Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/19/1996 02:42 PM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SRES 2/19/96 SB 278 CREDITS AGAINST FEES AT ST HISTORICAL PKS SENATOR LEMAN announced SB 278 to be up for consideration. SENATOR TAYLOR said the purpose of the bill is to provide a mechanism so they can accomplish a land transfer that is in a parking lot to provide more parking for the Native Cultural Center. It provides some reimbursement through a credit system. JOE AMBROSE, Legislative Aide to Senator Taylor, said SB 278 was introduced to address concerns raised by the Ketchikan Area State Parks Advisory Board and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly. It provides 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. The parcels are currently held by Ketchikan Public Utilities (KPU) as the site of a diesel generation plant. KPU plans to vacate the property which would revert to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. SB 278 would allow DNR to offer credits against fees paid by commercial tour operators for payments made to a municipality for projects that will mitigate or alleviate access, congestion, and parking problems at historical parks. The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation has indicated that use of this provision at any other State historical park other than Totem Bight is unlikely. In any event, the authority would sunset on December 31, 2000. The three year window is needed to avoid drawing down too quickly against the fees. MR. AMBROSE said that Totem Bight is about 12 and a half acres and is located north of the City of Ketchikan and had an estimated 160,000 visitors in 1995, half of them arriving from commercial tours. In 1977 it was estimated that the park could handle 636 - 734 people at one time. Actual use now exceeds 925 people at any one time. The park also has only seven parking spaces for buses and there are often up to 21 buses parked in the lot, on the shoulders, and at a nearby gift shop. To mitigate the overcrowding, DNR is proposing that tour operators pay for the acquisition of the borough-owned parcels to provide the additional parking space and additional attractions, such as trails and possibly a carving demonstration area. DOT/PF has an interest in developing a transportation 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 improvements to the facility over the past 10 years. SENATOR TAYLOR said this bill is so narrowly drawn that it will only involve a situation where you have a State Park that was actually collecting concession fees and that those fees could then be utilized as a credit to leverage the purchase of property from a municipality. Number 510 JIM STRATTON, Director, Division of Parks and Recreation, supported SB 278 and thanked Senator Taylor, especially, for his sponsorship. He had reviewed other State historical parks this bill could apply to and he found only one with significant access problems, the House of Wickersham in Juneau. Practically, this bill will only apply to Totem Bight, especially with the three year window. WILLIAM GARRY, Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Advisory Council, said he would answer questions from the Committee. MICHAEL RODY, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, said that capital projects were becoming increasingly difficult to fund. This particular project is maybe one of the most visited parks in the State. The Assembly recently approved the disposal of the property once it is acquired. They don't have it at the present time, but the generator is being removed. SENATOR LEMAN asked him to describe the land transfer process. MR. RODY replied that once the generator is sold and removed, they hold fee simple title on the property. He had been informed that the equipment has been sold and will be removed in the next several months. He has the authority from the Assembly to sell it or do whatever is appropriate. CRAIG MOORE, Ketchikan Area State Parks Advisory Board, said they strongly supported SB 278 and thanked Senator Taylor for sponsoring it. They feel it is a great opportunity for this park as it is heavily used by tourists in the summer. Native culture is an important theme in Southeast Alaska and Totem Bight State Historical Park has one of the best collections of totemic art in the area. Number 442 SENATOR TAYLOR moved to pass SB 278 with individual recommendations with the accompanying fiscal note. There were no objections and it was so ordered.
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