CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA

CITY MANAGER

RESOLUTION 04-21

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION FOR A USDA COMMUNITY FACILI­TIES GRANT TO HELP BUILD A NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS.

 

           WHEREAS public libraries are essential community facilities, promoting lifelong learning and love of reading and helping fulfill the information and research needs of the community; and

           WHEREAS the information and services provided by a public library contribute in a significant way to quality of life and to economic development in the community; and

           WHEREAS a Space Needs Study has shown that the existing Homer Public Library, at 3500 square feet, is one-fifth the size of what the community truly needs, and far smaller than public libraries in other Alaskan towns serving similar populations; and

           WHEREAS a new, larger library is included in the Homer Comprehensive Plan and has been identified as a community priority in the City of Homer’s Capital Improvement Plan every year since 1985; and

           WHEREAS it is estimated that a new library of 17,566 square feet will cost $5.7 million to construct on land owned by the City of Homer; and

           WHEREAS the New Library Project Capital Campaign has estimated that approximately half of the funds must be raised from government sources to build a new library, with the remainder coming from community donations and private foundations; and

           WHEREAS the City of Homer is coping with revenue decreases at the same time that basic costs have increased significantly; making it difficult to provide services at existing levels, much less pay for large new capital projects; and

           WHEREAS demographic data show that Homer has a low median household income relative to other non-metropolitan areas of the state and therefore meets USDA Rural Development eligibility standards;        

         NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Homer City Council hereby endorses and approves efforts to apply to the USDA Capital Facilities Grant Program for funding equal to 15% of allowable project costs and that the City Manager is authorized to execute all relevant documents necessary to submit the aforementioned application.

         PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL this 23rd day of February, 2004.

                  CITY OF HOMER

                                
                  Jack Cushing, Mayor

ATTEST:

___________
Mary L. Calhoun, CMC, City Clerk


Fiscal Impact: None known at this time