Legislature(2009 - 2010)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/19/2009 05:00 PM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB75 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 75 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 19, 2009
5:10 p.m.
5:10:24 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 5:10 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice-Chair
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Joe Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
ALSO PRESENT
David Levy, Executive Director, Alaska Mobility Coalition;
Theresa Holt, Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special
Education; Chris Hladick, City Manager, City of Unalaska;
Shirely Marquardt, City of Unalaska
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Bill Sheffield, Former Governor; Gail Phillips, President,
Board of Directors Alaska Aviation Museum; Lynne Woods, Mat-
Su Borough; Benjamin Mills, Self; Jeff Tucker, Fire Chief
North Star Borough Fire Department, North Pole; Sue Ellen
O'Connor, Self, Mat-Su; Orin Seybert, Founder of Peninsula
Airways; Patrick Duke, Chairman, Blood Bank of Alaska;
Terrance Van Ettinger, Self, Alaska Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired; Michelle Weston, Board of Directors,
Alaska Blood Bank; Cindy Schumaker, Morris Thompson Cultural
and Visitors Center; Ron Dixon, Chair Tanana Valley Campus
Advisory Council, Fairbanks; Jerry Walker, Advisory Council
Member, Tanana Valley Campus, Fairbanks; Paul Reichardt,
Self, Fairbanks; Mary Greene, Board of Directors, Retirement
Community of Fairbanks, Fairbanks; Karen Parr, Chairman,
Board of Directors, Retirement Community of Fairbanks;
Richard UnderKofler, City of Petersburg; Judy Cordell,
AWAIC, Anchorage; Steve Hagedorn, Rebounders Booster Club,
Anchorage; Steve Nerland, Volunteer UAA, UAA Cite Council,
Anchorage; Bobbi Ramos Olson, Self/UAA, Anchorage; David
Young, Self/UAA, Anchorage; Jim Olson, self, Anchorage;
Charles Leet, Self, Palmer; Bill Klebesadel, Self, Mat-Su;
Kathy Morgan, Tok Area Umbrella Corp., Tok; John Cannon,
Alaskans with Disabilities, Mat-Su.
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
SENATE BILL NO. 75
"An Act making and amending appropriations, including
capital appropriations, supplemental appropriations,
and appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing
for an effective date."
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
5:11:12 PM DAVID LEVY, Spoke in support for the governor's
EXECUTIVE budget proposal of $800,000 in General
DIRECTOR, Funds and $300,000 in Mental Health
ALASKA Trust Funds for coordinated community
MOBILITY transportation projects. He is a member
COALITION, of the governor's taskforce on the
issue.
5:13:52 PM Senator Olson Queried the breakdown of the funding
request.
5:13:59 PM Mr. Levy Replied $800,000 in General Funds and
$300,000 in Mental Health Trust Funds.
5:14:08 PM THERESA HOLT, Spoke in support for the governor's
GOVERNOR'S budget proposal of $800,000 in General
COUNCIL ON Funds and $300,000 in Mental Health
DISABILITIES Trust Funds for coordinated community
AND SPECIAL transportation projects. She
EDUCATION, specifically cited disabled and low
income Alaskans. She shared that
transportation can be a major barrier
in the independence of disabled
Alaskans.
5:16:44 PM CHRIS HLADICK, Spoke in support of the city's Power
CITY MANAGER, House Project and made a request for
CITY OF the purchase of a new 4.4 mega watt
UNALASKA, diesel generator. His request is for $5
million dollars. His second project
funding request was for the Ballyhoo
Road Project, which had its funding
cut. He also spoke in support of a
bridge project.
5:17:41 PM SHIRELY Spoke support of the city's request for
MARQUARDT, infrastructure funding. Co-Chair
CITY OF Stedman wondered if the Ballyhoo
UNALASKA, project was already on the STIP.
5:20:07 PM Mr. Hladick Clarified that he was speaking of the
Ballyhoo road, which was not on the
STIP.
5:21:50 PM BILL Spoke in support of the Port of
SHEFFIELD, Anchorage's project request to remodel
FORMER and add to the port. The project would
GOVERNOR be funded: 50 percent federal, 25
percent state, and 25 percent municipal
revenue. He stressed that the project
needs $20 million for six years.
