Legislature(2015 - 2016)BARNES 124

04/08/2016 01:00 PM House RESOURCES

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01:22:54 PM Start
01:23:45 PM Confirmation(s): Board of Fisheries
01:57:52 PM SB204|| HB371
02:19:45 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ HB 371 KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ SB 204 KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 204 Out of Committee
<Companion Bill to HB 371>
+ Confirmation Hearing: TELECONFERENCED
Board of Fisheries
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               HOUSE RESOURCES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         April 8, 2016                                                                                          
                           1:22 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Benjamin Nageak, Co-Chair                                                                                        
Representative David Talerico, Co-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Bob Herron                                                                                                       
Representative Craig Johnson                                                                                                    
Representative Kurt Olson                                                                                                       
Representative Paul Seaton                                                                                                      
Representative Andy Josephson                                                                                                   
Representative Geran Tarr                                                                                                       
Representative Mike Chenault (alternate)                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Hawker, Vice Chair                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION(S):                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Board of Fisheries                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Alan Cain - Anchorage                                                                                                      
     Israel Payton - Wasilla                                                                                                    
     Robert Ruffner - Soldotna                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 204                                                                                                             
"An Act naming a shooting range in the Knik River Public Use                                                                    
Area the Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SB 204 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 371                                                                                                              
"An Act naming a shooting range in the Knik River Public Use                                                                    
Area the Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD AND HELD                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 204                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE                                                                                
SPONSOR(s): STATE AFFAIRS                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
03/16/16       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/16/16       (S)       STA                                                                                                    
03/22/16       (S)       STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
03/22/16       (S)       Moved SB 204 Out of Committee                                                                          
03/22/16       (S)       MINUTE (STA)                                                                                           
03/23/16       (S)       STA RPT 4DP                                                                                            
03/23/16       (S)       DP:     STOLTZE,    COGHILL,     HUGGINS,                                                              
                         WIELECHOWSKI                                                                                           
04/01/16       (S)       TRANSMITTED TO (H)                                                                                     
04/01/16       (S)       VERSION: SB 204                                                                                        
04/04/16       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/04/16       (H)       RES                                                                                                    
04/08/16       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 371                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE                                                                                
SPONSOR(s): COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
03/18/16       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/18/16       (H)       RES                                                                                                    
04/08/16       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ALAN CAIN, Appointee                                                                                                            
Board of Fisheries                                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified as appointee to the Board of                                                                   
Fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DWIGHT KRAMER                                                                                                                   
Kenai Area Fishermen's Coalition                                                                                                
Kenai, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Alan Cain, Israel                                                                
Payton, and Robert Ruffner, appointees to the Board of                                                                          
Fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
LYNN WHITMORE                                                                                                                   
Anchor Point, Alaska                                                                                                            
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of Alan Cain and                                                                    
Robert Ruffner, appointees to the Board of Fisheries.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
ISRAEL PAYTON, Appointee                                                                                                        
Board of Fisheries                                                                                                              
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified  as  appointee  to the  Board  of                                                            
Fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
COKE WALLACE                                                                                                                    
