Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/19/2013 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB18 | |
| Department Overview: Alaska Court System | |
| Department Overview: Department of Public Safety | |
| Department Overview: Department of Law | |
| Department Overview: Department of Corrections | |
| Department Overview: University of Alaska | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 19, 2013
9:02 a.m.
9:02:19 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Meyer called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Senator Pete Kelly, Co-Chair
Senator Anna Fairclough, Vice-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
ALSO PRESENT
Doug Wooliver, Deputy Administrative Director, Alaska Court
System; Joseph Masters, Commissioner, Department of Public
Safety; Richard Svobodny, Deputy Attorney General, Criminal
Division, Department of Law; Leslie Houston, Deputy
Commissioner, Department of Corrections; Patrick Gamble,
President, University of Alaska; Michelle Rizk, Associate
Vice President, Statewide Planning and Budget, University
of Alaska
SUMMARY
SB 18 BUDGET: CAPITAL
SB 18 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEWS:
ALASKA COURT SYSTEM
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENT OF LAW
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
SENATE BILL NO. 18
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations and other appropriations; making
appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for
an effective date."
9:03:32 AM
^DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW: ALASKA COURT SYSTEM
9:03:32 AM
DOUG WOOLIVER, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COURT
SYSTEM, (COURT) discussed the PowerPoint, "Alaska Court
System, Senate Finance Capital Projects Overview" (copy on
file).
Mr. Wooliver discussed slide 2, "SB 18 Court Projects -
$16,718,600."
-Anchorage Campus Court Renovation
-Electronic Filing/Records Management System
-Juneau Superior Court Remodel
-Court Security Projects
-Deferred Maintenance Projects
Mr. Wooliver looked at slide 3, "Anchorage Campus Court
Renovation - 413152."
-$6.1 million: complete seven-year remodel of the
Boney Courthouse; extend useful life: minimum 20 years
-Nesbett Courthouse: full to capacity when opened in
1996
-Growth in trial court operations necessitated remodel
Mr. Wooliver discussed slide 4, "Anchorage Campus Court
Renovation - 413152 (cont.)."
-Secure prisoner transport
-Construction of holding cells
-Additional courtrooms
-Court proceedings on Saturdays
-Seismic structural upgrades
Mr. Wooliver highlighted slide 5, "Anchorage Campus Court
Renovation - 413152 (cont.)."
-Additional $8.32 million needed for Nesbett Remodel
-Additional courtroom and hearing room
-Accommodate large juries
-Relocate Probate Department and Children's Court from
Boney to Nesbett
Mr. Wooliver discussed slide 6, "Electronic Filing/Records
Management System - 52410"
-$5.9 million for second phase of multi-year project
-Electronic transmission of documents with goal of
moving to "paperless"
-Electronic exchange of data between justice agencies
(Law, DPS, Munis, Cities)
-Improved justice system efficiencies and potential
cost savings
9:08:38 AM
Mr. Wooliver looked at slide 7, "Juneau Superior Court
Remodel - 57097."
-$998,600 - Addition of courtroom and grand jury
hearing room
-Current hearing room too small to accommodate grand
jury
-Second highest superior court filings per superior
court judge
-Increase operational efficiency and reduce delays in
cases and hearings
Mr. Wooliver discussed slide 8, "Court Security Projects -
47151."
-SB 18 includes $1.3 million of the $5.1 million
requested - statewide, multi-year project
-Physical security for public, judges, staff, jurors,
and others court users
-Integrate security operations and technology with the
architecture
Mr. Wooliver highlighted slide 9, "Court Security Projects
(cont.) - 47151."
-Access control and physical barriers
-Badging systems, screening equipment, single point of
entry, cameras
-Segregated prisoner delivery paths and elevators and
security fencing around court perimeters
-Ballistic shielding for judicial benches and clerks'
counters
-Duress alarms, surveillance systems, and holding
cells
9:11:27 AM
Co-Chair Meyer wondered if the Anchorage Campus Court
Renovation was contained in the governor's request. Mr.
Wooliver replied that $6.1 million was requested by the
governor, and would finish the remodel for the Boney
Courthouse. He furthered the $8.3 million for the Nesbit
Courthouse was not included, because the courtrooms needed
to be converted into larger courtrooms.
