02/10/1993 09:10 AM Senate STA

  SENATOR  LEMAN  introduced  HJR   24  am  (MILITARY  HOUSING                 
  SHORTAGE) as the first order of business.                                    
                                                                               
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE  ELDON  MULDER,  prime  sponsor  of  HJR  24,                 
  explained the  purpose of the  resolution is to  address the                 
  housing shortage in  relation to  the military needs  within                 
  the Anchorage and Fairbanks areas.                                           
                                                                               
  The   Base  Relocation  and  Closure  Commission  (BRAC)  is                 
  currently  evaluating  the  various   bases  throughout  the                 
  country  for   additional  closure  and   consolidation  and                 
  Alaska's  bases are on that  list.  One  of the criteria for                 
  closure  includes  the  ability  of  both the  existing  and                 
  receiving  communities  infrastructures  to support  forces,                 
  missions  and  personnel.    U.S.  Senator Ted  Stevens  has                 
  pointed out  that it is  the only area or  facet of Alaska's                 
  bases that is deficient.                                                     
                                                                               
  Representative   Mulder  said  HJR   24  directs   AHFC,  in                 
  cooperation  with   the  Municipality   of  Anchorage,   the                 
  Matanuska  Susitna  Borough  and  the  Fairbanks  North Star                 
  Borough, to  develop or recommend a  self-sustaining program                 
  to provide suitable housing for military personnel and their                 
  dependents,  and then to  come back to  the legislature next                 
  year with that plan.                                                         
                                                                               
  Number 070                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR TAYLOR asked who  will own these houses if  they are                 
  built.  REPRESENTATIVE  MULDER answered  the proposal is  to                 
  develop a program, and  it is envisioned that they  would be                 
  privately  owned,  but they  would  be  leased back  to  the                 
  military.  This is a new approach that has never  been tried                 
  before, and Senator Stevens believes it can be effective.                    
                                                                               
  Number 090                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR ELLIS related that he was contacted by a constituent                 
  who told him that there are a number of landlords who  claim                 
  there  are  numerous  units  available  in their  districts.                 
  People would like AHFC  to perhaps assist them in  fixing up                 
  these existing units to make them "suitable" for housing the                 
  military.  REPRESENTATIVE  MULDER responded  that it is  not                 
  envisioned that this  program would actually  be implemented                 
  until such time as  the military is committed to  staying in                 
  Alaska.  He  added that he would hope that the program would                 
  encompass renovation of older units.                                         
                                                                               
  Number 175                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR  MILLER pointed out  that a  copy of  the resolution                 
  should also be sent to the mayor of North Pole.                              
                                                                               
  SENATOR ELLIS requested  that the  resolution be held  until                 
  later in the meeting so that  he could prepare some language                 
  relating to existing landlords and existing housing.                         
                                                                               
                                                                               
  SENATOR LEMAN stated HJR 24 am would  be held until later in                 
  the meeting.