FY2019-12 Identifying federal program priorities and a capital improvement program for federal fiscal year 20191
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
Introduced by: Manager Powers
Drafted by: Special Projects Support
Introduced on: 12/06/2018
Adopted on: 12/06/2018
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. FY2019-12
A RESOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH IDENTIFYING
FEDERAL PROGRAM PRIORITIES AND A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR
FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2019
WHEREAS, the Alaska Congressional Delegation has requested the views of the Kodiak Island
Borough on which federal programs and projects should be considered priorities, in no particular
order, for rural Alaskan communities and their residents.; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND
BOROUGH that the Kodiak Island Borough's views and recommendations on priority federal
programs and projects are as follows:
1. Groundfish Surveys: The Kodiak Island Borough is very concerned over proposed
plans by the National Marine Fisheries Service to reduce groundfish trawl surveys in
the Gulf of Alaska. A lack of survey data may lead to quota cut backs that would
negatively affect Kodiak fishermen and processors, and by extension our community's
fishing -based economy. Groundfish represent 60 percent of all landings in Kodiak.
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NMFS rely upon these fishery
surveys to determine annual catch limits and monitor the health of these stocks.
Reportedly, the RV Oscar Dyson may not be ready for the 2019 fisheries survey
season due to shipyard repairs and maintenance. Our community also relies on the
use of five charter vessels for groundfish bottom trawl surveys. These surveys
complement that conducted by the Dyson, which is a mid -water acoustics survey. This
year NMFS made use of only four of those vessels, further eroding the data sets critical
to managing these fisheries on a sustainable basis. There is the possibility of NMFS
being able to employ the RV Shimada from the Pacific Coast to conduct replacement
surveys for the Dyson, but we still need the agency to commit to the five vessel charter
surveys. We understand that both House and Senate FY 2019 Commerce, Justice,
Science Appropriations Bills include incremental increases in NMFS' Fisheries Data
Collection, Surveys and Assessments Account, the larger budget account that funds
North Pacific groundfish surveys. The Borough requests that the Delegation ensures
that NMFS dedicates sufficient funding from this account so that both a replacement
NOAA vessel such as the Shimada can conduct acoustic surveys as well as resume
the separate surveys conducted by all five charter vessels.
2. Homeporting U.S. Coast Guard Vessels: The Kodiak Island Borough is pleased
with the recent decision by the Coast Guard to homeport two new 154' Fast Response
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Resolution No. FY2019-12
Page 1 of 4
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
Cutters at the Kodiak Coast Guard Base as well as continued funding for housing and
shoreside infrastructure improvements. We want to continue to emphasize that
Kodiak remains the ideal location for the deployment of National Response Cutters
and Offshore Patrol Cutters, given our location at the crossroads of one of the largest
fisheries in the world as well as some of the busiest shipping lanes in U.S. waters.
The FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes the construction
of up to six new heavy -class polar ice breakers and funding has now been
appropriated for the construction of the first vessel. Construction of that vessel is
estimated to be completed by 2023. The pending FY 2019 Department of Homeland
Security Appropriations Bill contains the necessary funding for the Coast Guard to
keep pace with its plans for vessel procurement while the House counterpart bill shifts
some of that funding to Border Patrol Control activities and would slow vessel
acquisition. The Borough favors the Senate position. We urge the Delegation to
support the Kodiak Coast Guard Base as a future homeport as well as a logistics
resupply base once the ice breakers are built. The Kodiak Island Borough stands
ready to work with the Coast Guard in whatever way possible to keep this location
ideal for capital asset placement and to support a greater Coast Guard presence in
Kodiak.
3. Payment -In -Lieu -of -Taxes (PILT): There are over 2.8 million acres removed by
the Federal Government from taxation within the boundaries of the Kodiak Island
Borough. This is land that would otherwise be available to the private sector to
develop, creating jobs for the residents of Kodiak and the rural Kodiak Island
communities. This in turn would create tax revenues for the Kodiak Island Borough.
PILT was enacted by Congress to help offset the loss of revenues to municipal entities
caused by federal land withdrawals within local government boundaries. The KIB uses
these funds to provide basic social services, including medical facilities, emergency
fire and rescue services, roads, and schools. We understand that both the House
and Senate FY 2019 Interior Appropriations Bills include $500 million for the PILT
program, an incremental increase above last year's level. We support enactment of
the legislation and thank the Delegation for continued support of the program.
