c. - Presented By: Mayor Michels Action Taken

OF
c.
Presented By:
Mayor Michels
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Action Taken:
Yes_a
No~
Abstain.
CITY OF NOME, ALASKA
RESOLUTION NO. R-t.pu-oi Amended
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING PROJECTS AND POSITION STATEMENTS
FOR THE CITY OF NOME 2015 STATE LEGISIATWE PRIORITIES
WHEREAS, public hearings and joint work sessions of the Nome City Council, Nome Joint
Utility System, Nome Public Schools and the Port of Nome were held in Nome, Alaska on
November a~, 204 and December 8, 204; and
WHEREAS, it is with unanimity that the following prioritized projects are considered
worthy of advocacy to State ofAlaska legislative and administrative leaders:
Priorityi)
Water and Sewer Infrastructure Improvements s.~ M;
Priority a)
Nome Road Improvements $3.o M;
Priority 3)
Nome Volunteer Fire Department Pumper Truck $6oo,ooo;
Priority 4)
Nome Seawall Repair
Priority ~)
Arctic Deep Draft Port/Nome Causeway Extension;
Priority 6)
Drug Awareness, Education, and Treatment.
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$500,000;
WHEREAS, it is with unanimity that the following community infrastructure items are
considered worthy of advocacy to State ofAlaska legislative and administrative leaders:
Nome City Community Infrastructure:
• Pedestrian Safety Improvements on Greg Kruschek Avenue;
• Extension of Steadman Street to Greg Kruschek Avenue for Future
Community Development;
• Deferred Maintenance for Public Facilities;
• Covered Multi-Use Recreational Structure ($35o,ooo).
Nome School Capital Improvements:
• District Wide Lighting Replacement ($a67,165);
• Nome Elementary School Gym Floor Replacement Cost Recovery (107,692);
• Nome-Beltz Campus Electrical Service and Generator System (est. $650,000).
Utility Issues:
• Expand Eligibility and Increase Kilowatt Hour Cap on Power Cost
Equalization;
• Utility, Public Works and Emergency Response Equipment Storage Building
and Supporting Office Facilities;
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Property Acquisition: Block 20, Nome Airport.
Change ADEC Clean Water/Drinking Water Loan maximum period from zo
to 30 year payback.
WHEREAS, it is with unanimity that the following legislative position statements are
supported by the City of Nome and considered worthy of advocacy to State of Alaska legislative and
administrative leaden:
Alaska Army National Guard Readiness Center;
Pioneer/Veterans Home in Northwest Alaska;
Norton Sound Health Corporation Detoxification Center;
Support for the Return of the Cape Nome Recorder’s Office to the Cape Nome
Recording District.
WHEREAS, it is with unanimity that the following legislative position statements are
supported by the City of Nome and considered worthy of advocacy to State of Alaska legislative and
administrative leaden:
State Fiscal Issues:
• Support for the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission Strategic
Recommendations;
• Support for the Municipal Revenue Sharing Program;
• Support of Transportation Infrastructure Funding to Include Rural Alaska;
• Support of the Development of the State of Alaska’s Renewable Energy
Resources and the Continuance and Expansion of Programs that Increase
End-Use Conservation and Energy Efficiency;
• Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
• Continued Funding for PERS Employer Contributions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Nome City Council endorses the
aforementioned items for inclusion in the City of Nome zoi~ State of Alaska Legislative Priorities
Package.
APPROVED and SIGNED th~ 8th day of December, zoi~.
DENISE
ATfEST:
TOM MORAN, City Clerk
Mayor
PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECT #1
Water & Sewer Infrastructure Improvements
The City of Nome applied through the Department of Environmental Conservation’s
Municipal Matching Grants Program to allow continued water and sewer
infrastructure improvements in the community. The 2015 construction program
would continue replacement of 30-year+ old direct bury piping that has outlived its
design life and is now failing. With increasing frequency, maintenance crews must
dig up piping to repair leaks. In the excavation activities, the source of many
failures is found attributable to thawing permafrost which has caused mains to
stretch and separate. The city utility has continued development and design of the
multi-year replacement project to elevate scoring through the competitive rating
process so the project can be included in the Governor’s capital budget
recommendation. However, funding to address basic infrastructure for the well
being and health of communities through this program, that is included in the
current year’s budget advanced by the administration, is significantly reduced from
that in prior years, and did not include Nome’s need.