Mr. Wooliver looked at slide 12, "Court Projects not
included in SB18."
-Statewide Remodel Projects
-Replace Worn Furnishings and Repair Specialized -
Finishes in Public Use Spaces
-Statewide Building Code and Energy Upgrade for Court
-Buildings
-Conversion of Audio Records to Digital Format - Phase
I
Mr. Wooliver discussed slide 13, "Statewide Remodeling
Projects."
-Increased staff efficiency and improved access for
the public
-Reconstruct judicial benches for new technology
-Video link to reduce cost of prisoner Transport
Mr. Wooliver looked at slide 14, "Replace Worn Furnishings
and Specialized Finishes in Public Use Spaces."
-Upgrades and repairs for jury rooms, customer service
areas, courtrooms, and libraries
-Furnishings worn, damaged, and uncomfortable
-Finishes unsafe, unsightly, and losing structural
integrity
Mr. Wooliver discussed slide 15, "Statewide Building Code
and Energy Upgrade for Court Buildings."
-Earthquake bracing
-Energy efficient light fixtures
-Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliant doors
-Other miscellaneous upgrades for code and ADA
compliance
Mr. Wooliver highlighted slide 16, "Conversion of Audio
Records to Digital Format - Phase I."
-Preserve original electronic court records
-Degradation of media (cassette tapes)
-Transfer media to server
9:14:34 AM
Co-Chair Meyer wondered if the proposed additional items
were necessary. He felt that if the governor could not be
convinced, he hoped that the committee could be convinced
of their necessity. Mr. Wooliver agreed to provide
convincing information to the committee.
^DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
9:15:53 AM
JOSEPH MASTERS, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
(DPS) displayed the PowerPoint, "Department of Public
Safety, Capital Budget Overview" (copy on file).
Commissioner Masters discussed slide 2, "FY 14 Capital
Budget."
Modest capital budget request
$6,982,000 total funds includes
-$5,782,000 of general funds
-$1,200,000 of federal authorization
Commissioner Masters looked at slide 3, "Aircraft and
Vessel Repair and Maintenance."
Annual request
$1,800,000 GF to support repair and maintenance of:
-43 aircraft statewide valued at over $21.7
million
-39 large vessels statewide valued at over $19
million
-68 smaller vessels statewide valued at over $1
million
Commissioner Masters highlighted slide 4, "Alaska State
Troopers Law Enforcement Equipment."
-Annual request
-$400,000 GF to purchase new and replacement equipment
-Vehicle equipment (radar units and accident
instrumentation)
-All-terrain vehicles and snow machines
-Firearms
-Digital cameras, recorders, computer equipment
Commissioner Masters discussed slide 5, "Alaska Wildlife
Troopers Law Enforcement Equipment."
-Annual request
-$400,000 GF to purchase new and replacement equipment
-Radar and GPS units
-Boats, all-terrain vehicles and snow machines
-Outboard motors and trailers
-Firearms
-Digital cameras, recorders, computer equipment
Commissioner Masters looked at slide 6, "Village Public
Safety Officer Equipment."
-Annual request
-$400,000 GF to purchase new and replacement equipment
for existing VPSOs
-Snow machines and all-terrain vehicles
-Tasers and uniforms
9:20:09 AM
Co-Chair Meyer queried the difference between a Taser and a
stun gun. Commissioner Masters replied that "Taser" was the
brand of stun gun that DPS was using.
Co-Chair Meyer wondered if DPS had an adequate number of
Tasers. Commissioner Masters responded that DPS currently
issued a number of Tasers to VPSOs and State Troopers. He
stressed that Tasers had a lifespan, and therefore needed
to be upgraded on a regular basis.
Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered how Tasers were recycled:
were they put back on the market, or destroyed.
Commissioner Masters believed that the Tasers were turned
into the manufactures when they expire.
Senator Bishop looked at item 45300, and wondered if the
radar guns for the wildlife safety officers were used for
traffic monitoring. Commissioner Masters responded that
some wildlife safety officers were assigned to some traffic
enforcement.
Senator Bishop noted that DPS had 68 small vessels under 20
feet, and wondered if any of the wildlife troopers used the
small vessels. Commissioner Masters replied that the
wildlife troopers used the small vessels, but those small
vessels did not include the safety equipment that was
attached to the large vessels. He furthered that funds were
utilized for major repairs for the vessels.
