Session 01-09, a Special Meeting of the Homer City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Cushing at the Homer City Hall Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: CUE, FENSKE, LADD, MARQUARDT, YOURKOWSKI.

STAFF: CITY MANAGER DRATHMAN

CITY CLERK CALHOUN

ACCT. SUPERVISOR MACK

ACCT. TECH II EARLS

FINANCE DIRECTOR BAUGH

PORT/HARBOR ABBOTT

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MEYER

ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER: KRANICH (excused)

AGENDA APPROVAL

(Addition of items to or removing items from the agenda will be by unanimous consent of the Council. HCC 1.24.040.)

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Council.

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

There were no public comments.

RESOLUTIONS

A.. Resolution 01-28, Of the City Council of Homer, Alaska Awarding the Bid for the Repair and Renovations to the Small Boat Harbor to the firm of Harris Sand and Gravel of Valdez, Alaska in the amount of $3,660,274.00 and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Appropriate Documents. Public Works. City Clerk.

Memorandum from the City Manager as backup.

CUE/FENSKE - MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 01-28.

Council's discussion included the additive alternate information. Harris Sand and Gravel's base bid is $2,841,274.00. The City Manager recommends that additive alternates 1, 2 and 5 be included for the total award of $3,660,274.

Additive Alternate #1 - Boat Grid, bid $210,000.00

Additive Alternate #2 - New FF Float, bid $306,000.00

Additive Alternate #3 - Multiple Location Water/Electrical EE Float, bid $114,000.00

Additive Alternate #4 - Additional Float System Floatation, bid $56,255.00

Additive Alternate $5 - System 5 Float Improvements, bid $303,000.00.

The Engineer's Estimate on the base bid was $3,198,520.00.

The City Manager requested that the Council be prepared to allocate $208,314 from the General Fund through an Ordinance at a future Council meeting.

Public Works Director Meyer elucidated the bidding process. He expressed his opinion that Alternate #3 could be awarded at a later date to a sub contractor for a better price than Harris Sand and Gravel, that Alternate #4 is of lower priority and that Alternates #3 and #4 are stand alone projects. Alternates #1, #2 and #5 require some piling and work that really should be done at the same time as the main project. Mr. Meyer stated that Alternate #1, the Boat Grid, is the top priority.

City Manager Drathman stated that the electrical work to System 5 will be the laying of the conduit. He reported on negotiating with HEA to get into the electrical distribution work in the harbor, another reason for not doing Alternate #3. at this time. He suggested that if Council deems it necessary to amend to delete an alternate that, at least, Alternates #1 and #5 be awarded.

There was a general discussion regarding the additive alternates, engineer's estimate and the differences in the six bids.

Councilmember Yourkowski inquired about the possibility of putting in the main walkway for FF float and leaving off the finger portion of the FF float construction, and how much would be saved by doing that. Councilmember Yourkowski suggested that the savings could be used to put in the Planning Budget and that the fingers could be added later. He noted that this FF float could be used for transient moorage, therefore there would still be revenue.

Public Works Director Meyer advised that Alternate # 2 has three parts at approximately $100,000 each, therefore, the walkway would cost approximately $200,000. A piling is a third of the cost, the main float is a third of the cost and the fingers are a third of the cost. He stated that the ball park savings would be $100,000.00.

Port/Harbor Director Abbott voiced his concern with not including the fingers and the importance of retiring the waiting list, which require that the fingers be constructed.

City Manager Drathman emphasized that doing the entire Alternate #2 is a wise thing to do while the contractor is here. He noted that without putting in the slips/fingers revenues of about $23,000 a year will be lost. He further clarified that the project money is for the Small Boat Harbor project and not for Planning. The General Fund money will enable the City to pay for a float that makes more sense, which is the logic in using General Fund money. He noted that if there is room for larger vessels they will come, as some of the larger vessel owners have stated.

Further discussion ensued regarding FF float, and 15 year amortization/pay back of the $208,000.00. Also noted was that the tax revenues and other economic impacts will be realized immediately.

City Manager Drathman assured the Council that they will be dealing with planning functions.

VOTE: YES: FENSKE, LADD, YOURKOWSKI, MARQUARDT, CUE.

Motion carried.

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

There were no audience comments.

COMMENTS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY

City Attorney Tans was not present.

COMMENTS OF THE CITY CLERK

City Clerk Calhoun had no comment.

COMMENTS OF THE CITY MANAGER

City Manager Drathman commented on a document that he had handed out from the Department of Commerce wherein it is noted that they have reversed their position and will now fully fund the Dock project ⁽¹⁾. He commended the Finance Director, Accounting Supervisor and everyone that worked so hard on obtaining the funding on this project. Mr. Drathman emphasized that he believes that the City is now back on course and now has every dime that is needed for this project.

COMMENTS OF THE MAYOR

Mayor Cushing commented on the UAA graduation Wednesday night and that he and Carol Swartz, Director of Kachemak Bay Campus, are working on making arrangements for any of the Councilmembers that want to meet with the UAA President. He confirmed that the Chancellor is also coming to Homer. He advised that Ed Rasmussen will also be in town and meeting with some non profits on Friday. He advised that some of the Councilmembers may be getting calls from the non profits. He encouraged the Council to speak well to the non profits and the work that they do.

City Manager Drathman interjected, as a reminder, that the EDD Forum is Tuesday, May 8th at the Old Intermediate School and that Sheri Hobbs would be getting out the agenda in the next day or so. He thanked Councilmember Ladd, Principal of West Homer Elementary, for allowing the use of the school chairs and tables.

Mayor Cushing voiced support for Councilmember Yourkowski's concerns about Planning and that he still wants to give the new City Planner a chance to get his feet on the ground, see where things are going and to ascertain funding needs within the next few months.

COMMENTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Yourkowski reminded the City Manager that the Council all heard him say that something was going to come forward to them regarding the Planning Department, which is good. He advised that he will not be at the next regular Council meeting.

City Manager Drathman responded that the Council will not be pleading for the money to spend on planning soon, and may be pleading the other way.

Councilmember Ladd thanked Carey Meyer, Dean Baugh and Bill Abbott for all their hard work on the harbor and that it is appreciated. He inquired of the Mayor the status of appointments for the Steep Slope Task Force.

Mayor Cushing advised that he is working on this and plans to make phone calls by next week. He stated that if Councilmember Ladd has any suggestions to please forward these to him.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Council the meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 14, 2001. A Committee of the Whole is scheduled for May 14, 2001 at 4 p.m.

_____________________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

APPROVED: _________________________

1. EDA Grant Award, Dock Demolition and Pile Purchases. $1.3 million. Dock also known as Kachemak Bay Multi Purpose Ocean Dock Project and/or Pioneer Dock.