Legislature(1999 - 2000)
05/05/1999 06:28 PM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 32
"An Act making and amending capital appropriations and
reappropriations and capitalizing funds; and providing for
an effective date."
Co-Chair John Torgerson announced there would be a three-
minute time limit for testimony. He encouraged written
testimony be faxed to his office.
CAROL HEYMAN, Small Business Association, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage. She spoke about the Small
Business Development Program stressing its importance as
referred in the Results Based Budgeting process. She noted
that the SBDP was a tool for economic development. She
detailed a history of the services and successes of the
program.
SEAN BROSNAHAN, Small Business Owner, testified via
teleconference from Anchorage. He spoke in favor of funding
for the Economic Development Grant program telling the
committee it had assisted him with his business.
PATRICK SHIFLEA, Executive Director, Alaska Community
Development Corporation, testified via teleconference from
Anchorage. He was concerned about funding for the Alaska
Housing Finance Corporation. Specifically he felt cuts to
the weatherization program would have a negative affect on
the economy.
LAURA RIDEOUT, City of Port Alexander, testified via
teleconference from Port Alexander saying it was imperative
that Port Alexander continues to receive funds from the
Municipal Capital Matching Grant program. She spoke of the
efforts the community had made to lessen its dependency on
state funding.
FRANCENE WILLIS, teleconference operator, from Angoon
listed those present waiting to testify from Angoon.
MAXINE THOMPSON, Mayor, City of Angoon, testified via
teleconference from Angoon. She spoke of the need for
funding for the Village Safe Water projects located in her
community.
MARLENE ZUBAFF (spelling of last name not provided),
Executive Director, Tribal Government, Angoon Community
Association, testified via teleconference from Angoon also
in support of the Village Safe Water projects in Angoon.
She also urged support for the Angoon airport and heavy
equipment purchases. She referred to the "We the People"
march held earlier in the day.
Co-Chair John Torgerson requested written comments faxed to
his office for distribution to committee members.
RANDALL GAMBELL testified via teleconference from Angoon.
He spoke of the need for adequate transportation facilities
in the form of an improved airport.
PETER DUNCAN, Employee, City of Angoon, testified via
teleconference from Angoon. He detailed the equipment the
city used and the need for replacements. He also spoke in
favor of airport funding.
PAULENE JIM testified via teleconference from Angoon about
the Village Safe Water projects in the community and the
need for the airport and heavy equipment. She also
supported funding for the ferry hub.
ROBERT DUNCAN, Employee, City of Angoon, testified via
teleconference from Angoon. He talked about the poor
condition of the heavy equipment.
GIL LUCERO, resident of Angoon, testified via
teleconference from Angoon. He added his support of the
airport facility and the heavy equipment. He noted that
the city employees often used their own equipment.
RON RICKETTS, Executive Director, Fairbanks Industrial
Development Corporation and Member, Alaska Miners
Association testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in
support of funding for the Airborne Geophysical and
Geophysical Mineral Inventory project. He spoke of the
advantages of hard rock mining in Alaska. He stressed that
the project could not be done with the limited funds due to
the high cost of helicopter operations. He asked that this
program not be funded at the expense of other programs that
would help create jobs for Alaskans.
MARY NORDALE, Attorney in private practice, Past
Commissioner of Department of Revenue, Member, long-range
Financial Planning Commission, and Member, Alaska Mining
Association, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks.
She also supported the Airborne Geophysical and Geophysical
Mineral Inventory project. She noted that this would create
many jobs especially in rural areas. She then requested
funding for the Land Status Geographic Information Systems
project and shared the services it would provide. She
noted that federal funding for this project would be lost
if state funding was not provided.
TOM BUDTZEN, Geologic Consultant and Chair, Fairbanks
Branch, Alaska Mining Association, testified via
teleconference from Fairbanks. He supported funding for
mining projects as well.
