HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-10 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
II. Public Comments
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
IV. OLD BUSINESS ACTION ITEMS
A. Draft Regulations- In- season Guide Replacement
B.
C.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Committee Goals 09 -10
B. Board Nominations
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
A. Board Comments
B. Date /Agenda of Next Meeting October 8, 2009 5:30 p.m.
ThY
Kenai River Special Management Area Advisory Board
Meeting Agenda
Thursday, September 10, 2009
5:30 p.m. Kenai River Center
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 uS0latural Resources, in cooperation with the Kenai Peninsula Borough
KENAI4IER
Kenai River Special Management
Area Advisory Board Minutes
Kenai River Center
Thursday, August 13, 2009 5:30 p.m.
Call to Order
A. Members Present: Joe Connors, Ted Wellman, Richard Dykema, Adam Reimer, James Czarnezki, Steve
Bonebrake, Bob Frates, Bobbie Jo Skibo, Robert Begich, Jack Sinclair.
B. The Minutes for May 14, 2009 were approved as written.
C. Agenda Changes and Approval: No changes to agenda.
D. Public Comments
Gary Chamberlin commented in regards to state parks enforcement.
Lee Cory Ledden, with Resource Conservation Development District, representing the Funny River group
expressed interest in going out to the Funny River Road site if the board was going after the meeting.
E. Reports
a. Agency and Government Reports
a. ADNR /Parks, Jack Sinclair, reminded everyone that it is board appointment time again,
September 2, 2009 is the deadline for applications, so we can forward applications to the board
just prior to September 10, 2009 KRMSA meeting.
b. DEC, Tim Stevens, was not present.
c. ADF &G, Robert Begich, Season is still in progress. No report at this time.
d. USF &WS, Janet Schmidt, ending summer season, many of the seasonal crews are starting to
leave and it was a sl icnpscfi cpacnn I ISFRWS has completed an EA (Envirnnmpntal
Assessment) for a future visitor center the EA report will be available August 14, 2009 for
public comments for 30 days. The website is located at: www.kenai.fws.gov /current.htm and
the physical location for the future visitor center will be in the general area of the current
headquarters building.
e. USFSIChugach, Bobbie Jo Skibo, we've had a successful year at the Russian River, only a
few more days until the sockeye fishery closes on August 20 2009. To date no defense of
life or property kills (no tally of black or brown bears) and no injuries to any anglers or visitors.
USFS had 61 volunteers for the stream watch program picking up mono filament lines and
trash. Plan to have a press release out by the end of the month, highlighting the stream watch
volunteer's accomplishments. The Strategic Plan for the Kenai and Russian River Complex
has been posted online to the Chugach National Forrest website. If you go to the search
engine and search interagency plans, it is the first one that pops up or you can go to the
Partnership Link. The title is A Strategic Interagency Response to Dynamic Challenges at the
Kenai Russian River Complex.
f. City of Kenai, Bob Frates, dip net fishery is behind us. The fence project on the North side
was a huge success in protecting the sand dunes.
g. City of Soldotna, Steve Bonebrake, three projects are scheduled for completion between this
fall and next spring. First is to expand and improve trails at Centennial Park, second is a set of
stairs to go to the river's edge so that pedestrians may access under the bridge and may safely
get from one side of the road to the other. The third one is the Soldotna Creek Park, phase I,
schematic design was approved by city counsel last night, will proceed with construction
phase. A private group will be working on the old playground site and it will be expanded
considerably. Visitor use at Swiftwater and Centennial camp areas were considerably up from
normal.
h. Kenai Peninsula Borough, Milli Martin, was not present
b. Committee Reports
a. Guide Advisory, did not meet.
b. Habitat, did not meet.
c. River Use, Ted Wellman, did not meet, but he talked to Doug Whittaker on the recreation use
plan.
d. Permits, did not meet.
e. Legislative /Government Activities did not meet.
f. Board Development, did not meet.
g. Agenda /Board Structure /Housekeeping did not meet.
F. Old Business action items
A. Draft Regulations- Guide Replacement, Hunting areas, Sinclair- Connors
Ted Wellman made the motion to discuss Guide Replacement Policy.
Steve Bonebrake seconded.
Changes will be made to the draft guide replacement regulation and another draft will be presented at the
September 10, 2009 meeting.
Adam R. made the motion to bring 11 AAC 20.850 Use of Weapons to the table.
Ted Wellman seconded.
Jack Sinclair spoke on draft regulations on hunting areas.
11 ACC 20.850 Use of Weapons passed unanimously.
B. By Law changes- Three year terms- Sinclair
Adam made motion to bring By Law Changes to the table.
Ted Wellman seconded.
Adam Reimer made motion to amend by law changes to read:
"New language proposed:
Beginning October 31, 2009, three members shall be appointed to three year terms and one member to be
appointed to a one -time only one year term. In 2010, two members will be appointed to three year terms
and three will be appointed to one -time only one year terms. Thereafter, starting in 2011, all seats will have
three year terms scheduled to expire on October 31 of the appropriate year."
Ted Wellman seconded.
Vote was taken amendment to by law changes passed.
Adam R. made motion to vote on by law changes amended.
Steve seconded.
By Law changes amended passed.
G. New Business None
H. Correspondence None
I. Public Comment None
J. Adjournment
a. Board Comments
Bobbie Jo Skibo commented Robin West will be leaving and they would like to get him a gift. If you'd
like to give or have any ideas for a going away gift please let her know. To send money for gift, mailing
address is: Bobbie Jo Skibo PO Box 166 Moose Pass, AK 99631.
Jim C. gave an update on hydrocarbon sampling, July 18, 19, and 21. We had higher numbers of
boats this year than we've ever seen before 765 boats, which is an all time high. We counted 382
boats in the personal use fishery, 200 is somewhat normal. The highest E -TEC levels were around 6
and most were around 2 -3. The regulation seems to be working good. During the water sampling on
Tuesday, July 21, 2009, we took samples from 22 sites throughout the watershed, we saw E -TEC in
the lower river up to river mile 12.5, which is basically from Pillars down stream. Turbidity monitoring is
on- going, it started in mid -May and will end September 1, 2009. No problems with the high water and
instruments have been performing well.
Joe Connors will be gone for September 10, 2009 meeting and commented on boating safety.
Bobbie Jo Skibo talked on Dave's Creek Restoration Project. Fish carcass management issues of the
Russian River are still there and this July the issue was elevated to executive leadership of the fish and
wildlife service and commissioner of fish and game. They did a float trip on the river and at this point
they will discuss it and decide how to manage amount of fish carcass in those high use areas.
Richard Dykema asked if someone would provide data on hydrocarbon water sampling.
Bob Frates asked if State Parks has made any move on drift boat launch take out.
b. Date /Agenda of Next Meeting September 10, 2009 5:30 p.m.
Draft In Season Replacement Guide Regulation Intent language:
If a permitted sport fishing guide business within the Kenai River Special Management
Area (KRSMA) loses the services of an employed guide anytime after being permitted in
a calendar year, the following procedures to replace that person may be followed by
that business entity:
That person or business may request a special permit from the Director of the Division
of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) or designee to register a "replacement guide"
(for the purposes of this discussion a "Replacement Guide" is defined as one who can
qualify in every way except that they have not successfully completed the required
Kenai River Guide Academy training) to serve as an employed sport fish guide for the
remaining permit year, only when the following conditions are met:
1. The business owner /applicant will be required to show that they have exhausted the
options for employing qualified guides from within the pool of guides qualified and
previously permitted with DPOR as well as those persons who have completed a
DPOR- approved course and who have granted permission to release their contact
information.
2. The replacement guide must meet all of the following requirements:
A. Must be 18 years of age.
B. Must be a United State citizen or be qualified to work within the US.
C. Have a current Driver's License or picture ID.
D. Have current first aid certification.
E. Have a valid, current United State Coast Guard license to carry passengers for
hire (when applicable for power boats)
F. Have a current Alaska sport fishing license.
G. Have a State of Alaska, ADF &G Sport Fish Guide License.
H. Have proof of current enrollment in an approved drug testing program.
I. May not have been convicted of a felony within the past five years and may not
have been convicted of more than one misdemeanor violation of a provision of 5
AAC 47 through 5 AAC 75 (Fish and Game regulations) within the past five
years.
J. Pay all applicable Park Use Permit fees.
K. Present proof of insurance documentation as a vessel operator for the qualifying
Sport Fishing Business (where applicable).
L. Complete an Orientation Course provided by DPOR and pay any fees associated
with this course.
3. No person may serve as a replacement guide for more than one season unless they
have successfully completed the required DPOR- approved course under 11 AC 20.885
(c) (9), as well as meeting all other local, state and federal requirements.
Aug. 31, 2009 DRAFT
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Timeliness:
A person making a request under this section must complete a form provided by the
department and submit all of the required information to the director. Once a complete
replacement guide exemption application has been received, the director shall respond
within 2 working days with a decision. A person who has been denied a permit may
appeal the decision as outlined in 11 AAC 02.
Aug. 31, 2009 DRAFT
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