MEMORANDUM

TO: William Popp, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

THRU: Dale Bagley, Mayor

FROM: Bob Bright, Planning Director

DATE: March 23, 2000

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2000-13 amendments

Ordinance 2000-13 appropriates $2,000,000 to address the spruce bark beetle infestation problem and establishes a six-member committee to evaluate individual projects proposed for this grant. This committee will be known as the Forest Fire Science Technical Committee. The ordinance refers to the committee as a task force which may be confused with the Spruce Bark Beetle Task Force established in 1998. Therefore, the administration respectfully requests that the following amendment be made to the ordinance:

SECTION 3. That a [task force] Forest Fire Science Technical Committee consisting of six members shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the assembly, and shall evaluate individual projects proposed for this grant. Members of the [task force] technical committee shall be knowledgeable in the areas of forestry, logging, landscaping, fire safety, or other related fields. The [task force] technical committee shall develop a plan, including criteria and guidelines, for spending the [$2,000,000] $1,200,000 in hazard tree removal funds and for prioritizing proposals, in a manner consistent with the attached Spruce Bark Beetle Hazard Reduction Program and Congressional intent, and in accordance with applicable state and local law. On or before June 6, 2000, the [task force] technical committee shall present the proposed plan to the mayor for final project prioritization and the assembly for its approval by resolution.