Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/25/1993 01:40 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 25, 1993
1:40 P.M.
TAPE HFC 93 - 32, Side 1, #000 - end.
TAPE HFC 93 - 32, Side 2, #000 - #275.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Ron Larson called the meeting of the House Finance
Committee to order at 1:40 P.M.
PRESENT
Co-Chair Larson Representative Brown
Co-Chair MacLean Representative Foster
Vice-Chair Hanley Representative
Grussendorf
Representative Hoffman Representative Therriault
Representative Navarre Representative Parnell
Representative Martin was not present for the meeting.
ALSO PRESENT
C. E. Swackhammer, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public
Safety; Kenneth Bischoff, Director, Division of
Administrative Services, Department of Public Safety; Bruce
Geraghty, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Community and
Regional Affairs; Remond Henderson, Director, Division of
Administrative Service, Department of Community and Regional
Affairs; John Walsh, Deputy Director, Community and Rural
Development Division, Department of Community and Regional
Affairs.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
HB 60 FY 94 CAPITAL BUDGET
OVERVIEWS: Public Safety
Community and Regional Affairs
Co-Chair Larson provided the Committee with a letter from
the Board of Public Accountancy. [Attachment #1]. He asked
that the members review it for a future meeting.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
C.E. SWACKHAMMER, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY, introduced the Department of Public Safety (DPS) CIP
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requests.
* Motor vehicles public service enhancements request
for $235.5 thousand dollars. The components of
this request consist of:
A. Anchorage office public service enhancements
- $64.5 thousand dollars. The goal will be
achieved by the implementation of four
projects.
Lobby directional control - $7.0
Line control system - $7.5
Message signs - $28.0
Telephone system - $22.0
B. Business workflow/technology assessment -
$100.0 thousand dollars. This is a request
for funding to perform a requirement analysis
and develop a general design of how business
workflow should be approached in the future.
C. Driver improvement/AFO LAN request - $71.0
thousand dollars. These fund would provide
for the purchase of the equipment necessary
to establish a local area network and connect
to the DPS wide area network.
Co-Chair MacLean inquired as to the $220 thousand dollars
allocated last year. She pointed out it had to date not
been used.
KENNETH BISCHOFF, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, replied that a
portion of last years DMV allocations were held in a
separate section of the capital bill and needed further
review. It has recently been approved and DMV does have
plans for those funds. He continued with the Department CIP
request.
* Aircraft equipment/overhaul repairs request for
$459.8 thousand dollars. This project allows for
the yearly purchase of equipment needed to replace
worn out or obsolete equipment such as radios,
landing gear and engines on an annual schedule as
well as establish replacement dollars for aircraft
determined to be beyond economic repair. Mr.
Swackhammer noted this work would be contracted
out.
* FWP enforcement vessel repairs CIP request for
$570.4 thousand dollars. The request would
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accomplish repairs, conversions, servicing, and
maintenance for the patrol vessels Woldstad,
Trooper, Enforcer, Burton and the smaller vessels
to ensure their safe and dependable operation
during FY 94. He pointed out that experience has
shown that regular scheduled maintenance is the
most cost efficient for the State.
* Fish & Wildlife protection equipment replacement
request for $273.2 thousand dollars. The project
purchases and replaces equipment such as skiffs,
outboard motors and snow machines. All-Terrain
Vehicles and other equipment the day-to-day
enforcement activity of this division.
* Statewide law enforcement systems request for $1.8
million dollars. The capital request is a
consolidation of projects required to support
State, local and federal law enforcement and
criminal justice agencies in Alaska. The request
targets maintenance of critical law enforcement
information projects essential to:
A. Detection, identification, apprehension and
arrest of criminals;
B. Screening of criminal justice employees;
potential foster parents, school teachers,
school bus drivers and others who come into
contact with children and other protected
groups;
C. Decisions involving sentencing, probation and
parole of persons convicted of a crime;
D. Continuation of access to natural criminal
justice and motor vehicle information
networks;
E. Issuing of driver licenses, vehicle titles
and registrations;
F. Acquisition, maintenance and reporting of law
enforcement management information and
statewide crime statistics.
Mr. Bischoff provided the Committee with a handout
addressing the Alaska Public Safety Information Network.
[Attachment #2].
Co-Chair MacLean recommended that the $100.0 thousand dollar
line request for Wide Area Network Central site management
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tools be moved to the operating budget. Mr. Bischoff
replied the expenditure is a one time cost and it is
expensive. He stressed it should be kept in the capital
budget.
* Alaska State Trooper replacement equipment request
for $500.0 thousand dollars. Deputy Commissioner
Swackhammer stated the appropriation will provide
funding for the replacement of various items of
equipment needed throughout the Division of AST.
AST has historically relied upon CIP funding for
these types of replacement items due to a lack of
replacement equipment funding in the AST operating
budget. The primary purpose of this project is to
generate operating productivity and efficiency by
providing the equipment necessary for Troopers to
perform their law enforcement functions
effectively. The project provides equipment basic
to the law enforcement functions of the Troopers.
Representative Therriault questioned the $12 thousand
dollars in training cost. Deputy Commissioner Swackhammer
noted that the Fish and Wildlife section have converted
their guns to hand held pistols. The training requires
compliance with pistol policy and procedures for revolver
and semi automatics. Representative Therriault asked if the
costs could be contracted out. Mr. Swackhammer stated it
would be handled by the Department.
Representative Navarre asked how the the old guns are
disposed. Mr. Swackhammer stated they would be sold through
surplus.
Co-Chair MacLean pointed out last year the Department
requested $400 thousand dollars for semi automatic pistols.
