Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/24/2009 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| General Subject(s): Public Testimony – Hb 154 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 154 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 24, 2009
1:33 p.m.
1:33:46 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stoltze called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Hawker, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Thomas Jr., Vice-Chair
Representative Allan Austerman
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Les Gara
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Woodie Salmon
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Joanna Wassillie, White Mountain; John MacKinnon, Executive
Director, Associated General Contractors of Alaska; Tom
Bryce, Alaska District Council of Labors;
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Rick Gifford, Manager of Kodiak Island Borough; Marv Smith,
Manager, Bristol Bay Borough; Gary Hennigh, City
Administrator, King Cove; Amy Titus, City Clerk, White
Mountain; Dan Harrilson, Mayor, White Mountain; Aves
Thompson, Executive Director of Alaska Trucking Association;
Governor Bill Sheffield, Anchorage; Tony Johansen, Great
Northwest Contractor, Fairbanks; Bruce Carr, Director of
Strategic Planning, Alaska Railroad;
^GENERAL SUBJECT(S): Public Testimony - HB 154
The following overview was taken in log note format.
Handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee
through the 26th Legislative Session, contact 465-6814.
After the 26th Legislative Session they will be available
through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION
1:33:51 PM Co-Chair Indicated that the public testimony
Stoltze would only concern the DOT Surface
Transportation portion of the stimulus
bill.
1:35:09 PM JOANNA Spoke in support of the White Mountain
WASSILLIE, Public Safety Building. She
WHITE acknowledged the need for the facility
MOUNTAIN, for the White Mountain Volunteer Fire
Department, Village Public Safety
Officer and equipment. The community
has received $800,000 in Community
Development Block Grants funds that is
contingent on legislative support.
1:37:30 PM Representative Asked who gave the $800,000 in funds to
Austerman the community.
1:37:46 PM Representative Asked what the amount of the request to
Joule the legislature.
1:38:06 PM Joanna Indicated she was not sure but will get
Wassille that to the committee. She remarked the
amount could be emailed to the
committee. She related the importance
of the facility within the community.
1:40:38 PM JOHN Spoke in support of HB 154. The
MACKINNON, association represents 650 members
EXECUTIVE across the state. He urged rapid
DIRECTOR, passing of this bill to start awaiting
ASSOCIATED projects. He noted that delays keep
GENERAL projects from moving forward in
CONTRACTORS OF Alaska's short construction season. He
ALASKA, related several projects that are ready
for bid.
1:43:32 PM Vice-Chair Revealed concern that his community
Thomas will not see any stimulus projects. He
noted four projects for his community
and wanted to be assured that local
hire policies would be followed. He
wanted to know what to do to make sure
contractors hire locally.
1:44:39 PM John MacKinnon Noted that earlier higher budgets had
been good for construction and outside
bidders expressed interest. He reported
that the national stimulus money would
probably keep out-of-state contractors
working in their own states. He said
that there are those in the state
monitoring resident hire.
1:45:56 PM Vice-Chair Reported that often employment is from
Thomas out of town when locals are capable of
doing this work.
1:46:38 PM Representative Acknowledged that the state can not
Gara mandate local hire, but a contractor or
union can themselves select local hire
to compete for these jobs.
1:47:50 PM John MacKinnon Agreed with Representative Gara that
many contractors have a good record for
local hire and some do not.
1:48:32 PM Representative Stressed that a substantial amount of
Gara government money is received by
contractors and the government should
look more favorably on those who do
resident hire.
1:49:36 PM John MacKinnon Reported that his contractors do work
toward local hire.
1:50:00 PM TOM BRYCE, Asked for support for Mr. MacKinnon and
ALASKA urged support for HB 154.
DISTRICT
COUNCIL OF
LABORS,
1:51:45 PM RICK GIFFORD, Spoke in support of HB 154 and the
MANAGER OF Kodiak resurfacing project outlined by
KODIAK ISLAND DOT as shovel ready.
