CITY OF HOMER City Manager

HOMER, ALASKA P/Z

ORDINANCE 03-45

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, ACCEPTING AND APPROPRIATING A MATCHING GRANT OF ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND TWO DOLLARS ($127,302.00) FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS.

WHEREAS, The total grant amount is $195,527, with EPA contributing $127,302 and the City's match is $68,225, from the Planning Reserves, $33,000 will be spent of the $50,000 allocated to this project. The rest of the city match is in kind services (staff time) and a purchase by Public Works of some equipment, at some point in the future; and

WHEREAS, Project summary is that the City of Homer proposes to utilize state-of-the-art aerial mapping and GIS technology, in conjunction with the knowledge and skills of local wetlands experts, to develop new wetlands maps covering areas within the City's jurisdiction, including major portions of the Bridge Creek watershed; and

WHEREAS, The information gained in this process will be used to develop new management tools, including a Corps of Engineers General Permit and local land-use ordinances, to ensure that as the human population increases in the Homer area, wise decisions are made in regard to development impacting wetlands resources; and

WHEREAS, The Homer Wetlands Management Program is proposed as a 4-year project, with a total cost of $195,527. The City of Homer is requesting $127,302 in federal funds for this project and will contribute $68,225 in match (35%). The project period is May 1, 2003 through April 30, 2007.

WHEREAS, City of Homer staff will draft an Ordinance addressing development in and near wetland areas using the new wetlands information; and

WHEREAS, Issues such as greenbelts, stream buffers and water flow from one wet area to another could be addressed; and

WHEREAS, It may be possible for more than one Ordinance to be relevant; the subdivision code could be amended to require open space and public dedication of streams through neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, Another component may be creating Site Plan Review powers for the City, which could have more strict guidelines than current Army Corps of Engineer development requirements; and

WHEREAS, By managing wetlands as a system, rather than as single events on individual parcels, as is the current practice, the City of Homer aims to better manage development in sensitive areas and corridors identified by the wetland study; and

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WHEREAS, The proposed ordinance's would give the City and its residents greater local control of local land use in sensitive areas; and .

WHEREAS, Besides a General Permit, a steep slope Ordinance will be developed and reviewed by the Homer Advisory Planning Commission; and

WHEREAS, The City will also gain GIS training for staff, and the City Planner will travel to three national wetlands meetings; and

WHEREAS, Public Works will purchase a high accurate GPS system, which will be used for numerous Public Works activities, and to map the small streams flowing into the Reservoir.

NOW, THEREFORE, the City of Homer Ordains:

Section 1. That the EPA grant is hereby accepted and appropriated in the amount of one hundred and twenty seven thousand three hundred and two dollars ($127,302.00), as follows and that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the appropriate documents:

Account No. Description Amount

Revenue: EPA Grant $127,302.00

151-387 Planning Reserve (Budgeted and in kind) $ 68,225.00



Expenditure: Bridge Creek Watershed Mapping $195,527.00

151-387

Section 2. This ordinance is a budget amendment only, is not of a permanent nature and is a non code ordinance.

PASSED AND ENACTED by the Homer City Council this day of ___, 2003.

CITY OF HOMER





_____________________________ ATTEST: JACK CUSHING, MAYOR





______________________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK



Introduction: 07/28/03

Public Hearing: 08/11/03

Second Reading: 08/11/03

Effective Date: 08/12/03



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Ayes:

Noes:

Abstain:

Absent:

Reviewed and approved as to form and content:

___________________________ Walt E. Wrede City Manager Gordon Tans, City Attorney

___________________________

Date Date



Fiscal Note: Fiscal information included in body of Ordinance.









































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