Vice-Chair Fairclough felt that there were many items in
the bill that should have been included in the Operating
Budget.
Senator Olson stressed that the weapons had a limited shelf
life, and wondered why the requests were not a part of the
Operating Budget. Commissioner Masters responded that the
items had historically been in the capital budget.
Senator Olson felt that the DPS equipment requests were not
commonly a part of the Capital Budget.
Co-Chair Meyer felt that the requests should be properly
organized between the Capital Budget and the Operating
Budget.
9:26:32 AM
Commissioner Masters discussed slide 7, "New APSIN
Transitional Contract Support."
-$975,000 GF one time request
-Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) is
critical law enforcement information database
-July 2013 production of server based system to
replace mainframe based system
-Transitional year from contractor to department staff
Commissioner Masters looked at slide 8, "Bethel Public
Safety Hangar Repair and Renovation."
-Phased request of $300,000 GF
-30 year old hangar with 10,000 square feet
-Storage of 4 DPS aircraft and 2 Civil Air Patrol
aircraft
-Electrical, mechanical, heating and energy repairs
based on 2011 engineers report
Commissioner Masters displayed slide 9, "Marine Fisheries
Patrol Improvements."
-Annual request of $1,200,000 federal authorization
from NOAA
-Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA) with National
Marine Fisheries Service
-Equipment and support of Alaska Wildlife Troopers in
coastal communities
Commissioner Masters discussed slide 10, "Alaska Wildlife
Troopers Enforcement Activities."
-One-time request of $200,000 of criminal fines from
the Fish and Game fund
-Support marine enforcement program with surveillance
platforms and equipment
-Criminal restitution funds from P/V Pavloff case
-Supported by Fish and Game
Commissioner Masters looked at slide 11, "Deferred
Maintenance, Renewal, Repair and Equipment."
-Annual request of $1,307,000 GF
-Over 160 facilities in 66 locations
-Over $6 million backlog in deferred maintenance
projects
-Electrical, mechanical, energy and security projects
-Four allocations listed on next page
Commissioner Masters displayed slide 12, "Deferred
Maintenance, Renewal, Repair and Equipment - Allocations."
-Fairbanks detachment repair and maintenance $225,000
- security improvements and public restrooms
-Sitka training academy energy upgrades $225,000 -
energy and lighting improvements
-Rural trooper housing repair and improvements 225,000
- siding/window replacement and security improvements
-Statewide facilities deferred maintenance $632,000 -
emergency generators, security and
electrical/mechanical repairs
9:31:54 AM
Co-Chair Meyer stated that that he was the chairman of the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(DCCED) subcommittee. He stated that there was an increment
of the transfer of the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board
from DPS to DCCED, so there should be a corresponding
savings in DPS. He understood that it was an Operating
Budget item, so he would save that issue until that
discussion.
Vice-Chair Fairclough referred to slide 7, and commented
that the federal government collected statistical
information from states when they issue murder and other
crime statistics. She queried the name of that system.
Commissioner Masters responded that it was the Uniform
Crime Reporting (UCR) system, which was an index of
selected major crimes that allowed for states to access
crime rate statistics in specific areas.
Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered if the $975,000 was
affecting the system in how Alaska reports to the UCR.
Commissioner Masters replied that it would not affect UCR
reporting, but it would affect Alaska's ability to
interface with the new records manage system to
automatically report.
Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered if DPS was hand reporting or
digitally transmitting information for the UCR codes.
Commissioner Masters replied that DPS was hand verifying
the reported information delivered to DPS by the various
police agencies across the state.
Vice-Chair Fairclough remarked that she worked at Standing
Together Against Rape (STAR), and had consistently asked
why the State of Alaska did not digitize and standardize
the way that data and information was collected. She felt
that Alaska needed its own way of digitizing reporting,
because the UCR only used the most extreme crime; other
associated crimes would not be a part of the UCR.
Commissioner Masters
9:36:28 AM
Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered if and when the system could
be more comprehensive and cost effective. She stressed that
she had been working on the issue for more than a decade.
