FY2021-28 A Resolution Of The Assembly Of The Kodiak Island Borough Identifying Federal Program Priorities And A Capital Improvement Program For Federal Fiscal Year 2020 & 2021.1
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
Introduced by: Borough Manager's Office Thru The Mayor
Drafted by: Borough Manager
Introduced on: 01/21/2021
Adopted on: 01/21/2021
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
RESOLUTION NO. FY2021-28
A RESOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH IDENTIFYING
FEDERAL PROGRAM PRIORITIES AND A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR
FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2021 & 2022.
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. COVID-19 Relief Funding — State, Local & Tribal Government (SALT) Assistance:
The $908 billion in additional COVID-19 relief recently enacted included favorable funding
for small businesses, vaccine distribution, individuals, the unemployed the fishing industry
and other affected groups. Unfortunately, it did not provide additional SALT relief included
in earlier drafts of the legislation such as the bi-partisan Senate -House working group's
proposed $160 billion in funding. Previously, the Borough was able to make productive
use of the SALT relief contained in the CARES Act, partnering with the City to establish a
program for assistance to Kodiak's small businesses and non -profits, many of whom failed
to qualify for Paycheck Protection Program funding or whose PPP awards fell short of their
financial needs. The new Administration is expected to submit legislation that will include
a substantial amount of SALT relief. Additional funds would support continuation of the
Borough/City small business/non-profit relief program; fill shortfalls in the Borough's
budget due to declines in revenue as a result of the economic impact of the pandemic in
2020 and anticipated in 2021. This includes losses as a result in the decline in tourism
this past year. Additional SALT relief would assist the Borough in education costs incurred
by the pandemic that may not be covered by the education -specific funding in the $908
billion package, including school bonding expenses and other school operational and
program expenses. We urge the Delegation to support SALT relief as part of the next
COVID-19 legislative package and to provide maximum flexibility on how those funds
might be used.
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2021-28
Page 1
44
45
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
2. Groundfish Surveys: The Kodiak Island Borough continues to remain concerned about
the possibility of reduced groundfish trawl surveys in the Gulf of Alaska. We appreciate
the Alaska Congressional Delegation's support to maintain this coverage these past two
years and for favorably considering the Borough's prior year requests. 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 Commerce, Justice, Science
Appropriations Title, which funds the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), of the FY
2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes a directive to NMFS to contract for no less than
six Alaska bottom trawl groundfish surveys, with one survey to capture fish movements
out of historical survey areas to account for climate change -related migration. The
Borough request that this directive and number of surveys be carried forward in the FY
2022 appropriations bill for NMFS.
3. Gulf of Alaska Pacific Cod Fisheries Disaster: After a long and delayed process, funds
for the Gulf Pacific cod in 2018 are nearing readiness for distribution to eligible fishermen
and processors. Applications will be provided and processed by the Pacific States Marine
Fisheries Commission once the State's final expenditure plan has been approved. Pacific
Cod remains a very important fishery for Kodiak fishermen and processors. We
appreciate the Delegation's support for the relief during various stages of the decision-
making and funding process and ask for continued monitoring to ensure its full and timely
distribution.
4. North Pacific Observer Program: Observers are an important part of managing the
halibut and groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska. Kodiak 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 but there has been a shortfall in funding to cover observer costs in recent years.
Last year Congress provided $1 million to supplement the partial coverage program. For
FY 2021, the Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes report language with additional funding
to the program to be used to offset observer costs normally paid for by harvesters in
fisheries that are undertaking a transition to electronic monitoring and reporting. The
report also encourages NMFS to identify and implement efficiencies that would mitigate
the cost burden shouldered by small vessel operators in the fixed -gear fleet. The Borough
supports incorporating these provisions as well as $2 million in supplemental funding,
consistent with the amount we requested last year, for the program in the FY 2022
appropriations bill.
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. We welcome the investments the Coast Guard has sought, and
Congress funded with strong Delegation support to pursue environmental remediation,
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2021-28
Page 2
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
housing and shoreside infrastructure projects to ready the Base for the new class of
vessels being built. This includes infrastructure funding for the homeporting of two new
Fast Response Cutters and an Offshore Patrol Cutter at Kodiak. With the enactment of
the FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, the construction of the first two Polar Security
Cutters (PSC) has been funded, with the first PSC expected to be completed in 2024. The
FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes a total of six PSCs, with
current Coast Guard plans to purchase three heavy class breakers and three medium
class breakers. After the Russians entered the U.S. EEZ this summer during one of their
war exercises and threatened U.S. fishing vessels, we have heard that the Coast Guard
is considering leasing two ice breakers for North Pacific deployment until the PSCs come
online so we can have a stronger presence to protect against future Russian incursions.
We encourage the Delegation to support at least temporarily homeporting those vessels
in Kodiak if the Coast Guard moves forward with the leases. Overall, we appreciate the
Delegation's support for the Base as a future homeport for the new vessel classes and
urge continued advocacy as future Coast Guard decisions are made.
