Rule-Making Notices (Hearing Notices)

Thursday, September 30, 2004 at 5:00 p.m.

Room 604, Green Bay City Hall

100 N. Jefferson Street

Green Bay

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Kate Fitzgerald at [phone] with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

Fiscal Estimate

This rule package amends Chapter NR45 (Natural Resources). NR45 contains the administrative regulations for the use of facilities and lands owned, acquired by easement, or leased by the Department. This chapter is reviewed and revisions proposed by Department staff on a regular basis. There are also changes as part of the rule package to NR 1, and NR 51 that have no fiscal impact.

Fee increases are being proposed for picnic shelter rentals within the Wisconsin State Park System and for camping at selected Wisconsin State Park campgrounds, based on local market conditions. The Wisconsin State Park System picnic shelters continue to generate strong demand and public use. A review of county and mid-west state park system 's current rate structure demonstrates state park shelter fees are comparatively low. This proposal includes a modest average $10 fee increase. In addition, a $5 fee is being added to the price of each shelter reservation to cover the administrative costs of processing, recording, notifying and managing the shelter reservations. The additional revenues generated by these fees will be used to support general park services consumed by visitors such as sewer, waste disposal, electricity and staff patrol.

This package also includes a request to increase camping fees at a select group of state parks. Wisconsin State Statute s. 27.01 (10) (h) states, "… the Department shall determine which state campgrounds are located in areas where local market conditions justify the establishment of higher camping fees to be charged by the Department." After a review of local market conditions fee increases for Devil's Lake, Kohler-Andrae, Mirror Lake, Peninsula, Big Bay, Willow River, Hartman Creek State Parks and Point Beach Southern Forest are justified during the prime camping season. It has been twelve years since the last base camping fee increase. Local market conditions and high customer demand, indicate that moderate camping fee increases at these eight properties are supportable.

The increased fees are needed to address the continued rising costs of providing quality agency services. Without these increases the agency would be forced to reallocate resources away from core functions and will be forced to reduce recreational and customer services currently demanded by visitors.

1. Shelter Rental Fees NR 45.12 (4) (g) -This proposal increases shelter reservation fees by

Open Picnic Shelter Rental - Increase the base shelter rate, previously $25, by $10 and incorporate $5 reservation processing fee. Assumes 15 shelters x rental season includes 44 days x 45% occupancy x base rental increase = $4,455.

Open Picnic Shelter with Electricity -- Increase the base shelter rate, previously $25, by $10 and incorporate $5 reservation processing fee. Assumes 38 shelters x rental season (includes 44 days) x 45% occupancy x base rental increase = $11,300.

Enclosed Picnic Shelter -- Increase the base shelter rate, previously $25, by $15 and incorporate $5 reservation processing fee. Assumes 2 shelters x rental season (includes 44 days) x 45% occupancy x base rental increase = $800.

Enclosed Picnic Shelter w/o electricity (less than 50 people) -- Increase the base shelter rate, previously $25, by $20 and incorporate $5 reservation processing fee. Assumes 3 shelters x rental season (includes 44 days) x 45% occupancy x base rental increase = $1,485.

Enclosed Picnic Shelter w/o electricity (more than 50 people) -- Increase the base shelter rate, previously $25, by $40 and incorporate $5 reservation processing fee. Assumes 14 shelters x rental season (includes 44 days) x 45% occupancy x base rental increase = $12,500.

Total Increased Shelter Revenue = $30540

Park Account Revenue (80%) $24,432

Forestry Account Revenue (20%) $ 6,108

2. NR 45.12 (2) (b) to increase camping fees at Devil's Lake, Kohler-Andrae, Mirror Lake, Peninsula, Big Bay, Willow River, Hartman Creek State Parks and Point Beach Southern Forest by $3 per night Memorial Day through Labor Day and on Friday and Saturday nights through October.

Assumptions: A revenue increase of $411,683 is projected for this change. The increase revenue is based upon a calculation that includes the number of camping days per season (Memorial Day through Labor Day =101 plus 8 weekend nights in September and early October for a total of 109 camping nights). The number of camper nights is then multiplied by the total number of impacted campsites (1378 and 127 sites respectively) times the average seasonal occupancy per campground, multiplied by a $3 per night fee increase.

Park Account Revenue: $379,872

Forestry Account Revenue: $31,811

Total $411,683

The proposed rule may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site: http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. Mail to Ms. Kate Fitzgerald, Bureau of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until October 15, 2004. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Ms. Fitzgerald.

Notice of Hearings

Natural Resources

Fish & Game, etc. Chs. NR 1—

[CR 04-091]

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 29.014 and 227.11, Stats., interpreting s. 29.014, Stats., the Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions to ch. NR 10, Wis. Adm. Code, relating to deer management unit population goals and boundaries. The proposed rule would modify the boundaries of Deer Management Units 35, 38, 39, 75A and 76. In addition, the rule would modify the overwinter deer populations goals for Units 3, 4, 15, 28, 29A, 61 and 74A.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to s. 227.114, Stats., it is not anticipated that the proposed rule will have an economic impact on small businesses. The Department's Small Business Regulatory Coordinator may be contacted at:
[e-mail] or by calling [phone].

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department has made a preliminary determination that this action does not involve significant adverse environmental effects and does not need an environmental analysis under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on the comments received, the Department may prepare an environmental analysis before proceeding with the proposal. This environmental review document would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and reasonable alternatives.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Department will hold an open house for one-half hour prior to each hearing. Department staff will be available to answer questions regarding the proposed rule.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the hearings will be held on:

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Bill Lazansky Community Center

13412 Hwy. 32/64, Mountain at 6:30 p.m.

Iron River Community Center

East U.S. Highway 2, Iron River at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 23, 2004

2nd Floor Conference Room

Law Enforcement Center

222 N. Beaumont

Prairie du Chien at 6:30 p.m.

Lower Level Meeting Room

Terminal Building

Rhinelander/Oneida County Airport

Airport Road off U.S. Highway 8 West

Rhinelander at 630 p.m.

Town of Brooklyn Administrative Building

400 Main Street

Brooklyn at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, September 27, 2004

Chippewa Valley Technical College

620 W. Clairemont Ave.

Eau Claire at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

UW Extension Ag Research Station

W6646 Hwy. 70 East

Spooner at 5:30 p.m.

Mercer Community Center

2648 W. Margaret Street

Mercer at 6:30 p.m.

Lower Level West Meeting Room

Rusk Co. Community Library

418 W. Corbett Avenue

Ladysmith at 6:30 p.m.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please call Kurt Thiede at [phone] with specific information on your request at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.

Fiscal Estimate

The only fiscal impact, outside of minor costs associated with updating regulations and maps, is the potential agricultural damage and associated claims and abatement costs. However, these impacts would be negligible. All of the proposed increases are 5 or less deer per square mile of deer range. Most are in northern units where there is little agriculture and the few in the southwest are going from 15 to 20 deer per sq. mi., which is similar to the populations have been in recent years.

The proposed rule may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted at the following Internet site: http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. Mail to Mr. Brad Koele, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. Comments may be submitted until September 30, 2004. Written comments whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Kurt Thiede, Bureau of Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.

Notice of Hearing

Public Instruction

[CR 04-076]

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That pursuant to ss. 119.23 (7) (am) 2. and (d) 2., (10) (a) 3., and (11), Stats., and 227.11 (2) (a), Stats., and interpreting s. 119.23 (7) and (10), Stats., the Department of Public Instruction will hold a public hearing as follows to consider the amending of ch. PI 35, relating to financial reporting requirements under the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. The hearing will be held as follows:

Date, Time and Location