The Homer City Council passed a resolution on Aug. 11 adopting the Homer goals of the Kenai Peninsula Walkability Action Plan, which was approved by a federal agency in July.

According to a July 31 memorandum from Community Development Director Julie Engebretsen, the Walkability Action Plan was created as part of a program, “Active People, Healthy Nation,” conducted by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors Center for Advancing Healthy Communities. The program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity and Health Branch.

The program implemented Walkability Action Institutes across the U.S. in order to develop “sustainable systemic changes in local communities that inspire people to be more physically active daily.” Six teams were developed in communities including Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Bethel, Dillingham, the Kenai Peninsula and Sitka to be part of the Walkability Action Institute in Alaska.

According to the resolution, teams consisted of a city planner, a public health nurse, an Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities planner, a local elected official and an interested member of the community. The Kenai Peninsula team included Kenai City Planner Kevin Buettner; Kenai public health nurse Julie Bunch; Romorenzo Marasigna, DOT&PF Central Region Planner for the Kenai Peninsula; Homer City Council member Donna Aderhold; and Alecia Gottlob with Cook Inlet Counseling.

The Kenai Peninsula Plan, approved by the NACDD on July 23, included seven goals in total — three for the City of Kenai and four for Homer. The City of Homer goals include evaluating traffic calming strategies for future implementation on Pioneer Avenue to improve non-motorized transportation and local business patronage in line with Homer’s comprehensive plan and zoning code rewrites; developing a truck route to move as much traffic as possible off of Pioneer Avenue to improve safety and walkability; identifying traffic problems and evaluating traffic calming strategies on Fairview Avenue; and adding an alternative non-motorized path from Bay Avenue to Lake Street to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to avoid Ocean Drive.

The Kenai Peninsula Plan is slated for submission to the CDC. According to the resolution, plans accepted by the CDC as part of the Walkability Action Institute may be eligible for federal grant funding, “if those funding streams still exist.”

The resolution also notes that the adoption of Homer’s Walkability Action Plan goals supports Homer’s planning and community development goals, transportation plan and comprehensive plan. Adoption of the goals was also called “timely,” as city staff are currently developing the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan and the goals can be added as projects.

Find Resolution 25-073 and supporting documents at www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/citycouncil/city-council-regular-meeting-343.