CITY OF HOMER City Clerk/Heimbuch

HOMER, ALASKA

RESOLUTION 06-144

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ESTABLISHING THE CITY HALL COWLES COUNCIL CHAMBERS AS THE CENTRAL LOCATION FOR ALL REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL AND ADVISORY BODIES.

WHEREAS, Historically whenever new facilities have been constructed there is a move to conduct the Council and Advisory Body meetings in that facility; and

WHEREAS, These facilities have included schools, Homer High, Islands and Oceans, Pratt Museum, Hospital, Island and Oceans, etcetera; and

WHEREAS, Port and Harbor Commission from time to time conducted its Regular Meetings and Worksessions at the Port and Harbor Office; and

WHEREAS, The Planning Commission held some meetings at other facilities; and

WHEREAS, The Parks and Recreation Commission routinely conducts on site worksessions such as the Parks walk through, beach review and has informally considered/mentioned conducting meetings at other facilities; and

WHEREAS, The Economic Development Commission has conducted informal worksessions in their prior years at the Duncan House; and

WHEREAS, Councilmembers considered conducting regular meetings at different facilities throughout the years; and

WHEREAS, The general consensus for conducting regular meetings has been to do them at City Hall for the reasons, that are still applicable, depicted in the following whereas clauses and with the same conclusions th; and

WHEREAS, The Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers, "Chambers" is specifically and practically set up for public meetings; and

WHEREAS, The Chambers have a new multi thousand dollar sound system and multi thousand dollar recording system specifically purchased to enhance public participation and recording of meetings; and

WHEREAS, The new recording system has provided for the audio recording of meetings to be accessible on the Clerk's Website; and

WHEREAS, The Chambers are set up for KBBI Broadcasting and GCI televising of meetings; and

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Resolution 06-144

City of Homer

WHEREAS, The Chambers are readily accessible for News Media, the public, staff, elected and appointed officials for set up, pre meeting arrangements, meeting information, etcetera; and

WHEREAS, The Chambers is located at City Hall, wherein are contained the records, files, maps, Code Books, Policy and Procedure Manuals, State Statues, State Administrative Code, legal opinion files, Roberts Rules of Order, teleconferencing functions and equipment, multi media equipment, multiple copiers and fax machines, telephone system with teleconferencing capabilities; remote lap top capabilities, etcetera; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor's Office and Conference Room are located at City Hall and provide a secure area to conduct Executive Sessions; and

WHEREAS, City Manager, City Clerk, Finance, and Planning Offices are located at City Hall and provide key staff to all of the regularly scheduled meetings; and

WHEREAS, All the spare and additional meeting recording equipment is located at City Hall for meetings held simultaneously in the Conference Room and Chambers and for any equipment or system malfunctions; and

WHEREAS, The digital recording media and tapes are stored at City Hall; and

WHEREAS, The Public provides additional written comments for meetings to the key staff located at City Hall; and

WHEREAS, A central location for information, meetings, public access and input is essential for the reasonable and effective public process; and

WHEREAS, Tracking of meetings is easier for the Police Department and Fire Department personnel when there is one meeting location; and

WHEREAS, Tracking of meetings is easier for the Public when there is one central location for public meetings; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing that there are space issues at City Hall, one of the reasons there is a need and plan for a new City Hall, the Chambers is still very suitable with chairs, tables and sound system for public meetings; and

WHEREAS, The Official Calendar of Events and Scheduling is located at City Hall and routinely used by the Council and advisory bodies to determine when additional meetings such as special meetings, worksessions and the like may be scheduled without conflict; and

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Resolution 06-144

City of Homer

WHEREAS, Council, Advisory Bodies and key meeting staff work tools and refreshment supplies are located at City Hall; and

WHEREAS, Public refreshment equipment and supplies are located at City Hall; and

WHEREAS, The security/panic button system for meetings and key staff are located at City Hall; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor, Council, Economic Development Commission, Public Arts Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Port and Harbor Commission, Transportation Advisory Committee receive their mail and public input at City Hall; and

WHEREAS, Often information is provided for the Library Advisory Board at City Hall;

and

WHEREAS, Meeting logistics are definitely simplified by the central location for meetings being at the same facility where key personnel, multi faceted information and the sundry meeting tools are located.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby establishes the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers as the Central Location for all Regular Meetings of the City Council and its advisory bodies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this in no way precludes the City Council or its Advisory Bodies from, time to time, conducting special meetings or worksessions in other locations provided proper notice has been given through the City Clerk's Office pursuant to Homer City Code 1.14, Notice of Meetings.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 9th day of October, 2006.

CITY OF HOMER

________________________

JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

ATTEST:

_________________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: NA