MEMORANDUM 08-18

TO: Mayor Hornaday and Homer City Council

FROM: Walt Wrede

DATE: February 6, 2008

SUBJECT: Conceptual Approval, City Hall, Town Square, Road Locations

The GC/CM Team has conducted a number of public meetings and open houses over the past few months in order to gather public input on the design and location of proposed new facilities in the Town Center. It has also taken other steps to inform and solicit comments from the community. Two separate Council appointed committees have worked very hard beginning early last summer to select a location for the new City Hall, the Town Square, the access roads, and other associated facilities and improvements.

There is now general agreement among the interested and participating parties regarding the exact location of the City Hall, Town Square, and primary access roads. The Council has been party to and briefed on these discussions. However, to date, it has not formally approved the location of these facilities.

Formal conceptual approval by the Council is necessary for a variety of reasons. For example, unless we know that the Council approves of the proposed locations of these facilities, it is difficult to proceed with preparation of the preliminary plat, further design work, geotechnical work, grant writing, fund raising, and land trades.

My goal at this meeting is to have a public discussion with the Council about the proposed layout of facilities in the Town Center and to obtain formal conceptual approval if the Council is prepared to do that. A draft preliminary plat and site plan will be presented at the meeting for discussion.

RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a motion giving conceptual approval to the proposed location of the City Hall, Town Square, and access roads as presented at the February 11, 2008 meeting. Make the maps part of the record and incorporated in this Memorandum.