Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Citizen Advisory Committee Information Packet

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Citizen Advisory Committee Project Information

Contents

Roles and Responsibilities of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)

• CAC Member Contact List

• CAC Role & Responsibilities

• CAC Membership Agreement

• Public Notices for CAC Meetings

• Approval Process for Adopting Homer Comprehensive Plan Update

Project Background:

• Background to the Project

• Project Area Map

• Project Schedule

• Resource Material

• The Consultant Team

• Project Partners

Project Organization:

• Meeting Agendas

• Notes & Next Steps

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update - Citizen Advisory CommitteeTitle & Affiliation First Last Address Zip Email Work Home Cell

Val McLay P.O. Box 785 99603 jmclay@acsalaska.net 235-7456 235-8493

Marianne Schlegelmilch P.O. Box 208699603

bilmar@gci.net 235-6913 355-3424

Michael McCarthy P.O. Box 957 99603 cathmic@gci.net 235-5597Bob Howard 629 Rangeview Avenue 99603 bobhoward@gci.net 226-2025Barb Seaman P.O. Box 2843 99603 phoenix@xyz.net 235-5263 235-6395Bill Smith 335 E. Bayview 99603 bsmith@xyz.net 235-8932Ann Marie Holen 393 Noview Avenue 99603 amholen@acsalaska.net 235-8121 235-0730

Christopher Story P.O. Box 366 99603 story@xyz.net 235-6183 235-2869Jim Henkelman P.O. Box 229 99603 jhenkelman@spbhs.org 235-9272 235-6735Tina Day 2298 Mount Augustine Dr. 99603 tina@homeralaska.org 235-7740 235-4889Allegra Bukojemsky 1311 Lakeshore Drive, #3 99603 allegra@dna-dsn.com 235-1505Hannah Bradley 4824 Shannon Ct 99603 travelhart14@yahoo.com 235-6693

Agnew::Beck 1/25/2007

City of Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Roles and Responsibilities of the Citizen Advisory Committee Committee Responsibilities The overall goal of the committee is to help guide the planning process, working with the consulting team, as sounding board and review body. While the community and the City of Homer are the ultimate decision makers on the project, the CAC will help the consulting team set preliminary land use policies for community review. The committee will meet approximately bi-monthly – overall about 5-7 times over the 13-month course of the project. The committee may choose to have additional meetings beyond those scheduled by the project management team. In addition, there will be 2-3 public events (e.g., open house or workshop) in which committee members are encouraged to participate. The committee will be responsible to discuss issues, review products (at minimum, 3 drafts of the plan update), and generally help keep the planning process moving forward in a positive, efficient manner. Committee Makeup The makeup of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is intended to provide a proxy for the diverse views in the community as a whole. Interests represented on the committee include:

- Businesses and residents in the Homer area - Community leaders - Land or second home owners from outside the community - “Pro-development” and “pro-environment” - Developers and builders familiar with the conditions and challenges found in Homer - Recreational users - Anyone else interested in the future of the City of Homer

Other Participants In addition to the formal membership of the committee, members of the public will be welcome to sit in on CAC meetings. Meetings will be noticed in the local papers. While members of the general public will be invited at specified times to share their questions and opinions, for issues where the CAC is required to make a particular decision (e.g. on a policy to include in the draft plan to be circulated for public review), the decision will be made just by CAC members. Balancing Personal vs. Community Views Members of the CAC are expected to represent their own views, but also to consider views of the segment of the community they known, and ultimately to consider what is best for the community as a whole. Perspectives we will expect committee members to take are listed below:

- Be as concerned about understanding other people’s positions as expressing their own views. - Listen to and consider testimony from the public and other government agencies as it affects this plan - Consider compromises to help resolve conflicts between competing community viewpoints.

