Resolution 14-100 Declaring it to be in the Public Interest to Own the Proposed New Public Safety Building

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                                            Mayor/Council

RESOLUTION 14-100

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, DECLARING AND STATING FOR THE RECORD THAT IT FINDS IT TO BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR THE CITY TO OWN THE PROPOSED NEW PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AND IT IS NOT INTERESTED IN LEASING THE BUILDING FROM A THIRD PARTY.

               WHEREAS, The Committee Chair, on behalf of the Public Safety Building Review Committee, has requested that the City Council provide the Committee with guidance on whether leasing a new public safety building from a third party builder/owner is an option that the Council would consider; and

               WHEREAS, The City Council discussed this topic in some detail at its regular meeting on September 8, 2014 during review of the City Manager’s report; and

               WHEREAS, Although no formal  action could be taken at that time, all five Council members present and the Mayor voiced support for public ownership of the new public safety building  and opposition to leasing; and

               WHEREAS, The Mayor and Council requested that a resolution to that effect be drafted and placed on the September 22 Agenda for further discussion and action.

               NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer City Council hereby declares and states for the record, that it finds it to be in the overall public interest for the City to own the proposed new public safety building and it is not interested in leasing the building from a third party builder/owner.

               BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council finds public ownership of the building to be preferable for the following reasons:

The City retains more control over the location of the building.
Lease payments could continue indefinitely and exceed the cost of the building.
The land the building will be sited on could not be used as a local project contribution to leverage state or federal funding.
State or federal capital funding would no longer be an option and the taxpayers would pay the full cost of building construction and more.
A public safety building houses core functions of the City and is too important to not be in public ownership.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 22nd day of September, 2014.

                                                                           CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                                                                       __                                                                                                                                                 MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR

ATTEST:

                                                            ___

JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A