Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/22/2016 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB204 | |
| SB150 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 204 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 150 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 204-KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE
9:01:52 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced the consideration of SB 204.
9:02:22 AM
DANIEL GEORGE, staff, Senator Stoltze, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, presented a video showing a recent news vignette
for the new shooting range at the Knik River Public Use Area
(KRPUA) in Butte, Alaska.
CHAIR STOLTZE stated that Kenny and Patti Barber were ordinary
Alaskans who have done a lot of extraordinary things. He said
the Barbers were integral in helping develop KRPUA. He noted
that he and Senator Huggins started the legislation for KRPUA
that unanimously passed the Legislature in 2006.
9:04:47 AM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the committee meeting.
9:06:56 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS commented that Kenny and Patti Barber were like
relatives that always were looking to do things and never
looking for credit. He pointed out that the Barbers were well
known in the Mat-Su area, especially in the sporting community.
He stated that Barbers deserved their name recognition at the
KPRUA shooting range. He commended Chair Stoltze for making
things like KPRUA work. He revealed that Chair Stoltze added
language in the KPRUA bill that specified the land not be used
as a park and be designated as a public-use area for sporting
with the guarantee for hunting and fishing. He opined that the
country's national forests have become national preserves where
an individual cannot do anything because more and more things
are prohibited.
CHAIR STOLTZE stated that the Barbers were fiscally responsible
people that did not crave the attention from SB 204. He pointed
out that transition language was included in the legislation
where the signs with the Barbers' names would not be erected
until the current signs wear out.
He announced that the committee would hear public testimony on
SB 204.
9:09:38 AM
RICHARD BISHOP, representing himself, Fairbanks, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 204. He said naming the range for the
Barbers was appropriate and noted their involvement with KRPUA.
9:10:54 AM
EARL LACKEY, representing himself, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 204. He said the Barbers were instrumental in the
funding and development of KRPUA and the shooting range.
9:12:38 AM
RICK ELLIS, representing himself, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 204. He revealed that he worked with the Barbers
on a number of outdoor related projects.
9:13:33 AM
TODD CLARK, representing himself, Wasilla, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 204. He said the KRUPA and shooting range
development's success would be hard to imagine without the
Barber's help. He said naming the shooting range after the
Barbers was a small thing when considering the amount of effort,
time, and sacrifice the Barbers had put into the whole area and
community as a whole.
9:14:56 AM
GARY STEVENS, representing himself, Chugiak, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204. He stated that he normally did not support
naming public facilities after individuals, but naming the
shooting range after the Barbers was extremely well deserved.
9:15:33 AM
ROD ARNO, Executive Director, Alaska Outdoor Council, Fairbanks,
Alaska, testified that the Alaska Outdoor Council was in support
of SB 204. He set forth that the Barbers have always been
supporters of hunters, trappers, and outdoor access. He stated
that naming the shooting range would let future hunters know the
Barber's contribution for outdoor folks in Alaska.
CHAIR STOLTZE noted that the Alaska Outdoor Council passed a
resolution supporting SB 204.
9:17:09 AM
RON SOMERVILLE, representing himself, Juneau, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204. He said he has known the Barbers since his
service on the Alaska Board of Game. He asserted that the
Barbers were humble Alaskans who always worked for things that
benefited everybody. He said naming the shooting range for the
Barbers was important in the recognition for the work the
Barbers had done.
9:18:39 AM
JENNIFER EHMANN, representing herself, Palmer, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204. She noted that she chaired the Matanuska
Valley Advisory Committee and served on the Matanuska-Susitna
Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission. She revealed that she has
worked with the Barbers throughout the last five years and noted
that the couple has acted as mentors to her. She said she was
amazed to see the support of the shooting range and has watched
the facility develop with the knowledge that the Barbers were
behind the project. She remarked that the Barbers' volunteering
and efforts have not gone unnoticed and the community was in
support of the effort that the Barbers have put forward.
9:20:42 AM
LYNN KEOGH, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 204. He stated that he could not think of two
more deserving people than the Barbers. He revealed that he has
known the Barbers for over 20 years and their tireless efforts
has benefited Alaskans for continued opportunities to enjoy the
outdoors.
9:21:26 AM
RON JOHNSON, representing himself, Butte, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 204. He asserted that he knows of no one that has
tirelessly given their time, energy, and money than the Barbers.
He stated that the Barbers have taken a lead in many outdoor
issues for a long time.
CHAIR STOLTZE noted that the Butte Community Council was the
first to endorse the naming of the shooting range before SB 204
was introduced.
9:23:36 AM
ED FOGELS, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Natural
Resources, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 204. He
said he has nothing but admiration and respect for the Barbers.
He declared that the Barbers were true stewards of the land and
have been a great help to the department's land managers in
addition to taking care of KRPUA's vast and heavily used area.
He noted that KRPUA was difficult to manage prior to its
development and the Barbers have helped solve the area's
problems. He set forth that KRPUA was a beautiful place and the
department could not think of a better name for the shooting
range. He stated that keeping the shooting range's current
signage until they wore out was the reason for the bill's zero-
fiscal note.
9:25:04 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that public testimony was closed. He
summarized that the zero-fiscal note reflected the Barbers'
values for not wanting dollars spent on signage versus promoting
the facility.
9:26:00 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to report SB 204, [29-LS1576\W], from
committee with individual recommendations and attached zero-
fiscal note.
9:26:20 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that seeing no objection, SB 204 moves
from committee.