The Haines Borough Assembly’s commerce committee weighed options for the future of the heliski Map Committee – including eliminating it all together – at its Jan. 19 meeting, and will bring those ideas to the full assembly.
Assemblyman and Chilkat Valley News publisher Tom Morphet submitted a draft ordinance in November to eliminate the map committee and shift its duties to the assembly.
“The way the process is now, we get something that’s distilled,” Morphet said. “I think that because the authority lies with (the assembly), that the process should lie with (the assembly).” He recommended the assembly tackle the task as a committee of the whole.
Currently, the five-member map committee works with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and borough planner to draft changes to the heliski map areas. The committee reports to the borough manager, who then brings a recommendation to the assembly.
Conflict of interest issues concerning two committee members who are heli-ski company operators bogged down the group last fall.
Morphet said if the assembly assumed the committee’s responsibilities, it would reduce conflicts of interest, cost, duplication and work for the manager. It would also better align with code because the assembly is responsible for establishing policy.
Ron Jackson, who represented the assembly on the map committee, said borough planner Holly Smith spent 60 to 80 hours at about 12 map committee meetings last year.
“We need to boil down this process, and say very respectfully to stakeholders, ‘I’m sorry, we have other stuff to do here,’” Morphet said. “It’s like the crossing guard and the early morning commuters (trying to) determine what the speed limit is going to be.”
Tourism director Leslie Ross said she thought Morphet’s proposal would lessen the public process, noting that very few topics – besides budget and taxes – bypass committees or staff and go straight to the assembly. Commerce committee member Margaret Friedenauer agreed.
Ryan Johnson of Alaska Heliskiing said there is a reason committees can be more focused and efficient. Assembly meetings can sometimes take over four hours, he said.
Lynn Canal Conservation president Eric Holle proposed a solution: the heliski industry should be responsible for following an environmental standard – that would need to be adopted. The industry would create their proposals accordingly before taking them to the map committee. He referenced a process used in British Columbia, saying the standards could incorporate Fish and Game data and serve as a “solid framework” for future changes.
Resident Thom Ely supported streamlining the process and suggested map committee responsibilities shift to the borough planning commission.
Ely also said he didn’t see a reason to revisit the process every three years. “I really don’t think we need to keep accommodating the requests of one industry, which just eats up our time and resources,” he said.
Assemblyman and commerce committee member Mike Case said, “What I selfishly wouldn’t want to see is spending a lot of time in the committee of the whole when it can more intelligently and effectively have been done by staff.”
Jackson drew a new model for map change review, with proponents working with borough staff, who would then communicate with Fish and Game and possibly the Parks and Recreation Committee, and then make a recommendation to the assembly.
Friedenauer will bring options to the assembly at a future meeting, including Morphet’s proposed ordinance, Holle’s idea for standards, Jackson’ idea for a mix of staff and existing committee work, or to keep the system as is.