M E M O R A N D U M

TO: Tim Navarre, Assembly President

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Members

THRU: Dale L. Bagley, Borough Mayor

FROM: Robert L. Bright, Planning Director

DATE: February 28, 2002

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2001-19-36, Appropriating $60,000 in Timber Receipts for Reforestation

The fuel hazard reduction timber sales have been quite successful to date with nearly all sales attracting buyers. These sales have generated approximately $300,000 in bids so far, and $62,000 has been received by the borough in pre-payments. The Administration would like to begin moving these revenues into one of our reforestation efforts, the school greenhouse program.

Over $1,000,000 has been committed by the borough to reforestation through the use of Spruce Bark Beetle Program monies. Total receipts from fuel reduction sales are anticipated to exceed $1,000,000, and not all of these funds are expected to be needed for reforestation. Some of these funds can greatly help our reforestation efforts however.

The borough has initiated a school greenhouse program in cooperation with the Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District (KSWCD), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Forest Service, and the school district. This combination of groups brings together a very knowledgeable group to begin growing seedlings in the borough.

The basic concept for the school greenhouse program is that science classes will use greenhouses on school property to grow tree seedlings for the borough's reforestation program. Science teachers at several schools have expressed an interest in this program, and initial efforts have focused on these schools.

One greenhouse is already operational. Seward High School had a greenhouse that had not been used in a number of years. The KSWCD obtained $5,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Forest Service to refurbish the greenhouse. The City of Seward was also instrumental in assisting in supporting this effort. The greenhouse was totally renovated; new growing benches were built by the school shop class, and pots and potting soil were supplied by the KSWCD. The NRCS and the Forest Service supplied technical assistance. Over 3,000 seedlings are now growing in this greenhouse to be provided to the borough reforestation program this summer. By purchasing these seedlings, the Spruce Bark Beetle program will provide the school with funds to purchase potting soil for the next year's program, pay for heat and lights in the greenhouse, and incidental expenses associated with growing seedlings.

The next phase will be to construct greenhouses at Skyview High and at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary. The KSWCD has already obtained $10,000 in funding commitments from the U.S. Forest Service and the State Division of Forestry for this phase. The KSWCD also has a commitment from the Alaska State Troopers to donate confiscated growing lights for the greenhouses. If the Assembly approves the $60,000 appropriation, this next phase will take place this summer. Further phases are also possible if there is interest from specific schools and the Assembly approves funding for those phases.

The school greenhouse program will provide an estimated 10% to 20% of the borough's reforestation needs, and it will involve young people in reforestation of the borough. It also helps support the science students in the participating schools by allowing for a "hands on" laboratory in the greenhouse.