MEMORANDUM

To: Timothy Navarre, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

Thru: Dale Bagley, Mayor

Thru: Colette Thompson, Borough Attorney

Max Best, Borough Planning Director

Roberta Wilfong, Spruce Bark Beetle Program Manager

From: Michael Fastabend, Spruce Bark Beetle Coordinator

Date: September 26, 2002

Re: Resolution 2002-128

The Kachemak Bay Advisory Planning Commission approved on September 19, 2002, without comment or revision, the following Fuel Reduction Sales contained in the Forest Management Sales Reports (FMSR's) for management units 7 and 8: the Horn Sale, the Belnap Sale, and the Green Timbers Sale.

The Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Office presented the FMSR's for units 7 & 8 to the KPB Planning Commission for recommendation on September 23, 2002. The Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Office postponed seeking recommendations from the KPB Planning Commission for the Baycrest Sale, the Skyline Sale, the Kachemak Sale, and the Paul Banks Sale because of concerns raised by the Kachemak Bay Advisory Planning Commission.

The KPB Planning Commission approved on September 23, 2002, without comment or revision, proceeding with the Horn Sale, Belnap Sale, and the Green Timbers Sale contained in the Forest Management Sales Reports for management units 7 and 8 that are included in this resolution.

The purpose of these Forest Management Sales Reports is to provide information so the best interest of the Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) may be served by offering for sale timber rights for KPB tracts in Unit 7 and Unit 8 as identified in KPB Ordinance 2000-50.

These fuel reduction sales will decrease the potential of catastrophic wildland fire in Unit 7 and Unit 8 by salvaging dead or dying spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) infested spruce on KPB tracts identified by the KPB Spruce Beetle Mitigation Program as having moderate or high wildland fire hazards. On the average, spruce beetles have killed or infested over 90% of the mature spruce trees within the Units 7 and 8 proposed sale areas.