The Water and Sewer Infrastructure Improvements Project, upgrades and replaces
old direct bury water and sewer distribution and collection systems. Completed in
1983, the existing system was the first use of direct-bury technology in Nome. It
performed adequately for many years, but the cost of maintenance and operation
continues to escalate as it ages. Severe deterioration has been documented during
repair “digs” and by utilizing remote controlled camera equipment. The video
investigation reveals sewer mains are constricting and in danger of collapsing,
potentially requiring entire sections of town to return to the use of honey buckets.
The ongoing project has been phased with segments being completed within
available funding. To date, approximately 15,000 lineal feet of water and sewer
mainline have been replaced. Phase Ill, planned over a two-year period, will
address an additional 4,500 lineal feet of main, to which 92 customers are
connected, and 5 fire hydrants provide protection to a heavily developed central
part of town. Much needed rehabilitation of the main sewage pumping facility on
River Street, the receptor for all sewage in the community (except Airport-Port
Road), was also included in the MMG application. This station was placed in to
operation in 1992 with a 20 year design life, and injects waste into the force main to
the sewage lagoons. Electrical control and pump upgrades will reduce power
demand, cost of operation and extend pump life.
Existing mains will be removed to insure they do not adversely affect the City’s
street right-of-way upgrades. This year’s project does not address the need for
water and sewer collection facilities in previously unserved areas of the community
that are still reliant on honey buckets or hauled waste and trucked water delivery;
we will continue to pursue funding possibilities to improve the sanitation and health
of residents in unserved areas.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
CITY OF NOME
PRIORITY CAP~AL PROJECT #1
Extensive growth has occurred since installation of the original system. Virtually
every lot suitable for building is now developed. This adds additional flow that was
not anticipated at the time of initial construction, and collapsing piping is already
constricting flow. Additional area is required for residential and business
development, but these projects are stymied when water and sewer is not available.
Recommendation:
That state and federal funding assistance be provided at an adequate and
consistent level, to allow Nome and other Alaskan communities to orderly replace
deteriorated water and sewer systems, upgrade facilities to allow for connection of
new infrastructure, promote community health, expansion and economic
development, and provide needed fire protection systems.
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Summer construction to replace water-sewer mains,
service connects and fire hydrants
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Performing winter repairs on failing mains
Honeybuckets are still in use in
use in some sections of town, often
accumulating causing a health
hazard
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECT #3
Support of Fire Department Pumper Truck
The City of Nome and the Nome Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) are seeking
financial support from the State of Alaska to purchase of a new Fire Department
Pumper Truck. The estimated cost of this vehicle is $600,000 plus shipping.
The NVFD has an aging fleet of firefighting pumping engines; our newest pumping
engine is a 1987 Boardman pumper, with a 1,000 gallon per minute fire pump. This
pump capability is no longer appropriate for the size of structures we have in Nome.
The vehicle no longer meets the ISO requirements of this community. Nome
received a state grant in 2009, which was used to purchase a ladder truck; it is
greatly appreciated as it has made our job safer and more effective.
The proposed vehicle will be equipped with a 1,500 gallon per minute fire pump,
1,000 gallon water tank, water master stream, Class A and Class B foam systems,
10kw generator, light tower, pre-connected hydraulic rescue tools, ergonomically
designed pump panel, hose beds and ladder rack to prevent injury during
operations, as well as a full complement of rescue compartments.
For 75 years the NVFD has provided fire protection, motor vehicle extrication,
search and rescue, hazardous materials (hazmat) response, and other
emergencies for the City of Nome and surrounding region. Most recently the NVFD
responded to a large fire in the Village of Teller (75 miles from Nome), preventing
the community from losing their power generation facility and bulk fuel storage tank
farm. If a serious incident had occurred in Nome at the same time, there would not
have been adequate equipment to respond.
The NVFD is a State Certified and Accredited Fire Department with approximately
35 active members, 15 of which are State Certified Fire Fighter 2, with an additional
12 State Certified Fire Fighter 1. They protect 14 square miles and over 4,000
people, provide assistance to the Nome State Airport and Alaska State Troopers
(under mutual aid agreements), and have responded to many communities outside
the City of Nome.
Recommendation:
The City of Nome requests the Legislature appropriate $600,000 for a Fire
Department Pumper Truck to be used in Nome and the surrounding communities.
a
city of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECT #4
Nome Seawall Repair
The City of Nome has been battered many times over the years by storm surges, which
have caused significant loss of life and property. Since the early 1900s there have been 17
recorded events during which Nome experienced flooding due to an increase in water
levels caused by storm surge. Nome has experienced two such storms in the past years;
October 2004, September 2005, and the significant event in November 2011. These
storms were declared State and Federal disasters.