There remains a balance in that account of $369 thousand
dollars. Mr. Bischoff stated, the bid was received February
23, 1993, at which time those funds were freed up for use.
* Fish and wildlife protection bulk fuel storage
tank replacement for $236.6 thousand dollars. Mr.
Swackhammer explained that the project would
purchase five replacement aircraft bulk fuel
storage tanks to meet new Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC), Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), and airport requirements
in Aniak, King Salmon, Bethel, Kodiak and
Soldotna. The project will also purchase the site
assessment and removal of two underground bulk
fuel storage tanks located in Kodiak.
* Training Academy equipment request for $37.0
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thousand dollars which would acquire a training
device for teaching automobile skid recovery and
control techniques. When the Academy was
originally constructed, there were plans developed
to eventually have a dedicated drivers training
area. This was never completed and recent
estimates for building such a facility are in
excess of one million dollars. Currently, a
parking lot is used for drivers training
techniques. However, it is impossible to teach
any hands-on skid control or recovery. A training
device, called a Skid-Car, has been developed that
would allow skid recovery and control techniques.
* Facilities renewal and replacement/deferred
maintenance request for $1,5 million dollars.
Deputy Commissioner Swackhammer noted the primary
purpose of this project is to provide maintenance
on state owned facilities operated by the
Department. The project provides overdue
maintenance to basic facilities utilized by the
law enforcement officers of the Department. All
of the maintenance noted is overdue and can not be
put off to future years without substantially
increasing the cost of the project as
deterioration of the facilities accelerates.
Co-Chair MacLean inquired how many phases would be necessary
to complete the DPS Headquarters in Anchorage. Mr.
Swackhammer replied that project would be completed in three
phases. He added that the building stores all criminal
histories and needs new heating and ventilating systems.
The total anticipated cost for completion would be $1.9
million dollars.
* Juneau Public Safety building code
upgrade/modifications request for $450.0 thousand
dollars. The Juneau Public Safety building was
constructed in 1970 as temporary space. The
building is still occupied by the Department of
Public Safety as its Juneau Headquarters. Because
this structure was viewed as temporary, only
minimum heating, ventilation, and rest-room
requirements were included. Conditions are
clearly substandard for long-term occupancy. This
structure is now viewed as permanent office space.
Phase 1 modifications have been made to correct
the most significant heating and ventilation
problems.
Co-Chair MacLean questioned if the Department of
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Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) could share the
expense for the handicapped access. Mr. Bischoff offered
to provide that information after consulting with DOTPF and
OMB.
* Enforcement vessel replacement request for $1.0
million dollars. Deputy Commissioner Swackhammer
concluded this project would provide for the
purchase of two new or used 50' - 58' limit seiner
class patrol vessels for commercial fisheries
patrols search and rescue missions. The vessels
would be purchased as replacements for aging and
less effective 38-foot vessels in Homer and
Ketchikan.
Co-Chair MacLean asked if one of the illegally seized
fishing boats could be used for search and rescue missions.
Mr. Swackhammer stated if a vessel was found and was in
satisfactory condition, it would be used.
Representative Hanley questioned choosing seiners for the
outside waters. He thought they were too big and slow. He
suggested using a surplus Coast Guard boat.
(Tape HFC 93-32, Side 2).
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS
BRUCE GERAGHTY, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS (DCRA), provided the Committee with a
handout, "Capital Project Description". [Attachment #3].
* Organizational Block Grants CIP request for $600.0
thousand dollars in general funds. AS 29.05.180-
190 provides that each new municipal government is
entitled to multiyear organizational grants which
are meant to defray costs of transition to a city
or borough government and to provide for interim
operation.
Co-Chair MacLean asked for detail to be provided for the
"unspecified new cities" component. Mr. Geraghty replied,
in the past, this component was addressed through the
supplemental budget. Placing it in the capital budget will
make those funds available this year, rather than waiting
for the next legislative session. Mr. Geraghty noted that
this will help in forming new boroughs and cities.
* Community Block Grants CIP request for $4.0
million dollars in federal funds. The Community
Block Grant programs are exclusively federally
funded. Each year the State must prepare plans
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for each of the programs, and submit them to the
federal agencies for approval and subsequent
funding. The plans are subject to public review
and input prior to submission to the federal
government. Funding projections are based on past
history of program funding as well as input
received from the federal agencies at the time
budgets are prepared.
JOHN WALSH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS,
noted that the Community Block Grants are for small city
developments. Most of the funds allocated in this item go
to the small communities throughout the State with the
exception of Anchorage which directly contracts with the
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office.
Co-Chair MacLean asked that a detailed list of projects be
provided to the Committee.
* DP Equipment Purchase CIP request for $600.0
thousand dollars in general fund. This line item
will replace the Department's current WANG
equipment. The request is an estimate based on a
preliminary figure received from the Department of
Administration, Division of Information Services.
DIS is in the process of providing the Department
with information which will enable the completion
required on the CP1 and CP2 forms.
REMOND HENDERSON, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS,
noted that a CP1 form could be provided. He added the DP
equipment purchase request would replace the WANG computers
in all DCRA offices. The new system will allow DCRA to save
$80 thousand dollars a year in maintenance costs on the
system.
Representative Hoffman questioned the $50 thousand dollars
operational costs. Mr. Henderson replied that cost would
include $20 thousand dollars for repairs and maintenance.
Currently, those costs are $100 thousand dollars. The
remaining $30 thousand dollars would address the
telecommunication costs. Everyone at DCRA will be using
micro computers.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:35 P.M.
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