04/10/2007 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB137 | |
| HB8 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| HB 8 | |||
| * | SB 137 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 10, 2007
1:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Albert Kookesh, Chair
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator John Cowdery, Vice Chair
Senator Gary Wilken
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Jay Ramras
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 137
"An Act authorizing two exchanges of land between the Alaska
Railroad Corporation and the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED SB 137 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 8
"An Act naming the law enforcement training facility in
Fairbanks the J. Kevin Lamm Law Enforcement Training Facility."
MOVED HB 8 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 137
SHORT TITLE: LAND TRANSFERS ALASKA RR & DOTPF
SPONSOR(s): TRANSPORTATION
03/23/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/23/07 (S) TRA, FIN
04/10/07 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: HB 8
SHORT TITLE: J. KEVIN LAMM TRAINING FACILITY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RAMRAS
01/16/07 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/5/07
01/16/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/07 (H) TRA
02/15/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
02/15/07 (H) Heard & Held
02/15/07 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
03/06/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17
03/06/07 (H) Moved Out of Committee
03/06/07 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
03/07/07 (H) TRA RPT 1DP 3NR
03/07/07 (H) DP: FAIRCLOUGH
03/07/07 (H) NR: DOOGAN, JOHNSON, JOHANSEN
03/21/07 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/21/07 (H) VERSION: HB 8
03/23/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/23/07 (S) TRA, STA
04/10/07 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
Nancy Barnes
Staff to Senator Kookesh
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 137 for the sponsor.
Fran Zimmerman, Right of Way Agent
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 137.
John Bennett, Right of Way Agent
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Fairbanks, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 137.
Phyllis Johnson, Vice-President and General Counsel
Alaska Railroad Corporation
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 137.
Mary Siroky, Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 137.
Representative Jay Ramras
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 8.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR ALBERT KOOKESH called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:32:51 PM. Present at the call to
order were Senators Wielechowski, Olson, and Chair Kookesh.
SB 137-LAND TRANSFERS ALASKA RR & DOTPF
CHAIR KOOKESH announced SB 137 to be under consideration.
NANCY BARNES, aide to Chair Kookesh, sponsor of SB 137,
explained that the bill authorizes two exchanges of land between
the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) to accommodate two
DOTPF projects: the widening of the Parks highway in Wasilla,
and construction of a cargo apron at the Fairbanks International
Airport.
1:35:17 PM
SENATOR OLSON asked if anyone would be testifying besides the
bill's sponsor.
CHAIR KOOKESH replied that there were DOTPF representatives
available for questions.
1:35:58 PM
FRAN ZIMMERMAN, Right of Way Agent for the DOTPF, said that she
was available for questions.
JOHN BENNETT, Right of Way Agent for the DOTPF, said that he was
available for questions.
PHYLLIS JOHNSON, Vice-President and General Counsel for the
Alaska Railroad Corporation, said that she was available for
questions.
1:36:26 PM
SENATOR OLSON asked for clarification on the Fairbanks airport
project, including its size and location.
MR. BENNETT said that he didn't have much information in the
project, but that all aviators were involved in the planning and
the project shouldn't cause any problems.
SENATOR OLSON asked if the project will take place near a
specific runway.
MR. BENNETT replied that he didn't know.
SENATOR OLSON asked if small aircraft operators have a position
on the project.
MR. BENNETT replied that he didn't know if specific operators
did provide comment, but there was an extensive public comment
period.
SENATOR OLSON said that his concern is for smaller aircraft
which may be affected in their taxiing on the airstrip.
1:38:26 PM
CHAIR KOOKESH clarified that the project includes a cargo apron
designed to address that issue.
SENATOR OLSON asked for comment from the DOTPF representatives.
MR. BENNETT said that he was unsure of the description being
referenced.
CHAIR KOOKESH explained the project description before the
committee.
1:39:33 PM
MARY SIROKY, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for the
DOTPF, said that the project does account for moving larger
aircraft away from the taxiway.
SENATOR OLSON asked if the addition will be built on the south
side of the terminal.
MR. BENNETT replied that the land exchange only relates to the
cargo apron portion of the project, which will be built apart
from the south end of the terminal.
SENATOR OLSON asked where the terminal extension will be built.
MR. BENNETT replied that he didn't have that information.
MS. SIROKY said that she believes it will be at the south end of
the existing terminal.
1:41:10 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if public notices of the project were
sent to local property owners.
MS. SIROKY replied that there was a public notice process.
MR. BENNETT concurred.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there were any objections to the
land exchanges.
MR. BENNETT answered that there were none.
SENATOR OLSON said that he thinks the addition is a great idea,
and related a story about previous issues with the lack of cargo
space.
1:42:21 PM
SENATOR OLSON moved to report SB 137 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the motion carried.
CHAIR KOOKESH called an at-ease.
HB 8-J. KEVIN LAMM TRAINING FACILITY
1:45:49 PM
CHAIR KOOKESH called the meeting back to order and announced HB
8 to be under consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS, sponsor of HB 8, explained that the bill
pertains to naming a planned shooting range in Fairbanks after
J. Kevin Lamm, a police officer who died in the line of duty.
The current shooting range used to be part of the airport, but
now is a separate facility. He explained the circumstances of
Mr. Lamm's death, and said that once homeland security funds are
made available the new facility will be built so as to separate
law enforcement and public target practicing.
1:49:52 PM
SENATOR OLSON asked for clarification on the plans for expanding
the existing shooting range.
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said that people from Sitka have expressed
concern about the idea of a new training facility elsewhere in
the state, but the title is something of a misnomer; the future
facility will only be a simple shooting range. There is already
an indoor shooting range in the basement of the local DOTPF
facility, but it would require extensive renovation to be
useable.
1:52:00 PM
SENATOR OLSON moved to pass HB 8 from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no
objection, the motion carried.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kookesh adjourned the meeting at 1:52:27 PM.
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