Session 04-08 was called to order by Chair Marquardt at 6:37 p.m. at the Homer City Hall Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:           Kurt Marquardt, Michael Yourkowski, Fred Pfeil 

 

                                                ABSENT:        Steve Smith

 

STAFF:                                    PRESENT:       City Planner McKibben

                                                                        Deputy City Clerk Johnson

                                                                        Deputy City Clerk Jacobsen

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

 

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Committee.

 

SYNOPSIS APPROVAL

 

A.                 June 1, 2004 Synopsis

 

The June 1, 2004 synopsis was approved by consensus of the Committee.

 

PENDING BUSINESS

 

A.                 Transportation Plan, Final Recommendations

 

City Planner McKibben presented the 2001 Homer Area Transportation Plan and described its contents.  She explained that the Table of Contents is under construction and there is new language in the introduction outlining the development of the Draft Plan.  Ms. McKibben corrected errors in Part 2.1 Community Description, updating yet still retaining old important information.  New tables for population, finance expenditures and revenues was added.  Local economy information was updated.  As to Table 1-7, STIP (State Transportation Improvement Plan) Category was added to the chart to reflect the different types of projects that parallel the State.   

 

In response to Mr. Marquardt’s question of Homer’s ranking on the STIP list, City Planner McKibben said she had not reviewed the city’s ranking on the list and questioned how the projects were prioritized.  Mr. Yourkowski said the City nominates projects and the State ranks them.  Ms. McKibben added that DOT (Department of Transportation) has a formal ranking process with a board to score projects according to criteria.  The board’s recommendations are then forwarded to the Legislature.  She said adopting the 2001 Homer Area Transportation Plan would improve the score.  Additionally, lobbying for the City can boost the ranking.  Mr. Marquardt said most of the STIP projects are on hold, other than those in the loop. 

 

Mr. Yourkowski noted that the Veterans Memorial Wayside was completed.  The East End Road: MP 0.0 – 3.6 is still under construction and Ms. McKibben said in working with the Matsu Borough CIP, projects were not removed from the list until completed.  They may fall out of priority if removed from the list before their completion.  

 

Mr. Marquardt noted on Page 1-17 4.1 Issues #5 should be corrected from “here” to “there”.  As to #7 he did not have a recollection of the industrial/commercial traffic conflicting with recreational traffic.  Ms. McKibben explained in the Committee’s earlier discussion there were different needs for the two types of traffic movement on the Spit.

 

Page 1-18 as to 4.2 Goals #4 remove “progression of”. 

 

Minor changes were made in the grammar of 5 Existing Street Classification to make it more of a plan and less of a report.   

 

Mr. Marquardt said on Page 1-23 the final paragraph referred to paving Kachemak Drive, although it is already paved.  Ms. McKibben will amend the paragraph to show Kachemak Drive has been paved. 

 

Language in the descriptions and recommendations of the Committee were modified.  Mr. Yourkowski said the Heath Street extension to the high school was not a popular project.  Ms. McKibben remembers the area being mapped with a route to East Hill Road but not specified.  Mr. Marquardt said the goal is to minimize thru traffic in the neighborhoods and it was a consideration if it was an easy thru.  As to Page 1-33 Heath Street Extension to the High School will be amended to read “Heath Street Extension – The route for the proposed extension will extend Heath Street north then east to East Hill Road.”

 

Ms. McKibben said as to Page 1-3 last paragraph changes were made as to Deep Water Dock.  After the harbormaster reviewed the draft, he stated there was more docking ability than previously portrayed.   

 

As to Page 1-41 10 Snow Storage outdated items pertaining to DEC requirements were removed. 

 

City Planner McKibben is to get maps from Public Works Director Meyer.

 

It is the Committee’s intent to send the Transportation Plan to the City Council for the July 26th meeting.  City Planner McKibben said it was logical to adopt the plan as part of the Comprehensive Plan.

 

YOURKOWSKI/PFEIL – MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL INCLUDE THE 2001 HOMER AREA TRANSPORTATION PLAN INTO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. 

 

VOTE:  YES.  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

A.                 Update from Public Works on the Crosswalks on East End Road, Dialogue with DOT.

 

Mr. Marquardt encouraged Committee members to contact Public Works Director Meyer for an update on the crosswalks.  He said there is still time and keeping after the project to see it happens based on the Committee’s recommendations is important.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.  The next meeting is scheduled for July 27, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

 

 

_________________________________

JO JOHNSON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

 

 

 

Approved:_________________________