Although the draft 2010 operating budget dominated Homer City Council meetings on Monday, the council moved forward a whole slate of ordinances and resolutions for further action. Reconsideration asked by council member Dennis Novak of an ordinance regulating wind energy systems passed last month failed for lack of the four votes necessary to take action. Mayor James Hornaday, who can vote in a tie, and council member Bryan Zak had excused absences.

"I had some issues with this," Novak said in asking for reconsideration. "I feel like basically it's a good idea, but I think we have some things that are left 'we'll see how it works out.'"

Several citizens spoke against regulating wind power generators at all, while others said the towers would obstruct views and interfere with satellite TV reception.

"Do we even need an ordinance that regulates this stuff?" asked Steve Zimmerman.

"Why are we spending the energy to stop people from promoting a zero energy system?" asked Mike Kennedy.

"Windmills -- they're an eyesore; they're intrusive on somebody else's view," said Danny Shannon.

The Homer Comprehensive Plan also earned some public comments, with some citizens objecting to goals supporting oil and gas and mineral exploration and the homeporting of U.S. Navy vessels. The council introduced on first reading an ordinance adopting the comp plan, with public hearings on Oct. 12 and Oct. 26 and second reading on Oct. 26. Council member Beth Wythe had asked for a change in the hearing schedule.

The council killed on first reading an ordinance establishing a way to determine compensation for elected official and Homer Advisory Planning Commission members. Council member David Lewis said that with budget cuts proposed, now is not the time to talk about paying city officials more. Lewis, Wythe and Barbara Howard voted against moving the ordinance forward.

Ordinances that did pass on first reading and proceed to future public hearings and second readings include:

* Accepting and appropriating a $15,000 Rasmuson Foundation grant for Homer Public Library collection development;

* Adopting city code requiring permits for special events;

* Amending city code to add definitions related to overslope development in the Homer Small Boat Harbor;

* Amending city code requiring replacement of temporary, or "spaghetti," water lines when a lot has direct access to a water main;

* Suspending application of city code regarding improvements to a home in the Harrington Heights subdivision.

In that action, the council considered an ordinance that would allow Robert Nakada to keep a newer mobile home he had replaced for a rundown mobile home. The planning commission had denied an application for nonconforming use by the new mobile home.

The council also accepted a bid by Sue Christensen to purchase a city lot on Cranberry Place. No bids were received for sale of part of the old library lot.

The council also accepted and appropriated $100,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding -- federal economic stimulus funds -- for a street sweeper and $1.8 million in stimulus funds to rehabilitate sewer trunk mains.

The next Committee of the Whole meeting is at 4 p.m. and the next Regular Meeting s at 7 p.m. Sept. 28.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.