BOROUGH
testified via
teleconference
,
1:53:15 PM Representative Asked if the resurfacing project was a
Fairclough higher priority than the chemical
storage building.
1:53:44 PM Rick Gifford Noted that that the DOT airport project
was also important but the community
would like to see the resurfacing done.
1:54:10 PM Representative Asked for priority list of projects
Fairclough from Kodiak.
1:54:28 PM Rick Gifford Declared that road resurfacing was more
important.
1:54:40 PM Representative Thought that the airport stimulus funds
Gara were separate from road money and it
was not an either or situation.
Co-Chair Agreed that Representative Gara was
Stoltze correct.
1:55:27 PM AT EASE
1:59:35 PM RECONVENED
1:59:51 PM MARV SMITH, Spoke in support of funding for
MANAGER, expansion of the port of Bristol Bay.
BRISTOL BAY He indicated the borough has submitted
BOROUGH a request of $3.1 million for this
testified via project. He thanked the legislature of
teleconferenceearlier funding. The local community
, has contributed $1 million. The
community has also received funding
from the Denali Commission and BBDC
through local company. The community
has total commitment for this project.
The project is shovel ready and $2.8
million needed to finalize second part
of project.
2:03:45 PM GARY HENNIGH, Spoke of a program need to be added to
CITY the stimulus package. He requested $1.5
ADMINISTRATOR, million to finish a 5-year, $9 million
KING COVE local project. He noted this final
testified via phase of asphalt paving is ready to be
teleconferencecompleted. Urged support for DOT to add
, this project to the stimulus funds.
2:06:42 PM Representative Asked for clarification on the King
Austerman Cove project.
2:06:55 PM Gary Hennigh Replied this is a major overall and
upgrade of 4.5 miles of city street
system in downtown King Cove.
2:07:53 PM AMY TITUS, Spoke in support of the White Mountain
CITY CLERK, Public Safety funding. She turned over
WHITE MOUNTAIN testimony to the mayor of White
testified via Mountain.
teleconference
,
2:08:21 PM DAN HARRILSON, Spoke for support in finishing the
MAYOR, WHITE White Mountain Public Safety Building
MOUNTAIN project. He indicated that the design
testified via phase is completed and ready to go out
teleconferencefor bids. He noted that fires in the
, community could be dealt with faster
with this building and equipment.
2:10:10 PM Co-Chair Asked that information on this project
Stoltze be sent to the committee.
2:10:24 PM AVES THOMPSON, Spoke in support of funding in HB 154.
EXECUTIVE He emphasized that funding for these
DIRECTOR OF projects meets urgent transportation
ALASKA needs throughout the state. He believed
TRUCKING this would provide meaningful, well
ASSOCIATION paying jobs for Alaskans.
testified via
teleconference
2:11:51 PM GOVERNOR BILL Urged the support for funding the Port
SHEFFIELD, of Anchorage to be added to the
ANCHORAGE stimulus bill in the amount of $20
testified via million. He reported this would add
teleconferenceabout 400 jobs to the state.
,
2:13:52 PM Representative Asked about the $20 million for the
Fairclough port and wondered about the readiness
for the project to go forward this
summer.
2:14:20 PM Bill Sheffield Reported that some work is in progress
and there were other contracts that can
move forward if the money is received.
He stressed that the north end of the
port must be completed by the end of
2010.
2:15:19 PM Representative Asked if all the funding was in place
Fairclough for this years phasing to complete that
task.
2:15:33 PM Bill Sheffield Replied they do not. He indicated that
the $20 million would give them $40
million that would finish the projects
and start on other projects in the
north end.
2:16:26 PM Representative Asked again if this project was short
Fairclough $40 million to complete.
2:16:40 PM Bill Sheffield Replied yes.
