"JUNEAU UPDATE"
Kodiak Daily Mirror publication date of February 18, 1998
The harbors are part of the infrastructure required to support the fishing industry in Kodiak. The State of Alaska owns the docks in St. Paul’s Harbor, St. Herman’s Harbor and the transient float. Although the state is responsible for maintaining those facilities, they haven’t appropriated any funds for this purpose in over a decade. Meanwhile, the city has been paying for temporary repairs to figuratively keep the harbor afloat.
Members of the Alaska Legislature’s Deferred Maintenance Task Force (DMTF) were in town this past September to review first hand, problems associated with the lack of maintenance on the harbor as well as other state assets, such as roads and buildings. Members of the DMTF were impressed that Kodiak has been spending millions of dollars of their own money for ongoing maintenance of the dock facilities.
Kodiak fared really well in the DMTF’s overall recommendations. The harbors are fully funded for $7,775,000 under their proposal. This was due, in part, to the City of Kodiak making a great presentation to the task force. The harbormaster’s office gave the task force a briefing, followed by a walking and boat tour of the affected facilities. Additionally, the harbor facilities in Port Lions will receive a little over $4 million under this pending legislation.
The visitation culminated with a public hearing. They heard from the general public and government officials in Kodiak, as well as folks from Larsen Bay, Ouzinkie, Old Harbor and Chiniak. The message was loud and clear: Fix our roads and fix our harbors.
A report of the DMTF findings and recommendations, including a plan for funding, has been submitted to the legislature for its consideration. As a result of this plan, five bills each have been introduced on both sides of the legislature. If you would like to see a copy of these proposals, the Kodiak Legislative Offices (LIO) located in the Kodiak Plaza Building (across from Subway) have these available. The exact bill numbers are:
House Bills 312, 313, 314, 315, and 316
Senate Bills 324, 325, 326, 327, and 328.
More information about any of these pieces of legislation can be obtained by calling the LIO at 486-8116 or my office in Juneau at 1-800-865-2487. I’ll report later in a future "update" on the funding for a myriad of other Kodiak projects.
Children’s Artwork
The Department of Education (DOE) is seeking artwork from Alaska’s children of any age through high school to place on the DOE web site. Please send only digitized artwork that has been scanned into or otherwise stored on a computer. Please do not send the original or copies through the mail. More information may be obtained by calling Rebecca Nurse at (907) 465-8680 or email at: rnurse@educ.state.ak.us.
Smaller, Smarter Government
I have co-sponsored a bill, which would consolidate the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and the Department of Community and Regional Affairs into one department. This is part of the Majority’s continuing ‘Commitment to Alaska’ to focus on how efficiently services are delivered to the people of this state. Not only will this move save you money, but it will also make things better for rural Alaskans. With all rural economic development programs under one roof, we would have only one management team legislators can question and ultimately hold responsible for their delivery of services and their performance.
Welfare Reform Working
Since welfare reform passed the Alaska Legislature two years ago, the state’s welfare rolls are dropping. More than 1,700 families came off welfare between November 1996 and November 1997, a 14 percent decrease generating about $20 million in savings.
Gavel to Gavel
As a reminder, folks in Kodiak can tune in to the Alaska State Legislature on cable channel 53. Floor sessions and committee meetings are just some of the events covered by KTOO-TV here in Juneau. What began as a demonstration project in 1994, Gavel-to-Gavel has become a significant component of forging an informed citizenry. Many thanks again to GCI for bringing this program to Kodiak.
Kodiak Woman Named
Congratulations are in order for Christine Marsigan. The Governor announced Monday that he has appointed Ms. Marsigan to the Alaska Human Rights Commission. She is currently the program manager for the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository.
New Fishery Bills
Three bills relating to fisheries were introduced in the last two weeks in the House: HB 423, HB 392 and HB 394.
HB 423, sponsored by Rep. Eldon Mulder, provides for a buyback of limited entry permits by establishing an Alaska Access Fishery Trust within the fish and game fund. The trust would be funded two ways: 1. By a $1 contribution from all sport fish licenses; 2. By a surcharge of five percent against all commercial salmon permit renewal fees. The trust would provide funding to purchase permits, vessels, gear and equipment of commercial fishermen. HB 423 has been referred to the House Special Committee on Fisheries, which I chair. I urge you to get a copy of this bill from the local LIO and give me your comments on this legislation.
I introduced HB 392 to redefine the law about salmon ex-vessel value and wholesale price reporting by processors. This bill will allow the departments of Revenue, Fish and Game and Environmental Conservation to share information in confidence and update the wholesale reporting statute to provide more meaningful information, in a more timely manner. The wholesale information is currently reported to Revenue semi-annually. HB 392 provides for this information to be reported three times a year, and sets up a mechanism for independent audits to verify the accuracy of these reports.
HB 394, by Rep. Bill Williams, would change the fee structure of a seafood processing permit for direct-market fishing vessels. It would set a base price of $100 plus an "additional amount relative to the quantity of fishery resources that were processed on that vessel". The bill caps the permit fee at $400. This bill also would enable the Department of Environmental Conservation to access ex-vessel value information in confidence.
On February 11th, the House Special Committee on Fisheries heard Rep. Ivan Ivan’s bill HB 318, relating to wanton waste of salmon. Discussions during committee indicated that an amendment is needed to define and provide for brood stock roe stripping at hatcheries. I anticipate hearing this bill again after amendments are drafted by Rep. Ivan’s office.
On February 16th, the Fisheries Committee heard HJR 48, the companion legislation to Senator Mackie’s SJR 33 on the Americanization of the offshore fleet. HJR 48, which I co-sponsored, was passed out of committee. The committee also heard HJR 55, supporting an increased pollock and pacific cod allocation to the Bering Sea inshore sector, which I introduced. This resolution will be held in committee until a future meeting. We had quite a bit of testimony against these two resolutions, but most of that testimony was from those people who have a vested interest in offshore catcher processors.
HB 310, which I sponsored, relating to waste in groundfish utilization, moved out of the House Resources Committee on February 12. I have requested House Floor scheduling for this bill and anticipate it will pass the House this week or next.
I will be scheduling HJR 54 by Rep. Al Vezey next Wednesday, February 25th for a committee hearing. This resolution speaks to the absence of maritime boundaries with Canada. This resolution urges negotiation between the USA and Canada to establish the boundaries through a federal process with Alaskan participation.
Rep. Ivan’s HB 285 is scheduled in the House Resources Committee this Thursday, February 19th at 1:00. This bill would attach demerit points to limited entry permits when citations and violations occur against the permit holder. Too many demerit points and you could lose your permit. Demerit points would stay with the permit if it is sold or transferred. The sponsor has provided a substitute draft to the committee; a CS, for their consideration, which is available at the Kodiak LIO.
For your information
The January meeting of the Board of Fisheries put out a Special Call For Proposals for Local Area Management Plans; including halibut for the Cook Inlet, Kodiak and Chignik management areas. The Board will require participation by subsistence, personal use, sport, guided sport and commercial users. If you need more information, contact Fish & Game or my office. The proposal deadline in April 10, 1998.
Visitors
I had several folks from Kodiak come by to visit and confer on several subjects. Those stopping by were Paula Stinson, Ed Mahoney, Susan Brockman, Mike Machulsky, Jerry Babbitt, Wayne Stevens, Rita Stevens, Freddie Christiansen, Dennis Metrokin and former long time resident, Glenn Godfrey.