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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 1995-13 Susgested by: CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 95-13 Mayor Williams A RESOL~ON OF THE COUNCIL OF TttE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE ALASKA MARITIME NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE*S PROPOSED ENVIRONME~~ AND VISITOR EDUCA~ON FACILITY IN HOMER, ALASKA. WttEREAS, the State of Alaska contains more coastline than any other state and this marine environment supports important fi~h and wildlife species upon which this nation and the Kenai Peninsula Borough depend; and, WHEREAS, the public's knowledge of the marine ecosystem is necessmy m provide protection and continued wise use of the ecosystem; and, WItE~S, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuse was created in 1980 to manage 3.5 million acres of offshore islands and coastal habitat where more seabirds nest than on the remainder of the entire North American continent; and, WHEREAS, other Refuge resources include Steller sea lion rookeries, otters and other... marine mamm_n.!s, hundreds of species of migrating birds, volcanoes, and Native, RuSsian,' American and World War H sites; and, WttEREAS, the extreme size and remoteness of the Refuse makes personal visitation difficult while the proposed visitor center in Homer would be accessible; and, WHEREAS, the proposed 51,000 sq. ft. Facility would include a visitor center, Refuge office, bunkhouse, warehouse, shop, and vehicle storage area; and, WHEREAS, the Visitor Center would house 5,000 sq. fi. of exhibits on the marine resources of the Refuge, a live seabird exhibit, environmental education classroom, laboratories, outside activity area~ nature trails, and an auditorium and Refuge film; and, WHEREAS, 100,000 visitors are expected annually, including at least 4,000 students who will participate in the Facility's environmental education program; and, WHEREAS, the completed Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Facility win provide an affordable and accessible learning opportunity aSout the entire marine coastal. environment to students, residents and visitors; and, Resolution No. 95-13 Page 1 of 2 WH~R~,. a 605 Acre site was purchased in Homer by the U.S. Fish. & Wildlife. Sem.'ce in 1992, the first phase of. design wa~ complete.d, and the mOney h~ been · approprtatedby COngress. for the remainder of the design... NOw;.~REFORE,. BEIT RP~oLV~D THAT TH~ CouNCIL OF;~.,:ClTY r KEN.Al, ~~ .KA,' urgesth, President of the United States,·. the Seeretaty '°f the.-: · In, nor, and: theAleske.:...:~nsressional Delegation to 'cOntfnue.to sUppofi'and Obi'. funding'for'the.. completi°n of the Alaska Maritime NatiOnal Wfldli~i 'Refuge· Facility BE.IT FURTI~R. RF, sOLVED, ' that copies of this reso!uti°n shall' b~ s~nt t°'the ' President. of the United S~S, the Secretn~ of the In. nor and ~e.Alaska PASSED BY THE coUNcIL.OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 15th day March, 1995. Resolution No. 95-13 peg? 2.of 2 .