Healy, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION  STATEMENT:    Testified  in support  of  Israel  Payton,                                                            
appointee to the Board of Fisheries.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
GARY STEVENS                                                                                                                    
Chugiak, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:   Testified  in support  of Israel  Payton and                                                            
Robert Ruffner, appointees to the Board of Fisheries.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT RUFFNER, Appointee                                                                                                       
Board of Fisheries                                                                                                              
Soldotna, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Testified  as  appointee  to the  Board  of                                                            
Fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
EDDIE GRASSER, Lobbyist                                                                                                         
Safari Club International Alaska Chapter                                                                                        
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:   Testified  in support  of Alan Cain,  Israel                                                            
Payton,   and  Robert  Ruffner,   appointees   to  the  Board   of                                                              
Fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DANIEL GEORGE, Staff                                                                                                            
Senator Bill Stoltz                                                                                                             
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:    During  the  hearing  of  SB  204/HB  371,                                                            
presented SB  204 on behalf of  the Senate State  Affairs Standing                                                              
Committee, sponsor of SB 204.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CATHY TILTON                                                                                                     
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:    During  the  hearing  on  SB  204/HB  371,                                                            
discussed  the  bills  on  behalf   of  the  House  Community  and                                                              
Regional Affairs Standing Committee, sponsor of HB 371.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
HEATH HILYARD, Staff                                                                                                            
Representative Cathy Tilton                                                                                                     
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions regarding SB 204/HB 371.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JOHN STURGEON                                                                                                                   
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of SB 204.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ROD ARNO, Executive Director                                                                                                    
Alaska Outdoor Council (AOC)                                                                                                    
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of SB 204.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MIKE COONS                                                                                                                      
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of SB 204.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:22:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DAVID  TALERICO  called  the  House  Resources  Standing                                                            
Committee meeting  to order at  1:22 p.m.  Representatives  Olson,                                                              
Josephson,  Tarr, Herron,  Nageak,  and Talerico  were present  at                                                              
the  call  to   order.    Representatives  Seaton,   Johnson,  and                                                              
Chenault (alternate) arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION(S):  Board of Fisheries                                                                                           
                        CONFIRMATION(S):                                                                                    
                       Board of Fisheries                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
1:23:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR TALERICO  announced that the  first order of  business is                                                              
the  confirmation  hearing  for  Alan  Cain,  Israel  Payton,  and                                                              
Robert Ruffner, appointees to the Board of Fisheries.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:24:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALAN CAIN,  Appointee, Board  of Fisheries, said  he has  lived in                                                              
Alaska 46  years and  worked as  a Wildlife  Trooper for  25 years                                                              
stationed mainly  in Southeast.   He said  he also worked  for the                                                              
Department of  Fish & Game  for 10 years  as its criminal  justice                                                              
planner, and  during the  last five years  he has contracted  with                                                              
state departments  assisting with  enforcement issues  and writing                                                              
regulations.   He said he has  enjoyed spending 15 of  those years                                                              
as an enforcement  advisor to the Board of Fisheries,  and that he                                                              
values  the  process  of  putting measures  in  place  to  benefit                                                              
people and  to protect and sustain  Alaska's resources.   He would                                                              
be honored to serve on the Board of Fisheries, he said.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   TALERICO  opened   public  testimony   on  Mr.   Cain's                                                              
appointment to the Board of Fisheries.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:26:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DWIGHT KRAMER,  Kenai Area Fishermen's  Coalition, noted  that his                                                              
organization  is  a private  angler  sport  fishing group  with  a                                                              