5:25:26 PM Co-Chair Replied that the committee would do
Stedman what it could to help.
5:25:55 PM GAIL PHILLIPS, Spoke in support for the request for
PRESIDENT, funds for the Alaskan Aviation Museum.
BOARD OF The funds would be used for energy and
DIRECTORS safety improvements.
ALASKA
AVIATION
MUSEUM
5:26:57 PM LYNNE WOODS, Spoke in support for the match of state
MAT-SU BOROUGH funds for road bonds. She felt the
funding would help to alleviate
congestion and improve road safety. The
request is for $35 million.
5:28:31 PM Co-Chair Shared that discussion to move the
Stedman projects forward are ongoing. He
wondered if the community had issued
the bonds already.
5:29:11 PM Ms. Woods Replied that the bonds will be issued
when the state match is secured.
Preliminary work has been done in
anticipation of a state match. She
thanked Senator Huggins for his support
in the matter.
5:29:56 PM BENJAMIN Spoke in support of repairing bridges
MILLS, SELF on the new and old Glenn Highways. He
expressed concern with the condition of
bridges in his area and the possibility
of flooding in his village. He spoke of
a letter he sent to Senator Huggins
addressing the matter.
5:31:58 PM Senator Assured Mr. Mills that there is a town
Huggins hall meeting scheduled in the
Anchorage/Chugiak area to discuss the
matter. He said he would provide any
necessary information Mr. Mills may
need concerning the meeting.
5:33:25 PM JEFF TUCKER, Spoke in support for capital funding to
FIRE CHIEF replace a 30 year old fire engine for
NORTH STAR the North Star Fire Department.
BOROUGH FIRE
DEPARTMENT,
NORTH POLE
5:34:24 PM SUE ELLEN Expressed support for the governor's
O'CONNOR, request for coordinated community
SELF, MAT-SU transportation funds of $300,000 Mental
Health Trust Funds and $800,000 General
Funds. She is a blind woman who uses
public transportation to get to work.
5:35:03 PM ORIN SEYBERT, Spoke in support of capital funds for
FOUNDER OF improvements in the Alaska Aviation
PENINSULA Museum. He stated that the money is
AIRWAYS needed to improve the energy efficiency
of the museum building. He stated that
museum attendance is up to 20,000
people per year. He felt that the
museum contributes greatly to the state
and needs to be preserved.
5:39:44 PM PATRICK DUKE, Spoke in support for the capital
CHAIRMAN, campaign to build a new blood bank
BLOOD BANK OF building. He stated that the board has
ALASKA committed $300,000 of its own funding
toward the building. He shared that the
bank serves the entire medical
community of the state. He shared that
collected blood must be sent to
Washington State for testing before it
can be used here in Alaska. This slows
the ability to provide blood in a
timely manner. An in-state testing
facility is necessary.
5:43:06 PM TERRANCE VAN Expressed support for the governor's
ETTINGER, request for coordinated community
SELF, ALASKA transportation funds of $300,000 from
CENTER FOR THE the Mental Health Trust and $800,000 in
BLIND AND general funds. He stated that he relied
VISUALLY on People Mover and public
IMPAIRED transportation to get to work. He
stressed that the need for solid public
transportation is necessary.
5:45:19 PM MICHELLE Urged support for blood bank facility
WESTON, BOARD expansion. She expressed the need for
OF DIRECTORS, blood to be readily available in-state.
ALASKA BLOOD She plans to personally raise $5,000
BANK for the project.
5:47:25 PM CINDY Urged support for $1 million in funding
SCHUMAKER, from the General Fund or Crew Ship
MORRIS Impact Funds for the completion of
THOMPSON exhibits within the facility. The plan
CULTURAL AND had been to fund the exhibits with
VISITORS private funds but economic times have
CENTER proven to make that impossible.
5:49:54 PM RON DIXON, Urged support for $5 million capital
CHAIR TANANA request for funding for the UAF Tanana
VALLEY CAMPUS Valley Campus Center Space
ADVISORY Revitalization Phase 4.
COUNCIL,
FAIRBANKS
5:51:16 PM JERRY WALKER, Spoke in favor of funding for the
ADVISORY renovation of the Tanana Valley Campus
COUNCIL Downtown Center.
