City of Homer

City Manager Koester resigns for job in Juneau

Katie Koester, the city’s Homer-born-and-raised city manager, resigned on Monday to take a job in Alaska’s capital city. Koester announced her resignation in a letter… Continue reading

 

Council passes 2020 — and 2021 — budgets

At its last regular meeting of 2019, the Homer City Council passed one of its most important actions for the next year — and for… Continue reading

 

Storm Hansen-Cavasos is sworn in as a new member of the Homer City Council at a Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 council meeting at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Court date set for lawsuit over city election

Editor’s note: The hearing date for this case was changed after this story was published, and the article has been updated to reflect that change.… Continue reading

 

City offers tours of its facilities

Ever wondered what exactly goes on inside the local police station, or how things work at the water treatment plant? Now is your opportunity to… Continue reading

Storm Hansen-Cavasos, pictured here on Aug. 30 at the Homer News. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer election finalized; Hansen-Cavasos wins council seat by 7 votes

Political newcomer Storm Hansen-Cavasos has unseated Homer City Council incumbent Shelly Erickson by seven votes, according to the final election results after the Canvass Board… Continue reading

Storm Hansen-Cavasos, pictured here on Aug. 30 at the Homer News. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Supporters wave signs in support of Proposition A, to ban single-use plastic bags, and for Homer City Council candidates Joey Evensen and Storm Hansen-Cavasos on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, and WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Homer voters approve plastic bag ban; Evensen to serve on council

Homer has a new city council member in political newcomer Joey Evensen, and voters have approved a ban on retailers providing thin, single-use plastic bags… Continue reading

Supporters wave signs in support of Proposition A, to ban single-use plastic bags, and for Homer City Council candidates Joey Evensen and Storm Hansen-Cavasos on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, and WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
From left to right: Candidates for Homer City Council Tom Stroozas, Shelly Erickson, Storm Hansen-Cavasos and Joey Evensen participate in a candidate forum Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Candidates for Homer City Council talk economy, quality of life and more at forum

The four candidates running for two open seats on the Homer City Council got a chance to address constituents and speak their mind on a… Continue reading

From left to right: Candidates for Homer City Council Tom Stroozas, Shelly Erickson, Storm Hansen-Cavasos and Joey Evensen participate in a candidate forum Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Evensen represents emerging political demographic of parents with young children

Homer City Council candidate Joey Evensen falls into a demographic emerging as part of the city’s political scene. Like council members Rachel Lord and Heath… Continue reading

Proposed addiction treatment center won’t be in Refuge Chapel building

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to reflect that resident Frank Griswold gave the City of Homer notice of intent to appeal an Advisory… Continue reading

Runners and walkers participate in the Blue Line Run in Homer, Alaska, on March 30, 2019. They moved along the blue line, or the line marking the top of the 50-foot high inundation zone in the event of a tsunami. (Photo provided)

Scientists update Homer on new tsunami zones

There was some good news and some bad news when city officials, employees and emergency responders met at Homer City Hall on May 8 with… Continue reading

Runners and walkers participate in the Blue Line Run in Homer, Alaska, on March 30, 2019. They moved along the blue line, or the line marking the top of the 50-foot high inundation zone in the event of a tsunami. (Photo provided)
Former Homer Mayor Bryan Zak, in front, shovels dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Homer Police Station on Grubstake Avenue last Friday, May 24, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Homer City Council member Rachel Lord with her two children, Sadie and Linnea, council member Donna Aderhold, council member Shelly Erickson, council member Caroline Venuti, Mayor Ken Castner, Homer City Manager Katie Koester, and Byron Smith, son of council member Heath Smith, far right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Ceremonial ground breaking held for new police station

On a sunny Friday afternoon, about 25 citizens and dignitaries attended groundbreaking ceremonies and a dedication of the site for the new Homer Police Station… Continue reading

Former Homer Mayor Bryan Zak, in front, shovels dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Homer Police Station on Grubstake Avenue last Friday, May 24, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Homer City Council member Rachel Lord with her two children, Sadie and Linnea, council member Donna Aderhold, council member Shelly Erickson, council member Caroline Venuti, Mayor Ken Castner, Homer City Manager Katie Koester, and Byron Smith, son of council member Heath Smith, far right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News Construction workers do foundation work at the site of the new Homer Police Station on Grubstake Avenue and Heath Street uphill of the Homer Post Office on May 20 in Homer.

