Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/15/2001 01:12 PM House TRA
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 15, 2001
1:12 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Vic Kohring, Chair
Representative Drew Scalzi
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Albert Kookesh
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chair
Representative Scott Ogan
Representative Mary Kapsner
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 151
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 151
"An Act naming the William R. Wood Fairbanks International
Airport; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SSHB 151 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 79
"An Act naming the Fred Zharoff Memorial Bridge."
- MOVED SB 79 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SSHB 151
SHORT TITLE:WILLIAM WOOD FAIRBANKS INTERN'TL AIRPORT
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)WHITAKER
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/26/01 0438 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/26/01 0438 (H) TRA
03/12/01 0542 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED
03/12/01 0542 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
03/12/01 0542 (H) TRA
03/15/01 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: SB 79
SHORT TITLE:FRED ZHAROFF MEMORIAL BRIDGE
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) AUSTERMAN
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/08/01 0309 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/08/01 0309 (S) TRA
02/09/01 0327 (S) COSPONSOR(S): LINCOLN,
COWDERY
02/20/01 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/20/01 (S) Moved Out of Committee
MINUTE(TRA)
02/21/01 0450 (S) TRA RPT 5DP
02/21/01 0451 (S) DP:COWDERY, WILKEN, WARD,
ELTON, TAYLOR
02/21/01 0451 (S) FN1: ZERO(DOT)
02/26/01 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP
203
02/27/01 0519 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 2/27/01
02/27/01 0521 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
02/27/01 0521 (S) COSPONSOR(S): PEARCE,
PHILLIPS, WILKEN,
02/27/01 0521 (S) TORGERSON, GREEN
02/27/01 0521 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
UNAN CONSENT
02/27/01 0521 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 79
02/27/01 0521 (S) PASSED Y20 N-
02/27/01 0524 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
02/27/01 0524 (S) VERSION: SB 79
02/28/01 0452 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/28/01 0452 (H) TRA
03/09/01 0530 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): STEVENS
03/15/01 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE JIM WHITAKER
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 411
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SSHB 151.
KURT PARKAN, Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
3132 Channel Drive
Juneau, Alaska 99801-7898
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided department's position on SSHB 151.
CLIFFORD STONE, Staff
to Senator Alan Austerman
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 417
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented sponsor statement for SB 79, on
behalf of Senator Austerman.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-19, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR VIC KOHRING called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:12 p.m. Members present at the
call to order were Representatives Kohring, Scalzi, Wilson, and
Kookesh.
SSHB 151-WILLIAM WOOD FAIRBANKS INTERN'TL AIRPORT
Number 0079
CHAIR KOHRING announced the first order of business would be the
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 151, "An Act naming the
William R. Wood Fairbanks International Airport; and providing
for an effective date."
Number 0161
REPRESENTATIVE JIM WHITAKER, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor
of SSHB 151, declared that Dr. William R. Wood was a great man.
He was a poet, an educator, a builder, and an "inspirer" for
those of those who lived in "our" community. He said that Dr.
Wood took "us" to a farther place than we would have been
otherwise, which is the essence of his greatness. He went on to
say that Dr. Wood made very few enemies along the way, and that
he was always respectful.
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER showed the House Transportation Standing
Committee a letter that Dr. Wood wrote to him on September 30,
2000, Representative Whitaker's 50th birthday. He read:
Sir James,
Sorry to have missed the gathering of the faithful.
There are times the ancient bones say no. But top of
the best in your quest to serve. Jim, you have the
courage of conviction, the clarity of thinking, and
the strength of will to persist and prevail. It's not
an easy task, or always pleasant. It will take a lot
of hope, confidence, and a tinge of humility. As you
listen and even perhaps learn, reach for the far
horizon, so that humankind may continue as a very
special breed, brains and compassion to strive toward
making a better place to live and a way of life for
all. It can be done. Wood
REPRESENTATIVE WHITTAKER mentioned that this letter hangs on his
wall.
CHAIR KOHRING commented that this was a very "neat memento."
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER stated that Dr. Wood inspired him by
those "few, simple words, but so eloquently and simply spoken."
He said that Dr. Wood inspired thousands of people to be a
"little better." He read the following letter-to-the-editor
from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:
I was new to Alaska in 1980, living in Anderson, 75
miles south of Fairbanks, attending UAF [University of
Alaska Fairbanks] rural college classes and traveling
to Fairbanks frequently. One day I was waiting for my
ride outside the J.C. Penney store, when a tall,
distinguished, gray-haired gentleman came walking down
the sidewalk. Almost abreast of me, he stooped to
pick up a piece of litter and walked it over to a
trashcan. Then he stood and smiled at me with genuine
goodwill as if to say, "pass it on." I knew I had
just met the famous Dr. William Wood, already known to
me through his writing and his name on the busiest
building on UAF's campus. I also knew in that
instant, without a word between us, that here was a
man who cared, a man of great moral character who had
the stuff of greatness.
