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Home My WebLink AboutResolution No. 2013-78SUBSTITUTE Suggested by: Administration CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 2013 -78 A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, SUPPORTING IN PART ALASKA BOARD OF FISH PROPOSAL NUMBER 278 REQUESTING THAT THE ALASKA BOARD OF FISH PROHIBIT EMERGENCY ORDER AUTHORITY LIBERALIZING PERSONAL USE SALMON FISHERY TO 24 HOURS PER DAY. WHEREAS, during abundant sockeye salmon returns to the Kenai River, the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is authorized to liberalize the daily opening of the personal use fishery from seventeen hours per day (6 AM to 11 PM) to twenty-four hours per day; and, WHEREAS, twenty-four hour openings create hardship and do not provide an opportunity for city personnel and contractors that are servicing portable toilets, removing solid waste, and managing large- volumes of fish -waste to conduct their work; and, WHEREAS, twenty-four hour openings create unsafe and hazardous conditions for personal use fishery participants that are on the beaches during the night when city personnel and contractors are using heavy equipment in the area; and, WHEREAS, during the 2013 personal use fishery season it was necessary to utilize additional personnel and equipment to safeguard against accidents involving fishery participants and heavy equipment on the beaches creating a financial/ administrative hardship. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, that the City of Kenai supports in part Alaska Board of Fish Proposal 278 requesting that the Alaska Board of Fish prohibit emergency order authority liberalizing personal use fishery to 24 hours per day, but takes no position on the increased harvest limits. PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 18th day of December, 2013. PAT PORTER, MAYOR ATT San4ZPocf1gh, Wy Clerk M "Village with a Past, C# with a Future" 210 Fidalgo Avenue, Kenai, Alaska 99611 -7794 Telephone: 907 - 283 -7535 / FAX: 907 - 283 -3014 �IIII� 1992 MEMO* TO: City Council FROM: Rick Koch DATE: December 11, 2013 SUBJECT: Resolution 2013 -78, Supporting Alaska Board of Fish Proposal Number 278 The purpose of this correspondence is to recommend that Council adopt the above referenced resolution supporting Alaska Board of Fish Resolution Number 278. The effect of which is to prohibit the Commissioner of Fish and game from opening the personal use fishery to a 24 hour per day opening by emergency order. Also included in Proposal Number 278 is a recommendation that the Commissioner be able to increase harvest limits if additional harvest is necessary. City Administration takes no position, nor makes a recommendation, on that part of Proposal Number 278. The Commissioner may already have authority to increase harvest limits by emergency order, but Administration has not researched that issue. If Council desires to support only the portion of Proposal Number 278 that prohibits the present practice of twenty -four hour openings by emergency order, and either not state a position, or oppose, increased harvest limits, the Council could postpone action on this resolution until the January 2, m2014 meeting. At which time the Administration would bring back a substitute ordinance which would include language stating Council's position. Thank you for your attention in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact me at your convenience. OTHER SOLUTIONS CONSIDERED? Calendar date / would not pass. PROPOSED BY: John McCombs (HQ -F13 -352) PROPOSAL 277 - 5 AAC 77.540. Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Salmon Fishery Management Plan. Open Kenai River personal use fishery after escapement has been met, as follows: Dipnetting begins after escapement is met. ISSUE: Reallocation of a fully allocated fishery. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF NOTHING IS DONE? Commercial fishermen will face reductions. WILL THE QUALITY OF THE RESOURCE HARVESTED OR PRODUCTS PRODUCED BE IMPROVED? Dipnetting prosecuted on s urplus stock prevent over - escapement. WHO IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT? Commercial fishermen will be whole again. WHO IS LIKELY TO SUFFER? Dipnetters will benefit in times of abundance. OTHER SOLUTIONS PROPOSED BY: John McCombs (HQ -F13 -353) PROPOSAL 278 - 5 AAC 77.540. Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Salmon Fishery Management Plan. Prohibit emergency order (EO) authority liberalizing personal use salmon fishery to 24 hours per day, but allow for increased harvest limits, as follows: Discontinue use of Emergency Orders to open Personal Use Fishery (dipnetting) to 24 hours at the mouth of the Kenai River. Increase the number of fish allowed to be caught on a Personal Use permit when the need arises to increase the fish harvest, but limit this to the normal openings hours of 6:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m. Modify permit cards to allow for separate recording of the additional harvest if necessary. ISSUE: The Emergency 24 hour opening of the Personal Use Fishery at the mouth of the Kenai River to Warren Ames Bridge creates a very disruptive situation in the residential neighborhoods adjacent to the activity. 306 WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF NOTHING IS DONE? Continued unrest during normal sleeping hours for nearby residents, increased complaints to state and local police departments about trespassing, noise and speeding traffic. WILL THE QUALITY OF THE RESOURCE HARVESTED OR THE PRODUCTS PRODUCED BE IMPROVED? No WHO IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT? Residents living on and near the Kenai River Personal Use Fishery Area would benefit by having a break in the noise and chaos while trying to sleep during this three week event. This would also benefit area law enforcement and fish and game by reducing the burden on their departments. WHO IS LIKELY TO SUFFER? Nobody. Extra fish can be caught during the normal opening hours. OTHER SOLUTIONS CONSIDERED? PROPOSED BY: Linda Lemanski (HQ -F13 -019) PRUF0SALZ49F'-- 5 AM400"77.5M.- Upper Cook Inlet Personal Use Salmon Fishery Management Plan. Modify existing Kenai River personal use fishery hours from 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., to 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m., as follows: Dipnet fishery open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ISSUE: The traffic on the lower Kenai. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF NOTHING IS DONE? More accidents, loss of life. WILL THE QUALITY OF THE RESOURCE HARVESTED OR PRODUCTS PRODUCED BE IMPROVED? It promotes safety. WHO IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT? Operators in the lower Kenai. WHO IS LIKELY TO SUFFER? The City of Kenai. OTHER SOLUTIONS CONSIDERED? None. PROPOSED BY: John McCombs (HQ -F13 -370) 307 Me c<lv of c �z�cy Suggested by: Admit CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 2013 -78 A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALAS SUPPORTING ALASKA BOARD OF FISH PROPOSAL NUMBER 278 REQUESTING HAT THE ALASKA BOARD OF FISH PROHIBIT EMERGENCY ORDER AUTHORITY LIBERALIZING PERSONAL USE SALMON FISHERY TO 24 HOT PER DAY, BUT ALLOW FOR INCREASED HARVEST LIMITS. WHEREAS, during abundant sockeye salmon returns to th enai River, the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and G is authorized to liberalize the daily opening of the personal use fishery from seven en hours per day (6 AM to 11 PM) to twenty -four hours per day; and, WHEREAS, twenty-four hour openings create hard ip and do not provide an opportunity for city personnel and contractors th are servicing portable toilets, removing solid waste, and managing large -volu s of fish -waste to conduct their work; and, WHEREAS, twenty -four hour openings cre e unsafe and hazardous conditions for personal use fishery participants that are n the beaches during the night when city personnel and contractors are using he equipment in the area; and, WHEREAS, during the 2013 person use fishery season it was necessary to utilize additional personnel and equipme to safeguard against accidents involving fishery participants and heavy equipme on the beaches creating a financial/ administrative hardship. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT SOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, that the City of enai supports Alaska Board of Fish Proposal 278 requesting that the Alaska Board o ish prohibit emergency order authority liberalizing personal use fishery to 24 hour per day, but allow for increased harvest limits. PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 18th day of December, 2013. PAT PORTER, MAYOR A Sandra Modigh, City Clerk