SB 157-FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE AREAS  8:08:33 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 157, "An Act relating to municipal fire protection service area boundary changes." CO-CHAIR NAGEAK moved to adopt the House Committee Substitute to SB 157, labeled 28-LS1329\C, as the working document. CO-CHAIR LEDOUX objected. 8:09:19 AM HANS RODVIK, Intern, Senator John Coghill, Alaska State Legislature, said Version C changes SB 157 to apply only to Alaska's seven second class boroughs. He noted that fire service areas in second class boroughs serve only areas that are outside of city limits, and there were concerns of "first class boroughs scooping up some areas that are on the borders." The intent of SB 157 is to ensure that in the case of an emergency, property owners are served by the nearest fire department. He provided maps to the committee, which show there are some fire departments that travel through a different fire service area to reach the parcel requesting help. Fire crews will sometimes pass by another fire department, and SB 157 allows property owners and municipalities a quick fix to this problem, he explained. Under current law, local assemblies can moderately increase the number of land parcels in a fire service area without the vote of property owners, and SB 157 will allow an assembly to also reduce the number of parcels in a fire service area so long as the property owners concur. MR. RODVIK noted that current law requires an election of the entire service area just to remove one parcel or make a minor boundary change. That is costly and cumbersome, he stated, and the vote often has dismal participation. The bill simplifies the process by allowing property owners, only in second class boroughs, to request removal from a fire service area or be transferred into another area that provides more accessible fire protection. He said that fire service areas are constantly growing and being created, and SB 157 allows property owners to adjust quickly to these boundary changes. 8:14:39 AM REPRESENTATIVE KITO III asked if there are problems with existing statute for increasing the number of parcels in a service area; the map makes it look like there would be a parcel that would be removed from a service area and added to another. MR. RODVIK said SB 157 simplifies the process of shifting the parcel. Currently, that shift would require a fire service area-wide election. Under the bill, if the property owners request being transferred to another service area, it can be done without having to go through the long election process. 8:16:16 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX withdrew her objection. There being no further objections, Version C was before the committee. 8:16:39 AM DAVID GIBBS, Director, Emergency Operations, Fairbanks North Star Borough, said that the Fairbanks North Star Borough supports the new version of SB 157. Fire service areas were established in the early 1980s, he explained, with an estimate of future growth patterns. There are a few situations where development has not occurred as anticipated, and service area residents may be receiving substandard response times. The fix is overly cumbersome as it requires the expense and effort of multiple elections to make even minor adjustments to the boundaries of existing fire service areas, he stated. Senate Bill 157 provides a much needed tool by giving a municipality the authority to decrease or transfer, by ordinance, a small number of parcels in a fire service area, and it provides property owners with an opportunity for a public hearing before any action is taken. He noted that some residents are still paying fire protection taxes, but due to limited accessibility cannot expect to receive high quality fire services. Passage of SB 157, along with companion ordinances by municipalities, will allow a property owner to petition a municipality to have the property removed from a fire service area until there is better road access, for example. He said there is no mechanism now to remove people from fire service areas who cannot receive the service. Parcels can also be transferred to a closer fire service area for increased fire protection, he added. 8:20:16 AM JEFF TUCKER, Representative, Alaska Fire Chiefs Association, said he was recently the chief of the North Star Volunteer Fire Department. The Alaska Fire Chiefs Association supports SB 157 as it will help provide the most effective and efficient fire service, he stated. The current process is cumbersome, he said, and disallows a municipality to adjust fire service boundaries so that the closest fire service can respond. 8:21:41 AM CO-CHAIR LEDOUX closed public testimony. CO-CHAIR NAGEAK moved to report HCS SB 157, Version 28-LS1329\C, Bullard, 4/14/14, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, HCS SB 157(CRA) was reported from the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.