Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-04-14 KRSMA Board PacketKENAI R1i/~ Special Management Area "Working together...tor the river" GQD~~~~~0~~ ~ OO G^QG°u'u *** Nl2eting Agenda*** Thursday, April 14, 2005 5:30 p.m. Kenai River Center L CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call B. Approvat of 3/10/05 minutes C. Agenda Changes and Approval LI. PUBLIC COMMENT III. NE~V BUSINESS A. Kenai National Wildlife Refilge Planning Update and EIS process- Robin West B. Kenai River Operations- Jack C. DOT Update - Soldohia Bridge, Chuck Swernor D. Soldotna Chamber of Commerce One Day Fishing Derby IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Kenai River Center Update, Suzanne Fisier B. Kenai River Working Group -Joe Conners C. Corr Property update -Jack Sinclair D. Boat wake study update -Robert Ruffner V. PUBLIC COMMEN`T' VI. ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments B. Date/Agenda o'f Next Meeting Kenai Area Office; Box "247, Soldotna, AK 99669; Soldorna 2625581 r~ ~ ~~~, Kenai Peninsula Borough, °ox &50, Soldotna, AK 99669, Scldotna 262a4C1 ` /~"~'Z.'i~ gtaska Division of Parks and Ouldcor RecreaCmq department of Natural Resources, in coaperaHon with the Kenai ~ninsuSa Borough. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Soard Thursday, March 10, 2005 5:30 p.m. Kenai River Center L CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call Members Present: Robin West, Dave Westerman, Floyd Heimbuch, Jeff King, Linda Snow, Bill Shuster, Tom Vania, Tim SCevens, Joe Connors, Ted Wellman, Ted Forsi, Rick Wood. Members Absent: Ken Lancaster, Richard Hahn, Pete Sprague. B. Approval of 1/13/05 minutes Approved as written. C. Agenda Changes and Approval The agenda was approved with 2 additional items added under new business: The new ADF&G guide boat sticker-Jack Sinclair and Kenai Working Group Update-Joe Connors. II. PUBLIC COMMENT III. NEW BUSINESS A. The New ADF&G Guide Boat Stickers -Jack Sinclair Jack Sinclair reported Chat during the working group meeting Reuben Henke discussed the new statewide decal that is required by ADF&G for sportfish fresh and saltwater guides. It was the interest of the working group to incorporate the ADF&G and State Park sticker in the future for the Kenai River. Suzanne said a year ago when the department of Fish and Game first began discussing developing a sticker, there had been some discussion of having a joint sticker for the Kenai River with Parks since both agencies were asking for the same information when registering guides. But the Department of Fish and Game went ahead with their plan and developed their new 2005 statewide sticker for sportfish fresh and saltwater guides. DNR is unable to eliminate their round Kenai River decal as it is used to identify guides on the river. Jack agreed that in the future the two agencies need to work towards some resolution and asked the board for support as state parks proceeds with the issue. B. Kenai River Operations- Jack Sinclair Jack Sinclair announced that a 4`~ new Kenai River Ranger was hired for the river. Ranger Ryan Gosse comes to us from Denali State Park. He worked on the Kenai River last year as part of his field training. The staff is looking forward to having a new and experienced ranger on staff this season. The river staff has been doing some cleanup work with some of the guides. False statements by non-residents claiming residency in P laska when applying for their fishing license, then leaving the state and purchasing a resident license in another state, when residency can be claimed in only one state. They have been successful in bringing some cases to court. The hope is to curtail some of this activity that has been going on. C. Working Group Report and Endorsement- Joe Connors The Working Group meC today and decided on 9 points for short term changes. The 9 items include:. • Mandatory drug testing for all motorized and non-motorized guides. • Two years of Alaska fishing experience for a new guide. 