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Citizen Advisory Committee Membership Agreement While serving on the Committee, members agree to:

1. Provide planning advice that represents personal views, and to equally consider the interests of the entire Homer community and the Municipality as a whole; to seek common ground solutions that serve the needs of all parties with a stake in the future of the Homer;

2. On an ongoing and informal basis, to keep friends and neighbors informed regarding Homer

issues and emerging Homer Comprehensive Plan Update recommendations;

3. Work productively with other Committee members, municipal staff, and the public when differences of opinion develop, and to follow the general rules below: Listen, be open to new ideas Stay on topic, keep comments brief Be respectful and polite; attack issues, not people Be positive, be problem solvers

4. Devote the time, study and thought necessary to carry out Committee duties; 5. Work with other Committee members to help shape a Homer Comprehensive Plan Update

that individual members and the committee as a whole can actively support.

Public Notices for Homer Comprehensive Plan Update CAC Meetings The primary goal of Citizen Advisory Committee meetings is for the CAC to have the opportunity to work through issues addressed in the plan. The public is invited to sit in on CAC meetings, but these meetings offer limited opportunities for general public involvement. A range of other venues will be provided for the general public to participate in the planning process, including a series of public workshops, and comment periods to review drafts of the plan and related documents. Members of the public are also encouraged to call or e-mail the planning consultants and City of Homer planning staff with questions or concerns throughout the planning process.

Consistent with this objective, public notice announcements for Citizen Advisory Committee meetings will be limited to postings on the project website, the City of Homer Calendar of Events, the local newspapers, KBBI and the informational kiosks. Public Service Announcements (PSA’s), press releases, ads, flyers and other publicity methods are not required. These methods for encouraging public involvement will be used in conjunction with public workshops. Updated information about the planning process is available on the project website www.homercompplan.com. You may also visit the City of Homer Clerk’s website at www.clerk.ci.homer.ak.us and view the online calendar at Announcements.

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Background to the Project Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Request for Proposals – August 2, 2006 An extract from the RFP Introduction The City of Homer is soliciting proposals from qualified consultants to provide professional services to produce a comprehensive plan to guide future development and growth for the City. This plan should provide a functional plan for 10 years with an outlook to 20 years. The first Homer Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1954. The most current comprehensive plan is the 1989 version, which received a partial update in 1999. Since 1999 the City has adopted a Non-Motorized Trails and Transportation Plan, a Transportation Plan and the Town Center Development Plan, all of which are considered to be additional updates to the Comprehensive Plan. The City is currently in the process of developing a Master Water and Sewer Plan. In 2002 a 4.58 square mile annexation was completed. The City of Homer wishes to begin its comprehensive planning process by engaging in a process that is well conceived and professionally facilitated. The City expects the plan to be a grass-roots effort emphasizing citizen involvement with representation and contribution from a variety of citizens, neighborhoods, community groups and organizations, local agencies, City boards, commissions, and the Council. The City expects the community participation plan to be innovative and to consider the use of focus groups as well as intensive short-term teams or work groups, such as study circles, to identify issues, create a community vision, and to assist in establishing the goals and objectives. The goal is for the comprehensive plan to generally be completed within one year after award of the contract; however, complex issues may require more in-depth study, which may result in an extension of the completion date and possible negotiation to amend the contract. As in many Alaskan communities, the summer months are generally the “busy months” for Homer residents. One distinctive aspect of Homer is that many seasonal business operators live elsewhere during the winter months. The proposer should develop a schedule that is flexible enough to allow busy residents and business owners/operators the opportunity for significant input throughout the planning process, while recognizing the seasonal nature of the community.

What Is a Comprehensive Plan?

Basis for Planning In Alaska State Constitution In Alaska, comprehensive plans are mandated of all organized municipalities by Title 29 of the Alaska State Statutes. The key elements of the statute (Sec. 29.40.030) are summarized below:

The comprehensive plan is a compilation of policy statements, goals, standards, and maps for guiding the physical, social, and economic development, both private and public, of the municipality, and may include, but is not limited to, the following:

- Statements of policies, goals, and standards; - Land use plan; - Community facilities plan; - Transportation plan; and, - Recommendations for implementing a comprehensive plan

A COMP PLAN IS: • A general statement of community goals • Long term; looks ahead 10, 20, 30 years • A means to gain local control over changes affecting community life • A means to acquire resources to carry out community priorities