EARL BEISTLINE, Past President, Alaska Minerals Commission,
testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. He quoted
comments from a report of the Alaska Minerals Commission.
The Legislature should invest at least 5 percent of what
the industry invested over the next ten years.
PAMELA HELD, President, Greater Fairbanks Chamber of
Commerce, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. She
spoke of the need for state funding to supplement the
municipal bonds for the Hutchinson Career Center. She told
the committee about the vocational training services the
center provided. She detailed the cooperative effort with
the local government and the university on this project.
Co-Chair John Torgerson called upon testifiers from Hoonah
and Unalakleet. There was no response from either site.
MARY JANE FATE, Member, Board of Regents, University of
Alaska, Past Chair, Alaska Federation of Natives, Past CEO-
President, [not audible]-Yukon Corporation, a for-profit
corporation for the Village of Rampart, testified via
teleconference from Fairbanks. She urged funding for
deferred maintenance projects for university facilities
statewide. In particular, she noted the needs of the
Hutchinson Career Center and the University Museum.
FRANK WILLIAMS, Vice-Chancellor, University of Alaska,
Fairbanks and Director, Arctic Region Supercomputing
Center, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. He
also supported funding for the university deferred
maintenance projects. He began speaking of the statewide
benefits of the Hutchinson Career Center. He then spoke of
the cultural heritage researched and displayed at the
museum. Funding for all the university deferred maintenance
projects was an investment in the future, he stated.
ROYCE CHAPMAN testified via teleconference from Fairbanks
in support of state funding for the Hutchinson Career
Center. He talked about the local efforts to obtain funding
and the importance to the community.
Tape: SFC - 99 #124, Side B 7:15 PM
Royce Chapman continued.
DEE DEE JEFFREYS testified via teleconference from Coffman
Cove. She listed nine people listening to the meeting with
her that wished to convey a single message. Edward Massy,
Frank Weatherby, Dick Young, Pricilla Wright, Ruby Young,
Ron Hall, Chuck Bateman, Jerry Hedges and herself were
present (no name spelling provided.) She would speak for
them and fax the written comments and signatures of all.
The City of Coffman Cove was a small community and relied
on the municipal capital grants program.
PAULENE HOOTEN, Member, AHFC Weatherization Policy Council,
testified via teleconference from Mat-Su. She expressed her
concern for the funding for important AHFC programs and
asked the committee to restore the funding requested.
TIM ANDERSON, Executive Director, Wasilla Area Seniors,
testified via teleconference from Mat-Su. He supported
funding for the senior housing development grant program.
He spoke of a scheduled housing project and the efforts to
find other funding sources. He told the committee about
the senior population boom.
TIM FOX, Supervisor, local Family Services office in
Palmer, testified via teleconference from Mat-Su. His
comments addressed the Family Services Field Safety, Office
and Transportation Equipment request. He noted there was no
funding in the proposed budget for the program and spoke of
the need. Cellular phones and vehicles were greatly needed.
STEWART WEINBERG, Superintendent of Schools, testified via
teleconference from Fairbanks. He was impressed by the
local support for the Hutchinson Career Center. He urged
the committee to reconsider funding the project.
ROGER BURGGRAF testified via teleconference from Fairbanks
on behalf of himself and the mining industry. He supported
funding for the Airborne Geophysical and Geophysical
Mineral Inventory and the Land Status Geographic
Information Systems. He also commented on the budget
requests for the University of Alaska deferred maintenance
projects including the Hutchinson Career Center and the
museum.
SARA ALDEN, Social Worker, Division of Family and Youth
Services, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. She
requested funding for the Family Services Field Safety,
Office and Transportation Equipment. She detailed the need
for the various equipment and vehicles.
PAUL WOODMAND, Interior Weatherization, the low-income
weatherization provider for the road-connected Interior
region, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. His
organization provided services through the Low-Income
Weatherization Program. He spoke of the people the project
served and their needs. He then noted the local businesses
that provided the services and that the funds spend mostly
remained in the community.
