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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 1999-08Suggested by: Mayor Williams CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 99-8 A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO STATE LANDS ON THE WEST SIDE OF COOK INLET. WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough's West Side Development Task Force completed a conceptual strategic plan in April 1998 which concluded that the West Side of Cook Inlet holds great recreational and tourism opportunities, and that these opportunities are currently unrealized due to the lack of public access to the state lands on the West Side, and; WHEREAS, the task force's conceptual strategic plan recommended establishing public access to the 280,000 acres of state-owned uplands in the Trading Bay State Game Refuge and Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Area on the West Side of Cook Inlet, as well as the additional 180,000 acres of surrounding state lands, and; WHEREAS, the primary goals and policies listed by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in its Trading Bay Game Refuge and Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Area Management Plan, completed in July 1994 include maintaining and allowing development of new public access to the refuge and critical habitat area, and; WHEREAS, the statewide visitor industry organization, the Alaska Visitors Association, has adopted as one of its 1999 legislative priorities increasing access to public lands fOr tourism activities, and; WHEREAS, the City of Kenai is the designated "gateway city" for tourism development on the West Side of Cook Inlet, including the state owned lands along the Kustatan Ridge and federal lands in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, and; WHEREAS, establishing increased public access to state lands on the West Side of Cook Inlet will result in the following economic benefits: 1. Increased tourism for the State of Alaska through promotion of, and access to, remote state lands that are not currently accessible, yet potentially could offer the visitors an experience comparable to Denali National Park. 2. Increased regional tourism similar to the experience of the City of Seward once the Kenai Fjords National Park was opened up for more public access. A new economic opportunity was created when marine wildlife tour boats operators began to enter Kenai Fjords National Park. This had a very positive economic impact on the City of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The rise in the numbers of visitors helped to increase the amount of sales tax collected during the summer visitor season. 3. Increased private sector opportunities for the City of Kenai and Kenai-area tourism- related businesses to promote Kenai as a "gateway" and a "base" of tourism activities to and · from the West Side of Cook Inlet. (With more public access to the West Side of Cook Inlet, some of the recreational pressures on the Kenai River could also be alleviated.) 4. Increased revenues to the Kenai Peninsula Borough. According to the borough tax assessor, the 10,900 acres of the Kustatan Ridge are currently valued at $5 million. By selecting the Kustatan Ridge land for borough disposal, this land, once public access is established, has the potential to increase in value from $5 million to $50 million for the borough, plus an estimated $425,000 will be collected in annual undeveloped property tax. Resolution No. 99-8 Page 2 of 2 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Kenai City Council unanimously suppcirts establishing access to the state lands on the West Side of Cook Inlet as an eco- tourism and recreational destination; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in concert with businesses and private landowners on the West Forelands, the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the State of Alaska should establish all necessary rights-of-way and easements to access the state lands and the Kustatan Ridge area; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Kenai Peninsula Borough select the Kustatan Ridge (Unit 169 in the Kenai Area Plan) from the State of Alaska so that in the event that application for legal access along Kustatan Ridge is rejected, the borough can request that these lands be a high-priority selection; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Kenai City Council respectfully requests the Alaska State Legislature make available $3 million to the Kenai Peninsula Borough for access construction which should include, but not be limited to: a) the establishment of public use dock facilities at tidelands on the West Forelands; b) upgrade to paved status the existing gravel airstrip now partially located on Salamatof land and leased to Marathon; c) the construction of a gravel road from the airstrip to the Marathon- maintained road, and; d) a five-mile road from the Marathon-maintained road to the Kustatan Ridge, all of which are required to provide access to approximately 70,000 acres of state lands on the West Side of