HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2020-45)<? Sponsored by : Vice Mayor Molloy
K(;NAI
CITY OF KENAI
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-45
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF KENAI , ALASKA, NAMING THE CITY OF KENAl'S
WILDLIFE VIEWING PLATFORM AT BOAT LAUNCH ROAD, THE "TARBOX WILDLIFE
VIEWING PLATFORM ."
WHEREAS, Ken and Connie Tarbo x ("Tarbox") were residents of the Central Kenai Peninsula
and officers of the Keen Eye Bird Club, who spent many hundreds of volunteer hours from the
early 2000s through 2019 as citizen volunteers, collaborating with multiple gove rnment
agencies, businesses and citizens, to create educational and recreational opportunities for
residents and to promote tourism on the Kenai Peninsula and in the City of Kenai , through the
development of infrastructure and programs for wildlife viewing; and,
WHEREAS, Tarbox were the prime citizen movers in the development of the Kenai Peninsula
Wildlife Viewing Trail and the publication and distribution of the trail guide, collaborating with
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and several Chambers of Commerce, including the
Kenai Chamber of Commerce; and,
WHEREAS, Tarbox recognized that a wildlife viewing platform at the Boat Launch Road would
be an excellent addition for this Trail and would bring more tourists to the City of Kenai,
providing educational and recreational opportunities in the City of Kenai; and,
WHEREAS , Kenai Watershed Forum was interested in a tidal marsh rehabilitation and
conservation project in the same area , and the City of Kenai Administration was interested in
both concepts; and,
WHEREAS, Tarbox co llaborated with the City of Kenai, the Kenai Watershed Forum, the U.S .
Department of the Interior, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game, Conoco Phillips, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (Kenai) for the funding
and construction of the wildlife viewi ng platform on city land at Boat Launch Road, a nd for the
tidal marsh rehabilitation project; and,
WHEREAS, Tarbox and the Keen Eye Bird Club, together with the Kenai Watershed Forum,
developed the programs for the Kenai Birding Festival, and promoted and coordinated the
festival together with the Kenai Chamber of Commerce; and,
WHEREAS, Kenai's wildlife viewing platform at Boat Launch Road made the City of Kenai a
central hub not only for the festival, but also as a site for the Kenai Chamber of Commerce's
referral of visitors , providing an opportunity for residents and visitors to appreciate the Kenai
River Flats and enjoy wildlife viewing, including sea ls, beluga whales, moose and caribou, as
well as bird s; and,
WHEREAS, Kenai's wildlife view ing platform at Boat Launch Road has not previously been
designated with a specified name; a nd ,
Resolution No. 2020-45
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS , in recognition of the Tarbox's volunteer contributions over many years to
development of infrastructure and programs which created educational and recreational
opportunities for residents of, and tourists in , the City of Ke nai , the City Council desires to
recognize Ken and Connie Tarbox by naming Kenai's wildlife viewing platform at Boat Launch
Road the "Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform;" and ,
WHEREAS , the Kenai Watershed Forum, the Department of the Interior, Kenai National Wildlife
Refuge, and members of the public have expressed support for the City Council's naming this
platform the "Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform."
NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI,
ALASKA:
Section 1. That in recognition of Ken and Connie Tarbox's volunteer contributions over
many years to development of infrastructure and programs which created educational and
recreational opportun it ies for residents of, and tourists in, the City of Kenai, the City Council
desires to recognize Ken and Connie Tarbox by naming Kenai's wildlife viewing platform at Boat
Launch Road the "Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform."
Section 2. That this resolution takes effect immediately upon passage .
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 17t11 day of June, 2020 .
BRIAN GABRIEL, SR., MAYOR
ATIEST:
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Council
CC: City Manager and Administration
FROM: Vice Mayor Molloy
DATE: June 10, 2020
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 2020-45
Kenai's wildlife viewing platform at Boat Launch Road has not previously been designated with
a specified name. This resolution names this wildlife viewing platform the “Tarbox Wildlife
Viewing Platform" in recognition of Ken and Connie Tarbox's volunteer contributions over many
years to development of infrastructure and programs which created educational and recreational
opportunities for residents of, and brought tourists to, the City of Kenai.
Members of the public requested, and have supported, naming this platform in recognition of the
Tarbox's citizen volunteer work; and project partners Kenai Watershed Forum and the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, have submitted letters of support for
naming this platform the “Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform."
Ken and Connie Tarbox moved to Alaska in 1976, then to the Kenai Peninsula in 1980. Ken
was the Research Project Leader for Upper Cook Inlet Commercial Fish Division of ADF & G.
