MEMORANDUM

TO: Pete Sprague, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

FROM: Dale Bagley, Mayor

Milli Martin, Assembly Member

DATE: May 22, 2003

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2003-22, establishment of Kenai Peninsula Borough Trails Service Area

This ordinance is proposed to establish a service area that would provide trails services in the area of the borough outside of the cities. The comprehensive plan calls for the borough to take steps to improve and coordinate trails throughout the borough. Throughout the last few years, efforts have been made to comply with that directive. In 1998, the borough voters defeated a ballot proposition that would have authorized the non-areawide exercise of trails powers in the borough.

This ordinance, if enacted, would provide for the creation of a service area and clearly give authority to manage, coordinate, construct, and maintain trails, as well as to provide grants to perform such services within the service area boundaries. The ordinance specifies, however, that the board is not authorized to even consider obtaining private land without the landowner's voluntary consent.

Consistent with the language in Ordinance 2003-14, recently enacted by the assembly, this ordinance provides for a mill levy of no more than .1 mills but clarifies that it may be increased by the assembly in the budgetary process. Because the proposed service area is so large, the petition process established in KPB 16.04.010-040 has not been followed. However, if the assembly introduces this ordinance, we respectfully request that the assembly schedule it for at least two hearings. The administration will provide the assembly with information ordinarily included in the mayor's report supporting the formation of a service area. In order for this to be placed on the October 7, 2003 ballot, the assembly must conduct its final hearing on or before August 5, 2003.