Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
02/06/2020 01:30 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB186 | |
| HB208 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 186 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 208 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 208-RENAMING COLLEGE RD AS ALAN BORAAS RD
1:56:54 PM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 208, "An Act renaming College Road in Soldotna as
Alan Boraas Road."
1:56:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARY KNOPP, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 208, opened by bringing the committee's awareness
to the fact that [Alan Boraas, PhD] has done so much for the
[Kenai] community and that naming after influential members is a
longstanding practice; the highway [College Road] is named after
Peter Kalifornsky.
1:57:47 PM
INTIMAYO HARBISON, Staff, Representative Gary Knopp, Alaska
State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Knopp, prime
sponsor of HB 208, began by letting the committee know that
College Road connects Kalifornsky Beach Road to East Poppy Lane
and terminates at Kenai Peninsula College (KPC). He also noted
that the stretch of road does not contain any structures, so the
changing of addresses would not be necessary. He informed the
committee that the request to change the name of the road came
from members of the University of Alaska (UA) as well as from
the local community. He imparted that Dr. Boraas is credited
with helping to locate numerous Dena'ina heritage and historical
sites along what is currently known as College Road, that he was
a major proponent in the preservation and teaching of the
Dena'ina language, and that he was awarded honorary membership
in the Kenaitze Indian Tribe for his work. Changing the name to
Alan Boraas Road is a way to honor the impact Dr. Boraas had on
the Kenai Peninsula as well as on the state of Alaska.
1:59:07 PM
CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony on HB 208.
1:59:13 PM
DANIEL BALDWIN spoke in support of honoring Dr. Boraas but
suggested changing the word "road" in the road sign to the
Dena'ina word "tinitun," meaning "path" or "road." As Dr.
Boraas was a Dena'ina speaker and a Dena'ina language teacher,
Mr. Baldwin expressed his opinion that it would be fitting to
use the Dena'ina word to honor him.
2:00:38 PM
GARY TURNER, Director, Kenai Peninsula College, spoke to the
life of Dr. Boraas, who was known across the state and world for
his groundbreaking work with Native language revitalization,
cultural research in Southcentral and Southwest Alaska, and
numerous archeological digs. Dr. Boraas served as a KPC faculty
member for 46 years. Mr. Turner told the committee that KPC
sits on 309 acres on the Kenai River, all of which is Dena'ina
land. Mr. Turner elaborated on Dr. Boraas' findings: the
latter located numerous underground storage pits where ancient
Dena'ina stored salmon; he also located six prehistoric houses
and took hundreds of students and community members on field
trips through the Dena'ina land which the road in question cuts,
explaining the significance of the Dena'ina and of the salmon to
the particular area. As Dr. Boraas was recently named Professor
Emeritus posthumously, his family was presented with a
resolution from the UA Board of Regents. The celebration of his
life was attended by more than 250 people and was livestreamed
to hundreds more.
2:03:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked Mr. Turner his thoughts regarding
changing 'road' to the Dena'ina word for "pathway" as Mr.
Baldwin had suggested.
2:03:37 PM
MR. TURNER said that it would be okay as far as he knew, but
that he would be curious as to the Department of Transportation
& Public Facilities requirements. He suggested the possible
allowance as something to be looked at by the committee.
2:04:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY, also speaking on behalf of the Alaska
Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council, said she
would like to see more use of original language, and asked what
the borough and the sponsor thought.
2:05:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP said that he had not discussed it with the
borough and personally would not support the change. He added
that, after speaking with members of the community, his idea was
to honor the man who spent his lifetime preserving the heritage
of the Kenaitze and Dena'ina, and that very few people can read,
much less speak, Dena'ina, and implied that very few would
understand.
2:06:40 PM
CHAIR STUTES introduced the next testifier, whom she said could
potentially make the committee aware of the specific parameters
regarding signage.
2:07:00 PM
MIKE LESMANN, Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation
& Public Facilities (DOTPF), made the committee aware of DOTPF's
guide for traffic signs and all traffic control devices, the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), developed by
the American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO), in which he said the answer would lie. Mr.
