Homer City Council

Two seats on the Homer City Council are in contention for the October 1, 2019  Municipal Election. The seats are currently held by Shelly Erickson and Tom Stroozas who were elected in 2016. Erickson and Stroozas have both filed for re-election.

The Homer City Council declined to put a parcel of city-owned land in Homer’s central business district back on the market Monday. The 1.3 acre parcel could have been the future home of Grace Ridge Brewing, but opponents of the move say the property could serve the city in the future.

The city had considered building the new Homer Public Library on the site, but after the city went another direction, the land sat on the market until 2018.  

The Homer City Council took a step forward toward upgrading the ice plant on the Homer Spit, Monday. During a meeting, the council approved funding an engineering consulting firm from Anchorage to evaluate the plant and create a list of recommended improvements.  

According to the city, the ice plant provides more than 3,500 tons of flake ice each year to preserve more than 20 million pounds of fish. Upgrades may include replacing refrigeration compressors and updating control systems.

The Homer City Council approved a plan Monday to make Homer more accessible. The City of Homer Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan identifies physical barriers that make the city inaccessible and categorizes them in terms of cost, priority and a timeline for correction. The plan addresses everything from parking issues to repairing ramps.

The Homer City Council postponed its decision Monday on whether to extend city water services to a low-income housing development outside of city limits. East End Partners offered the city $100,000 to provide city water services at the site in Kachemak City.  However, the ordinance would not allow other residents outside of city limits to access Homer city water.  

The council wants the Kachemak City Council to decide whether it will write a letter of support for the ordinance before it votes on the measure. The Kachemak council will meet Tuesday.

Updated: 4:01 p.m. 3/12/19

The Homer City Council has penned a strongly worded letter to Gov. Michael Dunlevy asking him to explore possible revenue options such as a state income tax instead of balancing the state’s budget through reduced state services.   

The letter says the far-reaching cuts in Dunleavy’s budget proposal reflect quote, “little concern for the burden that you have passed on to the residents of Alaska and the local governments that serve them,” end quote.

There has been some contention surrounding a proposed residential drug treatment center in Homer. Set Free Alaska, a Christian-based organization, wants to utilize a state grant and some matching funds from the city to start the treatment center downtown.

However, some on the Homer City Council question whether the money the city has in mind could be legally spent on the project.   

There has been a misunderstanding between the  City of Homer and Enstar Natural Gas.

Enstar helped fund the extension of its natural gas line to Homer in 2013. The state funded part of the extension too. However, the city and some in the Legislature were unaware that Enstar’s contribution was actually a loan with interest. Customers are supposed to pay the gas company back through an extra charge on their bill.

But, that loan balance isn’t dropping. In fact, it has grown by nearly $2 million  

A new Homer-based pot shop sidestepped a major roadblock Monday. 420 on Main plans to open its retail shop and grow operation on Main Street. The business also plans to manufacture marijuana products. But the shop still needs one more necessary license from the state. 

The Homer City Council did not object last month to 420 on Main’s application for a manufacturing license from the Marijuana Control Board.

However, council member Shelly Erickson asked the council to reconsider that decision during Monday’s meeting, though the council reaffirmed its choice.