Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/09/2024 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB345 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 345 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 345-HARBOR FACILITIES AND SAFETY LADDERS
1:33:26 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 345
"An Act relating to safety ladders at municipal harbor
facilities; relating to the harbor facility grant fund; and
providing for an effective date."
This is the introductory hearing of HB 345. The intention is to
move the bill from committee today. He invited the bill sponsor
to offer comments on the bill.
1:33:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, District 3, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 345 stated that HB 345 focuses on
saving lives by requiring safety ladders on docks. A constituent
informed her that his employee, Anna Foltz, drowned due to a
dock-related incident and believes safety ladders might have
helped prevent the tragedy. She explained that people who fall
into the water from floating docks often struggle to climb back
up due to a lack of handholds, with only slick, barnacle-
encrusted pilings available.
1:34:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY cited a state epidemiology report showing
that 26 percent of Alaskan drownings from 2016 to 2021 occurred
in oceans or harbors, with 20 percent involving boats or docks.
She emphasized that safety ladders allow a person to pull down
the lowest rung to climb up or stabilize themselves while
awaiting help. HB 345 would require municipalities receiving
harbor facility grant funds to install safety ladders on
floating docks.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY noted that HB 345 carries a zero fiscal
note, as municipalities would fund the ladders through harbor
grants, with each ladder costing approximately $210. She
highlighted the heavy use of docks for commercial and
recreational purposes and argued that adding safety ladders was
a cost-effective way to improve safety. She shared that working
on the HB 345 has increased her awareness of dock safety and
that Juneau's harbor staff have placed signs marking existing
safety ladders. She encouraged members to notice these signs and
recognize that many other harbors lack similar safety measures.
1:38:07 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked the bill sponsor for bringing the
bill forward and expressed hope that since HB 345 does not have
a fiscal note it will pass into law and save lives.
1:38:38 PM
JOAN WILKERSON, Staff, Representative Andi Story, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis
for HB 345.
Sectional Analysis
House Bill 345 Version B
March 25, 2024
"An Act relating to safety ladders at municipal harbor
facilities; relating to the harbor facility grant
fund; and providing for an effective date."
Section 1: Amends AS 29.60.810 by adding new
subsection (5) which requires that a municipality or
regional housing authority that owns a harbor facility
and submits an application for a harbor facility grant
for major maintenance, repair, construction or
expansion of the facility to have safety ladders on
its floats or install them on the proposed new float
once built.
Section 2: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.
1:39:08 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR announced invited testimony on HB 345 and listed
individuals available to answer questions.
1:39:47 PM
MATTHEW CRESWELL, Harbormaster, Docks and Harbors, City and
Bureau of Juneau, Juneau, Alaska, gave invited testimony in
support of HB 345 stating Senator Story approached him about the
bill a few months ago, and he viewed it as an obvious and
necessary measure. He noted strong support from Juneau and the
Alaska Association of Harbor Masters and Port Administration,
where he serves as a board member. Although the board did not
formally review the bill, conversations with member communities
indicated unanimous backing.
MR. CRESWELL explained that about three years ago, Juneau
identified a need for more safety ladders in harbors, partially
motivated by peer pressure from nearby Southeast Alaska harbors
that had already installed "up and out" ladders. These ladders
mount above the waterline but can be pulled down from the water,
allowing someone to self-rescue. He emphasized that this was
simply the right thing to do.
MR. CRESWELL described how older harbor float systems in Juneau
had a low freeboard (812 inches), which made it easier for
people to pull themselves out of the water. However, after
harbor upgrades, the new floats have a two-foot freeboard,
making self-rescue nearly impossible, especially in cold water.
Previous ladder installations required two people and were
ineffective if someone fell in when alone, such as at night.
MR. CRESWELL said Juneau adopted "up and out" ladders costing
around $200210 each, with discounts for bulk orders. Juneau
launched its own initiative to install these ladders throughout
the harbors, with approximately 200 ladders now placed across
four harbors. The current spacing is one ladder for every four
boats, marked with snow delineators and flags to ensure
visibility.
1:42:10 PM
MR. CRESWELL stated the goal is to have a ladder within 100 feet
of any point on the dock, with plans to reduce that distance to
50 feet. He stressed that after witnessing several winter
drowning incidents during his eight years with the Department of
Docks and Harborsincluding four as harbor masterself-rescue is
critical. The ladders have already saved lives, and although
there is no code requiring them, he described the measure as
low-cost and life-saving.
