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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-09 KRSMA Board PacketKENAI RIVER Special Management Area "Working together...for the river" CALL TO ORDER A. Roll Call B. Minutes Approval C. Agenda Changes and Approval Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Meeting Agenda Thursday, April 9, 2009 6:30 p.m. Kenai River Center 11. Public Comments Presentation: Sterling Highway Mile Post 45 to 60. Miriam McCulloch, Project Manager for DOT &PF, and Mark Dalton, HDR Alaska Project Manager III. REPORTS A. Agency and Government Reports a. State Parks Sinclair, Russell b. DEC- Stevens c. ADF &G- Vania/ Begich/ d. USF &WS- West e. USFS /Chugach- Skibo f. City of Kenai- Ogle g. City of Soldotna- Micciche h. Kenai Peninsula Borough- Martin B. Committee Reports a. Guide Advisory b. Habitat c. River Use d. Permits e. Legislative /Government Activities f. Board Development g. Agenda /Board Structure /Housekeeping VIII. ADJOURNMENT A. Board Comments B. Date /Agenda of Next Meeting May 14, 2009 5:30 p.m. KENALR ECEIVED APR 6 2009 KENAI aye CUR IV. OLD BUSINESS ACTION ITEMS A. Results of Priorities set by board Top 20 KRCMP Issues from workshop B. Letter to Commissioners of Fish and Game, Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation C. Board endorsement of the PFD guidelines D. Statewide Teleconference Report- Connors V. NEW BUSINESS A. Update on HEA hydro project B. Proposed Bylaw changes Three year terms VI. CORRESPONDENCE VII. PUBLIC COMMENT Kenai Area Office, PO Box 1247, Soldotna, AK 99669, 907 262 -5581 Kenai Peninsula Borough, 144 N. Binkley, Soldotna, AK 99669 907- 262 -4441 Kenai River Center 514 Funny River Road, Soldotna, AK 99669, 907 260 -4882 Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Department oLClatural Resources, in cooperation with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Call to Order A. Members Present: Wayne Ogle, Brenda Trefon, Robin West, Bobbie Jo Skibo, Jason Pawluk, Jack Sinclair, Tim Stevens, Joe Connors, Ted Wellman, Carol Padgett, Richard Dykema, George Heim, Adam Reimer, James Czarnezki, Bruce King. Members Absent: Milli Martin, Peter Micciche B. The Minutes for February 12, 2009 were approved as written. C. Agenda Changes and Approval There were no changes to the agenda. II. Public Comments: Presentations: A. Alaska Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Alaska State Parks is updating the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). This plan provides communities and agencies information about Alaskan's outdoor recreation preferences. It also keeps Alaska eligible for Federal Land and Water Conservation grant funds for outdoor recreation projects. The public is encouraged to take one of three surveys posted online. One is for the public, one is for youth, and one is for recreation managers. The online surveys can be found at www.alaskastateparks.orq. Deadline for all surveys is March 9, 2009 B. Human Waste Option on the River, Tom Campenella gave a demonstration on the ECO -LET toilets that operate without the use of water, sewage hoop -up, electricity or harmful toxic chemical. The toilets are plumbing free, hygienically sound, water isolation safe and environmentally friendly. The toilet uses a continuous poly plastic 75 -foot bag ready for use. The toilets consist of a house that is collapsible and weighs about 100 pounds. These ECO- LET toilets can be leased from Thomas Campanella -2730 VIP Drive, Kenai, Alaska 99611 or 907 283 -3955. III. Reports A. Agency Reports Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes Kenai River Center Thursday, March 12, 2009 5:30 p.m. Kenai River Center State Parks Report Jack Sinclair, ADNR /Parks, gave a report on Representative Seaton's HB 179, addressing the addition of lands for the Kenai River Special Management Area, specifically the Kenai Lake area. Letters of support are encouraged. Jack will also be bringing the Kenai Area's 2010 deferred maintenance list to present to the board. Every year each area manager submits their list for consideration by the Director's staff. It is recommended that the Advisory Board review the deferred maintenance for the Kenai Area and prioritize the list. All Kenai River Rangers are back to work. Tim Stevens, DEC, met with the Habitat Committee and gave a report that DEC did not get a grant applicant to continue the turbidity study on the Kenai River in July. The department or division is looking at other ways to possibly fund that study. Since it was put into the grant solicitation section it was not put into the Department's line item budget. This year's budget is not fixed yet, so the agency is looking to see if there are other monies available through other contracts for sampling in July and possible August of this year. ADF &G, Jason Pawluk, nothing to report. USF&WS, Robin West, reported that in the fall he gave an update on the National Wildlife Refuge comprehensive conservation plan management plan. The comment period closed in the fall. They received was about 400 to 500 comments which is lower than expected for the size of the plan. These comments were read and responded to. There is an internal review of the plan. Robin will report back in the spring, by then he anticipates hard copies of the plan to be available. USFS /Chugach, Bobbie Jo Skibo, nothing to report. B. Committee Reports Guide Advisory, Joe Connors reported the committee met and had 13 members present. The first item is the 2009 voluntary PFD wear program guidelines developed by State Parks. The guide advisory board endorsed this action unanimously. The committee would like to have a voluntary program put into place for the middle and lower Kenai River. Jim C. asked if this is an action item not listed on the agenda, or is this a lay down? Jack explained that this is a program that State Parks operations is sharing with the board. It is up to the board if they want to comment on or endorse it. If this going to be action item that needs to be voted on, it should be done at the April 9 meeting. The board agreed. The item was scheduled for the April meeting. Next item was the hospitality boat clause within the special park use permit for a competitive event on the Kenai River. The suggested changes are to list the hospitality boat for the event and the name of the operator. This person will have to meet with State Park Ranger prior to the event; boat operations and operator behavior will also be addressed. The fourth item was regarding Guide suspensions. For the first time, suspensions were given for failure to submit log books in a timely manner. There was a discussion about how this could distort the guide complaint numbers; this particular problem is being addressed in the academy. The 2008 boating accident summary was also made available. There were five accidents involving two boats and one that involved three boats. No serious injuries were reported. Habitat, Bruce King, 12 members were present. Bruce reported most of their time has been spent working on the habitat management options matrix The other issue was the turbidity sampling program for this summer. It was agreed that the Habitat committee would draft a letter for the board to consider sending to the commissioners of DEC, Fish and Game and DNR urging them to find a way to fund the turbidity study for this summer. Bruce gave an update on his involvement on the Fish Habitat Partnership on behalf of the Advisory Board. The KPFHP is a diverse group of users and resource managers developing a strategic plan for all users on the peninsula borough. The important part of this process is to develop this strategic plan to be part of the national partnership that may make federal funding available. River Use, Ted Wellman: The committee discussed whether or not PFDs should be mandatory for all river users. It was recommend that the public take advantage of the PFDs made available through the State Parks' expanded program, but would not make PFDs mandatory on the river for all users. There was a very spirited discussion about implementing a user fee on the Kenai River. The committee referred back to the KR comprehensive mgt. plan for reference. It was suggested that each person would pay 5 to 10 dollars. The question that was raised was how this would be Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes March 12, 2009 Page 2of4 enforced and what the user fee should be used for. It was decided to see where this would be ranked in the Board's Comp plan recommendations in April. Mr. Tim Martin talked to the committee about his easement encroachment issue and there was also discussion about other easements along the river. The committee felt there were more questions than answers at the moment. This is a continuing issue for the committee work on. Permits, Jim Czarnezki, committee did not meet. A. Legislative /Government Activities, committee did not meet, Joe Connors will work on setting up a chairperson. B. Board Development, Jack Sinclair, Had a short meeting with Jim Czarnezki that included board training for next fall. Bruce King suggested that the board offer expanded training in habitat and watershed management that would include other professionals and experts coming in to talk to the board on habitat issues along the river. IV. Old Business Action Items Review KRCMP Issues from workshop It was determined that the each board member needs to rank all these items from the workshop handout. Numbers will be placed in front of each issue and then each member should rank the top 20. The Comp Plan is supposed to be reviewed annually but it was suggested that the board develop a two- to three year plan of action regarding these issues. It was suggested that the board convene to rank these issues prior to the next meeting on April 9 at 4:30 to rank the top 20 issues. The regular meeting would then start at 6:30. Jack commented that the Director has recommended that all advisory boards across the state standardize the length of terms for an advisory board member. Most of the boards have three year terms right now; it is suggested the board review the bylaws and make a recommendation to be consistent with the other boards. V. New Business Salmon Celebration May 5- Discussion -KRSMA Board participation- Brenda Trefon would like the board to participate in the Salmon Celebration by staffing a station at this event. This is an opportunity to educate children on issues concerning the Kenai River. There are a number of activities; Brenda can coordinate and come up with an idea. The board agreed to help with a table at the event. Dick Dykema, Joe Connors and possible Carol Padgett volunteered. Send an e-mail to Brenda to offer more assistance. VI. Correspondence Commissioner's response the board's request to change the regulation for distances allowed for the discharge of firearms at the Kenai River Flats. The Commissioner of DNR indicated that a regulation change proposal could be included in the next statewide park regulation packet that will be prepared prior to 2010. Letters were sent to members of Senate and House encouraging them to include additional funds for the Kenai River's deferred maintenance in the 2010 Capital budget. VII. Public Comment- Garth Bilderbeck is in favor of the PFD program. Also encouraged the State Parks to look into a program to train the average citizen for boat operation. The guides go through Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes March 12, 2009 Page 3 of 4 a class and the response is overwhelming. But the general public needs to have course where they would receive a certificate upon completion. VIII. Adjournment A. Board Comments George Heim commented that the Borough is cutting all funding for non departmental funding. Send an e-mail or phone call to the Borough Assembly or Mayor if this concerns anyone. B. Date /Agenda of Next Meeting April 9, 2009 6:30 p.m. Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board Minutes March 12, 2009 Page 4 of 4