Legislature(1995 - 1996)
03/13/1996 09:30 AM Senate FIN
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SENATE BILL NO. 278
"An Act relating to the authority of the Department of
Natural Resources to allow credits against fees at state
historical parks."
Mr. Joe Ambrose, aide to Senator Robin Taylor was invited to
join the committee and testified on behalf of SB 278. This
bill was introduced to address concerns raised by the
Ketchikan Area State Parks Advisory Board and the Ketchikan
Gateway Borough Assembly. It would provide a mechanism by
which the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation could
acquire two small parcels of land adjacent to Totem Bight
State Historical Park. Ketchikan Public Utilities will
vacate the property which will revert to the Ketchikan
Gateway Borough. SB 278 would allow DNR to offer credits
against fees paid by commercial operators for payments made
to a municipality for projects that would alleviate access
congestion and parking problems at historical parks. The
Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation indicated the use
of this provision at any State Historical Park other than
Totem Bight is unlikely. The authority would sunset on
December 31, 2000. This three year window is needed to
avoid drawing too quickly against fees.
Totem Bight is a twelve and a half acre State Park located
north of the city of Ketchikan. It had an estimated 160,000
visitors in 1995, half of them arriving on commercial tours.
In 1977 it was estimated that the park could handle between
636 and 744 people at one time. Actual use now exceeds 925
people. The park has only 7 parking spaces for buses. Up
to 21 buses park in the lot, on the road shoulders and at a
nearby gift shop. Park staff advises independent travellers
and local park users to avoid the park when the ships are in
town. To mitigate this overcrowding and congestion DNR is
proposing tour operators pay for the acquisition of the
borough-owned parcels to provide additional parking space
and additional attractions such as trails and a carving
demonstration area. The Department of Transportation has
told us they are interested in developing a transport
enhancement project along the road at Totem Bight if the
land becomes available. Totem Bight is a valuable asset,
the State has invested more than $1 million in capital
improvement projects in the past 10 years. Mr. Jim
Stratton, Division Director advised that they are
anticipating they would be using approximately $150,000
credits for this project. Senator Taylor is a long time
supporter of this unique facility on the water.
Senator Rieger asked if the sponsor of the bill would object
to expanding the bill to include private, non-profit
corporations.
Mr. Ambrose indicated the sponsor preferred to confine the
bill to historical parks.
Senator Sharp asked if the bill results in allowing a
partial or total diversion of payments now being made to DNR
to a municipality for improvements they would do on the
parking lot, why doesn't the fiscal note show a reduction
program receipt. Mr. Ambrose said that the department was
planning to increase the fees, not as a result of this bill,
and his understanding as far as the fiscal note was
concerned is that the end result is the State ends up with
the asset. Senator Sharp also asked about the parcel of
land owned by the Ketchikan Public Utilities that they plan
to vacate and would it revert back to the Ketchikan Gateway
Borough. Is this a transfer or sale? Mr. Ambrose indicated
that there was no sale. The property originally belonged to
Ketchikan Gateway Borough and KPU had been using it. There
was a reversion clause and they have to put it back in its
original condition.
Senator Frank asked if they were going to increase the fees
because it is now a more convenient facility. Mr. Ambrose
said the decision to increase the fee next year was made
prior to anyone even talking about this bill. The
Department would have to explain the fiscal note.
Senator Rieger said if this was to be a single park it might
not matter. A private, non-profit corporation in many
situations would be the best entity to develope an
improvement in a park. Sometimes there is some lack of
confidence in the municipal government to do what the people
in the area want. Instead of restricting the entity doing
the improvements as to municipalities, it should be brought
into private, non-profits to avoid the problems you
sometimes have when city halls' views are different from
those of the people outside of city hall.
Senator Phillips said there is an Eagle River Visitors
Center that is going to go non-profit to operate that
facility and he would like to give them that ability. Co-
chairman Halford said that this could be a pilot, one-time
project but would not make it the policy of the State. Mr.
Ambrose said that the municipality would not be making the
improvement. They will be transferring the property to the
State and improvements at Totem Bight State Park are made
from revenue generators within the park. This matter just
refers to the parking lot.
Senator Frank asked if the park's budget would go down by
$150,000 because the program receipts were going to go down.
Co-chairman Halford indicated that they would not.
In answer to questions posed by members at large, Mr.
Ambrose indicated that there were other historical parks in
the State, however they do not have the parking problems
this one has. This is a very specific bill. When the idea
came up the concern that the Co-chairman had was the first
thing Senator Taylor thought about. What authority are we
to give them? That is why the sunset provision is drafted
as closely as it is.
Senator Sharp MOVED SB 278 and without objection the bill
was REPORTED OUT with individual recommendations and a zero
fiscal note from the Department of Natural Resources.
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