MAY TISHER, teleconference operator, testified via
teleconference from Talkeetna.
HERMAN THOMPSON, Member, Upper Susitna Seniors, Inc.,
testified via teleconference from Talkeetna. He had
concerns about the absence of funding for the Senior
Citizens Housing Development Grant program. There was a
senior housing project planned for the community and this
would prevent the facility from being built. There was not
another facility in the area.
ELAINE TOBIAS, President, Upper Susitna Seniors, testified
via teleconference from Talkeetna. She also stressed the
need for the Senior Citizens Housing Development Grant
program.
JEANETTE RICHARDS, Member, Upper Susitna Seniors, testified
via teleconference from Talkeetna in support of the Senior
Citizens Housing Development Grant program
LILIAN BRALINEIS, Member, Upper Susitna Seniors, testified
via teleconference from Talkeetna in support of the Senior
Citizens Housing Development Grant program.
MAY FISHER, testified via teleconference from Talkeetna.
She talked about the independence of the Upper Susitna
Seniors organization.
RON ALDRICH, Resident of Alaska since 1946, testified via
teleconference from Talkeetna in support of the Senior
Citizens Housing Development Grant program.
DON BAWERS, President, local community council, testified
via teleconference from Talkeetna. He vouched for the
importance of the Senior Citizens Housing Development Grant
program in Talkeetna.
JAKE POOLE, Executive Director, University of Alaska-
Fairbanks Alumni Association and Chair, Greater Fairbanks
Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, testified via
teleconference from Fairbanks. He spoke of the need for
funding for the Hutchinson Career Center.
BART LEBON, Member, Board of Education in Fairbanks, Past
Chair, Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Board of
Directors, Banker since 1975 and Proud Graduate, University
of Alaska, Class of '75, testified via teleconference from
Fairbanks. His comments supported funding for the
Hutchinson Career Center.
JERRY WALKER, Businessperson and concerned citizen
testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in support of
the Hutchinson Career Center. He suggested that by
investing in this project, the Legislature would reduce the
negative long-term affects of projected revenue shortfall.
RON DIXSON, Chair, Tanana Valley Advisory Council,
testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. He urged
funding for the Hutchinson Career Center.
MIKE YOUNG, Assemblyman, Fairbanks Northstar Borough,
testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. He served of
the board of directors of several telecommunication
companies. He told of the services the Hutchinson Career
Center would provide.
JUDY WARWICK testified via teleconference from Fairbanks.
She hoped the committee would reconsider the Hutchinson
Career Center.
Tape: SFC - 99 #125, Side A 8:02 PM
DON GRAY testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. He
reiterated earlier comments made stressing the importance
of the deferred maintenance projects in the university.
EILEEN CUMMINGS, Assemblymember, Fairbanks Northstar
Borough, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks. She
was disappointed in the elimination of funding for the
Hutchinson Career Center.
MARIE DARLIN, Lifelong Juneauite, National Association of
Retired Federal Employees, testified in person. She did
not have any specific projects to speak to, but wanted to
comment on the efforts of many people in realizing senior
projects. They felt the rug was pulled out from under them
with the proposed elimination of funding.
JANE DEMMERT, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on
Aging, testified in person. She shared new data on the
demographics of the state population. Part of the success
in the State of Alaska was because seniors contributed to
the economy. She spoke of the help the Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation provided to many.
BOB BRIGGS, Disability Law Center, testified in person. He
applauded the full funding for the disability-housing
program. He hoped the committee would reconsider funding
for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation senior assisted
living projects. He also recommended funding for deferred
maintenance projects on AHFC facilities.
JACK HERBERT, President, Interior Alaska Building
Association, testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in
support of funding for the AHFC programs. He did not
understand why there should be changes made to such a
successful operation. He also supported funding for the
Hutchinson Career Center.
This concluded public testimony. Co-Chair John Torgerson
announced that bills would be heard the next day.
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