membership  of 200,  including  10 retired  fisheries  biologists.                                                              
He  said the  coalition supports  Mr. Cain  because while  working                                                              
with  him in  past  meetings  it  has witnessed  his  professional                                                              
demeanor and capacity  as an advisor to the Board  of Fisheries on                                                              
enforcement issues.   Mr. Cain treats  people with respect  and is                                                              
willing to listen  to all sides before rendering  a decision based                                                              
on  the   facts.    The  coalition   believes  Mr.   Cain's  board                                                              
experience  and fisheries  knowledge  will make  him an  excellent                                                              
board member.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:27:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNN WHITMORE advised  he has been a member of the  "Fish and Game                                                              
Advisory  Committee" for  17  years and  has  worked through  many                                                              
issues with  Mr. Cain.   Mr. Cain as a  "class act," he  said, and                                                              
he is  thrilled  that Mr. Cain  is crazy  enough  to serve on  the                                                              
Board of Fisheries  because the board will do well  to have him in                                                              
that capacity.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR   TALERICO  closed   public  testimony   on  Mr.   Cain's                                                              
appointment after ascertaining no one else wished to testify.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:28:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TARR noted  Mr. Cain  has had  a long career  with                                                              
the  Wildlife  Troopers.     She  asked  whether   anyone  on  the                                                              
committee  has  worked  with  Mr.  Cain,  because  some  level  of                                                              
scrutiny  should be  given appointees  and the  committee did  not                                                              
ask questions.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR TALERICO said  he spoke with someone who  worked with Mr.                                                              
Cain in  law enforcement  and he was  impressed because  the words                                                              
used  about  Mr.  Cain included  integrity,  loyalty,  trust,  and                                                              
more.   As a  side note,  he added, that  the teleconference  aide                                                              
worked with Mr. Cain and speaks highly of him, as well.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOSEPHSON said the  person currently  holding this                                                              
seat is from Anchorage and noted Mr. Cain is from Anchorage.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:30:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ISRAEL  PAYTON,  Appointee,  Board  of  Fisheries, said  he  is  a                                                              
lifelong  Alaskan,  born  and  raised in  Skwentna  on  the  Hayes                                                              
River.  He stated  he has lived a subsistence way  of life and was                                                              
taught to only take  what was needed and to never  waste anything.                                                              
He is currently  a resident of Wasilla and salesman  for Airframes                                                              
Alaska  and he  has  worked  as a  hunting  and fishing  guide  in                                                              
Southcentral   and   Western   Alaska   for   nearly   20   years.                                                              
Additionally,  he is  a member of  the Matanuska  Valley Fish  and                                                              
Game Advisory  Committee, and has  actively participated  in Board                                                              
of Fisheries  and Board  of Game  meetings, joint board  meetings,                                                              
and  various  other fish  and  game  meetings  over the  past  six                                                              
years.  He pointed  out that he has good relationships  with other                                                              
advisory committees,  other involved  Alaskans, Alaska  Department                                                              
of Fish  & Game staff,  and other  board members participating  in                                                              
different  fisheries  and  regions of  Alaska,  including  guided,                                                              
sport, personal  use, and subsistence.   While his  familiarity of                                                              
commercial  fishing   is  not  as  strong  as   in  personal  use,                                                              
subsistence, and sport  fisheries, Mr. Payton said he  will make a                                                              
conscious effort to  reach out to those users  and become familiar                                                              
with  all of  the fisheries  and  the participating  groups.   The                                                              
commercial  and  economic  values  are  important  to  communities                                                              
around Alaska and  Alaskan families, and he was taught  at a young                                                              
age that  involvement in fish  and game  issues is his  civil duty                                                              
and  giving back  to the  community.   He described  the fish  and                                                              
game process  as being  unique and  special to  Alaska because  it                                                              
allows any  individual to  come up with  a regulation,  submit it,                                                              
have it vetted  through a public process, and,  possibly, put into                                                              
the Alaska  Department of  Fish &  Game regulations.   He  said he                                                              
strongly believes  in this unique process  and he wants  to see it                                                              
continue for many generations.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:33:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. PAYTON  related that,  if confirmed  he will  be a  good board                                                              
