Session 03-03 a Special Meeting of the Homer City Council was called to order at 3:02 p.m. by Mayor Jack 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: BECK, FENSKE, KRANICH, LADD, STARK, YOURKOWSKI.

HIRING COMMITTEE

COMMUNITY MEMBERS: NON PROFITS REPRESENTATIVE CASTNER

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REP. DYE.

STAFF: INTERIM CITY MANAGER BAUGH

CHIEF OF POLICE ROBL

CITY CLERK CALHOUN

LIBRARY DIRECTOR HILL

PERSONNEL OFFICER HOBBS

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MEYER

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 with a brief discussion of the process and with the request of the Mayor to do the ballot first and then conduct the Executive Session if the Council deems it necessary.

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

Larry Slone commented that he had attended the interviews and that he believed any of the three applicants, Shealy, Wrede and Yoder would do a good job for the City of Homer. He voiced his preference for Walt E. Wrede. He noted that Mr. Wrede was able to be in position in ten days.

Mary Griswold applauded the Council for the time and effort that they put into the hiring process. She encouraged the Council to hire Walt E. Wrede.

NEW BUSINESS

B. Balloting process at the Mayor's Direction

FENSKE/BECK - MOVED TO CAST THE FIRST BALLOT FOR THE CITY MANAGER POSITION.

The Hiring Committee, Councilmembers and two community members, commented on their impressions and preferences regarding the candidates.

VOTE: YES: NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

Ballots were cast and the City Clerk tallied the ballots: Report: 8 for Walt E. Wrede and one for Phil Shealy.

A. Memorandum 03-13, from City Clerk, Re: Request for Executive Session pursuant to AS 44.62.310(c)(2), Re: City Manager applicant selection.

Died for lack of a motion.

RESOLUTIONS

A. Resolution 03-18, Of the Homer City Council to Offer the Office of City Manager to ___________ and Authorizes the Mayor to Negotiate a Contract. Mayor. Clerk.

FENSKE/LADD - MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 03-18 BY READING OF TITLE.

FENSKE/KRANICH - MOVED TO AMEND RESOLUTION 03-18 TO INSERT THE NAME WALT E. WREDE, IN THE TWO PLACES IN THE RESOLUTION.

VOTE:(primary amendment 1.) YES: STARK, KRANICH, BECK, FENSKE, LADD, YOURKOWSKI.

Motion carried.

VOTE: (main amended motion) YES: KRANICH, BECK, FENSKE, LADD, YOURKOWSKI, STARK.

Motion carried.

STARK/ - MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO DISCUSS THE CONTRACT.

VOTE: YES: NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

There was a brief discussion regarding the draft contract information submitted by Personnel Officer Hobbs and Councilmember Stark. One of the items emphasized was that of doing an evaluation in June, 2003, sort of a probation period and then set a date to coincide with the contract anniversary.

Mayor Cushing will negotiate the contract.

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, on behalf of the entire staff, thanked the Council for involving the Department Heads in the process and for listening to staff. She also relayed thanks to Ken Castner and Mike Dye for taking the time out of their busy schedules for this process and for listening and for, even, soliciting comments.

COMMENTS OF THE CITY MANAGER

Interim City Manager Baugh indicated his desire for Mr. Wrede to be in position soon.

COMMENTS OF THE MAYOR

Mayor Cushing thanked everyone for putting the long hours in on this process.

COMMENTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Stark asked if this is the end of Council's tenth meeting this week.

Mayor Cushing responded that it is a minimum of ten and some of the body are going on fifteen meetings this week.

Councilmember Ladd thanked Ken Castner and Mike Dye for sitting on the Hiring Committee, noting that this was a tough task that has taken a lot of energy and time, and that the decision is being made in front of the public and that they are on line as much as the Council. He voiced appreciation for their dedication and willingness to participate and that he has really respected their comments and questions.

Ken Castner and Mike Dye received a round of applause.

Mayor Cushing, to not be remiss, thanked the outgoing City Manager for the four years of hard work he provided on behalf of City and that they all had a change to personally thank him a couple of days ago at his farewell party.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Council the meeting was adjourned at 3:55 a.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. The worksession for February 10th at 2 p.m. with the Town Square Task Force has been canceled. The Committee of the Whole is scheduled for February 10, 2003 at 4 p.m. The Committee of the Whole scheduled for February 24, 2003 is at 4 p.m. and the first hour is scheduled as a joint session with the Kachemak City Council, Kenai Peninsula Borough House Numbering and 911 personnel - Katy Crane and Kay Steele and Homer City Planner Tucker and Planning Administrative Assistant Guyton.

________________________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Approved: _____________________