FY2020-14 Resoultion No. FY2020-14 Identifying Federal Program Priorities And A Capital Improvement Program For Federal Fiscal Year 2020 and 20211
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Introduced by: Manager Powers
Drafted by: Special Projects Support
Introduced on: 11/07/2019
Adopted on: 11/07/2019
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. FY2020-14
A RESOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH IDENTIFYING
FEDERAL PROGRAM PRIORITIES AND A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR
FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2020 & 2021
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 remains concerned over reduced
groundfish trawl surveys in the Gulf of Alaska. Groundfish are very important to Kodiak
fisheries, representing 60 percent of all our landings. These surveys provide data on
groundfish species abundance which is then used to set fishing quotas. Inadequate
data creates the possibility of reduced quotas as fisheries managers seek to control
fishing effort on a precautionary basis. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
has been seeking to reduce the number of vessel surveys — both those using Federal
fishery research vessels as well as private chartered vessels -- from five to four. The
Borough submitted a FY 2020 Federal request to the Delegation seeking five annual
surveys — both public and private. The FY 2020 Senate Commerce, Justice, Science
Appropriations Bill, which funds the National Marine Fisheries Service, includes report
language that states — "The Committee notes that any reduction in fisheries survey
coverage is unacceptable, especially in areas where the distribution of fish stocks are
changing due to climate change. Therefore, an additional $2,000,000 above the fiscal
year 2019 enacted level is provided for NMFS to maintain historical levels of fisheries
survey coverage in fiscal year 2020. At this funding level the Committee expects NMFS
to contract no less than five vessels for Alaskan bottom trawl surveys and cooperative
research..." The Borough urges that the House -Senate Conference adopt this
language during negotiations on a final FY 2020 bill and support its inclusion in the FY
2021 appropriations bills when they are developed next year.
2. Gulf of Alaska Pacific Cod Fisheries Disaster: The Pacific Cod fishery is important
to Kodiak. Our fishermen and processors suffered significant losses in this fishery in
2018 due to the unfortunate effects on the species of the "warm blob" in North Pacific
waters. The Secretary of Commerce formally approved the Governor's fishery
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Resolution No. FY2020-14
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disaster request this fall for the Pacific Cod fishery in the Gulf of Alaska. The next step
is for the U.S. Department of Commerce to allocate prior appropriated funds to the
Gulf Pacific Cod Disaster and for the State of Alaska to prepare a spend plan that that
addresses the different sectors of the fishery impacted by the disaster. We request
that the Delegation communicate to the Secretary of Commerce the urgent need to
allocate sufficient funding and promptly approve a State of Alaska spend plan.
3. Alaska Pink Salmon Disaster Funding: After a long and delayed process, funds for
the AK pink salmon disaster in 2016 are about to be distributed to eligible fishermen
and processors. $31.8 million will go to fishermen (including captain/crew); $17.7
million to processors (15 percent set aside for processing workers) and $3.6 million to
research and mitigate the cause of the disaster. The State's spend plan also calls for
$2.4 million to go to local coastal governments for foregone fish taxes as a result of
the reduced landings of pink salmon that year. The Department of Commerce and
Office of Management & Budget (OMB) initially rejected that portion of the State's
spend plan, claiming that the funding had to be used by local governments for a
dedicated activity connected to the fishery such as shoreside infrastructure. The
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the grant applicant and funding
distributor delegated by NOAH, has submitted a second application for the $2.4 million.
It takes into account the suggestions made by the Department and OMB and is now
under review. We urge that the Delegation continue to press for approval of this
portion of the spend plan.
4. North Pacific Observer Program: Observers are an important part of managing the
halibut and groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska. Over 400 observers work in the
program on board fishing vessels as well as at processing plants to gather data used
in managing these fisheries in a sustainable way. Kodiak generally benefits from a
well-run and adequately funded observer program through expanded economic
opportunities for its groundfish and halibut fleet and processing sector. Gulf of Alaska
fishery participants pay into the North Pacific Observer Fund to cover the costs of
.,partial coverage' for Gulf fishing sectors. Partial coverage has been in decline due
to the dramatic increase in observer coverage costs. The FY 2020 Senate
Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill includes $1 million to supplement the
partial coverage program. The Borough urges the House -Senate Appropriation
Conference to include this increase in a final FY 2020 bill. We also support $2 million
in supplemental funding for the program in the FY 2021 appropriations bill next year.
5. Homeporting U.S. Coast Guard Vessels And Kodiak Base Infrastructure
Improvements: Continued infrastructure development at the USCG Base in Kodiak
along with Coast Guard vessel homeporting expansion plans remain a high priority for
the Kodiak Island Borough. The Base is an excellent location for vessels from all of
the new major Coast Guard vessel classes, including Polar Security Cutters (PSC),
National Security Cutters (NSC), Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC), and Fast Response
Cutters (FRC). The construction of the first new Polar Security Cutter has been funded
and contract awarded, with the FY 2020 House Department of Homeland Security
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Resolution No. FY2020-14
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91 (DHS) Appropriations Bill providing a down payment for the construction of the second
92 vessel. The first PSC is expected to be completed in 2023. For the FRC program,
93 funding in the FY 2020 House DHS Appropriations Bill would be adequate for
94 construction of five more vessels; the Senate would fund four craft. The Coast Guard
95 has announced that two FRCs will be homeported in Kodiak. Funding in the House bill
96 for the NSC program would go toward the long lead-time materials for construction of
97 a 12'h NSC. Both bills would fund construction of a 3'' OPC and provide long lead-
98 time materials for construction of two more vessels in this class. For FY 2020 and
99 subsequent out-years, significant investments are planned for the Kodiak Base's
100 shoreside infrastructure (including housing) as well as environmental remediation in
101 order to be ready for the new vessel classes. This includes -- $25 million for
102 infrastructure improvements to support both FRC and OPC homeporting, with
103 estimates for OPC homeporting spending projected at $63 million through FY 2024;
104 $32 million in housing upgrades; and $31 million for environmental remediation. We
105 welcome these investments and the Coast Guard's commitment to the Base. We
106 appreciate the Delegation's support for the Base as a future homeport for the new
107 vessel classes and urge continued advocacy as future Coast Guard decisions are
108 made.
