I, Tony Knowles, Governor of the State of Alaska, under the authority granted by art. III of the Alaska Constitution, establish the Governor’s Trails and Recreational Access for Alaska Citizens’ Advisory Board (TRAAK Board). The members of the TRAAK Board will be appointed by the Governor to serve as the state trails and recreational access advisory board for purposes of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (P.L. 88-578), the National Recreational Trails Fund Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-328) (Symms), and the Governor’s Trails and Recreational Access for Alaska program (TRAAK), an initiative funded by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-240) and by other available funding sources.
DUTIES AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE TRAAK BOARD
1. The purpose of the TRRAK Board is to facilitate the review, evaluation, and prioritization of eligible outdoor recreation projects for financing under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and the National Recreational Trails Act Fund (Symms); and to nominate, review, and comment on TRAAK projects during the public processes of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT/PF), the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and other agencies.
TRAAK projects will include: trails that safely tie neighborhoods, parks, and commercial areas together and highway projects that incorporate bike and pedestrian trails, trail heads, pull outs, picnic areas, and basic services such as garbage and sanitation facilities and rest stops. The goals of the TRAAK program are to improve trails and recreational access for Alaskans, the coordination of state agencies to cooperate with federal agencies to develop new and better opportunities for trails and recreational access on public land, and to help Alaska build and maintain our role as a world class visitor destination.
2. Under the LWCF and Symms, the TRAAK Board shall (a) coordinate public notification, application assistance, and review to ensure that all potentially eligible applicants have a fair opportunity to participate in grant financing under the LWCF and Symms programs; (b) apply the LWCF and Symms program criteria to projects based on the relative need for trail maintenance, park land acquisition, and outdoor recreation development, as identified in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan; (c) provide information and coordinate public participation in the project selection process under the LWCF and Symms programs; (d) recommend a final ranking of projects for funding under the LWCF and Symms programs to the state liaison officer in the DNR, division of parks and outdoor recreation; and (e) recognize that the LWCF and Symms are different programs, and that federal appropriations under these programs must remain separate. The TRAAK Board shall advise the Governor and the state liaison officer on issues relating to the implementation of the LWCF and Symms programs.
In addition to its duties under LWCF and Symms, the TRAAK Board also may (a) advise the state on trails and recreational access needs and review, comment, and evaluate the development of any statewide trails plan; (b) review, comment, and evaluate nominations of TRAAK projects and projects with TRAAK components Projects, and nominate projects; (c) review and comment on the statewide needs list, the statewide improvement plan, and the statewide trails plan for projects; (d) review and comment on whether the final design of proposed projects adequately address public concerns and if not, advise the Governor of its conclusions; (e) sponsor community round tables on TRAAK projects; (f) provide advice and comment upon the criteria used to rank, score, or select projects; (g) advise the Governor on methods to improve agency coordination and outreach to the public; (h) review and comment upon TRAAK projects for promotion; and (i) in all review and evaluation functions, consider the need and opportunity for on-going maintenance.
3. Section 1302(c)(2)(A) of Symms requires that TRAAK Board membership include representation by both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail users. Chapter 660.4, paragraph 3(g), of the LWCF grants manual requires that TRAAK Board membership include representation of minorities to the extent that such representation reasonably reflects the ratio of the minority to the non-minority population of the state. The intent of both programs will be met with the board appointments made under this administrative order.
4. The TRAAK Board will be composed of at least eleven (11) members, with at least nine (9) members from the public with statewide representation, including representation from non-motorized and motorized users of trails, minorities; and disabled users of trails. One representative from the DOT/PF and one representative from the DNR shall serve as ex officio non-voting members of the TRAAK Board, and shall serve as staff for the TRAAK Board. The DOTIPF representative shall serve as lead staff to the TRAAK Board. Public members of the TRAAK Board must have experience and knowledge with trails and recreational access as well as statewide interest in these issues. Members of the TRAAK Board will be appointed by the Governor, and will serve for staggered terms of three years at the pleasure of the Governor; however, the initial appointment of those members may be for terms less than three years so that the terms of approximately one-third of the TRAAK Board expire each year.
The TRAAK Board may invite non-voting participation from representatives from the United States National Park Service, the United States Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, or other government agencies as appropriate.
5. The TRAAK Board may set operating procedures, elect officers, and establish standing committees as it considers appropriate.
- Meetings of the TRAAK Board must be open to the public and must be preceded by reasonable public notice.
- A quorum of the lull TRAAK Board consists of one more than one-half of the public membership of the board. At least one appointed member representing motorized trail users and one appointed member representing non-motorized trail users must be present during the review, evaluation, and prioritization of Symms trails projects.
- Members of the TRAAK Board are not entitled to receive compensation for service on the TRAAK Board, but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized by law for boards and commissions.
6. The DNR and the DOT/PF shall provide professional, technical, and clerical staff assistance to support the activities of the TRAAK Board.
7. DOT/PF, DNR, and appropriate state agencies shall provide the TRAAK Board with public notices issued by that agency in regard to a TRAAK project during its planning, design, or construction.
8. Administrative Order No.136, dated May 13, 1993, is hereby revoked.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
The DNR is responsible for general statewide implementation, administration, compliance, and fiscal oversight of all LWCF and Symms programs in Alaska and the DOT/PP has the same responsibilities for TRAAK.
This Order takes effect immediately.
DATED at Juneau , Alaska, this 14 day of February, 1996.
By: S/S Tony Knowles
Tony Knowles
Governor
