CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

Mayor

RESOLUTION 06-164

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA REAFFIRMING ITS SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING OPEN SEAFOOD MARKETS, OPPOSING A DRAFT AMENDMENT TO THE MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERIES CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT THAT MIGHT HAVE THE EFFECT OF LIMITING OPEN MARKETS AND CREATING "PROCESSOR SHARES", AND AUTHORIZING MAYOR HORNADAY TO SEND THE ATTACHED DRAFT LETTER TO THAT EFFECT TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

WHEREAS, The City of Homer and the State of Alaska have invested a great deal of time and money to build an infrastructure in Homer that supports a thriving commercial fishing industry; and

WHEREAS, Business owners in Homer have invested in vessels, marine supplies, boat yards, processing plants, and many other associated support services in order to expand and enhance the commercial fishing sector of the local economy; and

WHEREAS, The Homer City Council is on record (Resolutions 95-95 and 97-48) in support of maintaining open seafood markets in order to expand and enhance the local economy and increase the commercial seafood industry's competitiveness in world markets; and

WHEREAS, It has come to the City's attention that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Chair of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council have distributed a draft amendment to the Magnuson-Stevens Act that would provide regional fisheries management councils with the authority to require that some or all of the fish harvested under Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs) be delivered to one or more specific processors and/or one or more specific communities.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Homer City Council hereby reaffirms its strong support for open seafood markets and expresses its opposition to the draft amendment to the Magnuson Stevens Act that could limit access to open markets; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Council hereby authorizes Mayor Hornaday to send the draft attached letter to that effect to the Alaska Congressional Delegations and other parties as appropriate.

PASSED AND APPROVED by the Homer City Council this 11th day of December, 2006.

CITY OF HOMER

JAMES C HORNADAY, MAYOR

ATTEST:

MARY L CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: NA.