Connie was a Pre-school teacher. They raised three daughters on the Kenai, and were
volunteers for local organizations like Skyview Site Council (Ken) and the Kenai Fine Arts Guild
(Connie). After retirement, Ken and others started the Kenai King Salmon Fund, Ken was a
Board member of the Community Dialogue Group, and Connie continued her volunteer work
with the Kenai Fine Arts Guild.
In 2003-2007, Ken and Connie volunteered with the State of Alaska to implement the Wildlife
Viewing Trail concept on the Kenai Peninsula, in order to promote wildlife viewing and related
tourism on the Kenai Peninsula and in the City of Kenai. Tarbox met with Chamber of
Commerce representatives and local businesses and native groups to define viewing spots, and
to arrange for publication and distribution of the trail guide.
In 2008-2009, Tarbox recognized that a wildlife viewing platform at Boat Launch Road would be
an excellent addition for this Trail, would bring more tourists to the City of Kenai, and provide
educational and recreational opportunities in the City of Kenai. Kenai Watershed Forum was
interested in a tidal marsh rehabilitation and conservation project in the same area, and the City
of Kenai Administration was interested in both concepts. Tarbox collaborated with the City of
Kenai, the Kenai Watershed Forum, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, the Alaska Department
Page 2 of 2
of Fish & Game, Conoco Phillips, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (Kenai) for
the funding and construction of the wildlife viewing platform on city land at Boat Launch Road,
and for the tidal marsh rehabilitation project. The City Council approved both projects and
appropriated the donated funds for construction of this wildlife viewing platform.
Tarbox and the Keen Eye Bird Club, together with the Kenai Watershed Forum, developed the
programs for the Kenai Birding Festival, and promoted and coordinated the festival together with
the Kenai Chamber of Commerce. Kenai's wildlife viewing platform made the City of Kenai a
central hub not only for the festival, but also as a site for the Kenai Chamber of Commerce's
referral of visitors, providing an opportunity for residents and visitors to appreciate the Kenai
River Flats and enjoy wildlife viewing, including seals, beluga whales, moose and caribou, as
well as birds.
Minimal cost to the City will be involved in this naming. The sign at the entrance to Boat Launch
Road could be replaced or a naming sign hung from the existing sign. A naming plaque or
plaques could be added to the platform itself. The existing footprint at the site of the platform
and the marsh rehabilitation area does not need to be altered.
Council's support is respectfully requested.
United States Department of the Interior
....
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IN REPLY REFER TO:
20-012tde
Kenai City Council
210 Fidalgo Ave, #200
Kenai, AK 99611
Dear Council Members,
KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
P .O . Box 2 139
Soldotna, Alaska 99669-2139
(907) 262-7021
May 21, 2020
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the council for entertaining this motion to name the
Wildlife Viewing Platform on the Port of Kenai Road as the Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform.
Rarely do we find people who make such huge contributions to conservation and our overall
community happiness during their retirement years. But Ken and Connie did just that and
worked tirelessly for our communities long after very successful and influential contributions
during their professional careers in these same communities.
Their collaboration on the development of the Alaska Wildlife Viewing Trail, The Kenai Birding
Festival, and Keen-Eye Bird Club, and the building of the Wildlife Viewing Platform have not
only cemented a legacy of supporting conservation of birds, but also left a lasting mark that will
be utilized by many for years to come. Their efforts attracted birders to the platform from all
over the country, bringing in untold dollars to the local community during shoulder times when
fishing was still an upcoming event.
Lastly, they never hesitated to take other birders out and share the area with them. This was often
encouraging young, up and coming birders, or folks that had travel from faraway places to
experience birding on the Kenai Peninsula. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and staff can
think of no better way to honor Ken and Connie's contributions then to support the Kenai City
Council naming the viewing platform the Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform and develop
signage to reflect this as a huge thank you for their service to our communities.
Sincerely,
Andy Loranger,
Refuge Manager
KENAI 44129 Sterling Hwy Soldotna, AK 99669
WATERSHED
FORUM
Phone (907) 260-5449 I Fax (907) 260 -5412 www.kenaiwatershed.org
June 03, 2020
Kenai City Council
210 Fidalgo Avenue
Kenai, AK 99611
Dear Kenai City Council Members and Mayor Gabriel,
The Kenai Watershed Forum ("KWF") is pleased to offer this letter of support to re -name the wildlife-viewing platform
on Boat Launch Road to the "Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform," in recognition of the contributions of Ken and Connie
Tarbox (''Tarbox") to our community.
Among the many contributions of Tarbox to the communities of the Kenai Peninsula, the wildlife-viewing platform is
truly an example of citizen volunteers, government agencies and private businesses working together to ach ieve
conservation while responsibly promoting tourism and wildlife viewing on the Kenai Peninsula. Spearheaded by Tarbox,
the idea of the wildlife-viewing platform was born out of their volunteerism and community service, particularly their
efforts with the Keen Eye Bird Club, which eventually led to the establishment of the Kena i Pen insula Wildlife-Viewing
Trail and the Kenai Peninsula Birding Festival.