member and will  try his best to:   be fair and impartial  with no                                                              
personal  agenda;  be  an active  and  involved  participant;  put                                                              
boots on  the ground in the  different fisheries across  the state                                                              
to  get a  firsthand experience;  reach  out to  all users;  build                                                              
strong trusting  relationships;  and make  decisions based  on all                                                              
available  resources  of  fish  and  game  data,  science,  public                                                              
testimony,  and  tribal  knowledge.   He  said  it  is key  to  be                                                              
accessible to  the public and  an advocate.   He noted  that board                                                              
members do  not represent a specific  interest or user  group, but                                                              
rather  represent all  regions  of  the state  and  all users  and                                                              
fisheries  equally.   He allowed  he is nervous  about serving  on                                                              
this  board because  he  does  not have  all  of the  answers  and                                                              
fixes, but  he stressed that he  is a hard worker and  fast study.                                                              
Having  resources available  for  upcoming generations  is at  the                                                              
core of his  beliefs, he said.   His unique upbringing  will serve                                                              
the board  and Alaskans well, he  stated, and he would  be honored                                                              
and humbled with the committee's vote for his confirmation.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  TALERICO   opened  public  testimony  on   Mr.  Payton's                                                              
appointment to the Board of Fisheries.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:36:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
COKE WALLACE  said he  has 40-plus years  of using resources  from                                                              
berries  to bears  and  met Mr.  Payton  specifically through  the                                                              
Dall Sheep  Working Group of the  advisory committee process.   He                                                              
stated  that  the  committee  would  be hard  pressed  to  find  a                                                              
better-rounded  individual to serve  in such  a capacity  and that                                                              
Mr.  Payton  will  make  good  informed  decisions  based  on  all                                                              
available information  at hand.   He offered his hope  that Alaska                                                              
will sustain its resources and maybe even have some abundance.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:37:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GARY STEVENS  noted he has  lived in Alaska  45 years and  met Mr.                                                              
Payton  through the  advisory  committee process  as  well as  the                                                              
Board of  Fisheries and Board  of Game  public meetings.   He said                                                              
he feels strongly  that Mr. Payton  would be a good member  of the                                                              
Board of  Fisheries as it  is a difficult  job, and Mr.  Payton is                                                              
not only  willing, but happy,  to get on  that board.   He related                                                              
that he  supports Mr.  Payton 100  percent and  would like  to see                                                              
the committee support him as well.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:38:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DWIGHT KRAMER,  Kenai Area  Fishermen's Coalition, testified  that                                                              
his organization  supports Mr. Payton's  appointment to  the Board                                                              
of Fisheries.   The coalition  does not  know Mr. Peyton  well, he                                                              
said,  but  it appreciates  his  understanding  and  knowledge  of                                                              
Matanuska  Valley  fishery  issues  and the  coalition  knows  Mr.                                                              
Payton will be  an asset to the  board.  He said he  has discussed                                                              
various fishing  issues with Mr.  Payton in the past  and although                                                              
they didn't  always agree,  Mr. Payton  was respectful,  engaging,                                                              
and  interested  in   what  he  had  to  say   and  interested  in                                                              
considering all points of view.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  TALERICO   closed  public  testimony  on   Mr.  Payton's                                                              
appointment after ascertaining no one else wished to testify.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:39:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT RUFFNER,  Appointee,  Board of Fisheries,  noted that  this                                                              
is the  second time around  for him as  an appointee and  not much                                                              
has  changed in  the  past year.    He said  he  resides south  of                                                              
Soldotna between  the Kenai and Kasilof  rivers.  For the  past 20                                                              
years   he   has  worked   professionally   for   a   conservation                                                              
organization  that  dealt  with   various  fisheries  conservation                                                              
related projects  across the  Kenai Peninsula  and on up  into the                                                              
Matanuska-Susitna  area.  He  knows many  of the players  involved                                                              
in the  statewide fisheries.   His  motivation  is that in  having                                                              
learned a  lot about Cook  Inlet and a  little bit about  the rest                                                              
of  the state,  he is  eager  to learn  more  about how  fisheries                                                              
