SENATE BILL NO. 165 "An Act authorizing the transfer of two parcels of land from the Alaska Railroad Corporation to the Municipality of Anchorage; and providing for an effective date." 7:05:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE NANCY DAHLSTROM, SPONSOR, stated that the land swap would benefit Government Hill Elementary School by fixing a 22 year-old safety issue. The land would allow for a safer entrance to the school. She relayed that the railroad and the community were in full agreement regarding the issue. 7:06:14 PM JESSE CROSS-CALL, STAFF, SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, stated that Page 1, Line 6, described the land that would be transferred to the Municipality of Anchorage. The first parcel of land was 1.93 acres, and is railroad land that will be developed into residential sub-divisions. The second parcel of land was less than 1/5th of an acre. This was the parcel that would enable the fix of the dangerous elementary school entrance. 7:08:34 PM Page 2, Line 6 of the bill described the purpose of the transfer; for the development on East Government Hill, and the safer school entrance on West Government Hill. In exchange for the two plots of land the municipality would relinquish a small parcel of land to the railroad for a parking lot. There is a $40,000 discrepancy in the land being exchanged between the municipality and the railroad, which the municipality believes will not be a future concern. 7:10:16 PM Co-Chair Stoltze opened public testimony. RON POLLOCK, ANCHORAGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY testified via teleconference. He urged support for the bill and offered to answer questions. PAT GAMBLE, PRESIDENT, CEO, ALASKA RAILROAD CORPORATION testified via teleconference. He testified that the project would be beneficial for the city and he gave his strong support for the bill. 7:11:55 PM Co-Chair Stoltze implored Mr. Gamble to respond to economic development issues concerning the Mat-Su area, and to be careful of the comments that he made in public forums. Mr. Gamble replied that he understood the message. Co-Chair Stoltze closed public testimony. 7:13:13 PM Representative Fairclough wondered about the connection on the land route coming off the bridge at Point Mackenzie. She asked if any of the properties under discussion were located in the area. Representative Dahlstrom replied no. 7:13:50 PM Co-Chair Stoltze pointed out the zero fiscal note. Representative Foster MOVED to report SB 165 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SB 165 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with zero fiscal note #1 by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. 7:15:00 PM