CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

City Manager/Planning

RESOLUTION 067-09

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, ADOPTING THE FUNCTIONAL WETLAND ASSESSMENT FOR THE 2005 WETLANDS MAPPING OF THE CITY OF HOMER AND BRIDGE CREEK WATERSHED PROTECTION DISTRICT, SETTING A TIME FRAME FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF HOMER WETLANDS, TO REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY THE END OF 2007

WHEREAS, The wetland mapping completed in 1988 is out of date, of poor quality and does not include the Bridge Creek Watershed Protection District nor the annexed areas; and

WHEREAS, The City of Homer received an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wetland Development Grant for new wetland mapping and associated planning work, Ordinance 2003-45; and

WHEREAS, The mapping contract was awarded to Kenai Watershed Forum in 2003, Resolution 2003-150(S); and

WHEREAS, This work was completed in May 2005; and

WHEREAS, A wetland working group including members of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, US Fish and Wildlife, EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, Kenai Watershed Forum, Cook Inlet Keeper, Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation District, Kachemak bay Research Reserve and the City of Homer was formed as required by the EPA grant to evaluate the functions and value of the wetlands; and

WHEREAS, This group assessed three wetland function components (hydrologic, habitat, and species occurrence) and scored Homer wetlands using a documented methodology from the 1996 Anchorage Wetlands Management Plan and adjusted for the Homer environs; and

WHEREAS, This assessment resulted in scores and rankings for each of three wetland function components that demonstrated some wetlands are of higher significance to the natural environment and the City of Homer and therefore should be managed more carefully; and

WHEREAS, The 1989 Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources Chapter, Objective One states, “Guide land use and development so that it is compatible with responsible management of wetland resources;” and

WHEREAS, The 1989 Comprehensive Plan Natural Resources Chapter, Objective 2 states, “Continue coordination with ACOE to maintain the Corps General Wetland Permit for the City of Homer;” and

WHEREAS, Adoption of the functional assessment is required if the City wishes now, or in the future, to be granted a new General Permit to locally issue wetland fill permits; and

WHEREAS, ACOE reviews their nationwide permit conditions every five years and is currently engaged in this process; and

WHEREAS, Now is an important time for the City to support the wetlands rankings so ACOE may recognize it as a viable information source on Homer area wetlands in the nationwide permit regional conditions and future ACOE permit decisions; and

WHEREAS, Now that the functional assessment of the wetlands is complete, the public has wetland map(s), that they can use to view and discuss the future management of Homer wetlands; and

WHEREAS, The Homer Advisory Planning Commission conducted a Worksession on November 8, 2006 and a Regular Meeting on December 6, 2006, and recommended that the City Council adopt the Resolution; and

WHEREAS, Wetlands are a sensitive issue and merit extensive public input and a reasonable timeframe for discussion.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the City Council of Homer, Alaska hereby adopts the functional assessment of the 2005 Wetlands Mapping for the City of Homer and the Bridge Creek Watershed Protection District; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the City Council of Homer, Alaska, sets a time frame for the Planning Department and Commission to conduct a public process for public input on how Homer wetlands may be managed in the future, and that the Planning Commission is to report back to the City Council by December 31, 2007.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 22nd day of January, 2007.

                                                            CITY OF HOMER

________________________

JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

ATTEST:

_______________________________

MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal information: staff time and meeting advertisements.