Congress recognized the need to
provide protection to Nome when it
authorized the construction of a rock
mound seawall in the Rivers and
Harbors Act, 16 June 1948 (Public Law
80-649).
As adopted, the seawall
extended in front of Nome along the
water front for a distance of 3,350 feet.
The seawall was constructed by the
USACE in 1949
1951 to a design
elevation of +18’ MLLW. Although a
450’ extension was added to the
western portion in 2005 to extend shore
protection, wave and surge impact to the original section has caused movement and loss of
armor stone, which has resulted in exposed core rock within the structure. The continued
exposure of the core and additional loss of protective armor further increases the risk of a
catastrophic failure of the seawall.
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The ocean near Nome has been studied extensively by the Corps of Engineers, as part of
the Nome Navigation Improvements Project, with wave hind casts, computer analysis and
physical modeling. Sea levels of 5 feet below MLLW have been observed during offshore
winds and a level of 14 feet above MLLW has been observed during a southerly storm.
More importantly, the 2004/05 storms overtopped the seawall, with the 2011 surge to a
significant degree.
Anecdotal observations by long-time residents of Nome indicate the seawall may have
settled with time and storm activities. The seawall has effectively served Nome for 55
years, and we hope it can serve another 55 years.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECT #4
We believe it important, and request assistance to authorize and appropriate funds to
study, design and construct a repair and upgrade of the existing seawall to provide
protection for a 100-year storm event at full Federal expense. Public Law 108-447, Section
117, Division C may be an appropriate means to authorize upgrades to the Nome Seawall.
An alternative method may be through the Water Resources Development Act Re
authorization (WRDA) bill in Congress. USACE ôould be authorized and directed to raise
the Nome Seawall. Funds in the amount of $750,000 should be provided to prepare the
authorizing report and design. An order of magnitude preliminary estimate for construction
funds is $1OM.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECT #5
Support for Arctic Deep Draft Port
Causeway Extension to -35’ MLLW
and Funding for Design and Construction
The City of Nome requests support from the Congressional delegation, the State of
Alaska, the Alaska Legislature, the Department of Defense/NORTHCOM, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE), all agencies that drive U.S. Arctic Policy1, to extend the
existing Nome Causeway to -35’ MLLW, and provide $250 million in funding for the
design and construction of the extension as part of the Arctic Deep Draft Port System in
Nome, Alaska2. Extending the Causeway will address national security, environmental
protection, resource conservation, scientific research and international cooperation. The
City of Nome considers this a national priority for the United States and the State of
Alaska.
The Port of Nome, due to its geographic location, is a strategic transportation hub that
meets the needs of the U.S. Arctic Policy by strengthening the Arctic Marine Domain
Awareness system, and search and rescue capability. The demand for resource
development in the Arctic, by global markets, grows annually. The United States Coast
Guard (USCG) study3 concurs that a deep-draft port will provide benefits including
economic development, intermodal transit, energy independence, national security and
marine safety.
We wish to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of development dollars in this
region by soliciting investment in the Port of Nome. Nome is able to support the
development to show a return on investment, which will become more economical for
the private sector’s operations, effectively saving several days of sailing. An immediate
and vital benefit of this investment will be the increased efficiency in logistical support
throughout the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean.
Russia and Canada are establishing Emergency Response Centers along their
coastline, while the U.S. has not established any Emergency Response Center in the
U.S. Arctic. The Port of Nome can meet the needs to establish a U.S. Emergency
Response Center.
No other medium draft port infrastructure capabilities exist from (Nunivak Island)
Northwest Alaska to the Canadian border. The Port of Nome’s existing Causeway is
‘President’s National Strategy for the Arctic, the Department of Defense’s Arctic Strategy, The committee
on Marine Transportation’s U.S. Arctic Marine Transportation Priorities, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic
Strategy, NOAA’s Arctic Vision and Strategy, the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission’s Recommendations
and the Arctic Council’s Arctic Marine Assessment Report 2009 Recommendations for Arctic
Infrastructure.
2 U.S. Army corps of Engineers and State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities’ “Alaska
Deep Draft Arctic Port System Study”, January 25, 2013.
~ U.S. Coast Guard, “Feasibility of Establishing an Arctic Deep-draft Seaport”, Report to Congress
February 11,2014.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
City of Nome
PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECT #5
dredged to -22.5’ MLLW with a 270’ spur at the end, and a 3,025’ protecting breakwater
to the east. Extending the causeway to -35’ MLLW will accommodate line haul fuel
barges, tankers, ice breakers, USCG National Security Cutters, Navy ships, NOAA and
foreign scientific research vessels, oil and gas support vessels, as well as larger cruise
ships, landing crafts and tugs.
