for the CIP is scheduled for the September 22 City Council meeting. Adoption of the CIP and the FY 2010 legislative priority list is scheduled for October 13.