MEMORANDUM

TO: Tim Navarre, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

FROM: Milli Martin, Assembly member

DATE: May 23, 2002

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2002-15, Grazing and Agricultural Leases proposed amendment.

This memorandum is to give notice that I intend to offer one or more amendments at the June 4, 2002, meeting which would authorize hay storage facilities to be constructed on grazing leases and possibly additional structures. Facilities are needed to store feed for the animals grazed on the land. Authorizing hay storage facilities, subject to borough approval as to capacity and structure, could make the difference between a feasible and unfeasible operation.

It has come to my attention that small, temporary housing facilities may be appropriate on certain large grazing leases, particularly where it can take most of a day just to get to and from the grazing animals. I am considering offering an amendment that would authorize such additional facilities using criteria to establishing the necessity for facilities and limiting the allowed development as appropriate for a grazing lease.

I would like the borough to consider an outside entity to manage these leases, such as the Soil and Water Conservation District.

Also, I would like to clarify that timber on the leases may be utilized for fence building.

Finally, we may have to add language addressing the application of this ordinance to existing grazing leaseholders.

I am in the process of consulting with the administration, grazing lease operators, and other interested parties to develop appropriate criteria and guidelines.