ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  May 7, 2004 2:03 p.m. TAPE (S) 04-16    MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Bert Stedman, Chair Senator Thomas Wagoner, Vice Chair Senator Gary Stevens MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Kim Elton Senator Georgianna Lincoln COMMITTEE CALENDAR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 561(FIN) "An Act providing for and relating to the issuance of general obligation bonds in a principal amount of not more than $93,280,000 for the purpose of paying the cost of state transportation projects; and providing for an effective date." MOVED SCS CSHB 561(CRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION BILL: HB 561 SHORT TITLE: G.O. BONDS FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS SPONSOR(s): FINANCE 04/29/04 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/29/04 (H) FIN 04/30/04 (H) FIN AT 8:30 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519 04/30/04 (H) Heard & Held 04/30/04 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 05/04/04 (H) FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 6DP 1NR 05/04/04 (H) DP: MEYER, HAWKER, CHENAULT, FATE, 05/04/04 (H) FOSTER, WILLIAMS; NR: STOLTZE 05/04/04 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 05/04/04 (H) VERSION: CSHB 561(FIN) 05/04/04 (H) FIN AT 8:30 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519 05/04/04 (H) Moved CSHB 561(FIN) Out of Committee 05/04/04 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 05/05/04 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/05/04 (S) CRA, FIN 05/07/04 (S) CRA AT 2:00 PM FAHRENKAMP 203 WITNESS REGISTER James Armstrong Aide to Representative Bill Williams Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced CSHB 561(FIN) John MacKinnon Deputy Commissioner of Transportation Department of Transportation & Public Facilities 3132 Channel Dr. Juneau, AK 99801-7898 POSITION STATEMENT: Commented briefly on CSHB 561(FIN) ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 04-16, SIDE A CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. Present were Senators Wagoner, Gary Stevens, and Chair Stedman. CSHB 561(FIN)-G.O. BONDS FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS    CHAIR BERT STEDMAN announced HB 561 to be up for consideration. He asked Mr. Armstrong to come forward. JAMES ARMSTRONG, aide to Representative Bill Williams, stated that the bill closely mirrors a proposal the 2002 Legislature adopted authorizing $226 million in general obligation (GO) bonds. This bill would authorize $93.28 million in GO bonds to pay for state transportation projects. CHAIR STEDMAN asked whether he had an amendment to offer. MR. ARMSTRONG distributed copies of the sponsor's amendment 1: Amendment 1    Delete  Page 2, Line 16-17 Anchorage - Abbott Loop Road Upgrade (68 Avenue 15,000,000 to Abbott Road) Insert  Page 2, Line 16 th Anchorage - Abbott Loop Road Upgrade (68 Avenue 11,000,000 to Abbott Road) Delete  Page 3, Line 25 Jewel Lake Road and Strawberry Road signalization 1,100,000 Insert  Page 3, Line 25 Anchorage - Jewel Lake Road and Strawberry Road signalization 2,000,000 Insert  After Line 27 Anchorage - Dowling Road Upgrade (Laurel Street to Abbott 3,100,000 Loop Road) Delete  Page 2, Line 31 Fairbanks - Steese Highway corridor safety and capacity 7,500,000 Insert  Page 2, Line 31 Fairbanks - Parks Highway rehabilitation (Ester to Fairbanks) 7,500,000 Delete  Page 3, Line 18 Wrangell - Heritage Harbor renovation 1,400,000 Insert  Page 3, Line 18 Wrangell - Heritage Harbor construction 1,400,000 SENATOR GARY STEVENS asked for an explanation for changing the Wrangell project from renovation to construction. JOHN MACKINNON, deputy commissioner of transportation, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, explained that the Wrangell Heritage Harbor is the one currently under construction. There is an option to add to the project by including floats so it is construction and not renovation. SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER asked if that is an option from the preexisting bid. MR. MACKINNON said yes. CHAIR STEDMAN asked if this changed the total. MR. MACKINNON said no. SENATOR WAGONER made a motion to adopt amendment 1. There being no objection, it was so ordered. CHAIR STEDMAN noted there was a second amendment. SENATOR GARY STEVENS made a motion to adopt amendment 2. Amendment 2 CS HB 561 (FIN)    Modifications Page 2, Line 14: Federal earmark match lowered from $15 million to $5 million Page 3, Line 17: Petersburg Middle Harbor renovation increased from $1.2 million to $2.2 million to fully fund this requirement Page 3, Line 18: Replaced "renovation" with "construction". Wrangell's Heritage Harbor project hasn't begun. Additions: The following projects have been added beginning on Page 3, Line 28 and continuing to Page 4, Line 3: City of Seward - travel lift replacement and dock rebuild 275,000 City of Soldotna - road improvements 500,000 Wrangell - Bradfield Canal Road planning and design 500,000 Sitka - Overlay Halibut Point Road 1,000,000 Southeast regional freight consolidation/cold storage construction 2,000,000 Result: These changes lower the total bonding authority of the bill by $4,725,000 to $88,555,000 and lower the amount allocated to the state bond committee for expenses from $466,400 to $442,775.    CHAIR STEDMAN explained the changes and noted that the proposed change on page 3, line 18 was already incorporated in amendment 1. SENATOR GARY STEVENS asked if he wanted a motion to delete that portion of the amendment. CHAIR STEDMAN indicated that he would like a motion. SENATOR GARY STEVENS made a motion to amend amendment 2 by deleting: Page 3, Line 18: Replaced "renovation" with "construction". Wrangell's Heritage Harbor project hasn't begun.   CHAIR STEDMAN said, "Hearing no objection, that is deleted." He then mentioned the five projects that were added and read the result of the changes, which was to "lower the amount allocated to the state bond committee for expenses from $466,400 to $442,775." SENATOR WAGONER moved amendment 2 as amended and there was no objection. CHAIR STEDMAN asked for a motion. SENATOR GARY STEVENS made a motion to move CSSB 387(CRA) from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. There being no objection, it was so ordered. CHAIR STEDMAN adjourned the meeting at 2:15 pm.