Legislature(2015 - 2016)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/17/2015 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB45 | |
| SB43 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 43 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 45 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 45-PARKS & REC SERVICE AREA BOUNDARIES
3:30:00 PM
CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of SB 45.
3:30:31 PM
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
explained that SB 45 deals with an issue that is happening in
the Municipality of Anchorage. She explained that there are
sections in Anchorage that, over time, have been excluded from
taxation for the parks in the Anchorage area. She said the areas
in question have significant parks within them and residents are
essentially not contributing to the upkeep of those parks. She
specified that SB 45 is a request from the Anchorage
municipality to correct the tax exclusion oversight in the tax
structure.
3:31:54 PM
JANE CONWAY, Staff, Senator Giessel, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, provided a sectional analysis on SB 45. Section
1 amends the statute to allow a borough or unified municipality
to change boundaries of a Parks and Recreation Service Area
(PRSA) to include a subdivision or parcel that is wholly or
partially within the exterior boundaries of the service area
without voter approval. She revealed that currently there needs
to be voter approval in order to incorporate a service area that
is not currently included for taxation.
SENATOR MACKINNON asked if SB 45 requires an effective date or
if just the day the bill is signed is sufficient.
SENATOR GIESSEL replied that she will check on the need for an
effective date.
SENATOR STEDMAN stated that recognizing the dense population of
Anchorage relative to everywhere else, does the structure of SB
45 effect Fairbanks or any other populated areas.
SENATOR GIESSEL answered that Anchorage is the only municipality
that is effected by SB 45.
3:33:50 PM
SENATOR EGAN joined the committee meeting.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked how Anchorage's parks and recreation
boundary relates to the municipality's lines. He inquired if the
municipality can change its boundaries.
SENATOR GIESSEL replied that the municipality itself actually
extends to Girdwood and Portage, moving eastward to include
Eagle River and Chugiak as well.
SENATOR MACKINNON added that there is more than one PRSA in the
Municipality of Anchorage. She specified that Eagle River and
Anchorage have separate PRSAs. She said Anchorage may choose to
bond for an improvement and the folks that live in the
geographic area benefit predominantly from those, folks in Eagle
River have a PRSA and they tend to save their money and then
invest in purchasing a park. She pointed out that Anchorage has
at least two different PRSAs.
3:35:49 PM
CHAIR BISHOP asked to confirm that the map provided to the
committee shows where the current PRSA boundary is in addition
to the areas outside of the boundary.
SENATOR GIESSEL specified that the affected areas noted on the
map of Anchorage indicate where parcels will be included in the
PRSA should SB 45 be approved. She noted that the subdivision
parcels include Stuckagain Heights and an area near Chugach
State Park.
3:37:24 PM
JOHN RODDA, Director, Parks and Recreation, Municipality of
Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska, specified that the map identifies
the existing boundaries for the municipality of Anchorage. He
confirmed that Chugach/Eagle River has its own PRSA. He
specified that the PRSA boundary noted on the Anchorage map is
the border from the unification of the city and the borough that
occurred 40 years ago. He explained that the border has never
been modified or adjusted. He surmised that nobody really
thought at the time that Anchorage would grow beyond the border.
He summarized that development has occurred over the years
beyond the PRSA boundary and SB 45 moves the line to bring the
exempt parcels into a more equitable relationship with the rest
of Anchorage's taxpayers.
3:39:32 PM
SENATOR STEDMAN confirmed that Anchorage's current PRSA map
shows a dated municipal boundary that has become irrelevant due
to expansion. He summarized that SB 45 essentially is borough-
cleanup.
SENATOR GIESSEL answered correct. She specified that the way the
law is currently written, over 60 percent of the residents that
live in the area have to vote to become part of the PRSA
taxation structure. She revealed that areas that are not
included in the PRSA have parks located in their area that
nearby residents are not paying taxes for. She explained that
approximately $168 million worth of tax-valued property is not
contributing to the PRSA tax base.
SENATOR MACKINNON asked if SB 45 impacts any other service areas
in Alaska and noted that Fairbanks has fire service areas. She
inquired what specifically SB 45 allows in regards to changing
the existing boundary.
3:42:20 PM
DENNIS WHEELER, Municipal Attorney, Municipality of Anchorage,
Anchorage, Alaska, replied that the focus for SB 45 is solely on
PRSA and the bill is not meant to address other kinds of
services areas like fire or police services. He said he does not
know whether other jurisdictions in the state have a PRSA, but
other areas could take advantage of SB 45 if they had a PRSA.
He noted that addressing what occurs with existing boundaries,
SB 45 allows the local governing body to make an adjustment by
ordinance through public hearing. He explained that the process
entails the following:
· Ordinance proposed to Anchorage Assembly.
· Ordinance noticed.
· Ordinance proceeds to the affected community councils.
· Residents and councils weigh in on the proposal.
· Assembly can make adjusts that it feels is in the best
interest of the citizens.
MR. WHEELER added that SB 45 also gets rid of the dual-vote
requirement. He asserted that the dual-vote is inequitable and
explained that even if all of the residents in Anchorage voted
to include the properties to spread the tax burden, the
specified property owners have special veto powers to override
the measure. He summarized that the dual-vote is a governance
concept that goes counter to what is normally thought of as the
one person/one vote concept.
CHAIR BISHOP commented that he would like to check with the
Fairbanks North Star Borough.
SENATOR EGAN added that he would like to check with the City of
Juneau.
3:44:43 PM
CHAIR BISHOP stated that seeing no additional testifiers, public
testimony is closed. He announced that SB 45 will be held in
committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB43 Ver W.PDF |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 43 |
| SB45 Bill Version A.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |
| SB45 Parks and Rec Service Area Boundaries vsn A.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |
| SB45 Support Letter MOA 2-12-15.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |
| SB43 Fiscal Note DOTPF.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 43 |
| SB43 Fiscal Note DPS.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 43 |
| SB43 Fiscal Note DOTPF.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 43 |
| SB 43 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 43 |
| SB45 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |
| SB 45 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SCRA 2/17/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |