KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH

ORDINANCE 98-55

AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING AND APPROPRIATING $731,658

FROM THE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM

TO THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND AND APPROPRIATING $20,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE

TO THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OPERATING BUDGET

TO PROVIDE FOR LOCAL CONTRIBUTION

TO HAZARD MITIGATION MEASURES

WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough is threatened by all forms of natural hazards including floods, earthquakes, fires, and volcanic eruptions; and

WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has received six different federal or state disaster declarations over the past twelve years; and

WHEREAS, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has responded to seven different events in the past year ranging from floods to wildfires to cannery fires; and

WHEREAS, the Resurrection River Task Force was established in May 1997 to determine the proper course of action for federal and state Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding; and

WHEREAS, the Resurrection River Task Force has representation from numerous state, federal, and local agencies including the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the City of Seward; and

WHEREAS, the Resurrection River Task Force has completed the "Flood Hazard Mitigation Project" report and recommends a comprehensive plan that incorporates Resurrection River streambed maintenance, bridge expansion, and Japanese Creek levee expansion; and

WHEREAS, continued Resurrection River maintenance is critical to the public resources in and around Seward, Alaska including the airport, harbor and the Seward Highway; and

WHEREAS, a $20,000 appropriation by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly would demonstrate to the federal and state government a local commitment to funding; and

WHEREAS, the Resurrection River Task Force report has the support of local, state and federal agencies; and

WHEREAS, hazard mitigation has proven to be cost effective across the nation and in the State of Alaska;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH:

SECTION 1. That the Kenai Peninsula Borough hereby accepts a grant of $731,658, including $548,744 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $182,914 from the State of Alaska Division of Emergency Services, and appropriates it to the Kenai Peninsula Borough's Environmental Protection Fund, account 262-112070-49999-99HMG, for Resurrection River Hazard Mitigation Projects.

SECTION 2. That the Kenai Peninsula Borough appropriates $20,000 from the general fund balance to the Office of Emergency Management operating budget, account 100-112050-43011-99262, to address mitigation issues throughout the borough, including maintenance of the Resurrection River area, to its post-project configuration, annually, or on an as-needed basis.

SECTION 3. That the Mayor is authorized to execute all documents necessary to effectuate this ordinance deemed to be in the best interest of the Borough.

SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon enactment.

ENACTED BY THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH THIS 13TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1998.

Jack Brown, Assembly President

ATTEST:

Linda S. Murphy, Borough Clerk