01/27/2000 01:35 PM Senate TRA

           SB 203-METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DONLEY explained that SB 203 is an Anchorage Caucus                                                                     
priority.  SB 203 is similar to legislation passed the Senate last                                                              
year but it contains a few changes.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Under federal law, communities with a population of over 50,000                                                                 
must have a municipal planning organization (MPO).  Anchorage is                                                                
the only community in Alaska to have a MPO, which is named the                                                                  
Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS).  AMATS                                                                
was created by the Governor and the Mayor of Anchorage.  Several                                                                
years later, federal law was amended and requires that MPO's be                                                                 
created by state statute.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 203 attempts to rectify this problem.  It lays the ground work                                                               
for additional federal requirements and sets up the membership                                                                  
requirements for AMATS.  Currently, AMATS has two members appointed                                                             
by the governor and three members chosen by the municipality.  This                                                             
legislation would add two members of the legislature in non-voting                                                              
positions--one Senate and one House member from that municipality.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
It is important to have legislative representation on the MPO                                                                   
because the legislature has to include MPO projects in the budget.                                                              
In the past, there has been no coordination between AMATS and the                                                               
legislature and problems have arisen.  This legislation also sets                                                               
up a time line for submitting the MPO priority list to the                                                                      
legislature--January 15.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if the Municipality of Anchorage has endorsed                                                             
this legislation.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DONLEY responded no.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if an endorsement had been requested.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DONLEY responded there had been a mixed response from the                                                               
assembly last year concerning an endorsement.  The original version                                                             
of the bill had voting legislative members, and the assembly has                                                                
not yet taken a position on legislation with non-voting legislative                                                             
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LINCOLN asked if the governor's appointments are required                                                               
to be from the municipality.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 1667                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DONLEY responded the Governor would appoint the                                                                         
Commissioners of DOTPF and DEC or their designees.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. JEFF OTTESEN, DOTPF, commented that the department is neutral                                                               
on this legislation.  DOTPF believes the early deadline for                                                                     
submitting  DOTPF's list of projects is excellent, and the bill                                                                 
seems to be flexible in adapting for future boundary changes.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PEARCE moved SB 203 out of committee with individual                                                                    
recommendations.  There being no objection, the motion carried.