HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-06 Council Packet - Work SessionAGENDA
1 KENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
; / FEBRUARY 6, 2013 — 5:30 P.M.
KENAI, ALASKA KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
210 FIDALGO AVE., KENAI, AK 99611
http: / /www.ci.kenai.ak.us
2013 KENAI RIVER DIPNET FISHERY
A. Introduction - Rick Koch, City Manager
B. Presentation of Management Alternatives for 2013 Kenai River Dipnet Fishery —
Rick Koch, City Manager
C. Council Discussion and Public Comment
D. Adjournment
All meetings are open to the public and participation is encouraged. Agendas and supporting documents
are posted on the City's website at www.ci.kenai.ak.us . For additional information, please contact the
City Clerk's Office at 907 - 283 -7535 ext 231.
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January 26, 2013
Speaker Mike Chenault
Rep.
Harriet Drummond
Rep.
Neal Foster
Rep.
Max Gruenberg
Rep.
Bob Herron
Rep.
Shelley Hughes
Rep.
Andrew Josephson
Rep.
Beth Kertulla
Rep.
Gabrielle LeDoux
Rep.
Cathy Munoz
Rep.
Kurt Olson
Rep.
Dan Saddler
Rep.
Geran Tarr
Rep.
Peggy Wilson
Dear Representative:
"Vill49e with a Past, C# with a Future"
210 Fidalgo Avenue, Kenai, Alaska 99611 -7794
Telephone: 907 - 283 -7535 / Fax: 907 - 283 -3014
www.ci.kenai.ak.us .
Rep.
Alan Austerman
Rep.
Mia Costello
Rep.
Bryce Edgmon
Rep.
Eric Fiege
Rep.
Les Gara
Rep.
Lynn Gattis
Rep.
David Guttenberg
Rep.
Mike Hawker
Rep.
Pete Higgins
Rep.
Lindsey Holmes
Rep.
Doug Isaacson
Rep.
Craig Johnson
Rep.
Scott Kawasaki
Rep.
Wes Keller
Rep.
Jonathan Kreiss - Tomkins
Rep.
Bob Lynn
Rep.
Charisse E. Millett
Rep.
Benjamin Nageak
Rep.
Mark Neuman
Rep.
Lance Pruitt
Rep.
Lora Reinbold
Rep.
Paul Seaton
Rep.
Bill Stoltze
Rep.
Steve Thompson
Rep.
Chris Tuck
Rep.
Tammie Wilson
The purpose of this correspondence is to provide information, discuss, and request your
assistance and support in creating a process to mitigate impacts to Alaskan municipalities /areas
affected by Personal Use Fisheries.
Following this introductory letter are several pages of photographs showing the impact of the
State Personal Use Fishery which takes place at the mouth of the Kenai River on an annual
basis. These photographs are typical, in other words they were not chosen because they show
the most negative conditions. The Personal Use Fishery which takes place at the mouth of the
Kasilof River results in similar conditions.
In 2012, the City of Kenai incurred expenditures of approximately $365,000 in support
of /reaction to the Fishery. These expenditures were for police, emergency medical services,
parks & recreation, solid waste, permanent and portable human waste, fish waste management,
dock/boat launch management, public works support, and overall municipal management.
To offset these expenses the City collected fees for camping, parking, and boat launch activities
totaling approximately $362,000, or $3,000 less than expenses. While the City attempts to
manage fish waste to a small degree, we are unsuccessful, to a greater degree each year as
the Fisheries popularity has grown and harvest levels have increased. In 2012, we estimate that
between 400,000 Ibs and 800,000 Ibs of fish waste was deposited on the beaches at the mouth
of the Kenai River.
The volume of fish waste generated by the Fishery has become untenable, and the residents of
Kenai are demanding that the City of Kenai enact law /policies /programs that eliminate the
problem.
City Administration has developed alternatives with cost estimates to manage fish waste more
effectively. The Kenai City Council, and members of the public, which have testified at several
Council work sessions on this issue, desire to see a process, or processes, in which fish waste
is collected at various locations on the beaches, and disposed of in a legal manner off -site from
the Fishery. This most likely would be accomplished by dumping the fish waste either in federal
waters or in a, yet- to -be- constructed, dedicated land -fill cell at the Kenai Peninsula Borough
Solid Waste Land Fill. There are significant start-up and ongoing operational costs for either of
these two alternatives. To date there have been no viable proposals to collect and create a
value -added product from the low -grade fish waste. The cost estimate to remove /dispose of fish
waste from the beaches is $250,000 4400,000, over current City expenditures.
