Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 17
04/05/2011 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB213 | |
| HB214 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 214 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 213 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 5, 2011
1:06 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Lance Pruitt, Vice Chair
Representative Eric Feige
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Cathy Engstrom Munoz
Representative Max Gruenberg
Representative Pete Petersen
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Peggy Wilson, Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 213
"An Act naming the pathway parallel to the section of Eagle
River Loop Road connecting Old Glenn Highway with North Parkview
Terrace Loop the Mark Hufford Trail."
- MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 214
"An Act naming the Ketchikan ferry terminal the Walter L. Kubley
Ferry Terminal."
- MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 213
SHORT TITLE: NAMING MARK HUFFORD TRAIL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) FAIRCLOUGH
03/29/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/29/11 (H) TRA
04/05/11 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 214
SHORT TITLE: WALTER L. KUBLEY FERRY TERMINAL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOHANSEN
03/29/11 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/29/11 (H) TRA
04/05/11 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 213 as prime sponsor of the
bill.
TERESA KNOWLES
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the discussion of HB 213.
ANTHONY TAMBRUN
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 213.
JOAN HUFFORD
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the discussion of HB 213.
REPRESENTATIVE KYLE JOHANSEN
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 214 as prime sponsor of the
bill.
DON KUBLEY, Captain
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 214.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:06:59 PM
VICE CHAIR LANCE PRUITT called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. Representatives Pruitt,
Feige, Petersen, Gruenberg, and Munoz, were present at the call
to order. Representatives Johnson arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
HB 213-NAMING MARK HUFFORD TRAIL
1:07:52 PM
VICE CHAIR PRUITT announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 213, "An Act naming the pathway parallel
to the section of Eagle River Loop Road connecting Old Glenn
Highway with North Parkview Terrace Loop the Mark Hufford
Trail."
1:08:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor of HB 213, stated that this bill would name a
section of Eagle River Loop Road connecting Old Glenn Highway
with North Parkview Terrace Loop the "Mark Hufford Trail". She
said she has known the Hufford family for over 20 years and his
sister was her good friend. She related that Mark Hufford
graduated from Chugiak High School in 1989. She said she shared
the sadness when her friend's brother, Mark, was injured in a
hunting accident in 1995 that left him in a wheelchair. She told
members that Mark Hufford was loved by many and appreciated by
all. He frequented the trail HB 213 would name in his honor.
She related that he competed seven times in Sadler's Alaska
Challenge wheelchair and handcycle competition. For those not
familiar with the race, she explained that the Sadler's Alaska
Challenge is arguably the world's longest and toughest
wheelchair and handcycle race in the world and the course route
is from Fairbanks to Anchorage.
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH stated that his family raised funds to
support his racing efforts. Mr. Hufford twice won the Speedy
Sourdough Award for fastest Alaskan in the Sadler's Alaska
Challenge. She related that she held conversations with her
Eagle River Parks and Recreation's Service Area, which prepared
a resolution to present for the board's approval. She offered
that John Rodda, Director, Eagle River Parks and Recreation's
Service Area, could not indicate the final action the board
would take, but he predicted the service area would strongly
support naming the trail after Mark Hufford.
1:10:50 PM
VICE CHAIR PRUITT, after first determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on HB 213. After discovering
additional people wished to testify, Vice Chair Pruitt reopened
public testimony on HB 213.
1:11:51 PM
TERESA KNOWLES stated that she is Mark Hufford's sister and it
is a real honor for their family to have HB 213 move forward.
She said that Mark was a great inspiration to so many people.
She told members she is a hairdresser and has had so many
clients and neighbors express excitement that a trail will be
named after him. She remarked that when her clients saw his
photograph in her shop they recognized Mark as someone they had
frequently seen on the trail. Rain or shine, Mark would be on
the trails and in doing so obtained some freedom from his
paralysis. She reiterated her thankfulness and expressed how
important HB 213 is to his family.
ANTHONY TAMBRUN stated that Representative Fairclough and Teresa
Knowles have already covered most of his comments. He asked to
testify in "total" support of HB 213.
1:13:39 PM
JOAN HUFFORD stated she is Mark Hufford's mother. She commented
that Representative Fairclough and Teresa Knowles, Mark's
sister, have also covered many of her points. She thanked
members for hearing this bill. She said that the Eagle River
Community supported and inspired Mark, more than they will ever
know. Mark faced many challenges with his disability and in
doing so challenged himself. During his training and races many
people would honk, wave, and encourage him to go faster. She
and her husband thanked members for hearing this bill. She also
said, "We are just totally honored, the whole family."
VICE CHAIR PRUITT, after first determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on HB 213.
1:14:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report HB 213 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 213 was reported from the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
HB 214-WALTER L. KUBLEY FERRY TERMINAL
1:15:20 PM
VICE CHAIR PRUITT announced the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 214, "An Act naming the Ketchikan ferry terminal
the Walter L. Kubley Ferry Terminal."
1:15:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KYLE JOHANSEN, Alaska State Legislature, speaking
as prime sponsor of HB 214, stated this bill could be passed out
in 45 seconds, but he asked to speak about the gentleman this
ferry terminal would be named after, Mr. Walter L. Kubley, Sr.