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110 6. Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILT): The Borough submitted FY 2020 Federal
111 requests with the Alaska Congressional Delegation earlier this year for continued
112 funding of PILT as we have done in years past and seek to do so for FY 2021. This
113 is a very important revenue source to the Borough, given that there are over 2.8 million
114 acres removed by the Federal Government from taxation within the boundaries of the
115 Kodiak Island Borough. This is land that would otherwise be available to the private
116 sector to develop, creating jobs for the residents of Kodiak and the rural Kodiak Island
117 communities. PILT funds supplement Borough resources to provide basic social
118 services, including medical facilities, emergency fire and rescue services, roads, and
119 schools to our island communities. Both the House and Senate FY 2020 Interior
120 Appropriations Bills include full funding for the PILT program. The Borough supports
121 enactment of the legislation, continued funding in FY 2021 and thanks the Delegation
122 for its support of the program.
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124 7. National Wildlife Refuge Fund ("Refuge Revenue Sharing"): The Kodiak Island
125 Borough opposes the termination of appropriations for this program. While not as
126 significant as PILT, the National Wildlife Refuge Fund is a critical source of
127 replacement revenue to communities like ours that have the presence of a large
128 Federal wildlife refuge within their boundaries. The President's FY 2020 budget
129 request again proposes to eliminate Federal appropriations for this important program.
130 The Borough submitted FY 2020 Federal requests with the Alaska Congressional
131 Delegation earlier this year to maintain funding for the program. We understand that
132 both the House and Senate FY 2020 Interior Appropriations Bills include level funding
133 for the program. The Borough supports enactment of the legislation, thanks the
134 Delegation for continued support of the program, and seeks continued funding for it in
135 FY 2021.
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2020-14
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8. Essential Air Service (EAS) & Air Traffic Control Privatization: The FAA
reauthorization bill extends the EAS program for five years and rejected efforts to
privatize our nation's Air Traffic Control system. While the debate on the latter issue
has settled for the moment, annual EAS funding still remains a concern. The
Administration is seeking just under a 30 percent cut to EAS in its FY 2020 budget
request. Without full funding of the EAS program, we would lose or have vastly
reduced air service to our island communities. Earlier this year, the Borough submitted
an FY 2020 Federal request for level funding of $175 million for EAS. Level funding
is provided in the FY 2020 House Transportation -Housing Appropriations Bill, while its
Senate counterpart contains a 7 percent cut. The Borough favors the House number
during House -Senate negotiations on a final bill. The Borough also supports level
funding for FY 2021.
9. U.S. Navy Arctic Presence: Selection of Kodiak as a potential Navy base or staging
area as the U.S. expands its security presence in the Arctic is a long-term goal for the
Borough. The Borough seeks to continue to keep Kodiak "on the radar screen" with
the Delegation and Department of Defense as future Arctic plans develop. There is
adequate land at our Coast Guard Base as well as a deep water port at Womens Bay
that could support the Navy's presence. The Borough appreciates the continuing
engagement of the Delegation on this issue.
10. Anton Larsen Bay Road Extension Project: The Kodiak Island Borough has
submitted this project as a Federal request to the Delegation the last few years in
hopes that Congress will resume the practice of Congressionally directed spending,
otherwise known as earmarks. While both the House and Senate have opted not to
resume the practice this year, the Borough is submitting this project as a Federal
request in case there is a shift in policy in the future. An extension of the Anton Larsen
Bay Road to ice free waters will provide year around access to those communities
located in the Kupreanof Strait as well as those who use the island's west side for
commercial and recreational purposes. Extending the road to ice free waters makes
traveling safer, providing access to critical services located in the City of Kodiak,
including hospitals and businesses. Both the Ouzinkie Native Corporation through its
subsidiary, the Spruce Island Development Corporation, and the Sun'aq Tribe of
Kodiak have agreed to partner on the project. Its total project cost is $8 million.
11. Broadband Service To Rural Areas: The Borough reiterates the importance of
improving broadband service to our rural island communities. The poor internet
service experienced by many of our communities has a negative impact on the delivery
of important public services as well as commerce. 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
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Resolution No. FY2020-14
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"middle" and "last" mile investments on the Island. We continue to 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 once the
Alaska Plan begins to move forward. The Borough, in cooperation with a local internet
provider, could then submit a funding application with USDA's program. If so, we would
seek Delegation support for our application.
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
THISSEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2019.
KODIAOPD OROUGH ATTEST:
-� tee,
Mayor Bill oberts Ta a Welinsky, Clerk
VOTES:
Ayes: Turner, Arndt, Dvorak, Schroeder, Skinner
Absent: Symmons
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Resolution No. FY2020-14
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