Planning Commission

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

RESOLUTION 00-11

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA IN SUPPORT OF ALTERNATIVE 1 OF THE MARINER PARK RESTORATION ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE

WHEREAS, Mariner Park presently supports a diversity of intertidal, salt marsh and beach dune habitat used by many species shorebirds; and

WHEREAS, the Mariner Park lagoon occasionally experiences washover and closure of the entrance of the lagoon during storm events that impacts the functions and value of the lagoon as bird habitat; and

WHEREAS, the City of Homer applied for and was awarded the Mariner Park Habitat Assessment and Restoration Design Project from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustees Council; and,

WHEREAS, the principal objective of the project was to develop a National Environmental Policy Act - Environmental Assessment (EA); and,

WHEREAS, the purpose of the EA was to provide a restoration project to enhance, preserve and protect the intertidal environment of Mariner Park; and

WHEREAS, the public and adjacent property owners consider Mariner Park is a valuable natural resource that is important to preserve and protect; and,

WHEREAS, Mariner Park presently supports a diversity of intertidal, salt marsh and beach dune habitat used by many species shorebirds; and,

WHEREAS, an agency scoping meeting was held on April 20, 1999 which was attended by representatives from the Dept. of Governmental Coordination, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Fish and Game (ADF&G), Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Corps of Engineers; and,

WHEREAS, at the scoping meeting of April 20, 1999, FAA indicated that any restoration or enhancement of Mariner Park that would attract hazardous wildlife would be in direct conflict with FAA Advisory Circular No. 150/5200-33 which relates to hazardous wildlife attractants on or near airports; and,

WHEREAS, a public scoping meeting was held on May 12, 1999 which was attended by property owners and Homer residents as well FAA, Dept. of Transportation, ADF&G; and,

WHEREAS, a public meeting was held on July 14^th, 1999 to introduce the project to the public, present restoration Alternatives considered and to gather public input; and

WHEREAS, due to FAA objections the EA was changed to focus on alternatives to preserve and protect the intertidal environment of Mariner Park; and,

WHEREAS, on December 3, 1999, a letter was received from the FAA stating that they would have no objections to Alternative 1, the Preservation Alternative on the understanding that the City would work with the ADOT&PF, Homer Airport on the exact conditions of any easement to ensure that the Homer Airport would be able to respond to any wildlife hazards which might develop in the area in future years; and,

WHEREAS, Alternative 1, the Preservation Alternative, will preserve and protect the habitat of Mariner Park; will maintain the environment used by migrating shorebirds without attracting additional hazardous wildlife; will maintain adequate flushing of the lagoon through continued use a maintenance dredging permit from the Corp of Engineers; and will encourage environmentally-compatible recreation in Mariner Park and educate the public on estuarine wetlands functions values, and sensitivity to disturbance through educational signs;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska:

1. Supports the preservation of wildlife habitats on the Homer Spit; and

2. Supports efforts by the FAA to minimize wildlife hazardous around airports, and,

3. Supports Alternative 1 as the Preferred Alternative for the Mariner Park Restoration Project Environmental Assessment which is to place conservation easements on City lots at Mariner Park; and,

4. Recommends those willing property owners who own property below the bluff on Mariner Park also put those portions into conservation easements; and,

5. Recommends continued use of the City's Maintenance Dredging Permit to maintain the entrance of Mariner Park Lagoon as to promote adequate flushing

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 10^th day of January 2000.

CITY OF HOMER

___________________________

JACK CUSHING, MAYOR

ATTEST:

_ ________________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC/AAE, CITY CLERK