The Bering Strait has seen an increase in ocean vessel traffic due to the opening of the
Arctic, with economic development opportunities in resource development along with
International scientific research and tourism. The Marine Exchange of Alaska began
recording traffic data in 2009 as reflected below:
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Transits recorded through the Bering Straits 280 430 410 480 440 340
Northern Sea Route transits
0
4
34
46
71
53
Port of Nome Vessel Calls
301 296 271 444 491~ 446
The City of Name has community infrastructure in place to support the increase in Arctic
shipping; a new hospital, cross wind runway, daily flights to Anchorage, stores for
resupply of perishables and dry goods, restaurants, hotels and a multitude of activities
to occupy passengers and crew while staging for vessel transfers.
The City supports infrastructure development across the entire Alaska Arctic. The City of
Nome has regional support for this project5. Throughout the Bering Strait Region’s
waters:
• Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation’s fishing fleet, in Nome, has
22 vessels; this doesn’t include vessels in the Norton Sound waters at
Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, Shaktoolik, and Savoonga. Many of these vessels are
40 to 80 miles out in the ocean.
•
At any time there are 3 to 30 small skiffs, for subsistence activities, from the
surrounding villages in the Norton Sound and Bering Sea waters.
•
Adventure tourism has increased with kite boarders, jet skiers, swimmers,
kayakers, and winter ice driving expeditions, making attempts to cross the
international border between the Diomede Islands, mainland Russia, and Wales.
There have been a few near misses; a fuel barge broke loose during high seas last
summer. The fuel company was prepared and was able to dispatch a second barge to
bring it under control from Nome, and a tug boat ran aground in the St. Michael waters.
In due time, the lack of a deep draft port will become acute.
The City of Nome is requesting the State of Alaska, the Alaska State Legislature, and
the United States Congress to fund the design and construction of the Arctic Deep Draft
Port System in Nome, extending the Causeway to -35’ MLLW at an estimated $250
million, to ensure and preserve the United States’ presence in the Arctic.
~ 150 vessels waited at Road Stead to dock, 34 had drafts deeper than -22’.
~ Kawerak, Inc., Nome Eskimo Community, Nome Chamber of Commerce, and Sitnasuak Native
Corporation.
PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECT #6
Drug Awareness, Education and Treatment
The City of Nome supports Norton Sound Health Corporation’s (NSHC) priority to
secure Planning and Design funding to support the architectural development of a
comprehensive Weilness and Training Center serving the substance
use/detoxification/mental health treatment, workforce development, and public
health education needs of the region. To complete this project component, NSHC
is seeking $800,000.00.
It is without doubt the cost of substance use remains exorbitant in all aspects of
service in the Bering Strait Region. Law enforcement (95% of cases include
substance use), correctional centers (95% recidivism rate for alcohol-related
crimes), the Bering Straits Women’s Shelter and safe homes (95% increase in
cases in 2013), protective services (100% of child protection cases in the region
involve substance use), health care costs related to substance use and substancerelated diagnosis, school and vocational success (high drop-out rates in this region
with lost ability to create meaningful employment due to the lack of successfullyachieved training), loss of life (suicide in this region is the second highest in the
state) and loss of productivity continue to skyrocket as addiction numbers grow.
Treatment services requiring people within the region to leave their homes and
families, often delaying their treatment while a bed is secured, have not shown
themselves to be solutions to this region’s stated and demonstrated needs. The
waiting list for treatment averages six to nine months and there is often no other
place to refer people. Residents of the Bering Strait Region are often referred to
treatment facilities in the Lower 48. These facilities are not culturally-relevant and
the distance is counter-productive to the healing process, given familial and
environmental supports are absent. Subsequently, sending people out of the region
for treatment limits or nullifies the potential for community change that closelytracked outreach provides.
With the support of the State of Alaska and the Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority (The Trust), NSHC has conducted community assessments, collected
regional needs data, and developed conceptual designs for the development of a
Wellness and Training Center in Nome. Through this research, NSHC has found
that the regional comments, substance use statistics, and statewide support
overwhelmingly indicate the overdue need for such a facility.
The Wellness and Training Center consists of four components:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Behavioral Health Services
Health Aide Training
Public Health Nursing
Emergency Medical Services
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECT #6
Conceived as a two-story facility located across from the Norton Sound Regional
Hospital, the Center will allow Behavioral Health Services (BHS) to occupy
confidential, protected space throughout the entire first floor. In addition to its
clinical offices, BHS will oversee a full continuum of care substance use treatment
center, herein known as Liitf’ik (a St. Lawrence Island Yup’ik word meaning “a place
of healing”), that will include outpatient, intensive outpatient, day treatment, and
detoxification services. The second floor will be comprised of Health Aide Training
(HAT), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and, potentially through leased space,
Public Health Nursing (PHN). All four components complement the needs of the
region: people in treatment will receive public health education and TB screening
from PHN; those in recovery have the opportunity to develop vocational skills and
possible future employment through HAT; and EMS personnel will provide support
in the detox unit.