operate statewide.   Academically,  his background  is in  science                                                              
with  a degree  in  geology  and he  has  applied  that degree  in                                                              
rivers  and river  mechanics.    He has  a good  understanding  of                                                              
modeling,  statistics,  and mathematics,  he  said,  all of  which                                                              
will  come  into play  when  board  members are  deliberating  and                                                              
trying   to  make   good   decisions  based   on   data,  so   his                                                              
understanding of how that data is derived will be helpful.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:41:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HERRON  recalled the conversations of  last session                                                              
and  referred to  Mr.  Ruffner's 2/20/15  letter  to the  governor                                                              
when  applying  for  the  seat,  contained  within  the  committee                                                              
packets.   He asked  whether there is  anything Mr.  Ruffner would                                                              
change.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. RUFFNER  responded that he  does not have  a copy in  front of                                                              
him, but does not  believe so in that nothing  in his professional                                                              
career  has changed  except  that  he has  stepped  down from  the                                                              
position of executive director of the Kenai Watershed Forum.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HERRON asked  Mr. Ruffner  for his thoughts  about                                                              
the confirmation process  last year when he applied  for the Board                                                              
of Fisheries seat.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. RUFFNER answered  that he had been pretty  excited and hopeful                                                              
he  would receive  the confirmation,  but  it didn't  happen.   He                                                              
acknowledged  he was disappointed  at the  time but realized  that                                                              
the loss did  not diminish his resolve  to do what he  thought was                                                              
best for  Alaska's fisheries and  fishermen across the state.   He                                                              
said  he learned  to  be more  patient but  it  didn't dampen  his                                                              
enthusiasm in the board.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  TALERICO  opened  public   testimony  on  Mr.  Ruffner's                                                              
appointment to the Board of Fisheries.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:44:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DWIGHT  KRAMER,  Kenai  Area Fishermen's  Coalition,  pointed  out                                                              
that many  members of the coalition  have served with  Mr. Ruffner                                                              
on various boards,  committees, and working groups.   He described                                                              
Mr. Ruffner  as the consummate professional  in that he  is always                                                              
well  prepared  and  well-studied  on the  subject  matter.    Mr.                                                              
Ruffner's  scientific   credentials  with  habitat   and  resource                                                              
issues  will  be  a  welcome  addition   to  the  board,  and  his                                                              
familiarity  with   Kenai  Peninsula  and  South   Central  Alaska                                                              
fishery issues will  prove to be a welcome asset  to the board, as                                                              
well.   Mr.  Ruffner's biggest  personal asset  is his  integrity,                                                              
and the coalition  believes this attribute will  become infectious                                                              
and will  have a  positive effect  on the  character of  the whole                                                              
board.   He thanked Governor Walker  for his excellent  choices to                                                              
be considered  for positions  on the Board  of Fisheries  for this                                                              
legislative cycle.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:45:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNN  WHITMORE  stated  he  agrees with  everything  said  by  Mr.                                                              
Kramer in  support of  Mr. Ruffner's appointment  to the  Board of                                                              
Fisheries.   The board is overdue  for more scientists  serving on                                                              
it, he  opined.  He  offered his belief  that, unlike what  he has                                                              
seen  at past  board  meetings,  Mr.  Ruffner will  represent  the                                                              
resource first and the fishermen and other user groups second.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:46:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
GARY  STEVENS  said  committee  members  may  remember  that  last                                                              
session he  was opposed  to Mr.  Ruffner's confirmation  primarily                                                              
due  to  the  seat  that  Mr.  Ruffner   had  been  appointed  to.                                                              
However,  he continued,  this session  he  supports Mr.  Ruffner's                                                              
nomination given  the seat he has  been appointed to and  with the                                                              
other  two  nominees.    Prior to  the  last  session's  vote,  he                                                              
related,  he took  Mr. Ruffner  to  lunch and  found him  to be  a                                                              
gentleman  and  very intelligent,  and  therefore  he  would be  a                                                              
great addition to the board.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:47:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
EDDIE  GRASSER,   Lobbyist,  Safari   Club  International   Alaska                                                              
Chapter, said  the organization  he represents supports  all three                                                              
