Session 09-05, a Regular
Meeting of the Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order by Chair
Marquardt at 5:41 p.m. on November 17, 2009 at the City Hall Conference Room
located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Haina, Marquardt, Roberts, Velsko
ABSENT: Smith
STAFF: Public
Works Director Meyer
Deputy
City Clerk Jacobsen
The agenda was approved as presented by consensus of
the Commission.
There were no public comments.
There were no items for reconsideration.
There were no visitors.
Public Works
Director Meyer provided an update on road projects, including LID requests for
improvements in the Crittenden Road area, and Little Fireweed. He explained
that some the residents on Little Fireweed got together and pitched in money to
get their improvements as they anticipated that the LID would fail. Hopkins Way is on the Council’s agenda for
road maintenance. There was brief discussion about recent improvements on
Freight Dock Road. He advised the Committee that Senator Stevens was in town. The
Senator was given a tour around town, shown the water treatment plant, and
taken out on the spit as there are several projects out there on the CIP. They
talked to him about Main Street and the Main Street/Sterling Highway
Intersection. The City has received 2 million dollars for improvements and now
DOT is saying it will be 4 million. Another 2 million has been requested with
hopes of that it could also include Main Street, south of Pioneer.
Councilmember
Roberts reported that Council is working on a complicated budget this year and
there are a lot of tough decisions. The Comprehensive Plan is before the
Council right now. There have been some changes to the transportation chapter
and they hope to approve it after the first of the year. There was discussion
that there have been some negative comments as to what the point of the process
is for the Comp Plan. Councilmember Roberts said they are trying to make the
document more usable as a working document for the future of the City, not a
check list of what is going to be accomplished in a specific timeframe. There
was discussion about the Comp Plan and the CIP Lists and in taking a long look
at them there have been a lot of things that have been accomplished over the
past decade or two.
There were no public hearings
scheduled.
There were no pending business
items scheduled.
B.
Approval of
the 2010 Meeting Schedule
ROBERTS/VELSKO
MOVED TO APPROVE THE 2010 MEETING SCHEDULE
There was brief discussion
confirming that it their meeting time is still 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of
the meeting month, and that they can call special meetings if needed.
VOTE:
NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion
carried.
C.
Public Works
Department Impact Report for the 2010 Budget
Public
Works Director Meyer explained that Department Heads were asked to provide a
budget impact statement for Council’s review. He reviewed the report with the
Committee and there was discussion about the Public Works budget. Discussion
points included:
·
With everything Public Works does, they are about half of the general
fund budget and just less than half the overall cut.
·
Public Works does not have a policy that equipment operators do not
have to come back to the public works building to take breaks when they are out
working. Some people may perceive that they are just “sitting” there, but it isn’t
cost effective for them to drive way back into town to take a 15 minute break
and drive back out.
·
Most department heads have the ability to take a City truck home. Personnel
who are on call after hours to respond to water and sewer calls have a vehicle
and cell phone.
·
There may be opportunities to reorganize public works as there are some
senior people leaving and some new people coming in with different capabilities.
Some positions are remaining vacant.
·
The City has to maintain a certain level of maintenance. In regard to
contracting out services, the City currently uses help from trucks used by
local contractors for hauling snow. An hourly rate is paid and they have a list
of contractors who participate and are called on a rotating basis.
·
The whole idea of privatizing services that the government provides can
be problematic. There still has to be an admin staff, people inspecting the
work, and so forth. It boils down to level of service and accountability.
·
In opposition to privatization, there is a small pool to pull from and
prices will increase.
·
Other communities have more of a tax base that allows them to fund more
services.
There were no informational
items.
There were no audience
comments.
Public Works Director
Meyer had no further comments. Question was raised whether their question of
the week regarding the LIDS for roads had been put out yet. Deputy City Clerk Jacobsen responded that it
had been given to the Clerk, but that it had been held off due to election
timing and current budget concerns.
Councilmember Roberts thanked
the Committee for their input.
Chair Marquardt had no comment.
There were no Committee Member
comments.