Presently, there is no permit fee for a Personal Use Fishery Permit, the requirement is that you
are an Alaskan resident and you have a Sport Fishing License. We recognize that some
Personal Use Fishery participants would not otherwise have a fishing license. We request that
you support legislation which would separate a Personal Use Fishery Permit from a Sport
Fishing License. We further suggest that a permit fee of $25 be required for each person over
16 years of age on the permit, and that these revenues are utilized to assist municipalities,
areas, and the State to mitigate /eliminate the negative impacts of the Fisheries.
In 2009, 2010, and 2011, the average number of Personal Use Fishery Permits issued was
31,908, say 32,000. The following are assumptions of total fishery participants, and projected
revenue generation given the above proposal:
Total Number of Permits 32,000
Number of Individuals per.Permit X 3.2
Total Number of Participants 102,400
Number of Participants over 16 years 70,400
of age
Projected Revenue ($25 /Participant) $1,760,000
The following is a suggestion for distribution of revenue:
Kenai River -City of Kenai (35 %)
$616,000
Kasilof River -State of Alaska (20 %)
352,000
Other Site - Specific Fisheries (10 %)
176,000
Capital Improvements (i.e. Kenai
264,000
Peninsula Borough Landfill Cell)(15 %)
State of Alaska Administrative Costs (20 %)
352,000
Total Distribution $1,760,000
The above revenue distribution is only for demonstration and not meant to serve as a specific
suggestion.
By the State collecting a fee on the front -end of the process, rather than the City of Kenai
collecting fees from only parking, camping , and boat launching, all Fishery participants share in
the expense of services and mitigation of negative impacts caused by the Fishery.
Just yesterday I was made aware the Representative Seaton was considering legislation similar
to the suggestions contained in this correspondence. The Kenai City Council, residents of
Kenai, and the City of Kenai Administration respectfully request your consideration.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.
Sincerely
CITY OF KENAI
Pat Porter, Mayor Rick R. Koch, City Manager
CITY OF KENAI
IMPACTS OF PERSONAL USE
FISHERY
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HOUSE BILL NO. X
"An Act creating a personal use fishing license; and establishing the personal use fishery
fund."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
* Section 1. AS 09.50.020(c) is amended to read:
(c) In this section, "recreational license" means a recreational fishing license or
recreational hunting license. In this subsection,
(1) "recreational fishing license" means a sport fishing license under AS
16.05.340 unless that license is required for participation in [PERSONAL USE FISHING,
AS DEFINED IN AS 16.05.9409 OR] subsistence fishing, as defined in
AS 16.05.940 and modified by decisions of the Alaska Supreme Court;
(2) "recreational hunting license" means a hunting license under
AS 16.05.340 unless that license is required for participation in subsistence hunting, as
defined in AS 16.05.940 and modified by decisions of the Alaska Supreme Court.
New Section added as follows:
(3) personal use license means a license for the taking, fishing for, or
possession of finfish, shellfish, or other fishery resources, by Alaska residents for personal
use and not for sale or barter by means other than hook and line, such as with gill or dip net,
seine, fish wheel, long line, or other means defined by the Board of Fisheries;
* Sec. 2. AS 16.05.340 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
(k) Notwithstanding 5 AAC 77 each resident shall obtain a personal use fishing
license and pay a personal use fishing license fee of $25. In addition to the personal use
license fee a personal use permit may be required under 5 AAC 77 for each fishery the
person or household participates in during the year. The personal use fishery fund is
established and shall be administered by the Department of Revenue. Notwithstanding AS
16.05.110(a), personal use fishing permit fees shall be deposited into the fund and may be
appropriated for administrative and other costs incurred by the Department of Fish and
Game, Department of Public Safety, local or borough governments and other land managers
to cover expenses incurred as a result of personal use fisheries. Nothing in this subsection
creates a dedicated fund.
* Sec. 3.. AS 16.05.400 is amended to read.
(a) A license is not required of a resident or nonresident person under the age of 16
years for sport fishing nor is a license required of a resident under the age of 16 for
personal use fishing, hunting or trapping.
* Sec. 4. AS 37.05.146(c) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:
(87) Personal use fishery fund (AS 16.05.340(k)).
Fate of Personal Use fishing permits after TWO reminders, 1996 to 2011
YEAR Permits Permits Permits s Percent
Issued Returned Returned Returned
1996
14,576
13,452
1,124
8%
1997
14,919
13,756
1,163
8%
1998
15,535
13,190
2,345
15%
1999
17,197
14,216
2,981
17%
2000
16,107
13,582
2,525
16%
2001
16,915
14,398
2,517
15%
2002
17,568
14,284
3,284
19%
2003
19,110
15,726
3,384
18%
2004
21,910
17,748
4,162
19%
2005
21,905
19,081
2,824
13%
2006
18,563
16,532
2,031
11%
2007
23,046
20,312
2,734
12%
2008
23,722
20,259
3,463
15%
2009
29,619
25,029
4,590
15%
2010
31,590
25,222
6,368
20%
2011
34,515
27,181
7,334
21%