Cook Inlet. PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA this third day of February, 1999. Duane Bannock, C'ouncfl l{?l~ber Measles, Vic~'-Mayor_ ~__~~III ~uncfl Me,~er ~ Joe'~ore, Council Member ATTEST: Carol L. Freas, City Clerk RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CREATING PUBLIC ACCESS TO STATE LANDS ON THE WEST SIDE OF COOK INLET BA CKGR 0 UND INFORMATION *The Borough~s West Side Development Task Force issued their final report, "West Side Recreational Use Development Project, A Conceptual Strategic Plan," to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in April 1998. Please refer to the attached document on the task force's recommendations excerpted from the April 1998 report. *Stan Steadman was the professional consultant hired by the borough to facilitate the West Side Development task force's work and to research and write the report. He supports KVCB's resolution introduced by Mayor John Williams on behalf of the Kenai Visitors & Convention Bureau as a "way to help elevate the public awareness on the potential of the West Side to the next level.' *Mr. Steadman also said that most of the government agencies involved on the West Side such as the Park Service and the U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife, have identified government-owned lands for "multiple-use" as long as environmental protections are in place, and important wildlife habitats are also protected. *The Tyonek Native Association "would like to see more happen on the West Side," according to Steadman. TNA hired a consultant to create a game preserve on their lands for controlled hunting and sportfishing and has long-term plans to possibly build a lodge." *Lisa Parker~ KPB Planning Director, says that the borough is "waiting for DNR to finish the Kenai Area Plan. Once the plan is completed, and the borough knows which lands it can select from, they will move forward with the selection of the Kustatan Ridge area. The Kenai Peninsula Borough has already let DNR know they are interested in this selection." *Bruce Talbot, Division of Land, State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, was also a member of the West Side Development Task Force. He reviewed the draft resolution and made many valuable comments on its technical aspects. His comments were incorporated into the resolution. According to Mr. Talbot," More tourism and recreational activity on the West Side could be of benefit to Kenai. Long-term benefits may accrue after some infrastructure is put in place, which may cause the business community take a more active interest." *Jim Segura~ Salamatof Native Association, and a landholder in the West Forelands area, supports the draft resolution and called it a "good start." The resolution was reviewed and discusssed at Salamatofs Board of Directors meeting on January 27, 1999. He has also met with Mayor John Williams. *Fred Newton, Offshore Systems, Nikiski, and former chairman of the West Side Development Task Force, is in support of the concepts outlined in the resolution, particularly since Nikiski would benefit as a "sub-gateway or jumping-off' city if infrastructure is developed to increase water transporation to the West Side. {Nikiski is the closest geographic point to the West Forelands area.) *As a courtesy, and for informational purposes only, on January 28, 1999, a draft copy of the resolution was given to Unocal's Office of Government Affairs & Land Management (Rick Cross). *A call was placed to Brock Riddle's office at Marathon Oil, to also inform them about the resolution. KVCB has been so far, unable to reach Mr. Riddle. *The Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Wildlife Conservation Division, (John Westland), was updated about the West Side Development Task Force during the time the task force was in existence. He attended several of the public meetings held by the task force. *Members of the Kenai Visitors/1~ Convention Bureau's ad-hoc committee on the West Side include: Will Jahrig, KVCB Board President; Rebecca Godek, KVCB Vice President; Fred Braun, Freedom Realty & Fred Braun's Lakeside' Lodge; Ron Rainey, Ron's Alaska Lodge; and Kathy Tarr, KVCB Executive Director. OTHER FACTS: *A public easement was granted to Shell Oil in 1968 for the road; Marathon has been maintaining the road and has also leased the tidelands since 1966 for the company's barge landings at its production handling facility. *Tom Wilkinson received authorization from Unocal to use their lease and cross Marathon's road during the summer of 1997 during the operation of his business, Cook Inlet Ferry Service. Mr. Wilkinson used a landing craft to cross Cook Inlet and then transported clients by van along Marathon's public easement road to the Kustatan River. He has a vested interest in the West Side as a private property owner on the West Forelands, and has continued to be a champion for increasing public access to all the state lands on the West Side of Cook Inlet. West Side Recreational Use Development Project Conceptual Strategic Plan Prepared for: West Side Development