By Marcia Kuszmaul

Homer Independent Press


For its upcoming legislative advocacy, the Homer City Council adopted guiding principles and overarching priorities at its Feb. 9 regular meeting that are relevant to the major issues lawmakers will focus on this session. Council Members Donna Aderhold, Shelly Erickson and Storm Hansen will be in Juneau the week of Feb. 16 for meetings with legislators and the Alaska Municipal League.


The main topics the Homer delegation expects to address are fiscal policy and budget, public employee and teacher retirement systems, education, energy, election reform, trawling, and the potential adverse impact on municipalities of state actions, such as state tax structures, unfunded mandates and timeliness of state payments.


The council added a priority specific to factory trawling and its potential negative impacts to multiple fisheries, local fishermen and Homer’s economy from bycatch and habitat degradation. The delegation will ask legislators to understand the issues and take action to address needed changes to state statutes.


Complete 2026 legislative priorities and positions with supporting documents are available on the city website.


Mid-Biennium Budget Review

Since 2020, Homer has operated on a two-year biennium budget with an opportunity to review and modify midway through the budget cycle. The city is at that midpoint in its fiscal year 20226-27 budget, and Finance Director Elizabeth Fisher reviewed with council the remaining schedule and areas for further discussion, prioritizing the FY27 utility rate model.


Key dates in the mid-biennium budget schedule are:

• Feb. 23 – Council budget worksession
• April 27 – Proposed mid-biennium budget and utility rate model for FY27 to council
• May 11 – Introduction of budget ordinance and fee/tariff ordinances
• May 26 – Public hearing
• June 8 – Public hearing and adoption of mid-bienium budget and utility rate model for FY27

Trip report from student ambassadors to Teshio

The delegation of Homer-Teshio student ambassadors, their leaders and city council members at the Homer city council meeting, Feb. 9, 2026. (Photo by Marcia Kuszmaul/Homer Independent Press)


At the top of the regular meeting, Megumi Beams, sister city liaison and director of the Alaska Japanese Club Homer, introduced the delegation of five students – Elayna Wilson, Finn Brewer, Wallen Straley, Rei Beams and Sai Beams – who traveled to Teshio, Japan, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Teshio and Homer. 


The students shared their experiences and memories from the trip, highlighting cultural exchanges and educational opportunities.


“What a difference that trip made in the students’ lives,” Council Member Carolyn Venuti said in final comments. “They truly are going to be ambassadors, which is what we need in today’s world. So I was really impressed with them. I knew most of them when they started, and it would have been hard for them to speak like that. Now they’re just pros at it. Wonderful job.”


The next student delegation is planned for 2027.


A complete recording of the Teshio trip report and the regular Feb. 9 council meeting with transcript and supporting documents is available on the city website.