A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA SUPPORTING DOT'S EFFORTS REGARDING THE BELUGA LAKE FLOATPLANE FACILITY, PROJECT # 53394, TO MAINTAIN THE PROJECT RANKING ON THE STIP AND TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD TO COMPLETION.

WHEREAS, the Beluga Critical Habitat Area, known as CHA, is mitigation for the Homer Airport Improvement Projects, including Beluga Lake Floatplane Base; and

WHEREAS, through Resolution 95-14(A) the City of Homer showed its support of the estimated 331 acres for the Beluga Wetlands Critical Habitat Area, as it was called at that time, with specific notation that this habitat area would not interfere with planned airport improvements or safety; and

WHEREAS, the City of Homer urges DOT to make every effort to maintain this project forward to completion to provide access to the Beluga Lake Floatplane Base; and

WHEREAS, without this project the current requirements for the floatplane season and/or for maintenance of floatplanes would mean utilization of the Beluga Lake causeway or Ocean Drive for transporting the aircraft, thereby creating a public safety hazard; and

WHEREAS, with this project the above noted public safety hazard would be eliminated; and

WHEREAS, the creation of the CHA is mitigation for airport development, this project minimized the impact on the CHA and uses only about seventy feet of shoreline on Beluga Lake, a minimum improvement in light of the established language in the CHA; and

WHEREAS, the City of Homer appreciates and supports DOT's efforts to protect other undisturbed Beluga Lake Wetlands owned by the State and it is the City's understanding that the facility will not be expanded without a cumulative impact study by the appropriate agency.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska hereby supports DOT's efforts regarding the Beluga Lake Floatplane Facility, Project #53394, to maintain the project ranking on the STIP and to move this project forward to completion.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 18th day of December, 2000.

CITY OF HOMER

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ATTEST: JACK CUSHING, MAYOR

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MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal information: NA