Task Force Kenai Peninsula. Borough Prepared by' ' SEGO Consultants Start Steadman, Principal Jason Steadman, Research Associate Soldoma, AK 99669 April, 1998 Project administered by: Kenai Peninsula Borough Tourism Marketing Council 150 North Willow, Suite 42 Kenai, AK 99669 (907)283-3850 Acknowledgements The charge to the West Side Development Task Force has been to prepare a conceptual strate ~c lan for enhanced recreational use of the west side of Cook Inlet for ~P resentation to the Borough Assembly. This document fulfills that charge. The P following people were appointed to the Task .Force by the Borough Mayor, Mike Navarre, and contributed substantial time, expertise, information, and creative thought toward the effort: Fred Newton (Chairman}, Offshore Systems, Kenai Tom Wilkinson (Vice-Chairman}, Cook Inlet Ferry Service Ste anie Gorder (Administrator}, Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council Robert Frates, City of Kenai, Parks & Recreation Doug Chaf j`ee, Cook Inlet Ferry Service Tim Navarre, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Jack Brown, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Bonnie Golden, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor's Office Kathy Tarr, Kenai Visitors and Convention Bureau Bill Pierce, Lake Clark national Park & Preserve Corby Hawkins, Mountaineering Support Group Jim Segura, Salamatof Native Association Bruce Talbot, State of Alaska, REDS/Division of Land The Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council (KPTMC}contracted with the Borough to administer the work of the Task Force. KPTIViC employee Theresa Freeman-Gamble served as Task Force Secretary. Map and Photo Credits The Task Force sincerely thanks those who contributed maps and photographs for use in document. The ma s were prepared by the Kenai Peninsula Borough, GIS Division. The P following photographs where provided for use on the cover by the Alaska Division of Tourism from their photo library. Nickerson Lake- Lake Clark National Park, National Park Service Shovellers Taking Off- Alaska Division of Tourism Fishing- Alaska Division of Tourism Cross-Country Skiing- Contributed by Corby Hawkins Brown Bear with Salmon- Alaska Division of Tourism Dog Sledding- H. OkawaralAlaska Division of Tourism West Side Recreational Use Development Project Task Force Recommendations General Recommendations The Task Force recognizes the west side of Cook Inlet (West Side), within the Kenai Peninsula Borough, as an area with underutilized recreational use potential. Expanded use could result in significant economic benefits to borough residents on both sides of the Inlet. The Task Force recommends to the Borough Assembly that this opportunity be addressed by a process which encourages the following: 1) Agency and public participation in planning and strategy development, including recognition of the entire West Side area of the borough as a planning unit when considering attractions, transportation, marketing and Other appropriate topics; 2) Cooperation w/th and incentives for private projects on the West Side which contemplate recreation developments appropriate for the area; 3) Local, state, and 'federal agency support for development of major educational and visitor related projects within the Kengi Peninsula Borough such as the Alaska Sealife Center in as much as the West Side is a vast natural learning environment which complements and benefits from these other attractions; , 4) Marketing strategy development, including investigation of "gateway city/area', marketing activities on the East Side and a possible parmership between the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center and the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve to provide educational and other services through the Center; 5) Adoption of both General and Special Focus Area Recommendations as included in this report into the Kenai Peninsula Borough Comprehensive Plan and the Kenai Pemnsula Borough Overall Economic Develor>ment Proeram. St>ecial Focus .Area The Task Force idemified a Special Focus Area (SFA), including the West Foreland and the surrounding vicinity, for consideration of specific recommendations. Based on its findings, the Task Force specifically encourages the following actions be undertaken: 1) Classification of the Kustatan Ridge (Unit 169) by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources for selection by the Borough and subsequent sale to private parties; 2) 3) 4) 5) Selection of a site and development of a public use dock on tidewater; Acquisition and improvement of public roadway easements which give the proposed dock access to the area road system and provide access through the Kustatan Ridge to the McArthur River; Development of a plan to upgrade existing roads and trails in the SFA; Responsible developmem of private lands for recreation projects, including lodges,. wildlife viewing/photography toms, kayaking and rafting services, mountaineering services and other activities mentioned in the "Attractions" section of this document. iii