City of Homer

Port / Harbor Telephone (907) 235-3160

4350 Homer Spit Road Fax (907) 235-3152

Homer, Alaska 99603-8005 E-mail port@ci.homer.ak.us

Web Site http://port.ci.homer.ak.us

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MEMORANDUM 09-68

TO: HOMER CITY COUNCIL AND WALT WREDE, CITY MANAGER

FROM: PORT & HARBOR DIRECTOR BRYAN HAWKINS

DATE: MAY 15, 2009

RE: POLICY CHANGE REGARDING UNDERWAY POLICY

Background

Ordinance 09-24was introduced at the May 11, 2009 Homer City Council Meeting. The policy was amended by Council as follows:

On at least two days in each calendar year, separated by at least three months, a vessel moored in the Homer Harbor shall depart under its own power from the Homer harbor and all port facilities and remain outside the Homer harbor and all port facilities for at least 24 consecutive hours. The moorage charge for a vessel that fails to comply with this requirement shall be increased by 50% commencing at the time the vessel fails to comply and continuing during the period of non-compliance.

The policy change has undergone many revisions since its inception last September. It is not unreasonable that vessels moored in the Homer harbor are required to be maintained in a seaworthy condition and that vessel owners prove this by untying and getting underway under their own power twice a year. Vessels that are allowed to fall into a state of disrepair are the future derelict/abandoned vessels.

The following is a revision of Ordinance 09-24 that addresses these goals and the concerns of the public:

On at least two days in each calendar year, separated by at least three months, a vessel moored in the Homer Harbor shall depart under its own power from the Homer harbor AND ALL PORT FACILITIES and remain outside the Homer harbor and all port facilities at least 24 hours and travel beyond the one quarter mile turning basin of the Pioneer and Deep Water Docks before returning under the vessel’s own power to the Homer Harbor. The moorage charge for a vessel that fails to comply with this requirement shall be increased by 50% commencing at the time the vessel fails to comply and continuing during the period of non-compliance.

Recommendation

Please review the revised policy and amend accordingly.

U;office/MEMO 2009/MEMO WW Underway revision