Later, when I was an intern at the [Fairbanks Daily]
News-Miner, I was privileged to meet Dr. Wood for
real, when he came upstairs to greet everyone and turn
in his column. But that first meeting is the one that
struck me as one of those turning points in my life.
What a great lesson he taught me in a wordless
30seconds. How many people can do that?
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER remarked that this letter takes "us" to
the essence of why the Fairbanks International Airport should be
named the William R. Wood Fairbanks International Airport. It
would enable people, for that brief moment they walk through the
airport, to think about Dr. Wood, who asked "nothing more of
life."
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER commented that for the last 15 years of
Dr. Wood's life, their offices were 20 feet apart. He said that
he and Dr. Wood ate lunch together everyday for seven years.
Dr. Wood "truly didn't wanted anything more than to leave his
community just a little better; that's all he wanted." So, if
by renaming this airport to William R. Wood Fairbanks
International Airport, conveys that message to the next
generation, "we've done a very good thing."
Number 0571
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI referred to a letter [not in packet] that,
in good spirit, opposed this bill. The letter was depicting
earlier comments by Representative Whitaker in regard to Dr.
Wood's character, in that he wouldn't want anything for himself.
This letter was not an opposition in a negative way.
Number 0610
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER replied that he does not want this bill
for Dr. Wood; he wants it for his community. He said that he
wants this name change for future-generation members to be able
look at the plaque in the airport and think of Dr. Wood. He is
sure that the plaque would read, "He wanted nothing more than to
leave his community just a little bit better."
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER explained that the "very little"
opposition that exists for this bill stems from the notion that
Dr. Wood was not associated with aviation. However, many people
who use the airport are not associated with aviation other than
to use it [airport] as a community resource and transportation
hub. Representative Whitaker said he wouldn't be against
restricting this renaming to only someone who might be
associated with aviation. However, overarching that is an
opportunity to name the airport for a gentleman who has inspired
several generations. Dr. Wood was a 94-year-old active man when
he passed away, and even on his deathbed he tried to "get things
done." Representative Whitaker stated that he himself was
"considerate" of those who want this honor reserved for one
associated with aviation. But SSHB 151 reaches a larger
community that "needs to be served for generations to come by
Dr. Wood."
Number 0704
REPRESENTATIVE KOOKESH mentioned that the Ted Stevens Anchorage
International Airport was probably named for someone who used
the airport like "the rest of us." He wondered if the
municipality of Fairbanks or boroughs supported SSHB 151, since
he did not see any letters of support from them.
Number 0728
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER replied that "we" did not ask for any
letters of support. But if there was a debate at the local
level, they could probably obtain them.
Number 0755
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON made a motion to move SSHB 151 out of
committee with individual recommendations and the zero fiscal
note.
CHAIR KOHRING mentioned that Dr. Wood's name appears on other
facilities but this honor is appropriate as well. He said that
the concept of naming the airport after Dr. Wood is a good idea
since it is in a central location, which would enable people to
learn who Dr. Wood was and the things that he did for not only
the Fairbanks area, but also the State of Alaska. So, this is
an appropriate honor, even though there was not a direct
connection between his work in education and transportation.
Number 0820
KURT PARKAN, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF),
stated that DOT&PF supports this legislation. He discussed the
naming of airports. He said many airports in Alaska are named
after prominent people in the community who were not necessarily
aviators. When an airport serves as a gateway to a community,
"it's good to have the airport named after someone who is highly
respected and well-loved by the community." So, it is very
appropriate that Dr. Wood be the name that people see when
entering the Fairbanks International Airport.
MR. PARKAN explained that Dr. Wood was a charter member of the
airport advisory council at the Fairbanks International Airport.
He was one of, the most -if not the most- active members of that
committee. He said that Dr. Wood attended nearly every meeting
unless he was ill. If he was unable to attend a meeting, he had
a staff person take notes for him. As recently as the January
23 meeting, which Dr. Wood could not attend, he called and
apologized to the director for not being present.
Number 0917
CHAIR KOHRING brought attention to a concern last year that the
naming of public roads and different projects might be a "little
excessive." He mentioned that [the legislature] named the Bruce
Heckler Parkway and the Eisenhower Corridor in Anchorage. He
said that it seems that every year there are two to three things
that are named.
MR. PARKAN replied that this could create a problem over time,
if "we are naming every five miles of road by a different
person." However, when a name change relates to something like
an airport, it is different.
CHAIR KOHRING stated that he does not object to the names, as
long as there is not a major fiscal impact on the state, besides
maintaining signs.
MR. PARKAN commented that there is a cost associated with new
signs, and "we generally absorb those costs."
CHAIR KOHRING asked Representative Whitaker if this name change
would just require a plaque to note that it is the William R.
Wood International Airport.