6. Payment -In -Lieu -of -Taxes (PILT): The Borough submitted FY 2021 Federal requests
with the Alaska Congressional Delegation last this year for continued funding of PILT as
we have done in years past and seek to do so again for FY 2022. We appreciate that the
program was fully funded in the FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. This is a very
important revenue source to the Borough, given that there are over 2.8 million acres
removed by the Federal Government from taxation within our boundaries. 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. PILT funds supplement
Borough resources to provide basic social services, including medical facilities,
emergency fire and rescue services, roads, and schools to our island communities.
7. National Wildlife Refuge Fund ("Refuge Revenue Sharing"): The Kodiak Island
Borough opposes the termination of appropriations for this program. The last two
Administrations have sought to zero out its funding. The Congress thankfully has rejected
these proposed cuts each year, providing level funding for the program in FY 2021. While
not as significant as PILT, 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. The Borough thanks the Delegation for on-going
support of the program and seeks continued funding for it in FY 2022.
8. Essential Air Service (EAS): The most recent COVID-19 Relief Bill and the CARES Act
provided emergency supplemental funding to the EAS Program so that EAS carriers could
receive additional support to make up for the loss of passengers this past year due to the
pandemic. Without these supplemental payments along with regular annual funding for
the program, the Borough would lose or have vastly reduced air service to our island
communities. The FY 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill fully funds EAS. We support
continued funding for EAS in FY 2022 along with any supplemental funding should it be
needed due to further pandemic impacts on EAS carriers in 2021.
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Resolution No. FY2021-28
Page 3
133 9. U.S. Navy Arctic Presence: The Russian war games mentioned earlier, Russian plans
134 for a large ice breaker fleet, as well as China's, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, the
135 growing importance of the Arctic from a national security perspective, the prospects for an
136 ice-free Northwest Passage as a future maritime trade route, the movement north of fish
137 species important to commercial fishing — all are matters that the Borough has been
138 monitoring. The Navy's just-released report — A Blue Arctic — calls for an increased Navy
139 presence in the region. The document discusses the importance of an increased
140 "regionally postured" focus. While it does not provide specific details, it lays the
141 groundwork for a follow-on report mandated by Congress that is supposed to examine
142 Navy base options in the region and State. That report will be released this year. As has
143 been included in our past Resolutions, selection of Kodiak as a potential Navy base or
144 staging area as the U.S. expands its security presence in the Arctic is a long-term goal for
145 the Borough. The Borough seeks to continue to keep Kodiak "on the radar screen' with
146 the Delegation and Department of Defense as Arctic plans develop. There is adequate
147 land at our Coast Guard Base as well as a deep water port at Womens Bay that could
148 support the Navy's presence.
149
150 10. Anton Larsen Bay Road Extension Project: The Kodiak Island Borough has submitted
151 this project as a Federal request to the Delegation the last few years in hopes that
152 Congress will resume the practice of Congressionally directed spending, otherwise known
153 as earmarks. The House is considering reinstating earmarks this year, so the Borough is
154 submitting this project as a Federal request in case they are adopted in the FY 2022
155 appropriations cycle. An extension of the Anton Larsen Bay Road to ice free waters will
156 provide year around access to those communities located in the Kupreanof Strait as well
157 as those who use the island's west side for commercial and recreational purposes.
158 Extending the road to ice free waters makes traveling safer, providing access to critical
159 services located in the City of Kodiak, including hospitals and businesses. Both the
160 Ouzinkie Native Corporation through its subsidiary, the Spruce Island Development
161 Corporation, and the Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak have agreed to partner on the project. Its
162 total project cost is $8 million.
163
164 11. Broadband Service to Rural Areas: The Borough reiterates the importance of improving
165 broadband service to our rural island communities. The poor internet service experienced
166 by many of our communities has a negative impact on the delivery of important public
167 services as well as commerce. We support full funding and implementation of the Federal
168 Communications Commission's (FCC) Alaska Plan to encourage significant investments
169 by Alaska telecom providers in rural broadband. These investments will help bring
170 improve Internet service speed and coverage to the more remote parts of the State by
171 2025. The Borough advocates for "middle" and "last" mile investments on the Island which
172 is necessary for our villages to receive internet service. We continue to urge the Alaska
173 Delegation to encourage telecom providers in our region to make those investments as
174 part of implementation of the FCC Alaska Plan. We also support funding for USDA's rural
175 broadband grant/loan programs (Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program &
176 Community Connect Grant Program) that could fund "last mile" broadband infrastructure
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska Resolution No. FY2021-28
Page 4
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
programs as the Alaska Plan moves forward. The recent COVID-19 Relief Bill includes
$7 billion for broadband deployment, including funding set asides for rural areas and
tribes. We are also aware that the new Administration is interested in pursuing further
broadband funding as part of comprehensive public infrastructure investment legislation.
Should the Borough, in cooperation with a local internet provider, pursue funding at a later
date with USDA's programs or other Federal sources, 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
THIS TWENTY FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2021.
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
4i am Roberts, Mayor
VOTES:
Ayes: Arndt, Dvorak, Kavanaugh, Symmons, Turner, and Williams
Noes:
Absent: Smith
Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska
Borough Clerk
Resolution No. FY2021-28
Page 5