She stressed the importance of local law enforcement
agencies partnering with the State system, in order to
electronically transmit the information to the national
system. Commissioner Masters responded DPS could and will
adapt to a system that was more cost effective that may
provide services to the local law enforcement agencies at
low or no cost. He furthered that there could also be
imputative measures of withholding state grants from those
agencies that do not participate in a data collection
system.
Co-Chair Meyer agreed with Vice-Chair Fairclough's
concerns, specifically related to procurement. He stressed
the importance of being electronically compatible. He felt
that a universal electronic system should be a goal for DPS
and all law enforcement agencies across the state.
Commissioner Masters shared that DPS was re-constituting
the Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board, in order
to discuss information sharing data systems and uniform
platforms to share data.
Vice-Chair Fairclough expressed appreciation for
Commissioner Masters's leadership.
Co-Chair Meyer would like to see a centralized effort to
streamline data sharing, while also understanding the cost
of such upgrades.
^DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF LAW
9:40:33 AM
RICHARD SVOBODNY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, CRIMINAL
DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LAW, (DOL) explained that he did
not provide a PowerPoint presentation because DOL only had
two items in the capital budget that were related to
technology.
RN 56509
Electronic Data Sharing
$400,000
Mr. Svobodny explained that this project will implement an
electronic data sharing system to interface with other
criminal justice entities within the State of Alaska. This
system will allow for the efficient transfer of criminal
justice data between multiple agencies, including the
Department of Law, the Alaska Court System, the Department
of Public Safety, the Department of Revenue, the Department
of Health & Social Services and the Department of
Administration. This supports the Governor's priorities by
facilitating Law's mission of public protection and
successfully prosecuting both civil and criminal matters
via the efficient sharing of data between multiple criminal
justice minded entities.
RN 56972
New Case Management System
$1,800,000
Mr. Svobodny stated that this project will allow the
Department of Law to acquire and implement a new criminal
case management system. This is a full system replacement
to be provided by a third party vendor. The current system
needs to be replaced because vendors no longer support the
underlying infrastructure. Should the current case
management system fail, it would significantly impact the
department's ability to efficiently prosecute cases. This
project supports the Governor's priorities by facilitating
the department's mission of public protection and
successfully prosecuting criminal matters, e.g., sexual
assault and family violence cases.
^DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
9:49:15 AM
LESLIE HOUSTON, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS, (DOC) highlighted the capital requests for
DOC.
RN 50675
Regional and Community Jails Repairs, Renovations and
Equipment
$225,000
Ms. Houston explained that this project provides essential
safety and security repairs, renovation, and equipment for
15 local government jails under contract with the State of
Alaska, Department of Corrections. These jails require
repairs and modifications to continue operations in support
of the Department of Correction's mission to provide secure
offender confinement, thus enhancing community safety.
RN 45637
Annual Facilities Maintenance and Repairs
$1,000,000
Ms. Houston stated that this project provides renewal,
replacement, renovation, remodeling, and repair of
essential electrical, mechanical, roofing, walls, fire and
life safety, security, structural, food service, pavement
and site drainage systems at all correctional facilities.
This work is required to enable continued secure and
efficient operation of the 24-hour incarceration facilities
in order to keep the community safe from offenders placed
in the department's custody.
9:49:40 AM
RN 49376
Deferred Maintenance, Renewal, Repair and Equipment
$4,840,000
Ms. Houston explained that this project provides critical
maintenance for 117 state-owned buildings. It will address
deferred maintenance requirements for electrical,
mechanical, roofing, walls, safety, security, structural,
pavement and site drainage systems. This work is required
to enable continued secure and efficient operation of the
24-hour incarceration facilities in order to keep the
communities safe from offenders placed in the department's
custody.
Co-Chair Meyer wondered if there were any current budget
items related to the Goose Creek Prison. Ms. Houston
responded that there were no current budget requests for
Goose Creek.
Vice-Chair Fairclough wondered if the transaction was
complete to increase the perimeter of the land by Highland
Correctional Center. Ms. Houston replied that the project
was almost complete. She furthered that January, 29, 2013;
the Anchorage Assembly had a unanimous vote that approved
the transaction. She stated that DOC was currently waiting
for snow and ice to melt in order to locate the survey
markers to conduct the appraisal.