Number 0982
REPRESENTATIVE WHITAKER said that this has not been determined
yet, but that he guesses the cost would be borne by the
community.
Number 0996
CHAIR KOHRING stated that there being no objection [to the
earlier motion], SSHB 151 was moved out of the House
Transportation Standing Committee.
SB 79-FRED ZHAROFF MEMORIAL BRIDGE
CHAIR KOHRING announced that the next order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 79, "An Act naming the Fred Zharoff Memorial
Bridge."
Number 1020
CLIFFORD STONE, Staff to Senator Alan Austerman, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 79 on behalf of Senator Austerman,
sponsor. He explained that Senator Austerman and the community
felt that this [bill] was an appropriate tribute to a man
[former Representative and Senator Fred Zharoff] who gave his
life to public service in the public schools of Kodiak and to
the State of Alaska by serving with the House and Senate for
almost 20 years.
MR. STONE said that Senator Austerman is the primary sponsor of
SB 79, but there are 16 cosponsors, the most support that he has
seen for "anything on this Senate side in quite some time."
Number 1076
MR. STONE stated that former Senator Zharoff was a person who
could get things done, both professionally and as a friend. He
mentioned that he knew Senator Zharoff, whom he refers to as
Fred, for the 25 years that he lived on Kodiak. He said that
Senator Zharoff was a "high-visibility-type person," who was
always involved not only for his community that he represented,
but also for what was good for Alaska. [This was also true] for
anything he voted upon. Mr. Stone said that by seeing Senator
Zharoff in Kodiak during the interim and interacting with him in
Juneau, he saw that Senator Zharoff had a unique perspective.
He also liked his "tutelage" in that they would run ideas past
each other. Mr. Stone stated that he feels honored that he was
able to be associated with somebody like him.
MR. STONE pointed out that Senator Zharoff was instrumental in
obtaining funding for the Near Island Bridge, which has also
been referred to as the "Bridge to Nowhere." Before the bridge,
the island consisted of "just a bunch of cattle." But Senator
Zharoff and the community had a vision that this island could be
developed if there was a convenient means to get over to that
side [of the island]. A boat harbor expansion was planned for
this area, which was an "integral piece to make it happen."
MR. STONE remarked that currently, there are moorage spaces for
600 vessels [on the island]. He said that the airplane float
facility has been moved to the other side of Near Island. There
are also two separate fisheries research centers on Near Island,
and the possibility of a hotel and restaurant combination. The
community is also beginning to open up other parcels to
commercial enterprises, and there is a rock quarry on Near
Island. [All of these developments] have allowed for tremendous
economic expansion of the area.
MR. STONE commented that in recent years the bridge has been
known as "Freddy's Bridge." However, Senator Austerman thought
this name was a "little too cute" to put into legislation. So,
"we" decided on the Fred Zharoff Memorial Bridge, a more formal
name. But, "I suppose folks will continue to call it "Freddy's
Bridge," he said.
Number 1236
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI mentioned that he has been over the
bridge. He said he remembers when people had to "skiff back and
forth between the harbor and town years ago." He also remembers
it [the bridge] being discussed and then constructed. He said
the bridge is "much needed access." He went on to say he
appreciates Senator Austerman bringing this [bill] forward and
noted that he had the privilege of knowing former Senator
Zharoff as well.
Number 1265
CHAIR KOHRING told a personal story that he can relate to [the
bridge]. He said many years ago, he helped build a cannery in
this area, in which he hung "1,800 sheets of sheetrock over a
two-month period." He remembers looking at [Near] Island and
thinking, "'I wonder if that is ever going to develop,' and when
they built the bridge, I thought ... 'I wonder why they would
build a bridge?'" In hindsight, he said Senator Zharoff was
very prophetic and visionary in terms of recognizing how
important the bridge was for the community. He said this is
shown in the development of things such as the boat harbor and
airplane facility on the island. He said:
It's a real honor to have this bill before us. I do
support this. I really enjoyed working with Fred over
the years. He was a wonderful human being, and I had
a very good friendship with him and he was an
outstanding crib player. I'll certainly miss that;
our friendship and his bipartisan approach to working
with his colleagues in the legislature.
CHAIR KOHRING noted that Senator Zharoff's wife had sent him
correspondence requesting the House Transportation Standing
Committee's consideration of this legislation. He also pointed
out that the mayor of the City of Kodiak, Carolyn L. Floyd, had
provided a letter of support for SB 79, which is in the
committee members' packets.
Number 1358
REPRESENTATIVE SCALZI made a motion to move SB 79 from the
committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero
fiscal note. There being no objection, SB 79 was moved from the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
Number 1366
CHAIR KOHRING called an at-ease at 1:31 p.m. in order to hear a
Department of Transportation Presentation on the Alaska ITS
(Intelligent Transportation System) Statewide Strategy. [The
cover sheet for the presentation can be found under the 1:40
p.m. minutes for the same date.]
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