CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                                                    Shadle

RESOLUTION 06-22

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER ALASKA IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE BILL 478 ENTITLED “AN ACT RELATING TO THE MUNICIPAL HARBOR FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE”.

 

WHEREAS, For Alaskan Coastal Communities, harbors are their road to resources and not only do they protect vessels from the ocean, harbors are also critical transportation links and hubs of waterfront commerce that many businesses depend on; and

           

WHEREAS, Over the past 10 years, the Department of Transportation has transferred ownership of state harbors to 22 municipalities around Alaska’s coast, including Homer; and

 

WHEREAS, In many instances the state had neglected its responsibility for conducting major preventative maintenance on those harbors and although funds accompanied the transfers, they were insufficient to bring the harbors up to safe and serviceable conditions; and

 

WHEREAS, When the local harbormasters took over the budgeting for their facilities they inherited a major financial burden that their local governments could not afford; and

 

WHEREAS, In 2005, the Statewide Harbormasters Association met to find a solution to the approximately $99,858,000 in needed repairs and brought forward a proposal for a 50/50 matching grant program; and

 

WHEREAS, Representative Bill Thomas has reflected this proposal in HB 478 entitled “AN ACT RELATING TO THE MUNICIPAL HARBOR FACILITY GRANT PROGRAM AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE”; and

 

WHEREAS, HB 478 establishes the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Fund and a 50/50 capital matching funding program administered by the ADOT and sets out a criteria to determine project eligibility; and

 

WHEREAS, In his Sponsor Statement, Representative Thomas explains that in order to access resources and continue to stimulate our economy, Alaskan harbors must be in good working order and the proposal brought forth by the Harbormasters, embodied in HB 478 will set up a fair and reasonable state/local partnership to ensure that our harbors receive the funding the deserve.

 

 

Page 2 of 2

Resolution 06-22

City of Homer

 

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer Alaska  finds that the passage of HB 478 is in the best interest of the States Coastal Communities; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That the Council hereby expresses its strong support for HB 478 and urges that the Legislature and Governor pass it into law.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council that this Resolution shall be sent to Governor Frank Murkowski, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor, John Williams, and all Mayors of Port Cities in Alaska and sent to the Alaska Municipal League, Senator Gary Stevens, Representative Paul Seaton, Senator President Ben Stevens, the Speaker of the House John Harris, and the Community and Regional Affairs and Finance Committees.

 

 

            PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 27th day of February, 2006.

 

 

                                                                        CITY OF HOMER

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

ATTEST:                                                                     JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

 

 

                                                                       

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

 

 

 

Fiscal Note:  N.A.