HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes1987-024
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Sponsored by: Garzini
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION NO. 87-024
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SEWARD, ALASKA, REQUESTING THAT THE STATE OF ALASKA
WITHDRAW ITS LANDS SELECTIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL FOREST
LAND SELECTION PROGRAM FOR NOMINATIONS WITHIN THE
RESURRECTION RIVER VALLEY ALONG EXIT GLACIER ROAD
WHEREAS, the development of Exit Glacier as a major
tourist attraction has been the goal of the Seward community
for over twenty years; and
WHEREAS, the designation of this area as part of the
new Kenai Fjords National Park was a key step in seeing the
development of Exit Glacier as an attraction of national
interest; and
WHEREAS, the following described lands located along
Exi t Glacier Road wi thin the Resurrection River Valley, to
wit:
T1N, R1W, Seward Meridian, Alaska
Section 18, S~, SE~, SW~, S~, NW~, containing 320
acres more or less, and
T1N, R2W, Seward Meridian, Alaska
Section 11, S~, containing 320 acres, more or
less;
Section 12, S~, SW~, NW~, SW~, containing 120
acres, more or less;
Section 13, S~, NE~, N~, SE~, NW~, containing 320
acres, more or less;
Section 14, NW~, containing 160 acres, more or
less,
were included in a September 1, 1982, Seward nomination for
the state's National Forest Land Selection Program for the
purpose of providing private land to support the newly
formed Kenai Fjords National Park; and
WHEREAS, Exit Glacier Road (formerly Resurrection River
Road), pieced together from various state, local, federal,
borough and volunteer efforts over the years, is the only
road access to the National Park; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that the road be upgraded to
prevent annual flooding and to improve the safety design
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CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION NO. 87-024
that is necessitated by the ever increasing volume of
traffic; and
WHEREAS, a Memorandum of Agreement, signed in 1981 by
the National Park Service, U. S. Forest Service, state of
Alaska DOT/PF, Kenai peninsula Borough and the city of
Seward, addressed each agency's role in the development of
Exit Glacier Road; and
WHEREAS, the National Park Service has constructed a
concrete, all-weather, two-lane bridge and new road across
Resurrection River into the Park, but is prohibited by law
from spending funds outside National Park boundaries; and
WHEREAS, although the city of Seward is supportive of
the project, it, too, is restricted from providing monetary
funding because the road is outside the corporate limits of
the city; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Service could designate the road a
a Forest Highway and assist with funding if the road were
bordered by federal lands; and
WHEREAS, if the selected lands are turned over to the
state, there will no longer be any National Forest land
along the road, thus diminishing the Forest Services's
interest as compared to its other Forest Service priorities;
and
WHEREAS, given the present fiscal climate in Alaska,
state general funding is a remote possibility; and
WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula
receive funds from the state before
any upgrade of this road; and
Borough would have to
it could participate in
WHEREAS, the only funding for this project appears to
be Public Lands Funds, which are discretionary funds avail-
able to the Federal Highway Administration for roads within
federal lands; and
WHEREAS, it now appears that the nomination and selec-
tion of these lands was untimely and will have a devastating
effect on getting Exit Glacier Road upgraded to a safe level
to carry Alaska's visitors to the Kenai Fjords National
Park;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, that:
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CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION NO. 87-024
Section 1. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is requested to
relinquish its support for the land selections cited in this
resolution in favor of federal land retention in order to
provide possible funding opportunities for the upgrade of
Exit Glacier Road.
Section 2. The city of Seward formally relinquishes
its support for the land nomination outlined in this resolu-
tion in favor of its being retained in federal ownership.
Section 3. The U. S. Forest Service is encouraged to
designate Exit Glacier Road as a Forest Highway and to
support appropriate funding levels for upgrading that
portion of the road within National Forest Lands.
Section 4. The state of Alaska DOT/PF is encouraged to
place Exit Glacier Road on the Federal Aid Secondary Road
System in order that funding might be made available for
that section of the road within state ownership.
Section 5. This resolution shall take effect immedi-
ately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SEWARD, ALASKA, this ~ day of April , 19 87
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
BOOHER, GIESELER, HILTON, MEEHAN, NOLL & SIMUTIS
NONE
DUNHAM
NONE
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CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION NO. 87-024
ATTEST:
(Ci ty Seal)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
HUGHES, THORSNESS, GANTZ,
POWELL & BRUNDIN, Attorneys
for the City of Seward, AK
7~N~
Fred B. Arvidson
City Attorney
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