Lesmann introduced the next testifier in hopes he would be able
to address the question in greater detail.
2:08:43 PM
MATT WALKER, Engineer, Division of Statewide Design and Engineer
Services, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
(DOTPF), answered that the MUTCD does limit use to English for
commonly used words such as "road" and "street." He posited
that if the name of a place was in a Native language that that
may be able to be used, but for street signs the language must
be uniform across the traffic system.
2:09:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN looked to clarify Mr. Walker's answer by
asking if he could name a street "Agua Street" instead of "Water
Street. "
2:10:31 PM
MR. WALKER said he thought that would be fine since "street"
would still be in English.
2:11:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked Mr. Walker a follow-up question: if
the sponsor did want to include the language, since Dr. Boraas'
life's work was language, he would say "Alan Boraas Tinutin
Road," and it would have to be a long sign.
2:11:24 PM
MR. WALKER said he believed that was correct, but that he would
also need to confer with the Alaska division of the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA).
2:11:48 PM
CHAIR STUTES thanked Mr. Walker and moved on with additional
invited testimony.
2:12:00 PM
LISA PARKER serves on the University of Alaska Board of Regents,
which recently passed a resolution in recognition of the life,
career, and accomplishments of Dr. Boraas. She also noted that
the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly unanimously passed a
resolution supporting HB 208. Ms. Parker informed committee
members that she met Dr. Boraas when she worked for former state
Senator and borough Mayor Donald E. Gilman and was approached by
the former regarding the obtainment of a trail easement on
borough land. Ms. Parker went on to impart that Dr. Boraas'
engagement with the community was far-reaching, especially with
regard to his work in cultural, historical, and archeological
preservation of the Cook Inlet Region and preservation of
Dena'ina language. Ms. Parker urged committee members to be
mindful of the other bridges and roads that were named after
those who are part of Alaska's history.
2:15:00 PM
JOEL ISAAK told the committee that the Dena'ina language is one
of the most well-documented languages in the world in part due
to the work of Dr. Boraas, whose work was contingent upon
working with elders. Mr. Isaak echoed others' comments about
Dr. Boraas' deep connection to place and his deep commitment to
not only the preservation of language, but also the ability to
use it in perpetuity. He also let committee members know that
Dr. Boraas' name translates to "the one who is breaking trail"
or "trailbreaker," and related Dr. Boraas' having been given
honorary membership to the tribe as not something to be taken
lightly as it doesn't happen often in the Kenaitze or even in
the United States.
2:19:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked whether there was another Kenaitze
word which could be added to the sign that would dispel some of
the confusing discussion over the redundancy of "road."
2:19:57 PM
MR. ISAAK suggested "Ti'qutsex," which would "integrate the noun
information of trail into the verb."
2:20:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked whether "Ti'qutsex" is the name Dr.
Boraas was given.
2:20:48 PM
MR. TURNER confirmed that "Ti'qutsex" is the name Dr. Boraas was
given by the tribe.
2:20:59 PM
KAREN TOLLACKSON, Elder Member, Kenaitze Indian Tribe, testified
in support of renaming the road after Dr. Boraas and agreed with
Mr. Isaak that including the name he was given by the tribe
seemed fitting, so that the sign would read Alan (Ti'qutsex)
Boraas Road.
2:22:20 PM
SHARON ISAAK, an Elder Member of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe,
stated that she lives off Community College Drive, so having
counted those letters, knows "we can make signs longer." Ms.
Isaak echoed what others have said and mentioned that it would
be "more than fitting" to honor Dr. Boraas' legacy with the name
which was given to him by the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.
2:24:47 PM
CHAIR STUTES closed public testimony on HB 208.
2:25:00 PM
MR. WALKER said in response to Ms. Isaak's counting of letters
on her street that it is still something that would need to be
evaluated.
