At Monday night’s Homer City Council meeting, the council passed a resolution opposing the repeal on the ban on personal watercraft in Kachemak Bay and Fox River Flats Critical Habitat Area. About 20 people offered public comment on the repeal. The resolution passed with only Councilmember Heath Smith voting against the resolution.
The search for a new city manager proceeded with an executive session tentatively scheduled for January 31th – to cull applicants and prepare the first round of interviews. The council plans to form an advisory group consisting of three community members and two city employees and may plan a meet and greet style meeting to introduce candidates for the job to the public.
The council also passed a resolution approving an aid agreement between the Homer Volunteer Fire Department and Anchor Point Fire and Emergency Medical Service Area. The resolution authorized the Homer Volunteer Fire Department to respond outside the city to aid in emergencies in Anchor Point.
The council passed a memorandum designating Mayor Ken Castner to travel to Juneau on January 21st through the 23rd to attend the Alaska Municipal League Ferry Caucus and advocate for the Alaska Marine Highway System. State budget cuts have drastically reduced the ferry schedule and services.
The council also cleared up some accounting issues and transferred over 3 million dollars from the Utility Operations Fund to the Water and Sewer Fund and transferred funds from several city projects that were complete but still had funds dedicated to them.
The next meeting of the Homer City Council will be on Monday, Jan. 27.