He noted several members on the committee were acquainted with
Mr. Kubley, Sr. When "Wally" was alive he was a legend to
anyone involved in politics in Southeast Alaska. He said, "If
you got Wally's stamp of approval that meant a lot" since he was
so well respected throughout the state. He recalled that the
legislature passed a resolution in memoriam for Mr. Walter L.
Kubley, Sr. He recapped Mr. Kubley's experience. Wally began
his community service and political career by serving on the
Ketchikan City Council for four years. He served as a
legislator for two terms representing District 1, a chief
adviser and legislature liaison to Governor Wally Hickel, a
commissioner of the Department of Commerce for Governor Keith
Miller, a commissioner on the Alaska transportation Commission,
and as the Alaskan Secretary for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. He was close personal friends with U.S. Senator
Ted Stevens, U.S. Representative Don Young, Governor Wally
Hickel, and Governor Frank Murkowski. He was one of the
"Titans" who built Alaska, he said. He said the reason he
selected naming the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) terminal
in Ketchikan after Mr. Walter L. Kubley, Sr. is because Mr.
Kubley, Sr. was a legislator at the time the first AMHS vessel
was funded.
1:18:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN emphasized that the voters approved the
bonding, and "Wally" was the lead legislator in selecting the
AMHS infrastructure, so it seems fitting to name this terminal
after Mr. Walter L. Kubley, Sr. He related a scenario in which
"Wally" telephoned after Representative Johansen's first
primary, even though Wally had strongly supported his opponent.
Mr. Kubley, Sr. talked to him about his sense of the 70 years of
Alaska's history and what it meant to be a legislator.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN stated that Wally's son, Don Kubley,
worked with him in his lobbying business. He commented that
Wally's son, Larry, who is a Vietnam Veteran, operates the
Sourdough Bar which has numerous shipwreck photos. "This means
a lot to the community. And I just wanted to put it on the
record, some of the details about what a really good man he was,
and a leader for the state," he said.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN added that he talked to the Department
of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) about the fiscal
note, which is a zero fiscal note, since the DOT&PF assured him
that any costs in naming the facility could be absorbed into
their budget Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
(DOT&PF).
VICE CHAIR PRUITT reiterated the DOT&PF advises that any costs
could be absorbed into its current budget.
1:21:55 PM
DON KUBLEY, Captain, stated he is a vessel captain and lobbyist
representing many Southeast communities. He said that his
father, Mr. Walter L. Kubley, Sr. served his country and his
state. His father withdrew from Whitman College the day after
Pearl Harbor was bombed to join the U.S. Coast Guard. His dad
later married my mom, Fern, and started a business in Ketchikan.
His dad spent ten years as a volunteer fire fighter for the
Ketchikan Volunteer Fire Department. Long before his dad ran
for the legislature, his dad lobbied during the territorial
days. Loggers would come to him and asked him to share details
on issues with the territorial legislature. His dad and Alec
Miller were the first lobbyists in the state. He characterized
the relationship between Alec Miller and his father as being
like brothers. In the territorial days Alec Miller would lobby
for Interior issues such as mining, and his father would lobby
for Southeast Alaska issues such as logging, fishing, and bars.
At the time, they were "unpaid" lobbyists. Later, after his dad
retired, Walter L. Kubley, Sr. came out of his retirement in mid
80s. At that time he had the privilege of working together with
his father as lobbyists.
1:26:32 PM
MR. KUBLEY related that his father was very excited at statehood
and was with several former governors, including Egan and Hickel
at the time Alaska became a state. He said, "He is in this
building. He was a man of few words," he said. He commended
his father. He acknowledged his father would be embarrassed but
honored by this bill. He remarked that the AMHS was important
to his father, who fought tooth and nail for the ferry system.
He noted that he and his father represented many of the
Southeast Alaska communities and the AMHS was his father's top
priority. He concluded that "Dad would just be honored. He
would be embarrassed. He would be humbled. He would say he
doesn't deserve it, but he does," he said reverently. He
thanked Representative Johansen for introducing this bill.
"From what I hear in Ketchikan the people down there are
thrilled. I just think it's a wonderful thing to do," he also
said.
VICE CHAIR PRUITT, after first determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on HB 214.
1:29:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ stated this is a very fitting honor to have
the ferry terminal, which is the "Gateway to Alaska" named after
Mr. Walter L. Kubley, Sr. She said that he was a great man.
She acknowledged that she previously has met with Mr. Kubley,
Sr. on numerous occasions, but had the honor to attend a
Salvation Army dinner with him shortly before he died. She
stated that during dinner she had a wonderful, engaging
conversation about Alaska politics. She said, "He truly was a
legend and a great man and I'm really happy to support this."
1:30:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ moved to report HB 214 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, HB 214 was reported from the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
1:30:49 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:30
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 214.pdf |
HTRA 4/5/2011 1:00:00 PM |
|
| HB 214 - Sponsor Statement.docx |
HTRA 4/5/2011 1:00:00 PM |
|
| HB0213 Ver M.pdf |
HTRA 4/5/2011 1:00:00 PM |
HB 213 |
| HB 213 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HTRA 4/5/2011 1:00:00 PM |
HB 213 |