02/20/2001 01:34 PM Senate TRA

                SB 79-FRED ZHAROFF MEMORIAL BRIDGE                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ALAN AUSTERMAN,  sponsor  of  SB 79,  introduced  SB 79  by                                                            
saying that  Fred Zharoff  had been in the  Senate for twelve  years                                                            
and  in  the House  of  Representatives  for  six  years.    Senator                                                            
Zharoff's efforts  helped bring about the "Bridge  to Nowhere" [Near                                                            
Island Bridge].   The completion of  the bridge has led to  a number                                                            
of  changes  on  Near   Island,  such  as  the  Fishery   Industrial                                                            
Technology  Center,  a new  boat harbor,  and the  Kodiak  Fisheries                                                            
Research Center.   Senator Austerman  felt that renaming  the bridge                                                            
after  Senator  Zharoff  would  give  him  the  public  exposure  he                                                            
deserves.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  DENNIS  POSHARD,   Department  of  Transportation   and  Public                                                            
Facilities (DOTPF),  said DOTPF supports SB 79.  The  department has                                                            
a maintenance  budget for installing signs, but the  budget has been                                                            
cut the last  six out of seven years  and there will be another  cut                                                            
this year.  A zero fiscal note has been submitted.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WARD  said  he hoped  the  committee  would  privatize  the                                                            
maintenance  department   because  it  is  not  spending  the  money                                                            
properly.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ELTON moved  SB 79  from  committee with  the accompanying                                                             
fiscal note.  There being  no objection, SB 79 moved from committee.