Revision: April 6, 2012, midnight
SB 217-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/21/12 1191s
03/21/12 1367s
2012 SESSION
04/03
SENATE BILL 217-FN
AN ACT relative to management of Cannon Mountain by the department of resources and economic development.
SPONSORS: Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Barnes, Jr., Dist 17; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16; Sen. Bragdon, Dist 11; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. De Blois, Dist 18; Sen. Forsythe, Dist 4; Sen. Groen, Dist 6; Sen. Lambert, Dist 13; Sen. Luther, Dist 12; Sen. Sanborn, Dist 7; Rep. Bettencourt, Rock 4; Rep. Weyler, Rock 8
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
This bill requires the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development to:
I. Develop a master plan for Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch state park including recommendations on whether or not the ski operations of Cannon Mountain should be leased to a private entity.
II. Consult with veterans service organizations in drafting a plan for the construction of a veterans’ memorial in Franconia Notch state park.
III. Develop a hiking corridor from the base of Mittersill Mountain over the summit of Mittersill Mountain to connect with the Kinsman Ridge trail at the summit of Cannon Mountain.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/21/12 1191s
03/21/12 1367s
12-2838
04/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT relative to management of Cannon Mountain by the department of resources and economic development.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Department of Resources and Economic Development; Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch Park Master Plan.
I. The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development shall develop a master plan for Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch state park. The master plan shall include measures to enhance the experience of visitors, protect the natural beauty of the park, promote access to the park, promote access for hikers, enhance the collection of revenue, and promote the establishment of a veterans’ memorial. The master plan shall include an analysis of whether it is in the public interest to lease the ski operations of Cannon Mountain to a private vendor. If the master plan recommends leasing the ski operations of Cannon Mountain, the master plan shall include the terms and conditions of any prospective lease in a manner that best protects the public interest.
II. The master plan shall be submitted to the state park system advisory council established in RSA 216-A:3-k for its recommendations prior to being submitted, along with any recommendations for proposed legislation, to the governor and council and the general court on or before July 1, 2013.
III. In addition, the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development shall develop a plan detailing measures to be undertaken to ensure that the ski operations of Cannon Mountain, including all debt obligations, will become self-funded and self-sufficient. The commissioner shall submit the plan to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor and council on or before November 1, 2012.
2 Establishment of a Veterans’ Memorial.
I. The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development shall consult with veterans service organizations who may draft a plan for construction of a veterans’ memorial in an area of the park that is accessible to the public and convenient in terms of parking and facilities. The department shall not be responsible for the cost of development of this plan but the department shall approve any plan submitted by veterans service organizations. The plan shall include details relating to a design for the memorial and the projected cost of the memorial. The department shall be responsible for the cost of landscaping the specified area for the memorial and may propose funding for landscaping in the next capital budget. All other costs for construction and operation of the memorial shall be funded through private donations. If veterans service organizations choose not to submit a plan for a veterans’ memorial or cannot raise the necessary funding, nothing in this section shall obligate the department to proceed with planning or construction of a veterans’ memorial.
II. Upon approval of the plan for the veterans’ memorial in paragraph I, the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development shall authorize volunteers to relocate the Kinsman Ridge trailhead around the site of the veterans’ memorial.
3 Department of Resources and Economic Development; Hiking Corridor on Ski Trails. The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development shall, after consulting with fish and game department, develop a hiking corridor from the base of Mittersill Mountain over the summit of Mittersill Mountain to connect with the Kinsman Ridge trail at the summit of Cannon Mountain. The department may restrict access to the hiking trail only during times the ski area is open to the public and only if restricting such access is necessary to promote safety.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
12-2838
Amended 04/05/12
SB 217 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to the management of Cannon Mountain by the department of resources and economic development.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development states this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendments #2012-1191s and #2012-1367s), will increase state expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2012 through FY 2014. There is no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures, or state, county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development states this bill requires the Department to develop a master plan for Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch state park; requires a plan for detailing how Cannon Mountain will become self-funded and self-sufficient; makes the Department responsible for the cost of landscaping the specified area for the veteran’s memorial; and develop a hiking corridor from the base of Mittersill Mountain over the summit of Mittersill Mountain to connect with the Kinsman Ridge trail at the summit of Cannon Mountain. The Department estimates it will cost $325,000 to develop a master plan for Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch state park that meets the requirements of this bill. The Department is not able to estimate the cost for completing a financial analysis and plan for the self-funding and self-sufficiency of Cannon Mountain. The Department plans to request state general funds be made available for the development of these plans, otherwise the cost for these plans would have to paid from Cannon Mountain operating or retail funds and the State Park Fund. The Department has no information on the design for a veteran’s memorial to determine landscaping costs. The Department states the cost of hardscaping and landscaping at the new Hampton Beach State Park renovation was $111,000. The Department estimates it will cost $5,000 to develop the hiking corridor from the base of Mittersill Mountain to Kinsman Ridge trail on the summit of Cannon Mountain. The Department will seek funding from the state’s capital budget to pay for the landscaping at the veteran’s memorial and the development of the hiking corridor.