Harbormaster

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA SUPPORTING ALASKA'S BOATING SAFETY ACT AND THE STATE BOATING SAFETY PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, Alaska has over 33,000 miles of shoreline, 3,000 rivers and 3,000,000 lakes; and

WHEREAS, Alaskans use boats for transportation, for subsistence, and for recreation and more Alaskans own boats than either snowmachines or ATVs; and

WHEREAS, drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in Alaska, and over the last ten years Alaska has experienced the highest non-commercial boating fatality rate in the nation; and

WHEREAS, there is tremendous financial impact and risk to the state and the federal government in providing for boating-related search and rescue and body recovery operations, as well as costs to Alaskan families for the lost income and medical expenses; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 provides funding to all states and territories with boating safety programs, and Alaska is the only state that has not yet passed a boating safety act and therefore is not receiving Alaska's share of federal funds ;and

WHEREAS, Alaska is the only state that does not keep its own boating registration fees and instead pays fees to the federal government.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska supports both the state's boating safety program and the passage of a boating safety act that is necessary for the state to qualify for Alaska's full share of the federal funding available to states with boating safety programs.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 14th day of February, 2000.

CITY OF HOMER

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ATTEST: JACK CUSHING, MAYOR

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MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC/AAE, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: State revenue.