CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

Stark

RESOLUTION 03-161(S)

A RESOLUTION OF THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES' PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE DATED 4 DECEMBER 2003 OF ITS HOMER AIRPORT MASTER PLAN STUDY.

WHEREAS, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) presented its study of the Homer Airport Master Plan, including four alternatives, at a duly advertised public meeting in Homer attended by about 30 citizens; and

WHEREAS, Public testimony was overwhelmingly in favor of ADOT & PF's Preferred Alternative, including about 70% of the testimony focusing on the need for a road connection between Beluga Lake Floatplane Base and the airport; and

WHEREAS, some of the factors relating to the airport expansion are as follows:

1. The planning for some of these improvements has been underway for 22 years;

2. DOT & PF dedicated 300 acres of airport land for critical habitat, which was approved by the Legislature in 1996, with the provision that the dedication would provide mitigation for the floatplane facility and any future airport projects that affect wetlands. This mitigation was approved in 1992 by the Acting Field Supervisor for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' Ecological Services and Endangered Species Office;

3. There was a Finding of No Significant Impact for the project on 6 August 1992;

4. the Corps of Engineers on 25 October 1994 determined that a permit was not required for the construction of the 700' long road between the airport and the lake;

5. Lack of road access between the lake and the airport creates significant problems for float plane operators, including lack of fuel availability, difficulty of routine maintenance, and difficulty in moving planes in the Spring and Fall when switching from floats to wheels;

6. Homer City Resolution 00-125A adopted on 18 December 2000 urged construction of the Beluga Lake Floatplane Facility;

7. The 3500 floatplane passengers this year could double within five years if access to the lake was provided, resulting in a significant economic boost to the area;

8. The proposed taxiway northwest of the runway is critically needed because,

a. the airport is uncontrolled,

b. there is a hump in the runway preventing sight from one end to the other, and

c. aircraft taking off to the southwest (the predominant movement) must taxi on the runway from the southwest end uncontrolled and without sight of the rest of the runway;

9. The runway extension to the east mostly replaces the section removed 12 years ago;

10. Some of the Council's concerns, in addition to an urgent need for a dock at Beluga Lake with access road and transient float plan parking, also includes the need for public amenities within the airport (restrooms, phones, information areas), a cargo apron separate from commercial passenger areas, current noise level study of the airport and surrounding areas, and the need for careful review prior to placing fill in wetland areas; and

11. The other elements of the preferred Alternative have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska, does hereby approve said Preferred Alternative (ADOT & PF Project 54744) and urges prompt implementation of the Plan, incorporating the comments and recommendations presented above.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 15th day of December 2003.

CITY OF HOMER

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ATTEST: JACK CUSHING, MAYOR

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MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: NA.