After a three-week break for the holidays, the Homer City Council is set to tackle some tough issues during its first 2008 meetings on Monday.
For instance, the council plans to introduce an ordinance to approve and submit a bond proposition for the new Town Square and New City Hall. The proposition, if approved, will be put on a ballot for a special election on March 25, and is a key component in funding the project.
The city will be asking voters to authorize up to $6 million in bonds and loans, said City Manager Walt Wrede, to help pay for the project estimated to cost about $10 million.
The city has identified about $4.5 million in funding so far, including $2 million granted by the Alaska Legislature for constructing a new City Hall in 2007 and $2.5 million for the University of Alaska to purchase and renovate the old City Hall building.
Wrede said the city could also receive private donations and grants to help reduce the amount it would have to borrow, in an effort similar to the Homer Public Library funding.
To that end a group called "Friends of Town Center" has formed and will hold its second meeting today at 8 a.m. This group is similar to the "Friends of the Library" that helped raise money for the library in that it is outside of the city and can therefore lobby the public to support the project.
"From the city's point of view, we can't lobby," said Wrede. "But we do have a responsibility to get as much information out as we can."
The ordinance will be introduced Monday with a public hearing and second reading scheduled for Jan. 28.
During its last meeting in 2007, the council awarded three contracts to continue design work for the project. The 35 percent schematic design for the New City Hall/Town Square Plaza was awarded to ECI/Hyer of Anchorage in the amount of $202,985, Jay-Brant General Contractors of Homer was awarded a contract in the amount of $63,973 and the council awarded the contract for Off-site Infrastructure and Preliminary Platting and Permit Application for the New City Hall/Town Square Plaza to Seabright Survey of Homer in the amount of $9,500.
The next City Hall -- Town Square Review Committee is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. today at the Cowles Council Chambers.
In that meeting, the focus will start to shift away from the City Hall building and more to the square Ð or plaza - which should genterate some interest, Wrede said.
Also on the agenda, the council will discuss a resolution to create the Sustainability Fund recommended in the city's Climate Action Plan adopted at its last meeting.
The fund will be used to help cover the costs of implementing the plan.
According to the plan, possible sources of revenue for this fund include; grant funding from state and federal programs and private foundations; a climate action plan tax, like the one in Boulder, Colorado, that was approved by voters and adds a tax to electricity bills; A per-gallon tax on all fuel transferred within the city; voluntary offsets by individuals and businesses who wish to reduce their carbon footprint; funds contributed by the city to offset employee travel; savings resulting from increased energy efficiency and conservation; and Homer Spit Parking fees.
The council will be discussing the Climate Action Plan at a worksession at 5:30 p.m. on Monday at council chambers.
Ben Stuart can be reached at ben.stuart@homernews.com.
