MEMORANDUM

TO: Tim Navarre, Assembly President

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

THRU: Dale Bagley, Mayor

Jeff Sinz, Finance Director

FROM: Bob Bright, Planning Director

CC: Bonnie Golden, Grants Manager

DATE: December 21, 2001

SUBJECT: Proposed ordinance accepting and appropriating $271,028 in federal funds for Kenai Peninsula Borough hazard mitigation and monitoring using remote sensing technologies.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough applied for and received approval for a $271,028 federal grant provided through a special Congressionally-mandated (NASA) appropriation designated for projects that utilize air or space remote sensing technology. This project will use the best remote sensing science available to assist state, local, and native organizations to specifically identify the location and condition of hazardous dead tree stands posing risks to human life and property.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Project is to use high tech remote sensing cameras and special film to identify the location of insect activity and the condition of white spruce in a 60 square mile test area in the Kenai and Nikiski area. The Spruce Bark Beetle is becoming more active in that area which has a significant amount of mature host material that could become infected by the beetle. It could become the next hot spot or problem area with many homes and potential fuels in an urban area. Early detection and monitoring of the infestation is critical. It is believed that remote sensing cameras, special film, and analysis work can detect stressed trees well before the needles turn brown. If the remote sensing science being tested works, early detection would allow landowners the option to remove infected trees while they still have value and before they become a fire risk.

This project was among eight projects selected by the Office of Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer and NASA. The FY 2001 federal appropriations are to come from NASA to the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources. The $271,028 will then be redistributed to the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Attached to the ordinance is a proposed plan for spending the grant funds in a manner consistent with the federal appropriation and the NASA project proposal. The grant does not require a match, but matching contributions are encouraged. The spending proposal identifies in-kind contributions that can be used to identify a matching contribution.

Attachment (Ordinance)