(e.g. a reference for grant applications) • The foundation for a range of implementation actions: roads, trails,

public facilities, land use policies A COMP PLAN IS NOT:

• A zoning ordinance • An application for incorporation • A method for taxation

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Project Area

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Annotated Bibliography

1

Title Date Author Keywords/Categories Location Homer Comprehensive Plan Update

1999 Homer Planning Department

Land Use, Open Space, Economic Development

Hard copy, in-house; Electronic copy: http://planning.ci.homer.ak.us/PLANNINGWEBPAGES/DefaultLinks/Complan99.pdf

City of Homer Comprehensive Plan

1989-90 Homer Planning Department Land Use Hard copy, in-house

Kenai Borough LRTP

December 2003 HDR Transportation Electronic copy: www.borough.kenai.ak.us/planningdept/Trans/Transportation.htm

Town Center Development Plan

April 2006

Laura Ballock Landscape & Urban Design Consulting

Urban Design Hard copy, in-house; Electronic copy: http://clerk.ci.homer.ak.us/tcdplan.pdf

Kenai Peninsula Comprehensive Plan

June 2005 Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Department

Economic Development, Transportation, Land Use, Environment

Electronic copy: www.borough.kenai.ak.us/planningdept/plan/2005/plan.htm

Kenai Area Plan August 2001 Alaska DNR Land Use, Transportation,

Environment Electronic copy: www.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw/planning/areaplans/kenai/index.htm

City of Homer Non-Motorized Trails and Transportation Plan

June 2004 DOWL Engineers Transportation Hard copy, in-house

Water and Sewer Master Plan July 2006

Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corp.

Infrastructure Hard copy, in-house

2000 Census and growth projections 2000 US Census Bureau Demographics

http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html 2005 America Community Survey does not have county-level data for Homer (only Anch; Fairb; Mat-Su)

Homer City Code City of Homer Electronic copy: http://clerk.ci.homer.ak.us/document/hcc.htm

Capital Improvement Plan

October 2006 City of Homer

Land Use, Transportation, Environment, Parks & Open Space, Financial, Public Services & Facilities, Infrastructure

Electronic copy: http://www.ci.homer.ak.us/2007.pdf

City of Homer Annual Budget 2006 City of Homer Financial (?) Hard copy, in-house

MLS Data 1998-2006 Real Estate – Housing,

Economic Pulled from www.alaskarealestate.com; statistics in folder: N:\Homer Comp Plan\02.BACKGROUND INFO\Homer Documents

Legislative Requests/STIP Requests

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update Annotated Bibliography

2

Title Date Author Keywords/Categories Location Fire Station Study/ies Public Safety Study/ies

Economic Development, Tourism Study/ies

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update - The Consultant Team Chris Beck Project Manager

Chris Beck is a co-owner and principal at the Anchorage-based community planning and development firm Agnew::Beck Consulting, LLC. Chris has over 25 years experience with a wide range of land use planning, economic development and community facilities projects. Chris’s particular skills include finding common ground among diverse viewpoints and crafting development strategies that balance the need for growth with a desire to maintain community character.

Recent examples of Chris’s experience with similar work include the Crow Creek Neighborhood Plan, Palmer Comprehensive Plan, and the Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan. Tanya Iden Project Planner

A life-long Alaskan, Tanya came to Agnew::Beck in 2006. Tanya has worked in a number of capacities including community planning, environmental projects, and substance abuse prevention activities. Her planning background includes land use planning, structuring meaningful community involvement, environmental permitting, and aesthetic analysis of both the built and natural environments. As a planner, Tanya enjoys listening to Alaskans and developing planning strategies which reflect the values and strengths of their communities.

Ellen Campfield Nelson Public Participation

Ellen is an Associate at Agnew::Beck who will assist with public participation and communications strategies for the Homer Comprehensive Plan. Ellen is an experienced project manager working with communities on various types of planning projects. Ellen has a strong background in graphic design, communication, and facilitation. She works with both rural and urban communities and with nonprofit organizations and small businesses.