Groundbreaking for new police station is Friday

With construction of the new Homer Police Station started, city officials will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the building site on… Continue reading

Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News Construction workers do foundation work at the site of the new Homer Police Station on Grubstake Avenue and Heath Street uphill of the Homer Post Office on May 20 in Homer.

City announces new fire chief

The City of Homer announced Tuesday that there’s a new fire chief in town, and his name is Mark Kirko. Kirko is taking over as… Continue reading

Water, sewer rates likely to increase for city

Residents who use Homer water and sewer services will likely see a slight increase to their rates, according to Finance Director Elizabeth Walton. During a… Continue reading

Homer City Manager Katie Koester, left, watches Homer Mayor Ken Castner sign a $4.1 million bond to fund construction of the new Homer Police Station at Homer City Hall on April 24, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)

City officials sign new $4.1 million bond for Homer police station

City of Homer officials last week signed bond documents to complete financing for the new Homer Police Station. It comes in at $900,000 less than… Continue reading

Homer City Manager Katie Koester, left, watches Homer Mayor Ken Castner sign a $4.1 million bond to fund construction of the new Homer Police Station at Homer City Hall on April 24, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided)
The covered porch at the end of the Windjammer Suites building at 320 W. Pioneer Ave. is shown in a photograph taken April 23, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. In 2014 the Homer Advisory Planning Commission granted a conditional use permit for the porch to be in a 20-foot setback, a decision citizen activist Frank Griswold attempted to appeal before the Homer Board of Adjustment. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Alaska Supreme Court finds local resident has standing in zoning case

A Homer citizen activist has prevailed in an Alaska Supreme Court case asserting he has standing to appeal a 2014 Homer Advisory Planning Commission decision.… Continue reading

The covered porch at the end of the Windjammer Suites building at 320 W. Pioneer Ave. is shown in a photograph taken April 23, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. In 2014 the Homer Advisory Planning Commission granted a conditional use permit for the porch to be in a 20-foot setback, a decision citizen activist Frank Griswold attempted to appeal before the Homer Board of Adjustment. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Council votes to extend water service to Kachemak City lot

Mayor Ken Castner on Tuesday night broke his campaign promise that he would not vote to break a tie on the Homer City Council. Castner… Continue reading

Mayor Ken Castner addresses a crowd of people at a Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Homer Chamber of Commerce meeting during a “State of the City” address at the Best Western Bidarka Inn in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Mayor, city manager give update on city

Things outside Homer don’t look great, but the city will continue to weather the storm well. That’s according to Mayor Ken Castner and City Manager… Continue reading

Mayor Ken Castner addresses a crowd of people at a Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Homer Chamber of Commerce meeting during a “State of the City” address at the Best Western Bidarka Inn in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Community members enjoy a free ice skating party hosted by Rotary Club of Homer-Kachemak Bay, McDonalds and the City of Homer on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019 at Ben Walters Park and Beluga Lake in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Local groups celebrate new park equipment with winter time bash

To celebrate an upcoming project, three local entities hosted a free ice skating party last week on the temperamental Beluga Lake. The weather and the… Continue reading

Community members enjoy a free ice skating party hosted by Rotary Club of Homer-Kachemak Bay, McDonalds and the City of Homer on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019 at Ben Walters Park and Beluga Lake in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Anchor Point to Homer trunk line surcharge balloons

The lower Kenai Peninsula’s deal to help pay for a natural gas distribution line from Anchor Point to Homer could cost gas users more than… Continue reading

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