4. National Wildlife Refuge Fund ("Refuge Revenue Sharing"): The Kodiak Island
Borough opposes the termination of appropriations for this program as recommended
by the President in his FY 2019 budget request. The National Wildlife Refuge Fund is
a critical source of replacement revenue to communities like ours that have the
presence of a large Federal wildlife refuge within their boundaries. That presence
removes substantial amounts of property from the local property tax base. The share
we receive from the Fund is based on a formula that partially compensates us for our
tax losses due to the existence of the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is
over 1.9 million acres in size and therefore has permanently removed from private
ownership, development and taxation over half the property on the island. The
President's FY 2019 budget request proposes to eliminate Federal appropriations for
this important program. We understand that both the House and Senate FY 2019
Interior Appropriations Bills include level funding for the program. We support
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Resolution No. FY2019-12
Page 2 of 4
91
enactment of the legislation and thank the Delegation for continued support of the
92
program.
93
94
5.
Essential Air Service (EAS) & Air Traffic Control Privatization: Congress has
95
passed legislation to reauthorize Federal aviation programs for 5 years, the longest
96
reauthorization in over 30 years. The bill includes a 5 year reauthorization for EAS,
97
with authorized funding increased incrementally each year over the period. The final
98
bill does not include the privatization of the Air Traffic Control System. The Borough
99
is pleased with both outcomes and urges Delegation support for annual appropriations
100
for EAS with incremental increases consistent with the new law.
101
102
6.
U.S. Navy Arctic Presence: The FY 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes
103
language directing the Defense Department to delineate expenditures in its annual
104
budget request on spending and priorities in the Arctic. It also includes a requirement
105
for the Coast Guard to develop a communications plan to improve waterways safety.
106
The FY 2019 Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requires an updated
107
report from the Secretaries of Navy, Army and Air Force on their Arctic strategies. The
108
Borough appreciates the Delegation's support for these provisions. We want to
109
continue to encourage Delegation support for Kodiak as a potential location for Navy
110
or other military assets when it becomes time the Department of Defense to implement
111
an expanded U.S. Arctic presence. Kodiak is ideally situated to serve both as a port-
112
of-call for logistics movements and Rest-and-Recreation for deployed sailors.
113
Additionally, the Coast Guard maintains a deep-water port at Womens Bay. There is
114
sufficient land adjacent to the Coast Guard Base which could be used for an expanded
115
full-time Navy presence.
116
117
7.
Anton Larsen Bay Road Extension Project: The Kodiak Island Borough requested
118
support for this rural road infrastructure project. An extension of the Anton Larsen Bay
119
Road to ice free waters will provide year around access to those communities located
120
in the Kupreanof Strait as well as those who use the island's west side for commercial
121
and recreational purposes. Extending the road to ice free waters makes traveling safer,
122
providing access to critical services located in the City of Kodiak, including hospitals
123
and businesses. The Ouzinkie Native Corporation has agreed through its subsidiary,
124
the Spruce Island Development Corporation, to provide $450,000 toward the project
125
and to donate land to the State for the road's right of way. The Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak
126
has separately sought Federal funding to contribute to the project. Total project cost
127
is $8 million. We understand that, at some point in the next Congress, there may be
128
consideration of an infrastructure investment package. We are submitting this request
129
should the infrastructure legislation include funding for specific projects in the next
130
Congress and for the Delegation to highlight the need for adequate funding in the
131
package for rural infrastructure needs.
132
133
8.
Broadband Service To Rural Areas: The Borough's remote villages have slow,
134
unreliable and in some cases no Internet service. This poor quality and lack of service
135
has a negative effect on education, public safety, commerce, and quality of life for our
Kodiak
Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2019-12
Page 3 of 4
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
villages' residents. The Borough understands that the Federal Communications
Commission's (FCC) Alaska Plan provides the necessary funding from the Connect
America Fund for significant investments by Alaska telecom providers in rural
broadband. These investments will help bring improve Internet service speed and
coverage to the more remote parts of the State by 2025. The key to our villages
receiving broadband service will be the carriers making necessary "middle" and "last"
mile investments on the Island. We urge the Alaska Delegation to encourage telecom
providers in our region to make those investments as part of implementation of the
FCC Alaska Plan. The USDA has grant/loan programs (Telecommunications
Infrastructure Loan Program & Community Connect Grant Program) that could fund
"last mile" broadband infrastructure programs. Should the Borough team with a
telecom provider to submit an application to these programs, we would request that
the Delegation support the application with the USDA.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH that
the Kodiak Island Borough administration is hereby instructed to advise Congress and the
appropriate agencies of the United States Federal Government of the Capital Improvement
Program and priorities adopted by the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly.
ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
THIS SIXTH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2018
0001 Mr.4 IR9 W-11 NO -61 F'-r0QT41W 11
Daniel A. Rohrer, Mayor
VOTES:
Ayes: Kavanaugh, Schroeder, Smiley, Symmons, Turner
Noes: None
Absent: Arndt, Skinner
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
ATTEST:
Nova M.
MMC,
Resolution No. FY2019-12
Page 4 of 4