Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/01/2001 08:10 AM House CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 1, 2001
8:10 a.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Overview from the Local Boundary Commission
TAPES
01-7, SIDES A & B
CALL TO ORDER
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair of the House Community and
Regional Affairs Committee called the meeting to order at 8:10
a.m.
PRESENT
Committee members present were Representatives Morgan, Meyer,
Murkowski, Scalzi, Guess, Kerttula, and Halcro.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
KEVIN WARING, Chair of the Local Boundary Commission (LBC)
briefly discussed the inception of the LBC, it's
responsibilities, and it's make up of members.
MR. WARING explained the activities of the commission during the
year 2000 and specifically discussed the approved proposals for
the incorporation of the City of Adak as a second class city;
the annexation to the City of Palmer, and the annexation to the
City of Ketchikan. Mr. Waring reviewed the consolidation
petitions before the commission and stated that for the fourth
year in a row there is not outstanding litigation of any
commission decision.
MR. WARING turned to public policy issues that the commission
raised in its report to the legislature. These issues concern:
disincentives for borough incorporation and annexation that are
impeding the development of local government in Alaska; several
ambiguities in state law that affect municipal incorporation,
boundary changes, dissolution, and reclassification; the
unintended adverse impact of the Alaska Housing Finance
Corporation's Small Communities Housing Loan Program on some
boundary proposals; the lack of common interests within the
unorganized borough, notwithstanding the constitutional
requirement for such; and proposed changes to the commission's
administrative regulations.
MR. WARING mentioned that SB 48 introduced this year by Senator
Gary Wilken would remedy the issues dealing with disincentives.
He then explained the proposed changes to the regulations of the
commission.
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER asked Mr. Waring to explain the advantages
and disadvantages of the unorganized and organized borough.
MR. WARING answered that local government is usually better
government. Organizing boroughs sometimes causes controversy
and SB 48 would help with this problem.
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER asked what the difference is between a
first and second class city.
MR. WARING explained that a first class city is responsible for
making contributions to local education. The commission is
neutral on a sales or a property tax. They suggest one or the
other to provide for services. In the Denali Borough they have
a strong tourism tax.
REPRESENTATIVE GUESS said she thought the advantages for
education was four mills.
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER asked about the length of time for the
Talkeetna request.
MR. WARING explained that the petition was submitted awhile ago
but it has been revised. The borough and local citizens have
been working together on the revision.
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI asked if the commission must have public
hearings, such as in Homer.
MR. WARING said that no public hearings are required on a
petition.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI asked about the shoreline access in
Ketchikan and if they are now trying to create the Ketchikan
Gateway Borough.
MR. WARING said that progress is being made in Ketchikan, they
are discussing consolidation and if the Shoreline Service Area
should annex. They did meet the standard, but all agreed to
wait a period of time as they look into consolidation.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI asked about the Adak reuse program.
MR. WARING stated that the reuse program is going okay.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI asked if SB 48 takes care of the
commission's concerns.
MR. WARING said it takes care of disincentives, but there is
more work to be done.
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER asked what the bed tax is in the Denali
Borough.
MR. WARING answered that it is seven percent.
REPRESENTATIVE HALCRO asked what the motive is behind the
Talkeetna desire to incorporate as a home rule city.
DAN BOCKHORST, Local Boundary Commission, Division of Community
and Business Development, Department of Community & Economic
Development, answered that it is a desire to have better local
control of services.
REPRESENTATIVE MORGAN asked how many unorganized boroughs there
are in the state.
MR. WARING answered, "one."
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked for Mr. Waring's thoughts on why
an unorganized borough should be incorporated.
MR. WARING said the commission sees different cases differently.
He said the main reason to incorporate is for the advantages of
local education.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
REPRESENTATIVE MEYER adjourned the hearing at 9:20 a.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and
after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Second
Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.
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