FY2012-13 Urging NPFMC to Provide Videoconferencing 1
2 Introduced by: Borough Assembly
3 Requested by: Kodiak Fisheries Advisory Council
4 Drafted by: Borough Clerk
Introduced on: 12/15/2011
5 Adopted on:
6
7 KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
8 RESOLUTION NO. FY 2012 -13
9
10 A RESOLUTION OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ASSEMBLY URGING
11 THE NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
12 TO PROVIDE FOR VIDEOCONFERENCING AND OTHER MEANS OF
13 REMOTE COMMUNICATION FOR ITS MEETINGS
14
15 WHEREAS, Kodiak is a fishing community, and Kodiak's economic health and social
16 welfare depend on the sustained ability of its residents to harvest and process the marine
17 resources of the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea; and
18
19 WHEREAS, it is in Kodiak's best interest for its Borough and City governments to be well
20 informed regarding the potential impacts of State and Federal fishery management actions on
21 the Kodiak community and to have an opportunity to effectively comment on such actions
22 before they are taken; and
23
24 WHEREAS, the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly and Kodiak City Council have
25 established a Joint Kodiak Fisheries Advisory Committee for the purpose of providing
26 recommendations regarding Kodiak's position on fisheries issues, and to provide a forum for
27 interested parties to discuss, and, to the degree possible, reach consensus on fisheries
28 issues affecting Kodiak's fishermen, processors, businesses, and residents;
29
30 WHEREAS, it is important for the Joint Kodiak Fisheries Advisory Committee to attend the
31 North Pacific Fishery Management Council meetings and stay abreast of information provided
32 at these meetings; and
33
34 WHEREAS, North Pacific Fishery Management Council meetings are often held in the
35 Pacific Northwest and remote areas of the State of Alaska; and
36
37 WHEREAS, travel expenses to these areas can be cost prohibitive and may ultimately
38 reduce access to vital information and decisions being made by the North Pacific Fishery
39 Management Council; and
40
41 WHEREAS, the Kodiak Fisheries Advisory Committee met on September 16, 2011, and
42 agreed that the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly and Kodiak City Council should consider
43 urging the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to provide video conferencing of its
44 meetings; and
45
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Kodiak Island Borough Resolution No. FY2012 -13
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46 WHEREAS, there are many other Alaskan coastal communities who would also benefit
47 from video conferencing, and
48
49 WHEREAS, video conferencing gives access to participants who are limited by their
50 physical location; and
51
52 WHEREAS, attending the meetings in person is expensive and cost prohibitive due to travel
53 costs, and attendance by video conference could substantially save money for interested
54 parties; and
55
56 WHEREAS, attendance by video and remote conferencing will provide rural communities
57 the choice and flexibility to be involved in the process without the huge demands of
58 substantial travel time and costs;
59
60 WHEREAS, with advances in technology, video and remote conferencing has become
61 increasingly popular and as the reliability and affordability of videoconferencing technologies
62 continues to improve, agencies have become more and more creative in incorporating this
63 technology.
64
65 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND
66 BOROUGH endorses and urges the use of video conferencing and other means of remote
67 communication where feasible and desirable for participation in the North Pacific Fishery
68 Management Council meetings.
69
70 ADOPTED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
71 THIS FIFTEENTH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2011
72
73 KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
77 ATTEST: Jere a M. Selb S nu hyM
76 L,
Y 9
78
80 LAG 116
81 Nova M. Javier, M C; Borough Clerk
Kodiak Island Borough Resolution No. FY2012 -13
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