2:25:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP stated that, having had no calls requesting
a name change, he must stand his position on HB 208. He asked
callers in support of a name change to petition the borough
assembly. He said that proceeding with HB 208 as it stood would
be his preference.
2:27:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN looked to confirm that if it does happen
the committee's preference is to have Representative Knopp go
back and communicate with folks in his community to determine
their perspective on adding the name Dr. Boraas was given, that
Representative Knopp would have no problem doing that.
2:27:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP pointed out that due to time constraints
and how much is involved, there is 'a good chance' it wouldn't
happen this year, but that if that is the committee's desire, he
would be glad to do so. He then added that he would be reluctant
to not move HB 208 forward.
2:28:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN expressed that, when he hears the
difficulties that Alaska communities have in preserving Native
languages and how those are disappearing, while he hears DOTPF's
concern and understands the interest of time, he also
acknowledges the interest of getting it right. He added that he
would like to hear the community so affected by Dr. Boraas say
"It took them a little longer, but they got it right."
2:29:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP said that the goal never was the
preservation of the language, but instead honoring a man who did
spend his life doing so. He added that Dr. Boraas is known as
Alan Boraas and not by his Kenaitze name, by 90-95% of the
community.
2:30:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked, if HB 208 is moved out of committee,
and then the community desired to amend the name, whether there
would be a place to do that.
2:30:25 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP said the first step would be to confer with
DOTPF and determine the maximum size of the sign to find out if
it were doable before reaching out to the community.
2:30:53 PM
CHAIR STUTES stated that she would go with the will of the
committee but that she personally had no problem moving HB 208
out because there would be opportunity to amend.
2:31:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN said he would prefer to hear back from
DOTPF, and as bills are often heard twice, that he saw no reason
to push HB 208 through.
2:31:25 PM
CHAIR STUTES said that if it was the will of the committee to
hold HB 208, it would be held.
2:31:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO said he would like to move the bill as
there "might be a window of opportunity to check on that, and we
do have the ability to amend."
2:32:04 PM
CHAIR STUTES said she presumed that Representative Claman had an
objection.
2:32:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN confirmed that he did object and responded
to Representative Talerico's comments that when something is on
the [House] floor with amendments it is often asked why the work
wasn't done in the committee. He continued by noting that it
was still early in the session and there was plenty of time to
get the answers.
2:32:54 PM
CHAIR STUTES asked for a motion.
2:33:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO moved to report HB 208 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
2:33:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN objected.
2:33:38 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Talerico and Stutes
voted in favor of the motion to report HB 208 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. Representatives Story, Drummond, and Claman voted
against it. Therefore, HB 208 failed to be reported out of the
House Transportation Standing Committee by a vote of 2-3.
2:34:15 PM
CHAIR STUTES said that HB 208 would be held, and that the
committee would be happy to hear HB 208 after Representative
Knopp did his "legwork."
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 186 v.M 02.05.2020.PDF |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 186 |
| HB 186 Sponsor Statement v.M 02.03.2020.pdf |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 186 |
| HB 186 Map of Bridge 406, Scott Glacier 6 1.31.2020.jpg |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 186 |
| HB 186 Fiscal Note DOT 02.04.2020.pdf |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 186 |
| HB 186 Cordova Resolution Supporting naming a CRH Bridge for irene Webber 1.31.2020.pdf |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 186 |
| HB 186 Native Village of Eyak Resolution in Support 02.05.2020.pdf |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 186 |
| HB 208 v.A 02.04.2020.PDF |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM HTRA 2/13/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 208 |
| HB 208 Sponsor Statement 1.31.2020.pdf |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM HTRA 2/13/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 208 |
| HB 208 Map 1.31.2020.pdf |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM HTRA 2/13/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 208 |
| HB 208 Fiscal Note DOT 02.05.2020.pdf |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM HTRA 2/13/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 208 |
| HB 208 KPB Resolution 02.05.2020.pdf |
HTRA 2/6/2020 1:30:00 PM HTRA 2/13/2020 1:00:00 PM |
HB 208 |