The projected start of operations is fall of 2017. To accomplish this, it is important
for the project to be “shovel-ready” by fall of 2015. Bettisworth North in Anchorage
has completed a preliminary design of the building that has been accepted by the
NSHC Board of Directors.
To reach the fall 2015 milestone, full architectural
planning and design must be completed. The cost to complete this project
component is $1,200,000.00. Outside sources and the NSHC Board of Directors
have committed support to the planning and design, leaving an $800,000.00
funding gap.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
Army National Guard Readiness Center
The 1~297th Infantry Scout Battalion Headquarters are located in Nome. The HQ
serves approximately 30 native villages in northwest Alaska. The Alaska Army
National Guard desires to construct a new Nome Readiness Center and
Organizational Maintenance Shop to support their mission in northwest Alaska.
The City of Nome and the State of Alaska have entered into a real estate
agreement that will provide the Guard with a 40 acre parcel of City owned land for
$1/year for the facilities. The Guard has plans and specifications for a new Nome
facility based upon the same floor plan and facilities layout as the pending new
Bethel Armory. The Nome Armory construction timeline has not yet been finalized.
The existing Nome facility was constructed in 1962 and has exceeded its design
life. The organizational maintenance shop, constructed in 1979, is experiencing
progressive structural failure of its foundation and has exceeded its design life. The
facility is dramatically undersized for a Battalion Headquarters that serves
approximately 30 native villages that comprise the 1~297th Infantry (Scout) area of
operations.
The City of Nome supports the Guard’s request to be placed on the federal list for
new facilities. The Guard considers it in their best interest to construct a new facility
to meet today’s criteria and to better train our citizen soldiers. We request support
for this important regional project.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
PioneerNeterans Home Located in Nome
It has been the desire of community members for many years to develop facilities that
would allow residents of advancing age to remain in the area, near their families and
traditional and familiar surroundings. Several instances have been documented where
elders have had to move to urban centers, losing contact with their families and friends,
and in the process their zest for living. The need was long advocated for by Mr. Dan
Karmun, an Elder, when he was a member of the Alaska Commission on Aging. This
ever increasing need still exists today.
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The City of Nome received a request from Pioneer Igloo #1 for State funding of a
feasibility study of a Pioneer Home in Northwest Alaska. Since 2008, the City has
included support for the request in its legislative priorities, but believes the concept may
be more economically viable if it is combined with a facility for Veterans. The proposal
from Pioneer Igloo #1 explaining the need for a facility is attached.
A broad-based coalition of community members met to discuss potential options for the
needed facility and believe, in addition to the Pioneer-Veterans concept, an assisted
living component is also required.
The coalition of interested citizens includes representatives from the following: Pioneers
of Alaska, Norton Sound Health Corporation, Kawerak, Inc., Nome Eskimo Community,
City of Nome, Bering Straits Regional Housing Authority, Nome Community Center, and
several interested citizens who “recognize the need and want to help.”
Several studies have been conducted over the years indicating the need for such
facilities statewide to meet the needs of an ever-growing elder population. The most
recent indication locally is that at least 40 individuals qualify medically for long-term care
or an assisted living setting with another 20-30 who could benefit under the PioneerVeterans proposal.
Recommendation:
The City of Nome requests the Legislature provide funding that would allow the State to
take action to address the needs and recommendations of the Alaska Commission on
Aging, as approved in the State Plan for Services, and requests $200,000 be provided to
the community through the Department of Health & Social Services to develop a strategy
that can be implemented to meet the needs of the aging population in Nome and the
Bering Strait Region.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
P.O. Box 146
Home, Alaska 99762
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RECEWED
December12, 2007
DEC 11 2007
cm,’ o~ NOWIE
City of NDme
City Council Members
P.O. Box 281
Nome, AK 99782
CISRKSOEPARrMETd’
Dear Home City Council Members:
ThePlonests of Masks, Igloo #1 forboth the awn and women metJast nIgit and
passed a motion requesting that I wilts a letter to the Council soliciting your
support, In addIng as a priority request to the Legislature, the request for
$200,000 in pla,vikw money to build a Pioneer Home in Nome.
As you know, right now Non has lh~lted space available at Quyanna cam for
olden, as they must be Medicaid eligIble to got in. To get into either Munaqari
Senior Apartments or the Bering Strait Housing Authority Senior Center. senIors
must be either disabled, orbs low4ncorne. For many regIonal seniors this
means that seribn must live either with family members or leave th. region to
Where there is a Pioneer Home.
There are many elders In northwestern Alaska who would benefit fiom sta~4ng
within the Bedn~ Strait Region. FaNly and Mends from the villages would not
have as far to travel to see family members. Elden would have easy access to
traditional foods and entertainment Seniors who weren’t eligible for low-income
housing would have a place to live into their golden years and would not have to
leave northwestern Alaska SenIors would have access to our regional hospital
for care.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions on this reqqest and
manic yoU inadvance for considering this importaflt request of Norñe’s aenlors.
-.
“
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Bonute Hahn
President Pioneer Women’s Igloo #1
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
Support the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission
Recommendations for Implementation and Northern
Waters Task Force Recommendations
The City of Nome supports the State of Alaska’s Arctic Policy Commission
recommendations for implementation that complement US Arctic Policy. Line of efforts
include: promote economic and resource development, address the response capacity
gap, support healthy communities, and strengthen science and research.
Governance:
Ensure the State of Alaska and local communities are part of the discussion and
engagement in the development of a comprehensive US Arctic strategy, and identify
funding to implement the strategy.
Infrastructure:
Provide investment in the Arctic Infrastructure and establish a Deep Draft Arctic
Port/Place of Refuge in Nome, Alaska.
Provide NOAA Hydrographic Arctic mapping to update old charts in the Nome area.
Marine Transportation:
State and Federal agencies partner with Marine Exchange of Alaska for extending
Automatic Identification System vessel tracking, across the water of the Bering Sea and
Arctic Ocean, and provide free AlS to all users.
Ensure the USCG Bering Strait Port Access Route Study has areas to be avoided (10
miles from shore); seasonal speed restrictions designed to reduce the likelihood of ship
strikes on large cetaceans, and updates to the Coast Pilot and Charts that provide
guidance to vessel captains which help minimize their impact to marine mammals and
subsistence activities. Until the IMO adopts the Bering Strait PARS, voluntary measures
should be created.
Provide funding for support of the Arctic Waters Safety Committee. USCG Dl 7 has
been a valuable partner.
Fisheries:
Increase fisheries-related research and monitoring, and ensure that local communities
benefit from the development of fishers in the Northern Bering Strait and Arctic waters
through the CDQ program.
Research:
Gather baseline data about the environment and its dynamics, identify priorities for
Arctic research, rank and fund those projects, and continue to monitor the Arctic.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
Support for Municipal Revenue Sharing
The City of Nome commends the Governor and the Legislature for re-establishing
the Municipal Revenue Sharing Fund during the 25th Legislature. The fund calls for
$60 million a year to be distributed to communities statewide. In fiscal year 2013,
the City of Nome requests that the Governor and Legislature adopt a sustainable
revenue sharing program by annually appropriating 6 percent of natural resource
revenues to boroughs, cities and unincorporated communities.
The cost of providing local governmental services continues to escalate dramatically.
Local governments need additional state support when inflation increases,
population increases and increasing energy costs are taken into consideration.
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The resources of this State belong to all of Alaska’s people. Cities and boroughs
were formed by the State as political subdivisions and are the entities responsible for
providing local services to those people. Without adequate municipal revenue
sharing, a majority of the cost of services must be entirely on the backs of the local
taxpayers. With fuel costs increasing over the years, as well as the lack of a tax
base for smaller communities, local services are being seriously curtailed or
stopped. The sharing of state revenues is consistent with the ‘owner’ state concept,
intergovernmental cooperation and constitutional provisions which provide for
natural resource ownership by all the people of the State of Alaska.
The Municipal Revenue Sharing Program is used by the City of Nome to provide
basic and essential public services in Nome. The elimination of revenue sharing in
previous years had a significant negative impact on the ability of Nome to provide
essential services, and forced Nome to increase local taxes and fees. City of Nome
increased its sales tax rate from 4% to 5% in 2003 to make up for the eroding state
shared revenue program.
While capital funds help communities build needed infrastructure, revenue sharing is
the money that helps fund the day-to-day operation of local government. New water
systems, funded through the capital budget, will not fulfill its goals if there are no
trained operators to maintain the system, city clerks to bill for the system or muchneeded fuel to heat the governmental buildings. Cities and boroughs that must
impose large tax bills will realize less spending in the community as taxpayers
tighten their belts.
Recommendation:
Delivery of services at the local level to citizen/owners is part of annual State
responsibility to those citizen/owners for the betterment of the State of Alaska. The
City of Nome requests 6 percent of natural resource revenues be appropriated
annually to boroughs, cities, and unincorporated communities.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
Support of Transportation Infrastructure Funding
to Include Rural Alaska
The State of Alaska needs to establish a stable, state funded transportation
infrastructure fund to augment federal-aid programs and funding. Alaska is one of
very few states which do not rely upon a continuing state funded transportation
program in addition to the federal-aid highway program. Federal funds are the
primary source for construction and repair of Alaska’s highway transportation
infrastructure. Federal Highway program funds are not sufficient to meet the needs
and expectation of Alaska’s citizens because:
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The State’s transportation infrastructure is aging faster than repairs can be
made at present funding levels;
Alaska is experiencing declining road conditions. There is increased
congestion; however, pot holes and ruts are not being repaired;
Dust has become a health and safety hazard in our villages;
Many of the vessels in the Alaska Marine Highway System are approaching
the end of their useful lives;
Climate change in Alaska is resulting in damage to roads due to permafrost
thawing, and there is increased erosion from flooding;
Poor road conditions and increased congestion lead to higher accident rates;
Most rural Alaskan communities lack basic road, waterway, trail, and other
transportation infrastructures, and the funding for road maintenance.
According to the Alaska DOT/PF, State funded transportation projects would cost
less and be completed within a shorter timeline because State funded projects:
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Do not have to complete the same environmental impact assessments and
statements;
• Are not subject to 4(f) issues associated with parks, recreation and wildlife
areas;
• Various steps of a project can be implemented in parallel, such as right of
way issues being undertaken while the design is being completed (Federal
funded projects must proceed sequentially);
• Are completed faster and therefore the costs are impacted less by inflation;
• A state funded transportation project is less expensive to design and
construct, and will be completed at one to three years earlier than the same
federally funded project.
Benefits of a Transportation Infrastructure Fund are job creation, investing and
maintaining intermodal infrastructure, and creating better economic development
opportunities for the State of Alaska. The development of an energy policy and
resource development that works for Alaska requires quality transportation system
in order to be successful.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
For Nome and the Seward Peninsula, airports and ports provide the major
transportation system for the short term. Roads and railroads provide potential
systems in the longer-term analysis. The needed transportation infrastructure for
the region must be dual purpose, in that it must support import of finished goods
and export of resources (finished and raw).
Three roads of approximately 75 miles each originate in Nome. They are the Nome
Teller Highway, Nome-Council Road and the Nome-Taylor Highway. Along the
roadways are numerous subsistence camps, recreational cabins, mining
operations, historic sites, scenic viewing opportunities and wetland areas noted for
worldwide bird watching.
Tour groups, miners, subsistence patrons and residents plan on these roads being
open by late May. Underfunded Operation and Maintenance budgets have a
significant fiscal impact on the regional economy and can cause tourism revenues
to be diverted to other communities of the state.
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Recommendation:
The City of Nome requests the Governor and the Alaska State Legislature continue
funding for ongoing state and local deferred maintenance of roads through bonding
and other funding mechanisms, and that they establish a Transportation
Infrastructure Fund for Alaska or other suitable and sustainable funding mechanism
that generate at least $300 million annually to accomplish the following purposes:
improve upgrade and expand the State of Alaska’s roads and highways, airports,
port and harbors and provide funding to Alaska’s communities to build local roads
to engineering standards. We recommend that 15% of the total funding to be
allocated to the five programs each year (roads & highways, Alaska Marine
Highway, airports, ports & harbors, public transit and local roads).
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
Support of the Development of the State of Alaska’s
Renewable Energy Resources and the Continuance
and Expansion of Programs that Increase End-Use
Conservation and Energy Efficiency
The City of Nome supports the efforts of the Alaska Congressional delegation to
secure federal revenue sharing from Alaska Offshore Oil and Gas development and
urging the Alaska State Legislature to pass legislation to put the State of Alaska
share of any such revenue sharing into an Alaska Energy fund to support
community energy projects.
The federal government collects rent on leases in the Outer Continental Shelf
whether they are producing or not and collects royalties in areas where oil and gas
production is occurring and the Department of the Interior shares some of that
income with states. Currently, Alaska receives no money from oil produced
offshore.
The City of Nome supports 37.5% revenue sharing from offshore oil and gas
development as it applies to the Gulf of Mexico. The USGS estimates between 25
to 27 billion barrels of oil in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, based on this estimate
Alaska would have received $900 million from the 2008 federal off shore lease
sales for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
The City of Nome and other coastal communities are impacted by development in
the Arctic with increase in Arctic shipping and oil and gas development.
Communities are paying some of the highest energy prices in the nation, the
residents pay $6.15 a gallon for gas and $6.35 for heating fuel. The City of Nome is
working on critical energy projects to reduce prices including wind and geothermal.
The State of Alaska is supportive of receiving money from the based on offshore oil
development within their jurisdiction, and coastal communities are also supportive
of a portion of the lease money going to local governments adjacent to oil
development, where communities have been impacted by increased shipping.
The Department of Interior will have a lease sale for the Chukchi Sea in 2016 in the
Beaufort Sea in 2017.
Recommendation:
The City of Nome supports the development of the State of Alaska’s renewable
energy resources, and programs that increase conservation and energy efficiency.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
Support of the Ratification of the United Nations
Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
The City of Nome supports the ratification of the United Nations Convention of the
Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
UNCLOS permits member nations to claim an exclusive economic zone out to 200
nautical miles from shore, with an exclusive sovereign right to explore, manage,
and develop all living and non-living resources within the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ). For the US it would extend up to 600 miles beyond the Coast of Alaska,
three times the current 200 mile limit.
The Bering Strait has seen an increased in ocean vessel traffic due to the opening
of the Arctic with economic development opportunities in resource development
along with international scientific research and tourism. Marine Exchange of Alaska
started recording traffic data in 2009:
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Transits recorded through the Bering Straits
280 430 410 480 440 340
Northern Sea Route transits
0
4
34
46
71
53
Port of Nome vessel Calls
301 296 271 444 49j1 446
The State of Alaska’s Legislature passed HJR 22 in 2009 and HJR 19 in 2011
urging the United States Senate to ratify UNCLOS. Kawerak, the Alaska
Federation of Natives, The City of Nome and the Alaska Municipal League in 2011
and 2012 followed suit and passed resolutions supporting ratification of UNCLOS.
UNCLOS establishes general obligations for safeguarding the marine environment
and protecting freedom of scientific research on the high seas, and creates a legal
regime for controlling mineral resources exploitation in deep seabed areas beyond
national jurisdiction.
166 nations have ratified UNCLOS and the United States became a signatory in
1994 but has not ratified the treaty; the United States is the only Arctic Nation that
has not ratified the treaty. Other nations are conducting resource research north of
the 200 mile EEZ of the coast of Alaska that is connected to the United States
continental shelf.
Until the United States ratifies UNCLOS it may not have the authority to promote its
claims to an extended area of the continental shelf, refute the claim of authority by
other nations to exercise greater control over the Arctic, or take a permanent seat
on the International Seabed Authority Council. Until the United States ratifies
UNCLOS, the United States cannot participate in deliberations to amend provisions
of the Convention that relate to:
1150 vessels waited at Road Stead to dock, 34 had drafts deeper than -22’.
city of Name 2015 State Legislative Priorities
Support of the Ratification of the United Nations
Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
1) Mineral resources in the Arctic Ocean, 2) Conducting essential scientific
research, 3) Right of the US to the use of the seas, 4) Navigation and transit
regime, 5) Effect of the use of the seas in world economic development, and 6)
Environmental protection.
UNCLOS will not interfere with the intelligence-gathering efforts of the United States
or the navigational freedom of the United States military; and
The City of Nome requests that the Alaska Congressional Delegation and the
Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and President Obama
and his administration make it a priority to ratify UNCLOS. This will create jobs,
protect our waters and lessen dependence on other countries for oil and gas.
City of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities
LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENT
Continued Funding for PERS
Employer Contributions
The State of Alaska created the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) in
1962 to provide a retirement system for state and participating municipal
employees. Most cities and boroughs in Alaska have participated in PERS for
many years.
The City of Nome recognizes the work of the Alaska State Legislature to develop a
fair and equitable solution to the unfunded liability of the PERS/TRS system, and
understands it was never the intention to create inequitable financial damage to any
PERS member employer or negatively interfere with the current or future delivery of
any member’s services or programs.
With the application of Alaska Statute 39.35.625, employers terminating
participation of a department, group or other classification of employees in the plan
would be required to undergo a termination study, which could result in increased
costs running into many hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions for PERS
employers, and AS 39.35.625 also creates an inequitable impact on small PERS
employers versus larger PERS employers.
Recommendation;
The City of Nome recommends that AS 39.35.625 and any other similar statutes or
regulations which require termination studies be repealed.
city of Nome 2015 State Legislative Priorities