By Marcia Kuszmaul

Homer Independent Press

A public hearing and vote to change Homer’s election date to November and a much-anticipated report on data collected from local youth headline the Monday, March 9, Homer City council meeting.

The election changes would move Homer’s election day from October to “the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November” to align with the new Kenai Peninsula Borough election day. Candidate filing dates move to September, and runoff election dates move to December.

Homer Mayor Rachel Lord, speaking when the ordinance was introduced Feb. 23, said the city would face significant costs in holding its own elections — since historically the city has shared the burden with the borough — and that having a Homer-only election would likely reduce voter turnout.

A supporting memo from City Clerk Amy Woodruff also outlines a possible modification to how the city reports election results when multiple city council seats are on the ballot.

During a public testimony period last week, two people spoke against the possible change and urged the council to leave it out of the ordinance when it is up for action Monday.

Planet Youth Homer project managers Hannah Gustafson and Anna Meredith will report on the results of an anonymous survey in fall 2025 of local 9^th to 11^th graders at Homer High School, Homer Flex High School and students being homeschooled about their wellbeing and sense of community among peers, at school, at home and during their free time.

In a March 4 interview, Meredith described the project as a “a community-wide prevention approach to help create a culture and environment where young people can thrive” inspired by and with the assistance of the successful Icelandic Prevention Model. 

The report will review strengths youth identified – such as an engaged and supportive community – as well as areas for growth – such as mental health services and emotional coping skills.

Next steps include sharing the survey widely in the community with social service and health agencies, nonprofit organizations, parents, city agencies and other stakeholders, developing and implementing action plans to protect strengths and strengthen growth areas, and a follow-up survey in 2027 to check progress.

Two actions relating to city infrastructure are teed up for public hearing and council vote on Monday.

•  Approval of $1,553.56 from the Land Fund to purchase from the Kenai Peninsula Borough for taxes owed a 1.12-acre lot at the end of Mattox Road fronting Beluga Lake and west of the Airport Critical Habitat Area. The vacant land, valued at $25,700, will be used for conservation purposes and support stormwater conveyance and green-infrastructure filtration for the neighborhood drainage system.
  
  

•  Approval of $25,000 from the Port Reserves to procure 12-by-12-inch timbers for immediate and future repair of the spare fender used for the Face Berth and Inside Berth of the Deep Water Dock. In a supporting memo, Port Director Bryan Hawkins writes, “While these fenders are now aging infrastructure, they continue to perform adequately for the limited use those berths receive. Full system replacement would represent a significant capital expenditure, so staff have continued to maintain and rotate these units to extend their service life.”
  
  
  

New actions to be introduced Monday include:

• Appropriating $150,000 from the Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails (HART) Trails Fund for planning and design of the Woodard Canyon Trail above Karen Hornaday Park.  Council will review HART policy during its 4 p.m. worksession.
  
  

•  Appropriating $240,000 from the Water Capital Asset Repair and Maintenance Allowance (CARMA) Fund to purchase two properties for future water treatment needs.
  
  

• Appropriating $100,000 from the Land Fund and $40,000 from the General Fund Unrestricted Fund Balance Fund to purchase two properties for conservation and water utility needs.
  
  

At the meeting Mayor Lord will recognize outgoing Police Chief Mark Robl, whose last official day is March 19. According to the Police Department’s web site, Robl, who was appointed on May 11, 1999, has the distinction of being the longest serving chief in Alaska. Police Chief Michael Scanlon succeeds Chief Robl.

Council resolutions will bring the Police Chief position back into the Public Employees Retirement System and authorize the Homer Volunteer Fire Department to apply for the Southern Region EMS Council FY27 Code Blue Grant.

All city council meetings are open to the public at 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 at 6 p.m. on KBBI public radio AM 890.