candidates for  the Board of Fisheries.   He added that  all three                                                              
appointees   would  make   a  significant   contribution  to   the                                                              
constructive nature of the board and its ongoing duties.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  TALERICO  closed  public   testimony  on  Mr.  Ruffner's                                                              
appointment after ascertaining no one else wished to testify.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:48:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON  advised he has known Mr.  Ruffner for almost                                                              
the entire  time he  has been in  the Soldotna area.   He  said he                                                              
wholeheartedly supported  Mr. Ruffner's appointment  last year and                                                              
wholeheartedly  supports him  this year  as he  cannot think  of a                                                              
better person for the job.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON noted  he worked  with Mr.  Ruffner in  the                                                              
past and  found his  protection of habitat  to be responsible  and                                                              
helpful  for   the  entire  fisheries   resources  on   the  Kenai                                                              
Peninsula.   He expressed his hope  that that will  translate into                                                              
the Board of Fisheries and offered his support the confirmation.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON  referred to Mr. Ruffner's  application and                                                              
noted Mr.  Ruffner had  listed that his  family would  be affected                                                              
financially  by decisions  made by  the board.   He requested  Mr.                                                              
Ruffner to explain.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. RUFFNER  described it as a  mistake last year that  he thought                                                              
had been  corrected.   He stated  he does not  have a  conflict of                                                              
interest, financial or otherwise.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TARR noted  that  Mr. Ruffner  is  from the  Kenai                                                              
area and  is replacing the de  facto Bristol Bay  commercial seat.                                                              
She recalled last  session's discussion as to whether  Mr. Ruffner                                                              
was more  of a  commercial or  sport person.   She commented  that                                                              
Bristol Bay  is Alaska's  most important fishery  and said  she is                                                              
hopeful  that  in the  future  there  will  be someone  from  that                                                              
region back  on the  board, although  she appreciates  the Bristol                                                              
Bay folks  not opposing Mr. Ruffner's  appointment due to  loss of                                                              
that seat.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:52:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON  said there have been specific  seats by type                                                              
of  fisheries, but  never specific  geographic seats.   He  opined                                                              
that the  Kenai Peninsula  has never  had a seat  on the  Board of                                                              
Fisheries  even though  it is  engaged in  a number  of the  major                                                              
fisheries.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT  clarified that the Kenai  Peninsula had a                                                              
representative on  the Board of  Fisheries approximately  20 years                                                              
ago.   He noted  his appreciation  for there  not being  the usual                                                              
opposition to  the Board  of Fisheries appointments.   He  said he                                                              
has  known Mr.  Ruffner  for a  number of  years  and Mr.  Ruffner                                                              
exemplifies  what  he is  looking  for  in  a Board  of  Fisheries                                                              
member, such  as someone who can  start in the middle.   He opined                                                              
that  the public  is not  concerned whether  a board  member is  a                                                              
commercial fisherman  or a sports  fisherman, but that  the person                                                              
is on the board  to protect and look after Alaska's  resource.  He                                                              
said  he does  not know  the  other two  gentlemen  but has  heard                                                              
about them from  different folks and thinks they all  will do well                                                              
on the Board of Fisheries.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR TALERICO  noted that after his brief  experience watching                                                              
the  Board  of Fisheries  he  appreciates  anyone willing  to  put                                                              
their name in and serve on the board as it is not easy.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:54:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR NAGEAK moved  to advance the confirmations  of Alan Cain,                                                              
Israel  Payton, and  Robert Ruffner,  appointees to  the Board  of                                                              
Fisheries,  to the  joint  session  of the  House  and Senate  for                                                              
consideration.    He reminded  members  that signing  the  reports                                                              
regarding  appointments  to  boards  and  commissions  in  no  way                                                              
reflects  individual  members'  approval  or  disapproval  of  the                                                              
appointees, and that  the nominations are merely  forwarded to the                                                              
full legislature  for confirmation or  rejection.  There  being no                                                              
objection, the confirmations were advanced.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:55:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 1:55 p.m. to 1:57 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
