CITY OF HOMER

City Manager

HOMER, ALASKA

RESOLUTION 04-73

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION FOR A TIER 2 GRANT FROM THE RASMUSON FOUNDATION TO HELP BUILD A NEW HOMER 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 17,000 square feet will cost $5.7 million to construction on land owned by the City of Homer; 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 pay for large new capital projects; and

WHEREAS, The Homer Library Advisory Board and Friends of the Homer Public Library have implemented a capital campaign plan to raise funds from individuals, businesses, private foundations, and government sources for a new community library; and

WHEREAS, A grant from the Rasmuson Foundation for the new library will be instrumental in providing the match for a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer is committed to operating and maintaining the new library for the benefit of the community once it is built.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer City Council hereby supports an application for a Tier 2 capital projects grant from the Rasmuson Foundation and that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the appropriate documents to submit the aforementioned application.

CITY OF HOMER

ATTEST: ________________________________

JACK CUSHING, MAYOR

____________________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: Library Project 151-722