Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/04/1993 08:00 AM House STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SJR 20: DISAPPROVE PALMER BOUNDARY CHANGES Number 115 CHAIRMAN VEZEY read the title for SJR 20 and called for comment from the teleconference sites around the state. Number 135 MIKE CHRYST, PRESIDENT OF A PALMER AREA POLITICAL GROUP, testified by teleconference from Mat-su, in support of SJR 20. Mr. Chryst explained that allowing land to be annexed by the city of Palmer violated individual rights and the mind- set of the average Alaskan. Number 166 SALLY CHRYST testified by teleconference from Mat-su, in support of SJR 20. She explained that she feared fights over future annexations between the cities of Palmer and Wasilla without regard to personal property rights. Number 189 MARK CHRYSON, PRESIDENT OF THE MAT-SU ALASKAN INDEPENDENCE PARTY, testified by teleconference from Mat-Su, in support of SJR 20. Mr. Chryson did not want to see property annexed without the will of the owner. Number 218 ARNOLD HARTMAN, A 22 YEAR RESIDENT OF PALMER, testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in support of SJR 20. Mr. Hartman explained that keeping SJR 20 in committee and away from floor debate was morally wrong. He also stated annexing property against the will of the owner was a constitutional violation. Number 238 CLARENCE FURBUSH testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in support of SJR 20. He stated the desires of four other landowners wishing not to be annexed were being overshadowed by trouble surrounding Mr. Robert Bailey. He stated Mr. Bailey should be treated as a nuisance. Number 269 STEVE VANCLEVE testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in support of SJR 20. Mr. Vancleve noted hundreds of complaints had been lodged against Mr. Bailey, but said they came from a small group of people. He also noted Mr. Bailey had tried to clean up and paint his property to please other landowners. Mr. Vancleve also asked what happened to grandfather rights in the state. Number 323 WILLIAM HOPKINS testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in support of SJR 20. He stated Mr. Bailey only wanted independence, which he said was part of the Alaskan way of life. Number 337 DON HART testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in support of SJR 20. He questioned the motive of Palmer officials in annexing the property to increase surrounding property values, not to expand boundaries or development. Number 397 DAN DRYDEN testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in support of SJR 20. He stated the complaints against Mr. Bailey were wildly exaggerated, and should be evaluated in court. He stated not adopting SJR 20 would infringe on Mr. Bailey's civil rights and urged passage of the resolution. Number 448 ROBERT BAILEY testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in support of SJR 20. He made a personal appeal for the committee to move the resolution to the House floor for a full debate. Number 461 DAVE SOULAK, PALMER CITY MANAGER, testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in opposition to SJR 20. Mr. Soulak stated the property up for annexation had been declared a threat to public health, safety and welfare, and assured the committee no changes would be made overnight. He also stated the city would not try to acquire the land. Number 499 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked who Cathy Hummel was, and if her written testimony before the Local Boundary Commission (LBC), was accurate. Number 506 MR. SOULAK replied Ms. Hummel was a paid health advocate. He explained he had no idea if her testimony was good, because the city was only invited to inspect the property with Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officials if Ms. Hummel's services to Mr. Bailey were also paid for. He said the city declined the offer. Number 520 REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS asked what specific health, safety and welfare grounds the LBC reported on. Number 527 MR. SOULAK noted the large number of dogs Mr. Bailey owned posed an animal control problem in the neighborhood, and the lack of sewer and water facilities on his property. Number 548 CHAIRMAN VEZEY called for testimony from Anchorage. Number 550 DAN BROCKHURST, LOCAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION STAFF MEMBER, joined the hearing by teleconference from Anchorage. Number 556 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked Mr. Brockhurst to outline the LBC annexation process. Number 559 MR. BROCKHURST detailed the process, including the Palmer City Council vote of February, 1992, the public notice for comments in May 1992, the Committee on Regional Affairs draft report in October 1992, and the LBC hearing of November 20, 1992, in which members voted 3-2 for annexation. Number 604 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked if toxic waste studies had been done on the site. Number 608 MR. BROCKHURST stated there had been no studies done because of the stipulations placed on a DEC team visiting the site, but noted the LBC looked beyond toxic waste in determining threats to public health, safety and welfare. Number 636 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT inquired about Cathy Hummel. Number 638 MR. BROCKHURST stated Ms. Hummel was an employee of the Alaska Health Project. Number 652 JANA THRIFT testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in support of SJR 20. She stated four other property owners in the proposed annexed area disagreed with the LBC, that the LBC had discarded 10 of 11 standards for annexation in this case, that Cathy Hummel's report should be considered, and that the case belonged in court instead of the legislature. TAPE 93-25, SIDE B Number 012 MARSHA MELTON, PALMER MAYOR PRO TEM, testified by teleconference from Mat-Su in opposition to SJR 20. She asked if she might fax her testimony in, and was given permission to do so. Number 050 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked Mr. Bailey to return to the microphone and answer three questions: How large a homestead Mr. Bailey owned?; if Mr. Bailey had either junked or antique cars on his property?; and, if Mr. Bailey had entered into a lawsuit to protect himself? Number 081 MR. BAILEY answered that he owned an entire city block, or 3.5 acres; that the cars on his property could be considered antique or collectible; and, that he had no lawsuit pending. He also said he bought his property when other people began to crowd him. Number 113 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT felt SJR 20 should move from committee and MOVED for a vote to do so. SJR 20 FAILED to move on a 3-2 vote, with Representatives Olberg and Vezey voting no.
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