           SB 204-KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE                                                                       
           HB 371-KENNY & PATTI BARBER SHOOTING RANGE                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:57:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR TALERICO  announced that  the next  order of  business is                                                              
SENATE BILL NO.  204, "An Act naming a shooting range  in the Knik                                                              
River  Public  Use  Area  the  Kenny  and  Patti  Barber  Shooting                                                              
Range," and  HOUSE BILL NO. 371,  "An Act naming a  shooting range                                                              
in  the Knik  River Public  Use Area  the Kenny  and Patti  Barber                                                              
Shooting Range."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:58:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DANIEL   GEORGE,  Staff,   Senator  Bill   Stoltz,  Alaska   State                                                              
Legislature,  addressed  the committee  on  behalf  of the  Senate                                                              
State Affairs Standing  Committee, sponsor of SB 204  and of which                                                              
Senator  Stoltz  is  the  chair.   He  said  Representative  Cathy                                                              
Tilton would discuss the companion bill, HB 371.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CATHY  TILTON, Alaska State  Legislature, addressed                                                              
the  committee  on behalf  of  the  House Community  and  Regional                                                              
Affairs Standing  Committee, sponsor  of HB 371  and of  which she                                                              
is the chair.   She presented a  video clip of the  shooting range                                                              
proposed to  be named the Kenny  and Patti Barber  Shooting Range.                                                              
[The video clip played from 1:59:38 to 2:01:54.]                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:01:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TILTON explained  that the  Knik River Public  Use                                                              
Area  is   the  246,000  acre   multiple  use  recreational   area                                                              
established by House  Bill 307, passed in 2006.   There was public                                                              
outcry to  try to  clean up that  area and  a management  plan was                                                              
adopted  that restricted  shooting  in some  areas  and created  a                                                              
shooting  range.    The  shooting   range  was  created  with  the                                                              
assistance   of  Dan   Sullivan,   former   commissioner  of   the                                                              
Department of  Natural Resources  (DNR), the Office  of Management                                                              
&  Budget (OMB),  and the  legislature,  with the  backing of  the                                                              
National Rifle  Association (NRA)  and funds committed  from other                                                              
groups.  The  intent is for a  clean and safe place  for people to                                                              
go,  with a  state-of-the-art  facility in  one  of the  beautiful                                                              
areas  of Alaska.   Turning  to SB  204, she  explained it  honors                                                              
Kenny   and  Patti   Barber,   fairly  ordinary   and   unassuming                                                              
individuals,  who  are described  by  DNR Deputy  Commissioner  Ed                                                              
Fogels as "extraordinary  stewards" of the land.   Kenny and Patti                                                              
Barber  spent  decades   trying  to  put  this   together  through                                                              
community  involvement and  volunteering.   They  are  one of  the                                                              
most dedicated husband  and wife teams in Alaska when  it comes to                                                              
observing  the traditions  of hunting  and fishing,  with both  of                                                              
them involved  in the  Matanuska Valley  Sportsmen and  the Alaska                                                              
Outdoor  Council.   They  played  a central  role  in forming  the                                                              
Alaska  Outdoor  Access  Alliance, spearheading  the  creation  of                                                              
this   area   and   shaping  policy   of   the   shooting   range.                                                              
Representative Tilton  pointed out that it is named  the Kenny and                                                              
Patti Barber  Shooting Range  because it  is alphabetical.   There                                                              
have been  6,699 visitors and the  rules are posted at  the range,                                                              
but no  signs will  be replaced  until they are  worn out  so that                                                              
funds can  go straight  into the shooting  range.  Therefore,  she                                                              
pointed  out,  the sign  to  honor  Kenny  and Patti  Barber  will                                                              
probably not exist during their lifetime.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:08:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CHENAULT recalled  from the  video that there  are                                                              
garbage cans.   He asked whether there are restroom  facilities or                                                              
porta-potties.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HEATH HILYARD,  Staff, Representative  Cathy Tilton,  Alaska State                                                              
Legislature, confirmed there are blue porta-potties.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CHENAULT noted he  is unsure whether  construction                                                              
is  complete  and  how  much  further  the  plans  will  take  the                                                              
shooting range.   He observed that the rules do  not allow shotgun                                                              
