Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
03/13/2020 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB184 | |
| SB130 | |
| SB232 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SJR 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 184 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 232 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 232-PERSONAL USE FISHING PERMIT FEES
4:08:07 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE announced that the final order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 232, "An Act relating to personal use fishing
permits."
4:08:34 PM
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Senator Micciche, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that SB 232 addresses the
impacts of the dipnet fishery that face Cook Inlet communities.
This includes burdens on local services, infrastructure,
handling of excess fish waste, and litter. He directed attention
to the photos in the packet that illustrate the situation at the
mouth of the Kenai River, noting that sometimes there is some
disregard for beaches, residents, and property owners near the
fisheries. He said Chair Micciche is familiar with the situation
because that area is in his district.
He said the dipnet influx does bring some revenue, but before
the City of Kenai instituted a small fee for beach access and
camping it shouldered the entire burden with no assistance from
the State.
MR. JACKSON explained that SB 232 institutes a $5 fee for a
personal use fishing permit. As currently drafted, the bill
would split the fees between communities where the personal use
fisheries take place with the remaining funds staying in the
general fund to assist fisheries that are outside of the
municipalities. He reiterated that the fee will cover some of
the infrastructure and support services where the fisheries take
place, and noted that the Chitina fishery instituted a $15
permit to help clean up some of the mess that resulted from the
fishery.
MR. JACKSON said the $5 fee currently would apply to all
personal use fisheries in the state, but the sponsor intends to
offer an amendment to focus on the Cook Inlet dipnet fisheries.
4:11:45 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if he said that the fee would apply to
every personal use fishery, but a pending amendment would limit
the focus to just the Cook Inlet fisheries.
MR. JACKSON answered yes. He said as currently written the fee
would apply to all personal use fisheries, including the Chitina
fishery, and that was never the intention.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked how the $5 fee would be allocated to the
other fisheries.
MR. JACKSON restated that the ultimate intent is for the $5 fee
to apply to and be used for the Cook Inlet personal use
fisheries.
SENATOR KAWASAKI noted that the Copper River personal use
fishery creates waste that impacts a downriver community. He
asked if the downriver community would receive support for
cleanup.
MR. JACKSON reiterated that the focus is on the fisheries in
Cook Inlet.
4:14:07 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE, sponsor of SB 232, clarified that his intent was
to introduce the bill and then introduce a committee substitute
(CS) for strictly Cook Inlet. The fee will offset both the City
of Kenai's management costs and the Kasilof River's
infrastructure for restrooms, boat ramps, and cleanup.
SENATOR COGHILL remarked that the $5 fee is acceptable. He asked
how many people participate in the personal use dipnet fishery.
MR. JACKSON replied the city manager of Kenai probably has
accurate numbers. He noted that the City of Kenai does an annual
report on infrastructure impacts following the fishery.
4:15:31 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE opened public testimony.
4:15:47 PM
PAUL OSTRANDER, City Manager, City of Kenai, Kenai, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 232. He said the City of Kenai has
been supporting the personal use fishery since 1996. He noted
that the photos presented to committee members are from 2010 or
2011, before the city actively managed fish waste on the
beaches. The city has increased management and services in the
area and is very proud of the experience they provide to the
dipnet participants.
He detailed that with the rapid growth of the fishery, which
peaked in 2011 and 2012, the city established a personal use
fishery fund to buffer the volatility tied to fish runs. They
charge for parking, camping, and boat launching to generate
enough revenue to support the fishery and provide services.
MR. OSTRANDER said the city has seen decreased revenue from fees
over the last two or three years and the worry is that the city
will soon need to subsidize fishery expenses from the city's
general fund. For example, the city had a net loss of $95,000 in
FY2019 and a net loss of $3,000 last year after reducing
expenditures by $56,000. The city is seeing people accessing the
Kasilof River or the Kenai River at different locations.
MR. OSTRANDER pointed out that the Alaska Division of Mining,
Land, and Water (DMLW) manages the Kasilof fishery. The State
does not allow DMLW to charge fees, but their annual management
budget is approximately $50,000 to $60,000. The $5 fee
allocation would generate $40,000 for the Kasilof fishery.
4:20:11 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked Mr. Ostrander to go over the fees that
the City of Kenai charges people who fish in the dipnet fishery.
MR. OSTRANDER answered that the city charges for camping,
parking, beach drop-offs, and boat launches.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if the City of Kenai has increased it
rates to make up for recent budget deficits.
MR. OSTRANDER answered that the City of Kenai last increased
fees in 2015. The city's current boat launch fees are higher
than what the State charges. The city believes that any fee
increases would create diminishing returns where people seek to
access the fishery from other locations.
SENATOR REVAK said he is very fond of the Kenai River and has
frequented the personal use fishery over the years. He said he
finds the city's fees expensive and spreading out the proposed
user fees would be appropriate.
CHAIR MICCICHE said the intent of the bill is to find a low-cost
way of spreading out impact from the personal use fisheries. As
the City of Kenai has increased fees, people are finding less
expensive ways to dipnet fish without participating in the
city's maintenance. More people are going to the Kasilof River
where there are no facilities, and that impacts the State.
4:24:16 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE held SB 232 in committee with public testimony
open.