01/31/2005 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB14 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
January 31, 2005
1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Thomas Wagoner
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Albert Kookesh
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 14
"An Act relating to municipal initiative and referendum
elections."
MOVED SB 14 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 14
SHORT TITLE: MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS G
01/11/05 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 12/30/04
01/11/05 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/11/05 (S) CRA
01/26/05 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
01/26/05 (S) Heard & Held
01/26/05 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
WITNESS REGISTER
Linda Murphy, Clerk
Kenai Peninsula Borough
144 North Binkley Street
Soldotna, AK 99669
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 14
Mona Lisa Drexler, Clerk
Fairbanks North Star Borough
PO Box 71267
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 14
Bonnie Williams, Legislative Liaison
Fairbanks North Star Borough
PO Box 71267
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 14
Kathy Wasserman, Policy and Program Coordinator
Alaska Municipal League
217 Second Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in support of SB 14
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:31:39 PM.
Present were Senators Stedman, Kookesh, Ellis and Chair Gary
Stevens. Senator Wagoner arrived momentarily.
SB 14-MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
CHAIR GARY STEVENS announced the first order of business to come
before the committee was SB 14. He explained that the bill gives
local municipalities an option when there is a referendum or
initiative to hold the election at the time of a regularly
scheduled election if the issue isn't urgent or to hold a
special election if the issue is timely.
1:32:35 PM
The bill would avoid costly special elections that frequently
result in low voter turnout. He reported the bill has wide
support from municipalities and communities across the state.
He noted supporting letters in members' packets from City and
Borough municipal clerk, Laurie Sica, and from Wrangell.
He asked Linda Murphy whether she had anything to add to her
previous testimony.
1:33:25 PM
LINDA MURPHY, Kenai Peninsula Borough clerk, said she had no
additional comments, but she was concerned with Senator
Wagoner's proposed amendment. She asked that he introduce a
separate bill so that each issue could be argued on its own
merit. She said the proposed amendment is sure to be
controversial and the Kenai Peninsula Borough would be opposed
to it.
1:34:19 PM
SENATOR WAGONER announced that he wouldn't introduce an
amendment at this time and furthermore he hadn't found too many
clerks that even understand what his amendment would have been
or how the process works.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked Ms. Drexler whether she had anything to
add to her previous testimony.
1:35:08 PM
MONA LISA DREXLER, Fairbanks North Star Borough clerk, said she
had no additional testimony, but she wanted to clarify that a
special election in the Fairbanks North Star Borough costs
between $60,000-$66,000 rather than $30,000 as was stated at the
previous hearing.
With regard to Senator Wagoner's proposal, she said she respects
his right to introduce any legislation dealing with any area of
state law, but she respectfully requests he so in a separate
bill.
1:36:51 PM
MS. DREXLER reported that her borough saw a 49.9 percent all
time high voter turnout in 1982 during a regular election. At
issue was hours of sale for alcoholic beverages. The National
Voter Registration Act (NVRA) has made it difficult for
municipalities to get higher turnouts and this is particularly
true for boroughs with a transient population such as military
bases. The presidential election is the only election that it's
been possible to attain a 60 percent voter turnout.
1:38:01 PM
SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER told Ms. Drexler that the municipal
clerks' representative should stop by his office because they
obviously don't understand what his proposed amendment would
have done. It has nothing to do with a 60 percent vote at the
time of the election, he asserted.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS restated for the record that the matter
before the committee was SB 14 and there was no amendment. He
asked that discussion be limited to the original bill.
1:39:23 PM
BONNIE WILLIAMS identified herself as the legislative liaison
for the Fairbanks North Star Borough. She said the issue was of
great concern last year and they would like it to pass this
year. It's straightforward and simple and assumes that municipal
assemblies will have the best interest of their community in
mind.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS thanks Ms. Williams for her comments and for
the work done by the clerk's office.
1:40:23 PM
KATHY WASSERMAN, Alaska Municipal League representative, spoke
in support of SB 14. "The bill allows for public participation
and process while yet being mindful of the costs that are
incurred with special elections," she said.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS noted there was no additional testimony and
asked for a motion.
1:41:26 PM
SENATOR WAGONER motioned to move SB 14 from committee with two
attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations. There
being no objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Gary Stevens adjourned the meeting at 1:41:53 PM.
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