05/01/2001 04:20 PM Senate TRA

        SB 218-AIRPORTS:BONDS/CONSTR.FUND/FACILITY CHARGE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN COWDERY,  sponsor of SB 218, informed  the committee that                                                              
he  has received  many calls  from the  Municipality of  Anchorage                                                              
(MOA) and the  Department of Transportation and  Public Facilities                                                              
(DOTPF)  about ongoing  problems  at the  Anchorage  airport.   In                                                              
response  to those calls,  he changed  the title  of the  bill and                                                              
inserted  language that  requires  more accountability.   He  then                                                              
asked a representative from DOTPF to testify.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  DENNIS POSHARD,  Special Assistant,  DOTPF, thanked  Chairman                                                              
Cowdery for  scheduling the bill and  all of the work he  has done                                                              
on behalf  of the Anchorage  airport.   He said DOTPF  supports SB
 and  it supports the  reporting requirements specified  in the                                                              
bill.   SB  218  is straightforward;  it  will  increase the  bond                                                              
authorization  in order  to bond the  capital improvement  project                                                              
(CIP) program  for the Anchorage  airport, something  the airlines                                                              
have requested of DOTPF in the operating agreement negotiations.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. POSHARD told  the committee the only modification  to the bill                                                              
he would  note is  that the  total amount  of $452,900,000  can be                                                              
reduced by $5 million.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN COWDERY asked if the total would be $447,900,000.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. POSHARD said it should be reduced  to reflect that figure.  He                                                              
explained  that a $5  million project  will be  funded out  of AIP                                                              
[Airport Improvement Project] funds.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  TAYLOR  moved to  amend  page  1,  line 8,  by  replacing                                                              
$452,900,000  to  $447,900,000.   There  being no  objection,  the                                                              
motion carried.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  COWDERY noted  there  was no  further  testimony and  he                                                              
announced that he  asked that the project manager  be available to                                                              
answer questions at the Senate Finance Committee hearing.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR TAYLOR  moved to  pass CSSB  218(TRA) from committee  with                                                              
individual recommendations  and its attached fiscal  notes.  There                                                              
being no objection, the motion carried.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
There  being no  further business  to come  before the  committee,                                                              
CHAIRMAN COWDERY adjourned the meeting at 4:27 p.m.