Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
02/05/2018 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview: Alaska's State Park System | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE
February 5, 2018
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Chair
Senator John Coghill, Vice Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Kevin Meyer
Senator Click Bishop
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Natasha Von Imhof
Senator Bill Wielechowski
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: ALASKA'S STATE PARK SYSTEM
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
ETHAN TYLER, Director
Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of Alaska's State Park
System.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:14 PM
CHAIR CATHY GIESSEL called the Senate Resources Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Stedman, Coghill, Bishop, Meyer, and Chair
Giessel. Senators Wielechowski and Von Imhof were excused.
^Overview: Alaska's State Park System
3:30:48 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the only order of business today would
be an overview of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
Created in 1970, Alaska's park system consists of 128 park units
and over 3 million acres of land and water; it is the largest
park system of anywhere in the United States. The park system
traces its roots back to the famed aviator Charles Lindbergh's
speech to the state legislature in 1968 advocating for a state
conservation and recreation system, and it was constituted into
law with the sponsorship of the late Lowell Thomas, Jr., who was
then a member of this body. Underpinning the drive for the parks
system was the need for the state to control its lands. By
designating lands like the Wood-Tikchik State Park, the state
preempted federal designation that would have resulted in a more
centralized restrictive management from Washington, D.C.
Access to average Alaskans without incurring financial hardship
is a mission of the Parks Division, but so is financial
sustainability. In recent years, the Park Division has overseen
a program to help mitigate its funding to eventually subsist on
user fees. The legislature also gave them authority to create
logo gear, which she wanted to hear about. She welcomed the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide the overview.
HEIDI HANSEN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), Juneau, Alaska, introduced herself.
3:32:48 PM
ETHAN TYLER, Director, Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation,
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Juneau, Alaska, said he
would cover the Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation's primary
sections, and highlight some regions with specific points of
interest, and then meld into FY17 highlights and their direction
moving forward.
MR. TYLER said he is new to the Division of Parks & Outdoor
Recreation and came over from the Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development (DCCED).
3:33:47 PM
He said one section most people are not aware of in this
division is the Office of History and Archaeology. It serves as
the state's historical preservation agency. It works closely
with the federal government and the State Historic Preservation
Officer (SHPO) that maintains a statewide inventory of cultural
resources and serves as the state liaison to federal agencies in
such issues as the National Register of Historic Places, the
National Park Service, and the Department of Interior. This
office works closely with a number of development projects in
the state to identify cultural resources and heritage areas - to
ensure in some of the bigger projects that things aren't being
disturbed in a historical site and making sure of permit
compliance.
CHAIR GIESSEL asked if that means he works with the gas pipeline
project.
MR. TYLER answered yes.
SENATOR BISHOP asked if the annual placer mining application
(APMA) has to get blessed by SHPO.
MR. TYLER answered that was correct.
3:36:03 PM
He said the Office of Boating Safety sponsors the "Kids Don't
Float Program." It consists of in-water activities with kids in
a pool learning survival skills. He highlighted that their staff
member, Kelli Toth, received a National Association of State
Boating Law Administrators' Educator of the Year award. They
also received a partnership award for their work on the "Float
Coat Song" that was done in conjunction with the Alaska Native
Tribal Health Consortium. Jeff Johnson, who is retiring this
year, started the Office of Boating Safety, was also inducted
into the Hall of Fame of that same organization.
3:37:46 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked if this program is funded by boat receipts.
MR. TYLER answered yes; the boating receipts are used as a match
for federal funds on any projects in the park that has to do
with boats, like boat ramps.
SENATOR MEYER asked if this program started in 2000 under the
Murkowski administration.
MR. TYLER answered yes, and the Kids Don't Float program was
officially kicked off in 2012 with 10,000 kids going through it
since then.
SENATOR MEYER remarked that was great and asked how kids in
Anchorage find out about the program.
MR. TYLER answered that the division works closely with school
districts throughout the state.
3:39:17 PM
SENATOR MEYER asked if commercial fishermen use this program for
training their work crews.
MR. TYLER answered that a non-profit organization in Juneau does
a lot of the commercial fishing training and those funds can be
used for the federal match, as well. They work with the Coast
Guard, as well. He noted that Kids Don't Float life jackets are
at pavilions at almost every boat launch in the state for kids
to borrow. At least 33 kids' lives are on record as having been
saved by using these lifejackets; one adult life has been saved
through the program, as well.
The bulk of the division's activities include field operations:
ranger staff, natural resource technician staff, and maintenance
folks. They work with 12 citizen's advisory boards around the
state that provide public input on how to best manage the parks
and partner with the visitor industry in the state as parks as
part of their tour offerings.
3:41:51 PM
SENATOR COGHILL relayed that many in the legislature are
grateful for the advisory groups and especially as volunteers,
because "they seem to double themselves wherever they go."
