HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2014-10Suggested by: Councilors Brian Gabriel and Mike Boyle
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KENO SKA u[LA CITY OF KENAI
RESOLUTION NO. 2014 -10
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, OPPOSING
ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES (BOF) PROPOSAL NUMBER 103 AMENDING THE
UPPER COOK INLET SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WHEREAS, Proposal Number 103 requests an amendment to the Upper Cook Inlet
Salmon Management Plan to drop inriver goals from list of escapement goals, prioritize
achieving the lower end over exceeding the upper end of an escapement goal, and
require the department to utilize all, prescriptive elements found in codified plans
before going outside codified plans to achieve established escapement goals; and,
WHEREAS, BOF Proposal Number 103 is in conflict with City of Kenai Resolution
2011 -14 which supported sound fisheries management practices and diversified
harvest opportunities in Cook Inlet; and,
WHEREAS, BOF Proposal 103 imposes unreasonable and unnecessary restrictions
upon the Alaska Department of Fish & Game's (ADF&G) ability to successfully manage
mixed stock fisheries; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI,
ALASKA, that the Council opposes Alaska Board of Fisheries Proposal Number 103
amending the Upper Cook Inlet Salmon Management Plan.
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this 15th day of
January, 2014.
PAT PORTER, MAYOR
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San ra o 'gh, C , Clerk
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Klla9e with a Past, Gc#� with a Future
210 Fidalgo Avenue, Kenai, Alaska 99611 -7794
Telephone: 907 - 283 -7535 / FAX: 907 - 283 -3014 1IIP1
1992
MEMO:
TO: Mayor Porter and City Councilors
FROM: Councilors Brian Gabriel and Mike Boyle
DATE: January 9, 2014
SUBJECT: Resolutions 2014 -10 through 2014 -16
We respectfully request that the City Council support the adoption of Resolutions 2014 -10
through 2014 -16.
Each of these resolutions establishes the City of Kenai's support or opposition to Alaska Board
of Fish Proposals that will be discussed during the Alaska Board of Fish meeting to consider
proposals affecting Upper Cook Inlet Fisheries.
Resolutions 2014 -10 (Proposal 103) and 2014 -11 (Proposal 138), request consideration of
amendments to the Upper Cook Inlet Salmon Management Plan and Central District Gillnet
Fishery Management plan, respectively, that will cause economic hardship to residents and
businesses in the City of Kenai and throughout the Kenai Peninsula. These proposals also limit
the Alaska Department of Fish & Game's (ADF &G) ability to manage the fisheries based on
sound fisheries management practices and diversified harvest opportunities in Cook Inlet, as
supported by City of Kenai Resolution 2011 -14 (attached).
Resolution 2014 -12 supports proposal 201 submitted by the ADF &G, amending the Kenai River
and Kasilof River Early -Run King Salmon Management Plan, to provide additional protections
for King Salmon in the Slikok Creek king salmon sanctuary area.
Resolution 2014 -13 supports proposal 229 submitted by the ADF &G to provide a specific
boundary between the waters of the Kenai River and the waters of Cook Inlet.
Resolution 2014 -14 supports proposal 238 amending the Kenai River Late -run King Salmon
Management Plan to add an additional drift -only (Thursdays) day on the Kenai River. This
proposal is substantially the same as a proposal 237 which was submitted by the City of Kenai.
Resolution 2014 -15 supports proposal 270 submitted by the ADF &G amending the Upper Cook
Inlet Personal Use Salmon Fishery Management Plan to clarify when a person is required to
record their harvest.
Resolution 2014 -16 supports proposal 286 submitted by a property owner of Kenai river -front
property within the City of Kenai to require a no -wake zone between river mile 3 and 4.5 when
the tide is 21' and higher. Loss of river -front property occurs when the river is at an extremely
high tide and boats create wakes that erode river -front properties within the City of Kenai.
Thank you for your consideration.
Suggested by: Counselors Brian Gabriel and Joe Moore
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the. '�Y°l CITY OF KENAI
KENAIALAS KA
RESOLUTION NO. 2011 -14
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, SUPPORTING
SOUND FISHERIES- MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND DIVERSIFIED HARVEST
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COOK INLET.
WHEREAS, the City of Kenai has benefited from healthy well - managed salmon runs as
a central part of its economy and quality of life for its citizens and visitors for over one
hundred years; and,
WHEREAS, over the past several years, State of Alaska fishery policymakers have
adopted regulations to increase opportunities for Alaska residents to harvest certain
species of salmon, but have done so without regard to the impacts of those fisheries
have on our community; and,
WHEREAS, over the past several years, Cook Inlet commercial fishers have
experienced substantial reductions in fishing opportunities that adversely impacted
their businesses and our local economy, while other users have not been burdened by
the same conservation or harvest reallocation measures; and,
WHEREAS, the City has invested several hundred thousand dollars in an attempt to
mitigate the impact of the resident -only fishery, by building infrastructure solely for
the benefit of this fishery, often at the expense of spending capital on projects that
would be otherwise utilized by citizens year around; and,
WHEREAS, in addition to business opportunities for many citizens of the Kenai
Peninsula Borough and the State of Alaska, the Cook Inlet commercial salmon
industry is a critical component of our local economy because it provides jobs and is a
reliable tax base on both real and personal property; and,
WHEREAS, because it has been able to rely on a predictable stream of salmon
harvested in Cook Inlet during summer months, the local seafood processing industry
has been able to expand its season by months and now includes processing other
species such as halibut and cod, as well as fish flown in from other regions of the
State; and,
WHEREAS, the local commercial salmon industry is a vital part of our local economy
because it is supported by local commercial fishers, processors and the many vendors
that rely on its business year around; and,
WHEREAS, improvements in salmon handling and quality in both the commercial
harvest and processing sector has resulted in salmon prices nearing 20 -year highs --
substantially increasing fish taxes to the Borough and the City of Kenai; and,
Resolution No. 2011 -14
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, adoption of regulations that significantly reduce the opportunities for Cook
Inlet commercial fishers to harvest and process salmon during its traditional summer
season, without a sound biological reason for doing so, will result in long -term and
perhaps irreversible damage to our local economy; and,
WHEREAS, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, 2011 Upper Cook Inlet Sockeye
Salmon Forecast indicates a commercial, sport, and personal use salmon harvest of
4.4 to 4.8 million salmon in Cook Inlet, most of which will be processed within the City
of Kenai, and suggests managers have reached an acceptable balance between the
needs of competing salmon harvesters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI,
ALASKA, as follows:
Section 1: Supports sound fisheries management practices in Cook Inlet specifically
with respect to the Kenai River salmon runs; and,
Section 2: Respectfully requests the State of Alaska Board of Fisheries to recognize
the historical and economic significance of the salmon runs that return to the Kenai
River by avoiding adoption of regulations that reduce opportunities for all Cook Inlet
and Kenai Peninsula salmon harvesters and City of Kenai fish processors and other
businesses without a sound biological reason for doing so.
Section 3: Upon passage, a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to Governor
Sean Parnell, Alaska Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Cora Campbell,
Alaska Board of Fisheries members (individually), Senator Tom Wagoner, Speaker of
the House Mike Chenault, and Representative Kurt Olson.
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this second day of
February, 2011. y
ATTEST: PAT PORTER, MAYOR
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk