By Marcia Kuszmaul

Homer Independent Press

In a worksession on Monday, Jan. 26, the Homer City Council will review the Title 21 update process for revising city zoning policies and, in its regular meeting, again consider street design requirements. 

At the 4 p.m. council worksession, project consultants for the Title 21 Zoning Code Re-Write, Shelly Wade with Agnew Beck and Erin Perdu with Stantec, will review next steps, including the launch of the Public Review Draft, the 45-day public comment period and comment tracking process and upcoming public hearings with the Planning Commission and City Council. 

The Planning Commission will hold its next worksession on zoning revisions at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5. 

The postponed street measure will get another public hearing at Monday’s regular council meeting starting at 6 p.m.

The council delayed a vote at its previous meeting to provide time for more input into a measure that would specify narrower lanes and require standard-width shoulders for future residential streets. 

The council debated the idea that narrower streets would be safer by slowing traffic but, at the same time, could create problems for large vehicles like school buses, snow plows and boats on trailers. 

During Monday’s regular meeting, State Senate President Gary Stevens will join via Zoom to review priorities for the state legislative session that began Tuesday, Jan. 20. This is Stevens’ last session since announcing his retirement in May after 22 years in the Alaska Senate.

All city council meetings are open public meetings held in the Cowles Council Chambers of City Hall, 491 E. Pioneer Ave. Full information is available on the city web site for how to get agendas and supporting documents, submit written testimony and attend meetings in person, via Zoom or by phone The regular meeting is broadcast live on KBBI public radio AM 890.

Other ordinances for final public hearing provide funds to enhance, maintain and repair city facilities, including:

•  Installing an accessible push button door opener at City Hall,
  
• Repairs to the gym floor at Homer Education and Recreation Complex (HERC) 1,
  
• Replacing the only waterline that serves the west side of Homer. A resolution to award the $190,289 work contract to RESPEC Company, LLC, of Anchorage will be introduced.
  
• Buying a new sidewalk tractor using the Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails (HART) Trails Fund.
  
  

Two additional measures update the city’s release of public records process and adopt the annual Homer Terminal Tariff No. 1, which includes mooring rates. 

Of special note, the vision for a looped trail above Karen Hornaday Park is gaining momentum, with a proposed resolution sponsored by Homer City Council Member Jason Davis to engage engineering and professional design services.

New ordinances for first public hearing include accepting and appropriating $98,129.84 in Alaska Community Assistance Program funds for various capital projects and $29,000 to complete construction and installation of a security grille at the Homer Public Library, which will enable the meeting room to be used in off hours. 

Other measures amend city commission and board member terms and officially add the intersection of Eric Lane and West Fairview to the city’s road maintenance map.

Editor’s note: Homer City Council Member Donna Aderhold is a board member of NZP4H, the nonprofit corporation that owns the Homer Independent Press. Aderhold did not participate in the writing or editing of this or any article about the council.