KWF coordinated with Tarbox, the City of Kenai, the U.S . Fish and Wildli fe Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game, Conoco Phillips and the Natura l Resource Conservation Service (Kenai) to make the idea of a wildlife-viewing
platform a real i ty in 2009 . In addition to connecting people with b irds and the natural world, this project has, and
continues to, increase public understanding of the importance of coasta l areas on the Kenai Peninsula.
It is a well-established fact that people are more l ike ly to protect sensit ive eco logical areas when they have an
understandi ng and di rect connection to them. The wi ldlife -viewing p fatform certainly confirms this fact, as it has
provided an opportunity for the public to make this connection with the Kenai River Flats, learn more about this world-
class environment, including the 130+ species of birds and the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, and to see the fruits
of local volunteerism and partnershi ps in action .
Tarbox worked closely with KWF over the years, along w ith many other i nd iv iduals, businesses and municipalities, on
many projects that have led to greater protection for our natura l resources and a greater understanding and
appreciation for our cultural resources. KWF is proud to support the renaming of the wildlife-viewing platform on Boat
Launch Road to the "Tarbox W il dlife Viewi ng Platform," as a sma ll way of recognizing the many, positive and impactful
contributions Ken and Connie Tarbox have made to the Kenai Pen insu la.
Sincerely,
Branden Bornemann
Kenai Watershed Forum
Executive Director
Working together for healthy watersheds on the Kenai Peninsula Pick.Click.Give.
From:JIM HERBERT
To:Jamie Heinz
Subject:Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform
Date:Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9:38:47 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Please accept my comments in support of naming the platform to honor Ken and Connie
Tarbox.
Thank you
Jim Herbert
Homer
May 27, 2020
The Kenai City Council:
One of my favorite places to visit in the Kenai area is the wildlife viewing platformnear the public boat launch at the mouth of the Kenai River. The dynamics of the riverand associated wildlife are on display during all seasons. Certain individuals havebeen critical to making that platform and the surrounding marsh readily available tothe public. Ken and Connie Tarbox are two of them.
Please accept my support for honoring the good work they have done for tourism andappreciation of the natural world by naming the platform as The Tarbox WildlifeViewing Platform. Knowing these people over the years has been a pleasure. Theyhave put the resource first. Ken’s career with fishery management with ADFG put himin touch with many user groups. Their work with the Watershed Forum and Keen EyeBirders furthered education and environmental awareness. The Kenai Bird Festivalbrought many visitors to town.
On a personal level and on a professional level I have enjoyed working with thesegood people. It is our loss that they have moved out of state, but I feel we can remindourselves and those in the future of the positive things they have done for us and theenvironment. Naming the platform in their honor would be that reminder.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jim Herbert
POB 645
Homer, AK 99603
1
Jamie Heinz
To:Gary & Terri Lyon
Subject:RE: Resolution #2020-45, Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform
Jamie Heinz, CMC
Kenai City Clerk
P: (907) 283‐8231
‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Gary & Terri Lyon
Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2020 6:09 PM
To: Bob Molloy Jamie Heinz
Subject: Resolution #2020‐45, Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
June 9, 2020
Greetings Kenai City Council Members:
I am writing in support of Resolution No. 2020‐45, the Resolution to name "Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform".
Ken and Connie Tarbox are enthusiastic supporters of all things wild.
Ken spent a career with Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game and was constantly in touch with other professionals in the field
of wildlife conservation management. He and Connie were well‐known especially in the birding community of
Southcentral Alaska. They were instrumental in the Keen Eye Birders as well as other local conservation efforts. They
saw the need and opportunity for this platform to be built. It was through their leadership and efforts that they were
able to create a coalition of people, organizations, businesses and government to get it designed and built.
This platform is now a regular stop for all of us Kenai Peninsula birders as well as birders, non‐birders and tourists from
all over the rest of the world. It's strategic location on the banks of and near the mouth of the Kenai River is excellent. It
is also handicap accessible and very easy to get to and use by anybody else.
Thank you for considering this resolution and I hope you pass it.
Best Regards,
Gary Lyon
61770 Skyline Drive
Homer, AK 99603
(907) 299 2000
Jamie Heinz
To: Bob Molloy
Subject: RE: The Ken and Connie viewing Platform
From: Bob Molloy <bmolloy@kenai.city>
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 1:25 PM
To: Jamie Heinz <jheinz@kenai.city>; Jacquelyn La Plante <jlaplante@kenai.city>
Cc: Bob Molloy <bob@molloyforcouncil.com>
Subject: Fwd: The Ken and Connie viewing Platform
Hi Jamie:
Please add Mr. Sonneborn's email to the packet on RES 2920-46.