Senator Olson queried the status of the holding facility or
jail in Kotzebue. Ms. Houston responded that Kotzebue had
maintained their contract through the fiscal year. She
furthered that there was an item in the Operating Budget,
which was phase two to complete the project. She stated
that DOC had allocated money to make all the community
jails whole in their requests and expenditures. She
explained that DOC wanted to enter a five year contract
with the jails with one year option to renew, with a
consumer price index for the areas to keep up with the cost
of living increases.
^DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
9:53:21 AM
PATRICK GAMBLE, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, (UA)
discussed University of Alaska FY 14 Capital Budget Request
Summary, UA Board of Regents' compared to Governor's
Proposed" (copy on file). He stated that there were only
two capital requests in UA's budget.
MICHELLE RIZK, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, STATEWIDE PLANNING
AND BUDGET, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, thanked the committee for
allowing UA to present their budget requests.
RN 45326
Deferred Maintenance, Renewal, Repair and Equipment
$37,500,000
Ms. Rizk explained that this is the fourth year of the
Governor's five-year plan to reduce the State's deferred
maintenance backlog, and this project will allow the
University of Alaska to continue addressing their system
wide maintenance backlog. The highest priority DM and
Restore and Renewal projects at the main campuses are the
UAA Beatrice McDonald Building in Anchorage, UAF Cogen
Heating Plant Required Upgrades to Maintain Service in
Fairbanks, and UAS Auke Lake Way Campus Entry Improvements
and Road Realignment in Juneau. The UA owns and maintains
over 400 buildings, totaling 6.7 million gross square feet,
with an adjusted value that currently exceeds $2.5 billion.
RN 57085
UAF Cold Climate Housing Research Center Sustainable
Village Phase 2-4
$1,300,000
Ms. Rizk stated that in 2008, the University of Alaska
Fairbanks (UAF) identified the need to create a more
sustainable campus. Since then, the Office of
Sustainability was created as a partnership between the
Chancellor's Office and the UAF student body with the
shared goal of creating a sustainable housing village to
accommodate students. This village's sustainability at UAF
will be furthered through a partnership with the Cold
Climate Housing Research Center's (CCHRC) Sustainable
Northern Communities program. In each phase, four houses
will be construct to accommodate 16 students. The houses
are designed to test sustainable, durable, healthy, and
cost effective building technologies for people living in
the Circumpolar North.
President Gamble explained that the deferred maintenance
requests were divided throughout the entire system. He
stated that they were prioritized based on age of the
buildings, a digitized formula, and actual "eye-ball"
method to determine the real problems. The determination
was based on a subjective value assessment to divide up the
money throughout the entire system to include the community
campuses.
Co-Chair Meyer requested more information about some items
that were not contained in the governor's proposal.
9:55:51 AM
President Gamble explained that UA was approaching an
overlap of several high priority needs. He explained that
the deferred maintenance need required a very high budget
request. He stressed that the deferred maintenance need was
more than $750 million for over 400 buildings. He shared
that UA was reviewing those buildings with an objective
assessment method, because the buildings had a value to the
mission of the university. While the buildings held value,
they also were very old; therefore UA had to determine
whether or not the building should be rebuilt. He explained
that UA was developing a system to determine how to decide
if buildings should be destroyed across the system. The
determination was based on a balance of value versus age.
He furthered that the deferred maintenance cost could be
eliminated, if the building was demolished.
President Gamble stated that there were also extremely high
costs related to the age of the power plant, and the risk
assessment with regard to that power plant at the
University UAF. He stressed that the power plant was coal
fired and passed its service life. He explained that the
there was discussion related to the access to a supply of
natural gas to fill the gap of time between a clean energy
plant and the coal fired plant.
10:00:11 AM
Co-Chair Meyer wondered if there was a need for one
college's engineering building request to be completed
before another. President Gamble replied that the need was
based on the fact that neither college could accommodate
the total number of engineers that were needed for Alaska.
He stressed that the demand for engineers was high enough,
so both colleges needed to graduate the engineers to be put
in the work force.
Co-Chair Meyer surmised that the Fairbanks campus focused
on petroleum engineering and the Anchorage campus focused
more on civil and mechanical engineering. President Gamble
responded that the Anchorage campus also focused on
electrical engineering.
