Session 05-35, a Special Meeting of the Homer City Council
was called to order at
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: HEIMBUCH, MCLAY, NOVAK, STARK, WYTHE
STAFF: DEPUTY CITY CLERK JOHNSON
CITY MANAGER WREDE
ACTING FINANCE DIRECTOR VAUGHN
PORT & HARBOR DIRECTOR DEAN
LIBRARY DIRECTOR HILL
FIRE CHIEF PAINTER
ABSENT: SHADLE (teleconferencing failed/excused)
Department Heads may be called upon from time to time to participate via
teleconference.
Council met for a Worksession from
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.
The Community Band appeared to sing Christmas songs and asked the City Council for their continued support for the Community Schools program.
VISITORS
A. Derotha
Ferraro Chamber Annual Report (5 minutes)
The
Chamber Annual Report is continued to the regular meeting of
B. Mike Illg,
Mike Illg, Community Schools coordinator, thanked the Mayor and Council
for allowing him to speak on behalf of Community Schools. He also thanked the band, stating it was a
metaphor of the essence of Community Schools.
Each individual represents the different sounds of the instrument they play
and when combined together they create a living symphony emitting the joy of
the human spirit. Community Schools is
important and necessary for Homer as it offers a multi-level of services for
Homer. Mr. Illg
displayed a chart that included some of the courses offered and the partners
that make the programs possible. He reported
last year there were 213 different programs with over 6,000 youth and adult
participants and 288 volunteers that provided 3,302 hours of their
services. Community Schools provides the
opportunity to learn, socialize, compete, create, teach and volunteer with life-long
learning, recreation and relief from cabin fever. Additionally partnerships such as Pop Warner,
Little League, Soccer Association, Homer Softball
Association could not function without Community Schools for the use of the
fields and facilities. Heat, water,
electricity and custodial services are provided at no cost to the city. Mr. Illg supports maintaining
the relationship with the school district and the borough to continue
communication and coordination for all groups.
He asked the Council to recognize the true value of Community Schools
and asked that the city take on the program.
C. Ken Satre, Homer Hockey Association. (5 minutes)
Ken Satre, Homer Hockey
Association (HHA), thanked the Mayor and City Council for a line item in the
City’s budget. He explained the HHA is
in the final stages of purchasing the Homer Ice Rink from Homer Spit Properties
and final agreements may be made within the next few days. Mr. Satre provided
a handout of the costs the HHA expects to incur for the Arctic Winter Games
curling venue. He said the association
has worked very hard thus far and looks for any support from the city.
Kevin Bell, HHA, said there are currently 140
children ages 4 to 17 in the youth hockey program. There are 65 adult men and women players, 48
children in the learn- to-skate program and 15 in figure skating. At each public skating session there are 40
to 50 skaters. High school hockey
practices daily, with nine more home games remaining. Recent special events included the hosting of
Mariner Midnight Madness, where the whole high school was invited for public
skating between
Councilmember Heimbuch
said the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) budgets between
$22,000 and $23,000 for maintenance services for three schools within the
borough. He asked if anyone from the HHA
had approached the KPBSD about supplying maintenance. Mr. Satre answered
that the KPBSD had not been contacted as funding would be highly unlikely since
the hockey rink is not part of the school or borough facilities. Mayor Hornaday
commented both the Soldotna and Kenai rinks are operated by the city. Mr. Satre said the
HHA is receiving a $4,500 stipend for ice time from the KPBSD, the same amount Soldotna,
Skyview and Kenai are getting to purchase ice for
their high school program. Mayor Hornaday suggested the HHA may wish to inquire of the
maintenance funds, as neither rink in Soldotna or Kenai are owned by the KPBSD
or the Borough.
Deb Germano, Kenai
Peninsula Borough Assembly Member, said the Borough, rather than the KPBSD
supports maintenance services on three ice rinks on school properties in the
Rick Pita, manager of the Homer Ice Rink, reported the
costs of operating the rink are exceeding the income. Hosting the Arctic Winter Games will create a
financial hardship as revenue will be lost for two weeks while the daily operation
costs will remain the same.
Councilmember Wythe asked Mr. Pita if the Arctic
Winter Games provides compensation for use of the rink. Mr. Pita replied there is no contribution as
it is considered in-kind service. There
will be lost dues from user groups renting the ice at $150.00 per hour during
the two weeks of games.
Councilmember Heimbuch
asked Mr. Pita if any items listed for improvements were necessary prior to the
Arctic Winter Games. Mr. Pita said the
rink operates on minimal rubber flooring, shortening the ice rink. There are five phases of flooring and two
have been completed to include locker rooms and the main hallway. The two sets of bleachers at the end of the
rink limit visibility of the rink as there is no seating on the sides.
PUBLIC HEARING(S)
A. Ordinance
05-62, Of the City Council of Homer, Appropriating Funds
for the Calendar Year 2006 for the General Fund, the Water - Sewer fund, the
Port/Harbor Fund, Debt Funds, and Capital Reserve Funds (Conditional Expenditures).
City Manager. (First
Public Hearing only on
Ordinance and Resolutions. No Action until
A. 1. Resolution
05-121, Of the City Council of the City of Homer, Alaska Amending
the City of Homer Fee Schedule Regarding the Water Rates. City
Manager. Follows with Budget.
A. 2. Resolution
05-122 , Of the City Council of the City of Homer, Alaska Amending
the City of Homer Fee Schedule Regarding the Sewer Rates. City
Manager. Follows with Budget.
A.
3. Resolution
05-123 , Of the City Council of Homer,
A. 4. Resolution
05-124 , Of the City Council of Homer, Alaska Extending the City
Attorney Contract with Perkins Coie for the Period of
January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006 in the amount of $7,650.00 per Month
for Forty Five Hours and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute the Contract. City Attorney Contract. Mayor. Follows with Budget.
A.5. Resolution 05-125,
Of the City Council Amending the City of
Lloyd Moore, CEO of Moore and Moore Services,
said he was being unfairly charged for bulk water. Last year there was a premium added to water
and this year an extreme premium is to be charged. Mr. Moore told the Council he cannot afford
to pay the price for water anymore and is taking his $350,000 and building his own
facility. Next year the City will need
to come up with $350,000 from somewhere else.
Another upsetting thing Mr. Moore found out is that the City of
Eric Rozeboom supports Community Schools and believes it is a big mistake to drop such an important organization. He said it is obvious the community finds this program important.
Nancy Lord, city resident and Chair of the LAB (Library Advisory Board), said she was speaking for herself. She sympathizes with the City Council in the hard choices they have to make. The new library will be opening halfway through next year and it is five times the size of the current library. Typically usage doubles with a new library opening. The library budget is modest in its increases, as only .4% of a person has been requested. Ms. Lord asked the Council to support the budget and the Library Director when they move into the new building. She asked that the LAB be advised if they have ideas to discuss.
Debbie Poore, city resident, supports the
continuation of Community Schools. When
the
Leslie Slater, city resident and member of the Community Band, supports Community Schools which she has used for a number of years. It touches a broad spectrum across the community and keeps kids busy and opens their horizons. Ms. Slater supports HHA also as it is valuable to all ages and helps a person develop into a team player. It is her hope the needed support is an interim measure, with projected earnings making it self sufficient. Ms. Slater invited the City Council to visit the ice rink on a Saturday night for some of the legends.
Claudia Haines, city resident and coordinator for
Friends of the Homer Library, said the Friends and the City of
Hillary Hollenbeck, representing
Michael Hawfield,
member of the LAB, lives on the
Paul McCartt is in favor of Community Schools and thinks there is a need for it. As a retired school administrator he has been attending Community Schools and has learned as much in one class as he has in college classes. He said it is the best community school he has witnessed in his career and encouraged the City Council to visit Community Schools as they would be proud of the program.
Deb Germano, city
resident, commented that Homer Community Schools has supported itself, whereas
those programs in the
Sue Mauger, member of the LAB, thanked the Council for their hard work on the budget. She urged the Council to remember the efforts of the capital campaign and volunteer time of library supporters to get support for the 1% sales tax increase. People were told the increase in sales tax would allow the new library to meet its full potential. Ms. Mauger said now is the time those people’s vote should be honored.
Vicki Lowe, HHS teacher for seven years, said there is a need and desire to support new buildings and facilities. If the Community Schools program is not funded the doors will be locked and the existing building will be vacant.
Joe Randolph supports Community Schools. In the long-term view Homer is a magnet for bringing high quality jobs. Employers look for community schools when choosing a community and Homer’s image is improved to attract large corporations with high quality jobs.
COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE
There were no comments.
COMMENTS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney Tans was not present.
COMMENTS OF THE CITY CLERK
Deputy City Clerk Johnson had no comments.
COMMENTS OF THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Wrede had no comments.
COMMENTS OF THE MAYOR
Mayor Hornaday had no
comments.
COMMENTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember McLay said Community Schools is on a lot of people’s hearts and it is good to hear the comments. The City Council is not trying to get rid of Community Schools; they were told if something is not done to take up the extra cost of Community Schools it may not exist. Mr. McLay said the Council is pretty determined to accomplish Community Schools, as they agree the program is important. He urged the public to provide direction how to do it right without paying another group. There is only so much money to spend and if more money is needed on an unplanned project there may be less for another. He asked the audience to tell the Council what is not important so they can put that one aside.
Mayor Hornaday commented he remembers when Community Schools started and the school district administrator commented that Homer Community Schools was successful because Homer is a community.
Councilmember Wythe commented nobody forgets the time and effort the library put in helping with the sales tax increase. In the big picture the library was a small portion of the need for the sales tax increase. Funds from the sales tax increase will fund PERS increases of $1M over the next two years, the larger library building, pay for the loan required to build the library, and the general operating expenses that are increasing each year. While the Council recognizes the time the library contributed to the effort, the fiscal responsibility to employees must also be recognized. The current funding to support new employees will be gone and in 18 months those people would be laid off. That is not a fiscally responsible position for the City to be placed in.
ADJOURNMENT/NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR
_________________________________
JO JOHNSON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
Approved: ________________________