Bob
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: David Sonneborn
Date: June 6, 2020 at 8:29:16 AM AKDT
To: Bob Molloy <bmolloy@kenai.city>
Subject: The Ken and Connie viewing Platform
Reply-To: D avid Sonneborn
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mr Malloy-I hope it is not to late to write you in support of naming the Viewing Platform to honor the
Tarboxes . The Tarboxes were very active is supporting wildlife enjoyment on the Kenai Peninsula . They
were instrumental in getting the funding and arranging for permitting and construction of the viewing
platform. They were important sponsers of the annual shorebird festival in Kenai , And this in the setting of
being amongst the nicest people on earth. They did contact me and are very pleased in the efforts to
name the viewing platform after them . I hope it comes to pass . Than you very much for your interest.
Sincerely,
David W , Sonneborn
1
From: George <gbk74@alaska.net>
Date: May 17, 2020 at 8:56:32 AM AKDT
To: Bob Molloy <bmolloy@kenai.citY>
Subject: TWVP
GAUT.ION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links
especially from unknown senders. '
1~i Bob: Pl~as.e co.nsi~er this email·our full support for the renaming of the viewing platform on Boat Launch Rd in Kenai the
Tarbox W1ldl1fe Viewing Platform." Reasoning: It's the right thing to do.
George and Bev Kirsch, Soldotna
Sent from my Galaxy Tab® A
From: Christine Maack <cmaackster@gmail.com>
Subject: Tarbox Wildlife Viewing Platform
Date: May 17, 2020 9:44:21 AM AKDT
To: bob@molloyforcouncil.com
Christine Maack
formerly of Anchorage
From: Carla Stanley <4rdog24@gmail.com>
Date: May 17, 2020 at 2:22:43 PM AKDT
To: Bob Molloy <bmolloy@kenai.citY>
Subject: Ken & Connie Tarbox
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links,
especially from unknown senders.
I have known Ken since the 80's as his daughter and my son Graduated from SOHi together. I also worked for him in Com
Fish as a tee from '89 until he retired. He is a good friend, eloquent birder and someone who trusts science and lives to
educate others about what he knows. He is adjusting to living in Redding and has a new repertoire of birds to find!
I think it is a GREAT idea to name the platform for Ken and Connie. They were both valuable members of our community and I
am sure the people of Redding are lucky to have them move in!
Thank you for thinking of them and doing this. I think Todd Eskelin was also a hard worker on that project.
Carla Stanley
Retired KP BSD teacher in Kenai and Soldotna
Homer Alaska
Kenai City Council
210 Fidalgo Avenue
Kenai, Alaska 99611
Re: RESOLUTION 2020-45
June 10, 2020
"TARBOX WILDLIFE VIEWING PLATFORM"
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
As a long time Kenai resident, I urge you to adopt Resolution 2020-45, naming the Kenai
Wildlife Viewing Platform after Ken and Connie Tarbox. The Tarboxes were instrumental in
getting the viewing platform sited and built in Kenai. They have spent hundreds of hours
volunteering at the Kenai Visitor & Cultural Center (KVCC), helping visitors enjoy Kenai's and
the Kenai Peninsula's many great birdwatching opportunities, and organizing/working the Kenai
Peninsula Birding Festival, headquartered at the KVCC, and held annually in mid-May (on hiatus
this year because of the coronavirus epidemic). Ken and Connie were also instrumental in getting
the Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Viewing Trail Guide published and distributed (in hard copy and
online). This guide informs visitors about wildlife viewing opportunities on the Kenai Peninsula,
including those in Kenai, as well as the history and culture of the various locations.
There is no one more appropriate to name the viewing platform after than Ken and
Connie Tarbox. Thank you for your consideration of this letter.
Sincerely,
Kristine A. Schmidt
513 Ash Avenue
Kenai, Alaska 99611
(907) 283-7102
From:Gary & Terri Lyon
To:Bob Molloy; Jamie Heinz
Subject:Fwd: Ken Tarbox
Date:Thursday, June 11, 2020 1:39:19 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Bob,
Here is another letter of support for Resolution No. 2020-45. It was addressed to me from John
Wenger, who used to live in Anchorage.
Gary, I am writing to be included as one who believes it would be most proper to
name the subject birding lookout to Ken Tarbox. I have known him for many years
and even though I left Alaska about six years ago, moving to Idaho, I keep in touch
with him and other AK birders all year. I had been coming back up each spring to
bird but not this year due to the virus. So please add my name to the list. BTW, I
had a nature viewing platform built in Anchorage so when visiting Westchester
Lagoon you may see a new site there. Good birding, John Wenger