MR. TYLER noted that last year's park fees covered 51 percent of
the operating costs in FY17.
3:43:05 PM
He said the largest state park system in the country is also
home to the largest state park, which is Wood_Tikchik State
Park. It is also home to the fourth largest state park in the
country: Chugach State Park. The park system is divided into six
primary regions and consists of 3.3 million acres; last year
they saw approximately 3.6 million visitors.
At 495,000 acres, Chugach State Park is the fourth largest in
the United States. Because of its proximity to Anchorage, it has
a lot of high use areas. So, making sure the facilities exist
for that high level of use and attempting to encourage people
into other areas of the park is one of the challenges they work
with. The number-one viewed webpage on the State Parks site is
the Glenn Alps parking lot cam.
3:44:53 PM
In keeping with the theme of winning awards, he said that Joe
Hall, Park Specialist, had a partnership award from Alaska
Geographic this year. He has been very instrumental in building
partnerships with non-profits and supporters of the State Park
system and has completed a number of "great trail projects"
because of it.
He noted that the Chugach superintendent oversees the Wood-
Tikchik State Park, because it falls under the Chugach region.
3:46:02 PM
MR. TYLER said the Kenai Region is the most diverse park area in
the state. It includes numerous marine parks in Prince William
Sound, land-based areas out of Valdez like the popular
Worthington Glacier, Kachemak Bay State Park in Homer, Caine's
Head State Recreation Area in Seward, and the Kenai River
Special Management Area, another very high use area.
CHAIR GIESSEL asked how many state parks abut federal parks.
MR. TYLER said his division frequently works in conjunction with
federal partners, and he could think of 10 relevant areas. For
instance, a lot of the state marine parks in Prince William
Sound abut Chugach National Forest, Chugach State Park abuts
Chugach National Forest, Denali State Park, and Denali National
Park, and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge contains Skilak
Lake and the Kenai River Special Management Area starts coming
from Skilak Lake. So, they really do work hand-in-hand with
federal partners. They also have some cooperative agreements
with them: for example, an agreement with the National Park
Service in Denali State Park where one of their rangers provides
interpretive services at the new K'esugi Ken Campground.
3:48:23 PM
The northern area is based out of Fairbanks. Olnes Pond is a
popular camping and ATV area outside of Fairbanks received
funding through the State Trails Program (a federal grant
program administered by the Division of Parks) for significant
ATV trail improvements this last year. Necessary repairs were
made to stabilize the river bank area along Big Delta State
Historic Park. He reported that the Fairbanks area parks
increased their fee areas from $5 in 2015 to $25. This is in
progress, so he doesn't have good numbers for it. But he expects
to see increased revenue in the northern area.
3:50:24 PM
As a cost saving measure, Delta area parks went into passive
management last year, and the division worked with community
volunteers to keep the areas open.
After going through the procurement process they issued permits
to private sector companies to operate in those parks and they
now have the authority to operate those areas and collect the
fees.
3:51:46 PM
MR. TYLER said last May was the opening of the K'esugi Ken
Campground in Denali State Park (in the MatSu region). It is
really the crown jewel of campgrounds for the state park system
with 32 new RV tent campsites with electric hookups, which none
of the other state parks (except the Chena River State
Recreation Area) have. There are 10 walk-in camp sites, three
public use cabins an interpretive pavilion, and the partnership
with the National Park Service.
He said they have a close partnership with the visitor industry
stakeholders, large and small, around Denali State Park and this
new area that came on line last year. It is very popular both in
winter and summer.
3:53:33 PM
MR. TYLER said they began to charge historic access fees last
year at Independence Mine State Historic Park and Totem Bight
State Historic Park. They did not receive a lot of pushback on
those fees, even though both areas are very popular. However,
parks don't have entrance fees, as part of the mission is to
provide these areas and land resources for the people of Alaska.
CHAIR GIESSEL said the Independence Mine area is really popular
for skiing and asked if it's true there are plans to have a ski
resort and would it be on private land adjacent to the area.
MR. TYLER replied there are plans for a ski area in the Hatcher
Pass on municipal land that received a significant grant this
year.
Coming from DCCED, Mr. Tyler said, he couldn't do a presentation
without mentioning the impact that parks have as economic
drivers in the state and that 626 commercial use permits were
issued in 2017. With his visitor industry and business
development background, his goal is to get that number to
increase and to have more partnerships with the visitor
industry. Those 626 commercial use permits represent businesses
on the ground that are working within the parks as fishing
guides, tour guide companies, water taxis, motor coach and van
tours, hiking guides and the like. Adventure travel is an up and
coming trend in the visitor industry and he hoped to capitalize
on that, as well.
CHAIR GIESSEL asked if any industrial uses go on in the parks.
MR. TYLER answered he didn't think so, but he would get back to
her on that. He explained that every park is different based on
its enabling legislation.
He presented a picture of one of three public use cabins in
Denali State Park. He reported that the online reservation
system was changed to a different company last year. It has a
no-cost contract with the state and a fee is taken as part of
the reservation process. It allows booking to be much easier to
manage for guests and much easier tracking for his division. It
also has payment options. He hopes to put a couple of the busier
campgrounds online.
He said that cabins are excellent investments for the park; some
have over 85 percent peak occupancy. Because they have a
demonstrated demand and require minimal maintenance, the
investment pays off in three to five years and then becomes a
revenue stream to the division.
SENATOR COGHILL attested to the fact that they are popular,
because it's hard to get a reservation. He asked if they are
going to build more.
4:01:29 PM
MR. TYLER replied that they have a capital request this year to
build five more cabins, strategically locating them in areas of
high demand.
SENATOR COGHILL said some are seasonal, but in his area, they
are used year-round.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked if there is that much demand, might there
be a rate structure issue. He said three to five years is a
quick payback and asked if that includes replacement reserves
and maintenance.
MR. TYLER replied no; he ran through the maintenance costs and
found they are minimal. The rate structure which in the past has
been set by the different regions is under review for adjusting
rates according to popularity of use.
4:04:38 PM
SENATOR STEDMAN remarked that Sitka has a boat ramp that used to
have a $5/per launch cash box for people who didn't have a year-
round pass. The money was split 50/50 between the city and the
state boat ramps. The state's cut was $8,000 to $10,000 a year.
The city used theirs for lights, snow plowing, and maintenance
because the ramps are also used as an emergency response
location. However, the cash box was taken away because there
wasn't anyone from the state available to empty it. So, now you
go out there and use the ramp for free. He asked Mr. Tyler, when
he has time, to work up a collection mechanism for the cash box.
Castle Hill in Sitka is another attractive area that could use
this mechanism.
MR. TYLER said he has been briefed on the Sitka scenario and is
looking at others.
SENATOR BISHOP asked if the cabins have electricity or running
water.
MR. TYLER answered no.
SENATOR BISHOP noted that they really are pretty low
maintenance.
4:09:45 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL said the Kasilof boat launch was a hot topic last
year and asked for an update on that.
MR. TYLER answered that it was put on hold during the director's
transition and he has taken it back up by engaging with
residents to redesign it moving forward.
4:10:30 PM
He said a topic that is interwoven with a lot of the discussions
in every other slide is park sustainability. Their plan is to
increase revenue without creating a burden to Alaskans who
utilize the areas and facilities by, for instance, increasing
the number of fee stations in areas that didn't have them. Along
those lines, expanding their electronic fee options is something
they are working on and pay by phone. He is also working on
statewide consistency in cabin pricing.
He said cabins with electricity attract out-of-state folks with
RVs who want to know where they are camping from night to night.
A lot of calls people call who want to book their campsites on
line and the department is working at moving some of the higher
use and longer haul campsites online.
4:14:30 PM
They are streamlining the special use and commercial use
permitting process and getting something set up online there,
too. They are also increasing partnerships with non-profit and
for-profit organizations around the state that support state
parks.
4:15:36 PM
SENATOR STEDMAN added to the boat ramp discussion - no
disrespect to his almost law-abiding friends - that a payment
mechanism requiring a registration also brings people into
compliance with that requirement. Otherwise they are not so
excited about it. He noted that when the police respond to a
search and rescue incident they will know whose trailer is there
if it has a sticker on it.
CHAIR GIESSEL asked what was happening to the logo wear
authorization.
MR. TYLER replied that they printed logo wear and launched the
website that can be accessed through the state parks website.
But his feeling is that the division is not in the logo wear
business. So, that his goal is to move their inventory of state
park wear it out to a private sector retailer - that has broader
distribution and expertise - and then work on a licensing
agreement with retailer or clothing manufacturer, whatever is
the best fit, from which to receive revenue from the licensing
of the logo wear but not have to be involved in it quite as
much. The program has made about $15,000.
4:19:59 PM
SENATOR BISHOP noted that Mr. Tyler's background in marketing
and said he was sure those talents could be used in promoting
that legislation to bring in more revenue to the state. He said
that the Alaska brand is ready to sell, and said for example,
that Caterpillar does as good in clothing sales in Europe as
they do in selling machinery.
MR. TYLER replied that he sees great potential and to stay
tuned.
4:21:42 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL, finding no further questions, adjourned the
Senate Resources Committee meeting at 4:21 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Senate Resources - Agenda - 2 - 5 - 2018 .pdf |
SRES 2/5/2018 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Senate Resources - Overview State Parks System - 2 - 5 - 2018.pdf |
SRES 2/5/2018 3:30:00 PM |
State Parks |