CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                       City Manager

RESOLUTION 06-80

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL EXPRESSING ITS INTEREST IN ESTABLISHING A CANINE PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY OF HOMER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

 

WHEREAS, Homer and the lower Kenai Peninsula have experienced increased problems in recent years with drug abuse and the devastating impacts it has on individuals, families, and the community at large; and

 

WHEREAS, Local citizen groups have been mobilizing to address the problem and several people have asked the City to consider establishing a canine program; the primary purpose of which would be drug detection; and

 

WHEREAS, One citizen has offered to raise the money that it would take for start-up costs (estimated to be $40,000) in order to help jump start the program; and

 

WHEREAS, The Homer Chief of Police has provided the Council with his thoughts on establishing a canine program and while he stated his general support, he also expressed some concern about budget impacts and public support; and

 

WHEREAS, There are many benefits associated with a canine program including enhanced drug detection, improved search and rescue, educational opportunities, and better community outreach and public relations; and

 

WHEREAS, When evaluating the merits of establishing a canine program, the Council also must weigh possible downside impacts which include the initial start-up costs, on-going budget impacts, possible reduction in police patrol time because the officer assigned to the dog will have other duties, possible need for an additional officer, and possible overlap with the Trooper Canine Program.

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Homer City Council hereby expresses its interest in establishing a canine program within the Homer Police Department but wishes to obtain more fiscal information and public input before it does so, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Council requests that the City Manager solicit public input on this program and that he bring this issue back to the table as part of the FY 07 Budget discussions scheduled to begin this fall.

 

PASSED AND APPROVED by the Homer City Council this 24th day of July, 2006.

 

CITY OF HOMER

 

 

ATTEST:                                                                                 JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

 

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: Not Applicable