Vice-Chair Fairclough queried the number of students
enrolled in each of the UA campuses: Anchorage and
Fairbanks. President Gamble agreed to provide that
information.
10:03:38 AM
Vice-Chair Fairclough felt that there may be an issue of
choosing which facility took greater precedence based on
cost and need.
President Gamble shared that UA may propose that the option
should be about moving both projects forward, at a reduced
cost for each project.
Vice-Chair Fairclough noted that there was a tuition cap
for the upcoming school year, and wondered if there was
operating budget money to support the two proposed
buildings. President Gamble replied that UA would need new
operating budget money. He furthered that there was not a
system set up for operating dollars for new construction.
He shared that there was a proposal for a university
building fund that would provide the money before the
building was open.
Vice-Chair Fairclough supported the concept, but felt that
there may not be money available, because the revenue
projections did not reflect a growing general fund.
Senator Dunleavy felt a compromise would be to place one of
the buildings at the Mat-Su campus. He wondered if the
request that related to Chinook Salmon Production Decline
Research was in conjunction with the $10 million request
from Department of Fish and Game (DFG) for King Salmon
studies. President Gamble responded that the request was
separate. He furthered that the intent of DFG was to engage
UA with their program.
Senator Dunleavy surmised that the UA request was developed
separately from DFG. President Gamble agreed.
Ms. Rizk furthered that the two requests were
complementary. She stated that UA was working with DFG, and
understood that approximately $700,000 of DFG's request may
go to UA for process studies.
10:08:27 AM
President Gamble stated that there was also funding that
was not included in the governor's request related to
Alaska-focused research. He remarked that buildings
required repurposing approximately 20 to 30 years after
construction. He explained that it was common to accumulate
an account in a privatized housing project that would be
available at the 25-year point to repurpose that entire
housing unit. He explained that UA did not have that kind
of account. He stressed that the amount for the size of the
UA real estate and age of the square footage was
approximately $50 million per year. He furthered that if a
contribution were made to an account each year, it would
prevent projects from accumulating on the deferred
maintenance list.
Co-Chair Meyer noted that there was a project for UAF
Arctic Oil Spill prevention partnership. President Gamble
replied that those were line item research items. He
stressed that those issues were in place, because that item
was specifically directed toward Alaskan issues and
problems. He pointed out that the item was offered in order
to encourage companies to hire consultants that were
specifically trained in Alaska for Alaskan issues.
Co-Chair Meyer stressed that the research on Arctic oil
spills was a very relevant issue. President Gamble
responded that UA would like to be the prominent university
for oil and gas research.
10:13:09 AM
Co-Chair Meyer wondered if UA had benefited from the tax
credit that was enacted in the year prior. President Gamble
responded that UA had benefited from that tax credit, but
furthered that it was not of potential interest to those
that UA assumed would be interested in that money.
Ms. Rizk agreed to provide more information regarding the
specifics of the tax credit benefit. President Gamble
furthered that there was no question that people had
benefited from the credit, but there was no overwhelming
interest.
Co-Chair Meyer remarked that Shell may help in the Arctic
oil spill research, if they had seen a better year
financially. He added that there were some mining companies
that had taken advantage of the tax credit. He understood
that the power plant was a concern at UAF, but was not
comfortable with the rest of Fairbanks lacking heat, while
UAF was heated efficiently. He also felt that it was odd
that UAF had its own power plant, because UAA used private
power companies. He understood that the infrastructure was
not in place at UAF.
President Gamble shared that the power plant was built in
the 1970s. At that time, separate power plants were built
across the town. He stressed that the cost of an
environmentally sound power plant, as it approached
billions of dollars, needed to be deemed a State or UA
issue.
Co-Chair Meyer agreed, and stated no objection to using
coal to power.
President Gamble stressed that the decision about how to
adjust the power plant was on the horizon. He pointed out
that the current day's meeting was a presentation of UA's
relevant issues.
SB 18 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
10:18:40 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| FY14 SB18 University Requests 021913.pdf |
SFIN 2/19/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 18 |
| Alaska Court System Senate Finance Capital Projects - Final.pptx |
SFIN 2/19/2013 9:00:00 AM |
SB 18 |
| DPS hoover sfc response.pdf |
SFIN 2/19/2013 9:00:00 AM |