1 his would be a fishing license in Alaska for 2 years. • Guides must have a current Driver license or ID. • A felony conviction in the last 5 years wolild not allow you to be a guide. They must have no more than one fishing violation in the last five years. • Fee increase. The guide license could be purchased for 3-year periods. • Must be at least 18 years of age to acquire a permit. • Guide academy. • Tri-Anmial orientation. First year Guides would be required the year they were permitted to have orientation; others would be required to have a refresher orientation every three years. • Guide Board Joe spoke mainly to two of the 9 items. First the guide board would be some sort of group that could interface wifli guides on issues between Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes-March 10, 2005 Paget of6 other guides and public. How would that committee be created and what would its basic authority be? Joe said the other pressing item would be the user fee concept. There are some people who pay.no user fee and use park facilities. Toe asked if there maybe some interest in liavina a sockeycstamp oi-habitat stamp or something like that. Joe is asking for the KRSMA Board's endorsement of the 9 items and input on user fees and the establishment of the guide board. The next working group meeting is set for April 11`x. Ted Wellman then discussed how the working group wanted to accomplish something on flee short term thus the 9 items that Joe spoke on. The reason the group decided to do this in two parts was to at least have some short term fixes ready for 2006. The AG explained there must be some justification or certain backup to set a numeric limit. What Joe is recommending is to get the endorsement of the 9 points. Jeff King made the motion to endorse these 9 requirements. Linda seconded the motion. Jeff added he would like to discuss fiirther die user fee concept. Toe said the guide academy has been one of the more lengClry discussions that have been going on at the working group. Gary Turner came to the working group and gave a presentation of curriculum that has been established for the course. Discussion contimted about user fees and guide academy. Jeff added he would like to discuss further the user fee concept. Joe suggested $10 per year for all river users. Tom Vania said the Board of Fish did not pass 20 to 30 proposals at their recent Board of Fish meeting because of what the working group was doing. Ted said it is incumbent upon the working group to continue to resolve and get to the ultimate issue which is a number and a limitation and to do it legally making sure the AG office is on board before we try it again. The motion was then brought to a vote to support the 9 points for short term changes. Kenai River Special Management Arcs Advisory Buard Minutes-Nlarch (0,2005 Page 3 oC 6 A show of hands 7 in favor and 0 oppose. The board would like to see the 9 points in writing by the next meeting. D. Board of Fish Summary -Tom Vania A copy cfChe news release wasprovtded Yo the bcardmemhers. This summarizestheregulation changes that occurred for the Kenai River. They can be Found on the State Dept. of Fish & Game web page. The biggest changes dealt with resident species: Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Coho, King Salmon and Sockeye salmon. Tom said the reg changes will simplify and align regulations on the Kenar River. IV. CDLD BUSIIVFSS E. Kenai River Center tipdate, Suzanne Fisler- The biggest thing on everyvi2e's mind in the pemritting reahn is the crane that arrived in Soldotna for the bridge and will be visible for the next two years. Suzanne told the board there was lots of discussion between USF& Wildlife Services, DNR Habitat, ADF&G and NOAA and other fishery related resources about the timing windows of when the pile driving operationcould occur. Normally work stops when there are juvenile fish emerging in near shore areas and it continues through the summer. The groups decided that all the pile driving activity atthe near~shore of the river (riparian area) would be prohibited from iUiay 1 to August 3 L That is why there is such a push to get everything thawed and get the utilities dug Viii becaiine the tenlpGra%v bridge "w iii be iii yi"ace by ivia'y' i. A$er ivia'y' i to June 30 they will be able to be in the center channel. During this time they will dismantle the old bridge and deliver to I>OT in usable condition. Suzanne said navigation plans are in place, where there are some things that DOT are required to do, or where They may have partial closure of the river, in other words one side may be closed and one open, but will be clearly marked with buoy and flaggers. There will be no complete closures in the month of Juty between from 5 am to 7pm. F. Letter to Commissioner re: illegal guide enforcement-Jack Sinclair. The commissioner was sent a letter from the chair regarding illegal guiding and the need for additional funding for enforcement. Ken Lancaster acid State Parks worked together to compose the letter and resolution. A copy was provided to the board