shot and so assumed there are no clay pigeons or birds to shoot.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. GEORGE  responded that this  is a slightly different  shooting                                                              
range than what  most folks are familiar with, such  as the Rabbit                                                              
Creek  Shooting Range  in  Anchorage where  younger  folks can  be                                                              
taught to shoot.   The facility discussed within SB  204 is run by                                                              
the Department  of Natural  Resources, not  the Alaska  Department                                                              
of Fish &  Game.  The facility  does not have staff  from DNR, but                                                              
is assisted by the  land manager from DNR and the  facility is run                                                              
by volunteers.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:11:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   HERRON   referred  to   Representative   Tilton's                                                              
comment  regarding the  order of  names and  asked whether  people                                                              
would prefer it be Patti and Kenny Barber.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON  replied that the  order of Kenny  and Patti                                                              
Barber is  fine, and  that she  was just  pointing out  that Patti                                                              
volunteers a  lot of her time  and sometimes the woman  behind the                                                              
man is the one who backs him up.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT offered to make a friendly amendment.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TILTON shook her head no.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR TALERICO opened public testimony.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:12:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN STURGEON  advised he  knows Kenny and  Patti Barber  well and                                                              
knows  them to  be tireless  workers in  supporting public  access                                                              
and especially in  trying to establish a shooting range.   He said                                                              
he strongly supports SB 204.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROD  ARNO,  Executive  Director,  Alaska  Outdoor  Council  (AOC),                                                              
offered his  organization's support and  said the AOC  is "tickled                                                              
to death" to  have the name change  for the shooting range.   This                                                              
is a unique area,  he said, because the Knik River  is at the edge                                                              
of urban  sprawl.  The  Barbers live close  to this area  and have                                                              
worked to  make this a  public use area.   Not only did  they work                                                              
to create  the legislation to establish  the public use  area, but                                                              
they  continued   implementing  what   was  agreed  upon   in  the                                                              
legislation that  established it.   Alaska is fortunate to  have a                                                              
couple of  folks interested in  preserving outdoor  traditions and                                                              
willing to take a stand to make it safer, he said.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MIKE COONS  testified in support  of SB 204  and noted he  is part                                                              
of the volunteer  group with Ken  and Patti Barber.   He described                                                              
them as  rock stars  and stewards  of the area  and said  they put                                                              
this together and  they work tirelessly every day  cleaning it up.                                                              
He  remarked  that  during  the  last two  times  he  was  at  the                                                              
shooting range  there were  Dall sheep on  the mountains  that did                                                              
not  twitch once  from the  shooting.   Ken and  Patti Barber  are                                                              
humble and  the quiet silent  type, he  said, but are  getting the                                                              
job done  where everyone else  would be making  noise.    He added                                                              
that according  to DNR, this  winter there  was an average  of 400                                                              
vehicles driving to  the range, which equates to  400 shooters per                                                              
week this winter alone.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR TALERICO  closed public  testimony after ascertaining  no                                                              
one else wished to testify.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:17:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON  stated he has reviewed the  pictures and it                                                              
is  one of  the nicest  outdoor  shooting ranges  he  has seen  in                                                              
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  TALERICO added  that  Kenny and  Patti  Barber are  well                                                              
known  beyond   their  community  and   are  well  known   in  his                                                              
community.   They have  been involved in  more than  this shooting                                                              
range  over the years,  he noted,  such as  cleanup efforts  along                                                              
roadways and highways  for which they've spent a lot  of their own                                                              
time and money.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:18:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  NAGEAK moved  to report  SB  204 out  of committee  with                                                              
individual  recommendations  and  the accompanying  fiscal  notes.                                                              
There  being no  objection,  SB 204  was moved  out  of the  House                                                              
Resources Standing Committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
[HB 371 was held over.]                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:19:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Resources Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:19 p.m.