MEMBER, TANANA
VALLEY CAMPUS,
FAIRBANKS
5:52:55 PM PAUL Spoke in support of the Raven Landing
REICHARDT, Retirement Community Center Project.
SELF, Urged support for the construction of a
FAIRBANKS senior center with the use of $1.8
million in capital funds.
5:54:47 PM MARY GREENE, Spoke in favor of the use of $1.8
BOARD OF million in capital funding for the
DIRECTORS, Raven Landing Senior Community Center.
RETIREMENT
COMMUNITY OF
FAIRBANKS,
FAIRBANKS
5:56:41 PM KAREN PARR, Spoke in favor of $1.8 million in
CHAIRMAN, capital funds to build the Raven
BOARD OF Landing Community Center. She shared
DIRECTORS, that the current community senior
RETIREMENT center in Fairbanks is limited and
COMMUNITY OF needs to be improved to support the
FAIRBANKS growing senior population.
5:59:07 PM RICHARD Spoke in favor of funding the
UNDERKOFLER, Department of Transportation 50/50
CITY OF Municipal Harbor Facility Grant
PETERSBURG Program. He felt that the state should
be matching city dollars in costal
community for city-owned harbor
maintenance.
6:01:01 PM Co-Chair Stated that there is $13 million on the
Stedman match list for those harbor projects in
coastal Alaska.
6:01:57 PM JUDY CORDELL, Spoke in favor for more funding for
AWAIC, facilities for victims of domestic
ANCHORAGE violence. She claimed that her shelter
is currently short 25 beds and has been
operating over capacity for the last
two years. $920,000 is required for
capital repairs to the building in
order to provide the services needed by
its clients.
6:04:23 PM STEVE Spoke in support for more funding to be
HAGEDORN, used for the maintenance of UAA
REBOUNDERS sporting facilities on campus. He
BOOSTER CLUB, stressed that the facilities are
ANCHORAGE falling apart and need the funding of
$65 million for repairs.
6:06:24 PM STEVE NERLAND, Spoke in favor for funding the UAA
VOLUNTEER UAA, arena. He said that the UAA facilities
UAA CITE are inadequate in supporting the
COUNCIL, growing sport needs. He asked the
ANCHORAGE committee to consider the $65 million
request.
6:08:30 PM BOBBI RAMOS Voiced support for the request of $65
OLSON, million to build the new facility at
SELF/UAA, UAA. She felt that the building would
ANCHORAGE attract out-of-state residents to
Alaska.
6:11:27 PM DAVID YOUNG, Testified in support of UAA facilities.
SELF/UAA, He emphasized that the costs for the
ANCHORAGE project would rise.
6:13:08 PM JIM OLSON, Spoke in support of UAA sports
SELF, facilities. He was concerned Anchorage
ANCHORAGE would lose people.
6:14:37 PM CHARLES LEET, Encouraged votes for bond issue in the
SELF, PALMER Mat-Su valley and for $2 million for
Trunk Road repair. He felt that this
was an important issue for safety.
6:16:27 PM Co-Chair Named several proposed projects for the
Stedman area. He mentioned that Senator Huggins
has informed the committee of the
importance of funding the projects.
6:16:47 PM BILL Encouraged support Road bond package
KLEBESADEL, for Mat-Su Borough for road upgrade and
SELF, MAT-SU repair.
6:18:22 PM KATHY MORGAN, Spoke in support of Capital
TOK AREA improvements for Tok to protect city
UMBRELLA from wildfires and boost local economy.
CORP., TOK $86,000 to remove buildings related to
firefighting. Wood pellet stoves and
wood chip boiler to save heating costs
(testimony copy on file).
6:22:14 PM AT EASE
6:26:32 PM RECONVENED
6:26:41 PM JOHN CANNON, Spoke in favor for funding for
ALASKANS WITH coordinated community transportation.
DISABILITIES, Expressed support for the governor's
MAT-SU request for community transportation
funds of $300,000and $800,000 general
funds. He felt that the high
unemployment rates among the disabled
in the state is largely due to lack of
reliable transportation. He thought
that the problem needed to be looked at
more diligently.
6:29:44 PM AT EASE
6:34:13 PM RECONVEVED
6:34:22 PM
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting
was
adjourned
at 6:34 PM.
6:35:51 PM
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