Kenai Peninsula Borough

Planning Department

Land Management Division

144 North Binkley, Soldotna, AK 99669

(907) 714.2200 Fax (907) 262.8618

 


 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:               Ron Long, Assembly President

                     Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Members

 

THRU:        John J. Williams, Mayor

                    Holly B. Montague, Deputy Borough Attorney

                    Max Best, Planning Director

                    Roberta Wilfong, SBB Program Coordinator

 

FROM:          Marcus A Mueller, Land Management Officer

 

DATE:          June 27, 2006

 

SUBJECT:   Ordinance 2006-33 Amending KPB 17.50.030 and 17.50.035 to Facilitate Removal of Hazard Trees on Borough Land


KPB 17.50.030(C) enacted in Ordinance 98-63 only provides for the removal of hazard trees on lands of certain classifications. Since enactment of this provision, the spruce bark beetle infestation has greatly expanded, and the SBB program to remove hazard trees from borough lands has likewise expanded. Limiting the mayor’s authority to remove potentially hazardous trees to lands classified as governmental, institutional, utility/transportation, or waste handling unnecessarily impedes the removal of hazard trees and serves limited usefulness in the current low value economy for dead and dying spruce.


The proposed amendments to KPB 17.50.030 and 17.50.035 would simplify the administration of hazard tree removal on borough lands and would encourage additional fuel reduction on the Urban Wildland Interface through the Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Program.


Your consideration of the attached Ordinance is appreciated.