Legislature(2013 - 2014)BARNES 124
04/15/2014 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB157 | |
| SB213 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 157 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 213 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 157-FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE AREAS
8:08:33 AM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the first order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 157, "An Act relating to municipal fire
protection service area boundary changes."
CO-CHAIR NAGEAK moved to adopt the House Committee Substitute to
SB 157, labeled 28-LS1329\C, as the working document.
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX objected.
8:09:19 AM
HANS RODVIK, Intern, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State
Legislature, said Version C changes SB 157 to apply only to
Alaska's seven second class boroughs. He noted that fire
service areas in second class boroughs serve only areas that are
outside of city limits, and there were concerns of "first class
boroughs scooping up some areas that are on the borders." The
intent of SB 157 is to ensure that in the case of an emergency,
property owners are served by the nearest fire department. He
provided maps to the committee, which show there are some fire
departments that travel through a different fire service area to
reach the parcel requesting help. Fire crews will sometimes
pass by another fire department, and SB 157 allows property
owners and municipalities a quick fix to this problem, he
explained. Under current law, local assemblies can moderately
increase the number of land parcels in a fire service area
without the vote of property owners, and SB 157 will allow an
assembly to also reduce the number of parcels in a fire service
area so long as the property owners concur.
MR. RODVIK noted that current law requires an election of the
entire service area just to remove one parcel or make a minor
boundary change. That is costly and cumbersome, he stated, and
the vote often has dismal participation. The bill simplifies
the process by allowing property owners, only in second class
boroughs, to request removal from a fire service area or be
transferred into another area that provides more accessible fire
protection. He said that fire service areas are constantly
growing and being created, and SB 157 allows property owners to
adjust quickly to these boundary changes.
8:14:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KITO III asked if there are problems with
existing statute for increasing the number of parcels in a
service area; the map makes it look like there would be a parcel
that would be removed from a service area and added to another.
MR. RODVIK said SB 157 simplifies the process of shifting the
parcel. Currently, that shift would require a fire service
area-wide election. Under the bill, if the property owners
request being transferred to another service area, it can be
done without having to go through the long election process.
8:16:16 AM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX withdrew her objection. There being no further
objections, Version C was before the committee.
8:16:39 AM
DAVID GIBBS, Director, Emergency Operations, Fairbanks North
Star Borough, said that the Fairbanks North Star Borough
supports the new version of SB 157. Fire service areas were
established in the early 1980s, he explained, with an estimate
of future growth patterns. There are a few situations where
development has not occurred as anticipated, and service area
residents may be receiving substandard response times. The fix
is overly cumbersome as it requires the expense and effort of
multiple elections to make even minor adjustments to the
boundaries of existing fire service areas, he stated. Senate
Bill 157 provides a much needed tool by giving a municipality
the authority to decrease or transfer, by ordinance, a small
number of parcels in a fire service area, and it provides
property owners with an opportunity for a public hearing before
any action is taken. He noted that some residents are still
paying fire protection taxes, but due to limited accessibility
cannot expect to receive high quality fire services. Passage of
SB 157, along with companion ordinances by municipalities, will
allow a property owner to petition a municipality to have the
property removed from a fire service area until there is better
road access, for example. He said there is no mechanism now to
remove people from fire service areas who cannot receive the
service. Parcels can also be transferred to a closer fire
service area for increased fire protection, he added.
8:20:16 AM
JEFF TUCKER, Representative, Alaska Fire Chiefs Association,
said he was recently the chief of the North Star Volunteer Fire
Department. The Alaska Fire Chiefs Association supports SB 157
as it will help provide the most effective and efficient fire
service, he stated. The current process is cumbersome, he said,
and disallows a municipality to adjust fire service boundaries
so that the closest fire service can respond.
8:21:41 AM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX closed public testimony.
CO-CHAIR NAGEAK moved to report HCS SB 157, Version 28-LS1329\C,
Bullard, 4/14/14, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being
no objection, HCS SB 157(CRA) was reported from the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.