Tom Brigham Transportation and Infrastructure Planning A senior transportation planner with HDR Alaska, Tom Brigham has more than 26 years of experience in the planning, analysis, and management of public and private transportation systems. He has managed transportation and community impact projects throughout Alaska. Recently, Tom led the development of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Long Range Transportation Plan guiding HDR Alaska’s efforts in developing modeling, goals and objectives to fit the needs of the fast-growing borough. As Director of Statewide Planning from 1995-2003 for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Tom created and oversaw successful development of a statewide plan and a group of regional, multimodal transportation plans that broke new ground in analysis and planning of Alaska transportation. These plans anticipated transportation needs and compared the effectiveness of investment in surface, air, and marine alternatives. All of these plans contained extensive public involvement. Tom has completed projects in Talkeetna, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Girdwood, Barrow, Yakutat, and Ketchikan. Tom will evaluate transportation in Homer not only from the single-community perspective but also from the big-picture perspective, paralleling the development of Homer with the growth and scope of the Kenai Peninsula Borough in general. Todd Bethard Public Facilities and Services HDR Alaska’s water section manager, Todd Bethard has nine years of experience in planning, designing, and construction of many industry facets here in rural Alaska. He is conversant with water and waste design and utility projects. Todd is experienced in rural Alaska with major work completed in communities like Soldotna, King Cove, and Ketchikan. Currently, Todd works in Homer for the city’s water treatment facility. He’s also evaluated site conditions, managed predesigns for plant improvements and also managed construction for Soldotna’s waste water treatment plant facility improvements. Todd has also worked on the water treatment plant for King Cove and the Ketchikan Public Utilities’ Emergency Response Plan. Tamás Deák Land Use and Urban Design Tamás Deák is a registered landscape architect in Alaska where he has been practicing for twelve years. Born and raised in Hungary, Tamás brings a unique perspective of balancing urban development with natural open land. He combines his professional practice in landscape architecture and architecture with a strong emphasis on emerging urban areas, mixed use development and urban open spaces. He brings to the team a breadth of experience in site analysis, infrastructure and traffic conceptualization for master planning, site design, and the environmental aspects of urban open space design, particularly storm water management and urban forestry. His skill in effectively working with diverse stakeholders combined with his

technical knowledge will aid the team in interpreting and communicating about land use and building codes that apply to the Homer Comprehensive Plan. Stephen Colt Economic Development and Analysis Since 1984, Steve has been working as a research associate at the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research for the University of Alaska Anchorage. He has 20 years of research experience in Alaska with principal areas of research involving energy economics with emphases on electricity and end-use efficiency; rural utilities (electric, water, sewer, telecommunications); tourism and recreation; and the economics of environmental systems and non-marketed ecosystem services. Steve has joint appointments with the university’s College of Arts and Sciences (where he teaches the environmental studies program) and the Economics Department (where he teaches economic development, environmental economics and policy, natural resource economics, and introduction to environmental studies). He earned a doctorate’s degree in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999. Steve’s expert abilities in economic analysis will support the development of Future Growth and Development Scenarios for the Homer Comprehensive Plan.

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update - "Partner" OrganizationsTitle & Affiliation Address Zip E-mail/WebpageSeldovia Native Association 206 Main St # 101 Seldovia, AK 99663 www.seldovia.comChugach Alaska Corporation 560 E. 34th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99503 http://www.chugach-ak.comPort Graham Development Corporation (HQ) 629 L Street, Suite 205 Anchorage, AK 99501 http://www.pgdcorp.com/press.htm

2525 C Street, Suite 500 Anchorage, AK 99509P.O. Box 93330 Anchorage, AK 99509

South Peninsula Hospital 4300 Bartlett St Homer, AK 99603 www.sphosp.com

University of Alaska - Kachemak Bay 533 East Pioneer Avenue Homer, AK 99603 http://www.homer.alaska.edu/

State Parks (DNR) - Alaska State Parks Kenai Area Office

Mile 85 Sterling Hwy,

Morgans Landing

PO Box 1247, Soldotna,

AK 99669

http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/aspbro/charts/kenhomer.ht

m#kachemak Anchor River Special Management Area Deep Creek State Recreation Area Kachemak Bay State Park/State Wilderness Park Ninilchik State Recreational Area Stariski State Recreation Site

Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority

3745 Community Park

Loop, Suite 200 Anchorage AK 99508 http://www.mhtrust.org/

Private developers who hold more than 20+acres?Kachemak CityKenai Peninsula Borough 144 N. Binkley Soldotna, AK 99669 http://www.borough.kenai.ak.us/Federal Lands (map ownership data)English Bay Corporation/Donald D. Emmal 1637 Stanton Avenue Anchorage, AK 99508 DDEmmal@aol.com

Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) http://www.ciri.com/content/home/index.cfm

Homer Comprehensive Plan Update - Interested OrganizationsTitle & Affiliation Address Zip EmailHomer Foundation PO Box 2600 Homer, AK 99603 http://www.homerfund.org/Homer Council on the Arts 355 W. Pioneer Avenue. Homer, AK 99603 http://www.homerart.org/Chamber of Commerce 201 Sterling Highway Box 541, Homer, AK 99603 http://www.homeralaska.org/Soil and Water Conservation District 4014 Lake Street, Suite 201 Homer, AK 99603 http://www.homerswcd.org/Pratt Museum 3779 Bartlett Street Homer, AK 99603 http://www.prattmuseum.org/Alaska National Maritime Wildlife Refuge visitor center 95 Sterling Highway, Suite Homer, AK 99603 - http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=74500Friends of the Library 141 W. Pioneer Avenue Homer, AK 99603 http://library.ci.homer.ak.us/friends.htmFriends of Pets (Homer Animal Friends?) Homer, AK 99603Kachemak Board of Realtors, Inc. 3670 Lake St #300 Homer, AK 99603BPO Elks (Homer Lodge #2127) 215 W Jenny Lane Homer, AK 99603 http://www.elks.org/Lodges/home.cfm?LodgeNumber=2127Rotary Club of Homer-Kachemak Bay 575 Sterling Hwy PO Box 377, Homer, AK 99603 http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/home/homeS.asp?cid=2459Kachemak Bay Lions Club P.O. Box 3106 Homer, AK 99603Independent Living Center 3953 Bartlett St Homer, AK 99603 http://www.peninsulailc.org/Kachemak Heritage Land Trust 315 Klondike Avenue Homer, AK 99603 http://www.kachemaklandtrust.org/Cook Inlet Keeper 3734 Ben Walters Lane PO Box 3269, Homer, AK 99603 http://www.inletkeeper.org/KBBI 3913 Kachemak Way Homer, AK 99603 www.kbbi.orgKachemak Bay Research Reserve 95 Sterling Highway, Suite Homer, AK 99603 http://www.habitat.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/kbrr/index.htmlKenai Peninsula Borough 144 N. Binkley Soldotna, AK 99669 http://www.borough.kenai.ak.us/Kenai Peninsula Borough School District http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us

Fireweed Academy Charter School Po Box 474 Homer, AK 99603 https://www.edline.net/pages/Fireweed_AcademyHomer Flex School 4122 Ben Walters Lane Homer, AK 99603 https://www.edline.net/pages/Homer_FlexHomer High School 600 E. Fairview Ave. Homer, AK 99603 https://www.edline.net/pages/Homer_HighHomer Middle School 500 Sterling Hwy. Homer, AK 99603 https://www.edline.net/pages/Homer_MiddleMcNeil Canyon Elementary School 52188 East End Road Homer, AK 99603 https://www.edline.net/pages/McNeil_Canyon_ElementaryPaul Banks Elementary School 1340 East Road Homer, AK 99603 https://www.edline.net/pages/West_Homer_ElementaryRazdolna School PO Box 15098-FCB Homer, AK 99603 https://www.edline.net/pages/West_Homer_ElementaryWest Homer School 3719 Soundview Ave. Homer, AK 99603 https://www.edline.net/pages/West_Homer_ElementaryHomer Christian School (private) 3838 Bartlett St Homer, AK 99603

Fishermans Organization (double check name) Homer, AK 99603Seniors Organization (double check name) Homer, AK 99603Softball (double check name) Homer, AK 99603VFW Homer, AK 99603