2:17:03 PM TONY JOHANSEN, Spoke in support of HB 154. He reported
GREAT this money would mean work for Alaskan
NORTHWEST contractors this summer. He affirmed
CONTRACTOR, the short construction season in Alaska
FAIRBANKS and delays reduce pay checks for
testified via workers.
teleconference
,
2:20:03 PM BRUCE CARR, Reported the railroad is the only
DIRECTOR OF public transportation provider eligible
STRATEGIC to receive transportation funds in two
PLANNING, programs. He noted funds received by
ALASKA the railroad do not diminish any funds
RAILROAD received by any other transit agency in
testified via Alaska or any DOT road funds. He
teleconferenceindicated that the stimulus package
, pushed additional funds in into regular
formula programs at $25.8 million. He
reported that a list of eligible
projects will be presented to the Board
of Directors on April 1 for review and
approval.
2:24:15 PM Co-Chair Asked that the list of projects be sent
Stoltze to the co-chairs office for
distribution.
2:24:25 PM Representative Agreed that one part of money must go
Gara to the railroad. He also understood
that railroad also gets a set portion
of the federal transit money. He wanted
to know if that was correct.
2:24:54 PM Bruce Carr Replied that was not correct. He
indicated there were two different pots
of money. He indicated there are two
tiers, the bus tier and fixed guide way
tier of money. He noted the railroad is
the only one receiving the fixed guide
way money.
2:26:01 PM Representative Asked what statute requires a portion
Gara to go to the fixed guide way as opposed
to the bus tier.
2:26:19 PM Bruce Carr Replied that the railroad is in the
federal statute as a fixed guide way
railroad operator and that is how they
are funded.
2:26:35 PM Representative Asked if the fixed guide way money is
Gara national money just dedicated to
railroads, but is there any other money
being received under the stimulus bill
that is also available for other
transit projects..
2:26:54 PM Bruce Carr Indicated that the railroad was only
getting funds under the fixed guide way
tiers.
2:27:13 PM Representative Believed he understood that federal
Gara transit money was directed in a high
proportion toward the railroad.
2:27:27 PM Bruce Carr Replied that the fixed guide way tier
has two pieces to the formula;
passenger rail miles and passenger
revenue coach miles. He reported that
original determination by federal
transit administration included only
Anchorage area for counting mileage and
now entire system is eligible for the
formula money.
2:28:36 PM Representative Asked if this impacts other money
Gara available for other transit programs.
Bruce Carr Replied not in Alaska.
2:28:44 PM Co-Chair Asked that the railroad funding
Stoltze received is its entitled formula not
going to Washington DC to advocate for
a separate allotment.
2:28:56 PM Bruce Carr Noted that the stimulus package is by
formula only and distributed by FTA.
2:29:18 PM Representative Reported that his take on stimulus
Gara package is to decrease dependence on
fossil fuels. He wondered if there are
any projects to enhance commuter rail.
2:29:54 PM Bruce Carr Replied that there is a project in
Seward to idle down to electrical power
and shut down engines. He noted that
the project in Fairbanks will reduce
time to get through the terminal which
will reduce fuels and emissions. He
indicated they are looking to DEC to
apply for EPA funds to further reduce
railroad emissions.
2:31:37 PM Co-Chair Indicated that public testimony was
Stoltze closed.
2:31:49 PM Co-Chair Noted that city manager of Whittier
Hawker provided testimony for eligible
projects and he asked for a written the
report to be added to the committee
record.
2:32:30 PM Representative Noted three groups, Bristol Bay, King
Fairclough Cover, Anchorage, asked for additions
to the package and wondered if they
will qualify for consideration.
2:33:04 PM Co-Chair Indicated these projects will be
Stoltze investigated.
2:33:20 PM Representative Requested a Department of
Gara Transportation representative be
available for the next meeting on this
topic.
Co-Chair Agreed that would be a good idea.
Stoltze
2:33:40 PM Representative Asked what was the next step for this
Austerman bill.
2:33:52 PM Co-Chair Replied that the House will continue to
Stoltze work with the Senate and the bill will
then come back before the committee.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:35 PM
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