members. Kenai River Special blanagemen[ Area Advisory Board Minutes-Nlareh lU, 2U05 Page 4 ot'6 G. Corr Property update -Jack Sinclair Chris Degernes had a meeting with the Commissioner and the Director abouC a month ago. They felt that if there was euoughlocal support to pursue that purchase, the Commissioner would carry that to the Governor's"office. Itwill need to have considerable support from the coinmunitieSandthe assemblies or anyother grorips that KRSMA canget to write IeCters of support requesting the State would continue to pursue and make money available to purchase Che property. Toe Connors said that this is a once in a life time opportunity. It is a great piece of land with a mile of river frontage and the chance to pick it up for park use and natural resource protection. Suzanne said we are really close to acquiring the pturchase. There is 13 million between the Conservancy and Fish and Game. The total needed is 2 million. Jack requested ail the members to be supportive; to be tacking to whomever you feel needs to be tall<ed Co. It needs to be taken to the Borough assembly, and get some sort ofresolution at that level saying they support the purchase. Theboard gave Jacl< support'and many members comme~zted they would help in any ivay. Ttwasalso recommended that Jack contact Pete Sprague of The Kenai Peninsula F3orough acid he will work up a draft resohition for the borough to consider. City Counsel needs to be approached also. H. Boat wake study update Kobert KuYfner- ^ot present. The agenda was completed at this point of the meeting. However, Ted Wellman made a few recommendations with a main focus on reviewing recommendations this board made from the 96-97 Comprehensive tVlanagement Plan. Anew subcommittee was formed to be chaired by Jeff King. Others on this committee are: Ted Forsi, Floyd FIeimbuch, Joe Connors, Dave Richards and Suzanne Filter as staff. They plan Co meet before the next meeting in April. V. PUBLIC COMMENT Pat Johnson asked if there was a specific way to designate the user fee back towards a specific thing on the river. Robin said that this has been one of the stumbling blocks thaC follcs have looked at. Jeff said that this is part of the plan for the uses fee. State Parks has been successfiil in getting money back from the state when they have programs in place that create revenue and its part of government. Joe Connors said Chris Degernes reporCed on this at the Kenai River Special Management Area Awisory Board Minutes-March 70, 2005 Page 5 of 6 working group that if you generate a certain amount of funds one year, there is a good chance you will receive a good portion of that amount back the following year, because you will change your budget to reflect that as income. Jack stated that the administration is working towards creating certain mechanism that help support services. DMV is an example that is a receipt- supported service now being totally funded by the public PaC Johnson stated that many of his customers have told him they would be willing to paying a user fee if they had some kind of assurance that the money will come back to the Kenai River. Dave Richards said he is adamantly opposed to the college course proposed for guides. He ~Ieels that if there is a problem with some guides deal specifically with them. Dave asked who will have the final say on the college course. Joe said it is the desire of the working group to have this in place. by the 2006 season. VT. ABJOURNMFa!'T A. Board Comments Robin wanted to know if there is an interest at the next meeting for the Refilge to present an update on Refuge plamung and how it pertains to the Kenai River. It would be a two part- one would be to get someone from the fishery office to share the survey results they did on the upper river last year on use and how it has changed over Che years. The second part would be a briefing on the EIS; SpP,C;i'.CI..ly I'.C .. '.t.` .. ~:kd affect d.e ... ~r1PS and Otl;.er tk:;^ r. Tl~eiP ;;lac gLL ..~~ over whelming interest in bringing that to the next meeting. Robin: Vice Chair position- will finish the term but feels the need drat the position needs to be a voting member instead on anon-voting member. Bill Shuster: The Forest Service says Chugach Electric is moving right along with the Cooper Lake Fiydro Project. Tim Stevens: Commented that the mixing zone regulations have not moved forward yet. Still in review. B. Date/Agenda of Next Meeting April 14, 2005 Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory [3ourd Minutes-March 10,2005 Page 6 of 6