The Homer City Council on Monday appropriated $185,368 for its Master Transportation Plan Update, which emphasizes a “people-first” approach to transportation and focuses on the safety and ease of nonmotorized users.
Transportation in Homer is set to undergo some reforms as the Homer City Council passed Ordinance 22-38 during their Aug. 8 meeting, which appropriates $185,368 for a Master Transportation Plan Update.
According to a memorandum by Public Works Director Janette Keiser, the 20-year Master Transportation Plan was developed in 2001 and adopted in 2005 to “identify needs, guide planning and aid funding efforts for roads and trails capital improvement projects.” The update will address new topics, such as identifying road network deficiencies, review the needs of the Central Business District, review needs of seniors and people with disabilities, address non-motorized transportation, review traffic calming issues, address freight mobility, evaluate state routes, provide information to support a new Comprehensive Plan, and incorporate public involvement.
During the meeting, both council members and the public emphasized the notion of “people-first transportation.” This framework focuses on the safety and ease of nonmotorized users, which has become a serious issue for some Homer citizens.
Heath Smith, a Homer resident and former council member, commented on the need for the council to take into account needs of the future in the Master Transportation Plan Update.
“I just want to make sure whatever we do remains relevant for the period that the planning is being done for,” he said.
This planning will have to account for pursuing economic growth while also prioritizing the changing needs of the community. For example, Brad Parsons, a Homer resident, said he felt there was a need to slow traffic in certain areas, such as suburbs.
“We need to look at our roads and streets through the perspective of all users starting with pedestrians and our most vulnerable citizens,” he said.
Most of the council members expressed support for the ordinance. Council member Donna Aderhold said she was encouraged by the administration listening to the public and to the council’s interests. The transportation plan, she said, “should be about the people who live in town and be able to maintain community cohesion.”
The council also mentioned the prospect of holding an open house in the future to stimulate more communal conversation.
Other actions
In addition to the Master Transportation Plan Update, the council also passed Ordinance 22-40, which amends Homer City Code, adding Chapter 11.37, Prohibiting Obstructions and Encroachments in City Rights-of-Way and Easements.
This means that plowed snow, vehicles and trash can no longer be in roads, rights-of-way and easements such that they impede snow removal or road maintenance. The ordinance makes it unlawful to leave such objects in streets and rights-of-way — the area between the road and private property.
Some members of the public were concerned about the problem of snow removal. If the city is plowing snow from the road into a driveway, and the Homer resident cannot plow snow into the rights-of-way or easements, must the snow remain in the driveway?
While officials acknowledged it was an imperfect solution, they emphasized the importance of safety for the whole community.
“There will be some inconvenience to people, I grant you that,” Keiser said. However, Keiser added, “our biggest goal is the overall public safety and benefit to the greater good.”
“When it’s Snowmageddon like it was last year, our primary concern is keeping the roads open for traffic, emergency traffic, people to get back and forth to work,” Keiser said.
Homer Mayor Ken Castner signed the ordinance on Monday, Aug. 8, and it took effect on Tuesday,Aug. 9. Under Title 1 of city code, the unlawful acts prohibited in the ordinance are punishable by a $300 fine.
“To avoid fines or towing and to protect your property, please keep the Right-of-Way clear of boats, vehicles, RVs, planter boxes, cute address markers, dog houses, etc.,” according to a press release from the city on Thursday. “These objects present a public safety hazard and prevent the City from providing critical services to you and your neighbors. Plus, if your things get covered with snow, they may not be seen by our roads crew and could be damaged by graders or plows.”
Mailboxes are OK with a permit, the press release noted.
Ordinance 22-37 was also passed, which appropriates $100,000 for a Fire Hydrant Replacement Program. Due to corrosion many fire hydrants throughout Homer are in need of maintenance or replacement.
The regular meeting ran more than two hours. In the “comments of the mayor” period at the end of the meeting, Mayor Castner summarized the topics discussed and actions taken.
“There’s some major things underway that are going to kind of chart the course for the next 10 or 20 years for the city,” he said. “… and I really encourage people to become engaged in helping figure some of this stuff out.”
The next City Council Regular Meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22 at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers and by Zoom Webinar.
Reach Charlie Menke at charlie.menke@homernews.com.
Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News Vehicles are parked in or near the road on Thursday, Aug. 4, on Lakeshore Drive in Homer. An ordinance passed by the Homer City Council on Monday, Aug. 8, made it unlawful to push snow into roads and city right-of-ways and to park vehices or leave other objects that interfere with snow removal or road maintenance in city roads, paths, sidewalks or drainage ways or structures.
