CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA

Novak/Wythe
City Manager

RESOLUTION 05-86(A)

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, ACCEPTING AND ADOPTING THE CONFERENCE CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY STEERING COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO [ENCOUR­AGE] FURTHER CONSIDER CONSTRUCTION OF A CONFERENCE CENTER IN HOMER.

 

      WHEREAS, A “Feasibility Study for a Potential New Conference Center in Homer, Alaska,” prepared for the City of Homer by Conventions, Sports & Leisure, International, was recently completed; and

      WHEREAS, A Conference Center Feasibility Study Steering Committee was established by the Homer City Council to help guide and facilitate the study; and

      WHEREAS,  The Steering Committee met on July 26, 2005 to discuss results of the study and formulate recommendations for consideration by the City Council; and

      WHEREAS, The conclusions and recommendations of the Steering Committee include the following points:

·        A Conference Center in Homer will provide significant economic benefit to the community and should be pursued as part of the City’s overall economic development strategy.

·        There is reason to believe that the study’s conclusions regarding market demand for a Conference Center in Homer are underestimated. Likewise, future development in Homer can be expected to enhance the community’s ability to attract conferences.

·        Town Center is the preferred location for a Conference Center in Homer, as it would benefit Town Center development and Town Center amenities will in turn provide an added draw for the Conference Center.

·        At this time, the Steering Committee judges the viability of the three basic options for a Conference Center in this order: 1) Public/private partnership with a hotel, 2) joint-use buildout with another public project, and 3) stand-alone conference center. However, none of the options should be discounted without further information and discussion. The fourth option presented in the study, “Do Nothing,” is not recommended.

·        If a borough-wide tax on transient accommodations (“bed tax”) is approved by borough voters, the City of Homer should attempt to secure as much of the tax revenue as possible to support development and operation of a Conference Center.

 

Page Two

City of Homer

Resolution 05-86(A)

 

·        Given the potential benefit of a Conference Center in Homer, the project should be identified as a top priority in the City of Homer Capital Improvement Plan.

      WHEREAS, These conclusions and recommendations are expressed in more detail in Memorandum 05-139.

         NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of Homer, Alaska hereby accepts and adopts the Conference Center Feasibility Study Steering Committee’s recommendations to [encourage] further consider construction of a Conference Center in Homer; and

         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager be authorized and encouraged to pursue ideas and discussions that will increase the likelihood of a Conference Center being built in Homer; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Homer acknowledge that the Conference Center Feasibility Study Steering Committee has met its responsibilities and is hereby disbanded.

         PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL this 8th day of August, 2005.

                                                                        CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                                                        ________________________
                                                                        James C. Hornaday, Mayor

ATTEST:

___________________________
Mary L. Calhoun, City Clerk


Fiscal Impact: $0