1:43:12 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR asked for a visualization of where the ladders are
placed relative to the main float and slips.
1:43:35 PM
MR. CRESWELL replied that each stall contains two slips, and the
safety ladder is placed in the middle of the stall. As a result,
the current configuration alternates with one boat, then a stall
without a ladder, followed by another boat and a laddercreating
a ratio of one ladder for every four boats. He stated that the
goal is to reduce this spacing to one ladder for every two
boats.
1:44:04 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked for a description of how the ladder extends
and how far it is above the water.
1:44:29 PM
MR. CRESWELL replied that the ladder is designed to stay out of
the water when not in use to prevent marine growth and barnacle
buildup, which helps maintain its condition. When someone is in
the water, they can reach up about 12 inches to grab the ladder
and pull it down. The ladder then extends 18 to 24 inches into
the water, allowing a person to place a foot on it and climb
out.
CHAIR BJORKMAN expressed thanks for the explanation.
1:45:15 PM
LAURA EDFELT, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, gave invited
testimony in support of HB 345 stating she wanted to share the
story of Anna Foltz on behalf of Anna's friends, family, and
colleagues. Anna was a recent Alaska resident who embraced the
state's beauty with enthusiasm, joy, and a vibrant personality
that uplifted those around her. She loved the outdoors,
especially cold-water swims, and typically had someone with her
during those times.
1:46:31 PM
MS. EDFELT recounted that on the night of October 17, 2021, Anna
went for a walk with her dog to view the northern lights and
decided to take a quick swim off the dock at Indian Cove in
Juneau. The water's temperature shocked her system, and she
drowned. Despite being strong, healthy, and 38 years old, Anna
could not pull herself out of the water. The investigating
officer believed that if an egress ladder had been available,
Anna would have survived.
MS. EDFELT read the following letter from Anna's mother:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Hello, my name is Ellen Foltz. I had the privilege of
seeing beautiful Alaska in June of 2021 when my
daughter, Anna, convinced me to embark on a jet ski
adventure up the Inside Passage with Dangerous Water
Adventures. I was very reluctant to do it but it
turned out to be one of the best things I have ever
done in my life. Going on an exciting adventure with
my only daughter. Little did I know that June, when I
hugged her good bye, it would be the last time I saw
her. Anna drowned 3 months later, in Indian Cove, the
night of Oct 17. The forensics verified that she had
tried to climb up the barnacled pilling of the dock,
trying to get out of the frigid water. That image of
my child struggling in the cold water will haunt me to
the end of my days.
Today, March 14, oddly enough is her birthday. Anna
would have been 41.
I strongly urge that Bill 345 supporting the
installation of safety ladders through harbor grants
be passed to help reduce tragic, accidental drownings
such as Anna's.
1:49:12 PM
MS. EDFELT said in closing that she wanted to leave the
committee with several points to consider. The United States has
12,383 miles of coastline, and Alaska accounts for 6,640 miles
over 53 percent. She asked how many harbors and docks exist
along Alaska's extensive coastline, and how many loved ones,
both young and old, use them for various activities. She
compared harbor docks to swimming pools, noting that poolswhich
are shallow, warm, and staffed with lifeguardsare legally
required to have egress ladders in every corner under federal,
state, or municipal law. Alaska's harbors, by contrast, lack
such requirements despite their frigid, dangerous waters. She
emphasized that the cost of a safety ladder is minimal compared
to the value of a life and urged the committee to pass HB 345 to
help prevent avoidable deaths. She concluded by stating that
these tragedies are preventable and asked the committee to
support HB 345 to help save lives, emphasizing that the next
life lost could be someone they care about.
1:50:44 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR opened public testimony on HB 345.
1:51:07 PM
ELLEN FOLTZ, representing self, Asheville, North Carolina,
testified in support of HB 345. She stated that if a ladder had
been installed at the dock, Anna would still be alive. She said
the image of Anna struggling to get out of the water will haunt
her for the rest of her life. She expressed deep gratitude to
Representative Story for introducing HB 345 and noted that
everyone has someone they love who might one day be drawn to
Alaska's beautiful waters. She emphasized the importance of
having visible ladders available for those in distress, adding
that she had not realized how quickly the body seizes up in cold
water. She voiced strong support for installing safety ladders
and closed by saying, "I miss my daughter."
1:52:45 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR closed public testimony on HB 345.
1:52:54 PM
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited the will of the committee.
1:52:57 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report HB 345, work order 33-
LS1378\B, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached zero fiscal note(s).
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