05/07/2004 09:58 AM House TRA

HB 560-MUNICIPAL LAND USE REGULATION                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HOLM  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 560, "An  Act relating to application of municipal                                                               
ordinances  providing  for  planning,   platting,  and  land  use                                                               
regulation  to interests  in land  owned by  the Alaska  Railroad                                                               
Corporation; and providing for an effective date."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Number 0064                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE OGG moved to adopt  CSHB 560, Version 23-LS1959\Q,                                                               
Cook,  5/6/04,  as   the  working  document.     There  being  no                                                               
objection, Version Q was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HOLM  informed the  committee that  Version Q  deletes what                                                               
was Section 1 in Version I.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 0141                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
WENDY  LINDSKOOG,  Director,  External Affairs,  Alaska  Railroad                                                               
Corporation  (ARRC),  explained  that Section  1,  the  provision                                                               
pertaining  to  planning  and zoning  exemptions  for  ARRC,  was                                                               
removed.  The bond sections remain  the same.  However, Version Q                                                               
includes  a  task  force  to  be formed  with  members  from  the                                                               
municipalities along  the Railbelt, the  ARRC, and a  member from                                                               
the  House and  the Senate  to be  appointed by  their respective                                                               
leaderships.   The task  force will meet  during the  interim and                                                               
return with a report and  recommendations to the legislature with                                                               
regard to the planning and zoning for ARRC.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   HOLM   informed  the   committee   that   there  are   13                                                               
municipalities through  which ARRC passes, and  therefore each of                                                               
those has a representative on the task force.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Number 0229                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STEPOVICH noted that  if the railroad continues to                                                               
Greely, there  will be a  couple of  more communities to  [add to                                                               
the task force].                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HOLM said that the size  of the task force could be changed                                                               
when  that  occurs.    In   further  response  to  Representative                                                               
Stepovich, Chair Holm agreed that  it would merely be a formality                                                               
to add communities as the railroad is extended through them.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. LINDSKOOG  pointed out that  the task force will  sunset July                                                               
1,  2005,  and  is  being  implemented  merely  to  help  develop                                                               
recommendations.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  HOLM said  that the  task force  could be  reauthorized as                                                               
necessary.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 0404                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MASEK  moved  to  report CSHB  560,  Version  23-                                                               
LS1959\Q,  Cook,   5/6/04,  out  of  committee   with  individual                                                               
recommendations and  the accompanying fiscal notes.   There being                                                               
no  objection,   CSHB  560(TRA)  was  reported   from  the  House                                                               
Transportation Standing Committee.