CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

Mayor

RESOLUTION 09-30(S)

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUING THE SPRUCE BARK BEETLE MITIGATION PROGRAM ON THE KENAI PENINSULA.

 

            WHEREAS, The Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Program has been operating since 2000 in the Kenai Peninsula; and

 

            WHEREAS, The mission of the Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Program is to help protect the lives and property of the residents of the Kenai Peninsula Borough by identifying and mitigating wildfire and other hazards related to spruce bark beetle-killed spruce, and to replant forests impacted by the spruce bark beetle outbreak; and

 

            WHEREAS, Current analysis indicates 1.0 million acres of spruce bark beetle-impacted land remains on the Kenai Peninsula Borough; and

 

            WHEREAS, Growth of the outbreak has slowed, but the impacts to the ecosystem caused by the outbreak will remain for decades; and

 

            WHEREAS, The spruce bark beetle outbreak has created an extreme wildfire hazard by killing tens of millions of mature spruce across the Kenai Peninsula; and

 

            WHEREAS, Funds in excess of $15M have been expended on hazardous tree removal, reforestation, technical assistance, land and vegetation mapping, seasonal fire personnel and education measures; and

 

            WHEREAS, Additional funding is needed to implement the All Hands/All Lands Action Plan of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s All Hazard Mitigation Plan to assist homeowners in the urban/wildland interface to make changes to their properties to make them fire safe; and

 

            WHEREAS, The All Hands/All Lands Action Plan is a detailed interagency plan that works in conjunction with the Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Program for fire prevention and protection, hazardous fuel reduction, forest health, restoration, rehabilitation and community assistance; and

 

            WHEREAS, Additional funding for the Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Program is needed to continue mitigation efforts and to extend the life of the program.

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska, supports continuing the Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Program on the Kenai Peninsula.

 

            PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 23rd day of February, 2009.

 

                                                                       

 

                                                                        CITY OF HOMER

 

                                                                        _____________________________

                                                                        JAMES C. HORNADAY, MAYOR

 

ATTEST:

 

______________________________

JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK

 

Fiscal Note: N/A