President's Message

December 2005

The next Kenai River Professional Guide Association (KRPGA) meeting is coming up quickly and will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 7 P.M. @ the Riverside House here in Soldotna. At the KRPGA December meeting the annual election was held to determine the four open spots on the KRPGA Board of Directors. The four spots were filled by Secretary Ray Debardeladen, Member at Large TyLand Van Lier, Member at Large Monte Roberts, and Member at Large Jerry Strieby. After the election the new KRPGA Board of Directors got together and came to an agreement that the officer positions for 2006 would remain unchanged. So, the KRPGA Board of Directors for 2006 is President Steve McClure, Vice President Mike Fenton, and Secretary Ray Debardeladen.

The Department of Natural Resources, division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, is proposing changes in Alaska Administrative Code that deals with sport fishing guides on the Kenai River. A public hearing was scheduled on December 5 from 7 – 9 pm at the Kenai River Center in Soldotna. The proposed changes are as follows.

1) Minimum age of 18 years to be able to obtain a guide license through Alaska State Parks.

2) Random Drug testing for all Kenai River Guides.

3) Valid Alaska Sport Fishing license in two prior calendar years.

4) Would not be eligible if you have been convicted of a felony in the previous five years.

5) Would not be eligible if you have more than one misdemeanor conviction involving fishing violations in the previous five years.

6) All new guides would have to take and pass the Kenai River Guide Academy course.

7) Existing Kenai River Guides would have to take and pass the Kenai River Guide Academy course. Time requirements to take the course would depend on how long one has been guiding on the Kenai River.

8) A strict enforcement on all State Park stipulations would be enacted with Kenai River Guide license being suspended from 3 to 30 days depending on the infraction. Multiple infractions could lead Alaska State Parks to revoke Kenai River Guide Permit.

9) Fees to increase for Kenai River Permits. Rental boat owners would be charged $150 per boat. Resident and non resident Kenai River Guide permit fees would increase $250 a year. Also, requirement to pay for three years at a time would go into effect. For example, a resident Kenai River Guide permit in 2005 was $500. In 2006 it would increase to $750 and you would be required to pay for the years of 2006, 2007, and 2008 at the same time. So, this spring it would cost a resident Kenai River guide $2250 to obtain their Alaska State Park Kenai River permit. If for some reason you decide not to guide on the Kenai River in 2007 or 2008 the $750 a year would be refunded if you notify State Parks before the season starts on those calendar years. No payment would be required for the Kenai River Guide permit for the years of 2007 & 2008 and then in 2009 it would be time to pay $2250 for the three years at a time once again.

Thank You to all those that showed up and testified either for or against these proposals as I believe it is important that our voice as an industry continues to be heard loud and clear at these types of meetings. The only thing that I was truly disappointed in was that not more people took the time to come to the Kenai River Working Group meetings to add input during that year long process before it came to this December 5 meeting. As of yet no announced decision has been made by Alaska State Parks regarding these proposals and it seems like time has to be slipping away in order to see these or any other changes in Kenai River Guide stipulations for the coming season of 2006. I would think that Alaska State Parks will be making a public announcement any time now one way or the other on this entire package of proposals. Stay tuned on this one.

The KRPGA Annual Christmas Party was held on December 10 and I would like to say “THANK YOU” to the Chairperson of this event, Monte Roberts. Thank You for all the time and energy that you expended to make this the smashing success of an event that it turned out to be. I know how much work that you put into this and I for one do appreciate it. Also, a list of all our sponsors for this event has been included in this newsletter and I am hopeful that each and every one of our members will take a moment to look this list over. These are the people and businesses that have shown their support of us and our industry. I hope that you will think about this the next time you are in one of these businesses and take a moment to say “Thank You” while you are there.

The Kenai/Soldotna Advisory Committee will be having their annual election on the night of January 11, 6 pm, @ the Kenai River Center. They do have multiple openings but there are no guide or commercial seats open. If anyone knows of someone that is interested in serving on the Kenai/Soldotna AC and they are not a registered fishing guide or commercial fisherperson please get them to the meeting and get their name on the ballot. Remember that a ton of anti guide proposals that were in the proposal booklet at the last Board of Fishery meeting had support from this very AC. Wouldn’t it be great if the Kenai/Soldotna AC was truly a tool that operated the way it was set up to be? Which is a totally unbiased group that looked at Fish and Game regulations and was honest in their intent of trying to improving the area fish and game for the good of all of us, the resource, and the fish and game itself? Sounds good doesn’t it? Remember it will be those that are on this Kenai/Soldotna AC after the election on January 11 that will be voting on which proposals that they will endorse at the next Board of Fisheries meetings for Cook Inlet. Which is definitely something to think about, eh?

I would like to take a moment and thank all of our members and sponsors for their support during the year of 2005. When I look back at all the events that we have been able to accomplish over the following year I fully realize that none of them would have been possible without each and everyone of you lending a helping hand somewhere along the way. Whether it was by taking a kid fishing, showing a Vet the Kenai River, donating time at the Elders Feed, teaching the kids at Johnson Lake how to use a zebco, generously giving gifts, funds, or by simply coming to a meeting and sharing your thoughts and ideas. Here’s to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2006! Thanks Again Everyone!

Agenda

1) Kenai/Soldotna Advisory committee update – Mel Erickson

2) Committee Chair Reports

3) KRSMA Update -Jeff king or Joe Connors

4) BEAR

5) Kenai Peninsula Borough Tax initiative- Joe Connors

6) Credit Card Information- First National Bank of Alaska

7) Memorial Update- Joe Hanes

Good of the Order

Adjournment