HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2003-017
I
I
I
Sponsored by: Shafer, Branson
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2003-017
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE USDA FOREST SERVICE PROPOSAL TO
IMPROVE AND REDEVELOP THE IDITAROD NATIONAL HISTORIC
TRAIL - SEWARD TO GIRDWOOD
WHEREAS, the National Trails Act of 1978 established the Iditarod National Historic Trail
(INHT) and a subsequent INHT Comprehensive Plan by the US Bureau of Land Management
identified development and partnership goals and recognized corridor alignments and protection
measures for public access to the trail; and
WHEREAS, the INHT is one of 23 National Historic Trails and one of 16 National
Millennium Trails; and
WHEREAS, public support for the improvement and redevelopment of a continuous Seward
to Girdwood segment of the INHT has been demonstrated in the adoption of numerous local,
borough, and state land and trail plans; and
WHEREAS, a number of volunteer groups have organized, partnered with public land
managers, and leveraged and invested thousands of dollars and hours of private resources; and
WHEREAS, existing, proposed, and possible Seward Highway Transportation
Enhancements such as pedestrian bridges and trails could provide critical connections for
geographically isolated segments of a continuous Seward to Girdwood INHT; and
WHEREAS, public access easements to the BLM recognized the INHT corridor between
Seward and Girdwood but were not established at the time of the land transfer from the federal
government to state and local governments and have to be reestablished for the development of the
trail; and
WHEREAS, the November 2002 USDA Forest Service Seward-Girdwood INHT Project
proposal recommends the establishment of 45 miles of new easements or use of existing public
easements outside of the Chugach National Forest on other public state, borough, and local
government; and
WHEREAS, Congress through the Federal Highway Administration funded the US Forest
Service to assess the feasibility, options, and potential impacts for the potential redevelopment of a
continuous Seward-Girdwood INHT; and
WHEREAS, the above referenced project proposal recommends continued Alaska
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities commitment to redeveloping the INHT through
continued planning and development of appropriate Transportation Enhancement facilities on the
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2003-017
Seward Highway.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD, ALASKA that:
Section 1. The City Council supports the continued cooperative efforts ofthe USDA Forest
Service, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the Alaska Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities to complete a contiguous trail between Seward and Girdwood.
Section 2. The City Council supports the USDA Forest Service's expeditious completion of
a contiguous Seward-Girdwood segment of the INHT with complementing facilities and the
acquisition of additional easements outside the forest boundary.
Section 3. This resolution shall take affect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 10th
day of February, 2003.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
~'u~
Stu Clark, Mayor
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Orr, Dunham, Branson, Shafer, Clark
Valdatta
None
None
(City Seal)
"un II.",
", t":~r:- ..t,
~... 0\ '\Jc:YI;" ~~';,.,
,:.' ~--l ..,;.......:''1.<)). ,
.:: ,.,:::- ,':"i!'i"OJ.l, ':','1.."
.. v ',,J . ""I,...... .,.
.. ." ,\J '(;it. ~J
~ t"*f' --- \~:
= I SE. t\ T 1 0 ~
.." Ii) ~ . ,~LL-1J-I : :
': ~~, .--- :" ~
~ ", ~ ,,'" .ItI
~ ~,~, ,,~.~~~.
-:', (,"l...:.,V,V" 1 '\~...,........-.:-
.~ ;/ -,,.:....;-...,... r:'!>..~;,J <'%,~
""''''n''OF ~.'. r .<,
"~4' .J..: - Y""" ,,\,,..
11"'.un~'-:"
ATTEST: