LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
City Goes on Record: Keep Roadless Rule
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Assembly members passed a resolution at Tuesday night’s regular meeting stating the City and Borough of Sitka supports retaining the 2001 Roadless Rule on the Tongass National Forest.
The resolution favoring “No Action” – Alternative 1 – passed on a 5-1 vote, with Mayor Gary Paxton casting the dissenting vote and Valorie Nelson absent from the meeting.
The U.S. Forest Service’s preferred alternative – Alternative 6 – would be a complete exemption from the national roadless rule for the Tongass, opening all 9.2 million acres of inventoried roadless areas in the forest to more development such as logging and mining.
Voting in favor of the resolution were Kevin Knox, Steven Eisenbeisz, Kevin Mosher, Thor Christianson and Richard Wein.
The Assembly’s action reflected the overwhelming support of the Sitka public as expressed at public meetings with the U.S. Forest Service. Public comment will be accepted by the Forest Service through Dec. 17.
After the proposed resolution was introduced at Tuesday night’s meeting, 12 residents came forward to testify, all but one in favor.
“We very firmly support Alternative 1 – the status quo – for all the reasons you’ve heard,” said Linda Behnken, a commercial fisherman and director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. “The value of these fisheries, the value of these forests, for the visitor industry, for subsistence and commercial fishing.”
“The catchphrase I can come up with is ‘roaded is eroded,’” said another speaker, Jay Stelzenmuller.
Commercial fisherman Lance Preston, a board member of Seafood Producers Cooperative, quoted from a letter sent from SPC to the Secretary of Agriculture in favor of the No Action alternative.
“The importance of healthy intact watersheds and healthy salmon spawning habitat is paramount to the continued productivity of our fisheries.”
Preston also highlighted the importance of the fishing industry to the economy of Sitka.
“I’d like the Assembly and all of us to consider what would happen to the Sitka economy if the fisheries experienced a slow death,” he said. “I don’t think we can afford to be complacent about a very small minority seeking to exempt the roadless rule for short-term profit ... The No Action alternative, please.”
Others had similar comments, and also spoke to the value of the forest for hunting, recreation, subsistence and tourism, as well as preserving wild areas for the public.
Longtime Sitka resident Theresa Helem testified against the resolution, stating that she has studied Tongass issues for decades, and talked to a number of people. She expressed concern about Sitka’s economy and said she believes there is enough land available for a variety of industries on the Tongass.
“This Roadless Rule is going to destroy our communities,” she said. “It’s designed to stop all economic businesses ... I might travel in different groups, but I’ve talked to lots of people about this issue and I’ve heard one person that was in favor of keeping the Roadless Rule.”
Assembly members favoring the resolution cited the economic benefits to Sitka’s fishing and tourism industries and for subsistence by leaving the roadless rule in place. They also noted the widespread support for the No Action alternative from tribal governments, some Southeast municipal governments, fishing organizations and tribal governments in the Lower 48.
Knox told the Sentinel on Monday he had received 40 emails in support. The resolution says that the current Roadless Rule provides protections that “support hunting, fishing, customary and traditional uses, unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities and opportunities for business.”
The Assembly made technical amendments to the resolution on a 5-1 vote, with Paxton opposed, to clarify the city was supporting the “No Action” alternative, and stating opposition to “any exemption from the Roadless Rule.”
“It’s a major piece for why we live here, of what drives our way of life, of what drives our economy, and a big piece of why I brought it forward,” Knox said of the Roadless Rule.
Stating his intention to vote in favor, Mosher said, “I look at this from a practical standpoint only. I want to focus my energies on what I think will provide the biggest return to Sitka ... tourism and the marine service industry (including fishing). I don’t believe the wholesale exemption will bring economic development to Sitka because all the hurdles would still be present.”
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, both of Alaska’s U.S. Senators and the state’s lone U.S. Congressman are in favor of the Forest Service’s preference to remove all roadless protections from the Tongass, and Sitka’s mayor spoke in favor of that view Tuesday night.
“As you all know, our delegation is in favor of removing Alaska from the Roadless Rule,” Paxton said. “It has to do with having control of your own destiny. When you’re in this Roadless Rule our destiny is going to be decided ... by forces outside our town and state. My view is this is something that’s not constructive for our state.”
But Paxton added he has been talking to Sitka Conservation Society Director Andrew Thoms about a middle way.
“It’s a chance to try to move forward in a constructive way for multiuse in our precious forest,” the mayor said.
Thoms testified earlier in the meeting about work he has participated in over the years to ensure economic activities in the Tongass, and the many types of development – including hydroelectric projects – that are allowed under the Roadless Rule.
“This process now, of the full exemption, has become a huge distraction, is preventing us from moving things forward, accomplishing multiple use and it’s just making the Tongass in the national headlines over conflict,” he said. “It’s going to make it harder to get what we need in Sitka, from small timber sales to permits for outfitter and guides, to investments in the tourism industry, to management on the areas that have been logged.”
Work Session
Prior to the meeting the Assembly held a one-hour work session about the 2021 budget.
Paxton said the Assembly will have more to work with once the governor releases his budget on Dec. 15. He said he’s expecting the significant issues to be the city’s share of the fish tax, funding for ferries, education funding, and reimbursement for school bond debt.
“Education is going to be a challenge for all of the communities,” he said.
Other members and Interim Administrator Hugh Bevan touched on issues such as replacing major infrastructure, the cost of living in Sitka, the city’s tax structure and the need to plan for the long-term. No decisions were made, but Wein stressed the need for long-term planning.
“We can’t slip into the future,” Wein said. “That’s how a lemming thinks. We have to know where we are, we have to know where we’re going.”
In other business at Tuesday’s regular meeting the Assembly:
– proclaimed Nov. 30, 2019, as Small Business Saturday.
– approved a liquor license renewal for Bayview Pub LLC.
– watched a video created in honor of Sitka’s win of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health prize. Paxton accepted the award on behalf of the city.
– appointed Denise Ewing to the Health Needs and Human Services Commission.
– approved an ordinance to clarify the responsibilities of the Gary Paxton Industrial Park director.
– approved payment of an additional $15,000 for legal fees from outside counsel for the transfer of the utility dock at the industrial park to Hanson Maritime Co., on first reading. The Assembly already allocated $20,000 for the purpose but additional funding is needed to cover legal services, City Attorney Brian Hanson said. The city will pay the full cost of the sale, in which no cash will change hands between the city and purchaser Lee Hanson. (Brian Hanson and Lee Hanson are not related.) Wein voted against.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.