HJR 23-REUSE GALENA AIR BASE 8:04:34 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23, Supporting the reuse of facilities at the Galena Air Base to provide regional educational services. 8:04:45 AM KELLY HUBERT, Staff to Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, Alaska State Legislature, presented HJR 23 on behalf of Representative Dahlstrom, prime sponsor. She said the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission, in 2005, announced the closure of Galena Air Force. Having originally promised a "soft landing" - enough time for the citizens of Galena to figure out how to keep their community thriving - the Air Force announced a target date for exodus by 2008. Ms. Hubert explained, "We were hoping that the soft landing would take us through 2011." MS. HUBERT said the proposed resolution would express the legislature's support to the federal delegation for the purpose of securing funds for [the City of Galena] "in its effort to implement a viable and long-lasting reuse of Galena Air Base." She said the city and school district have submitted a reuse plan to the Air Force, have received comments, and are working towards a final proposal. 8:06:32 AM JIM SMITH, Superintendent, Galena School District, confirmed the statement in the resolution which notes that the Galena Air Base constitutes a critical aspect of that city's economy. Furthermore, he said the economic viability of the City of Galena is important to the economic viability of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and adjacent communities. Galena serves as a transportation hub for the villages of the Interior of Alaska. If the City of Galena is unsuccessful in its "use plan," the result will be the loss of 60 out of the approximately 200 jobs. The facilities in question are assessed at a value of $150 million. The Galena Economic Development Council - comprised of the City of Galena, the Lowden (ph) Tribal Council, the Galena School District, and the Air Force - has come up with "the viability of using the facilities for the existing boarding school operations that Galena has operated successfully for the past 10 years. Currently, there are 100 children being served, and the graduation rate is excellent. He thanked Representatives Dahlstrom and Salmon for their support. He mentioned a need for [sprinklers] to be installed to meet state fire codes. 8:10:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE DOLL directed attention to page 2, line 12, which mentions "a location for an interior military youth academy". She asked what that means. 8:10:55 AM MS. HUBERT told Representative Doll, "It's just another idea we would ask the state to look into." She said the already existing academy has been successful, and another one is desired. 8:11:36 AM MARVIN YODER, testifying on behalf of himself, indicated his concurrence with the comments of [Mr. Smith]. He said he is anxious to see action taken on the reuse plan. He relayed that the Tribal Council, as part of the Galena Economic Development Council, has insisted that part of the goal of the council is to help Native students throughout the state, and he said that is what the [Galena] School District is trying to do. He expressed appreciation for certain legislators' support of the project. In response to a question from Chair Lynn, he said the project would not result in added impact regarding transportation, because all transportation in and out of the City of Galena is by air. He added, "We do transfer students back and forth between the village school and the boarding school, and so there [are] a few logistical issues, but that's just a part of our growing pains, and eventually we'll get those resolved as well." 8:13:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE DOLL asked if the Air Force will leave behind funds to help rebuild the economy. 8:13:50 AM MR. YODER said that "seemed to be the pattern" in previous BRAC ground evacuations. However, in this particular case, there was no money budgeted for bases that were closing, because money was being spent to expand other bases. He said three to four years of transition funds are necessary just to get to the point of sustainability. 8:14:56 AM MR. YODER, in response to a question from Representative Doll, said there are two dormitories and one hotel, but no officer housing. 8:15:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES suggested that if the plans for a boarding school do not pan out, the City of Galena could negotiate with pipeline companies for them to use the area as headquarters. 8:16:27 AM CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony. 8:16:35 AM REPRESENTATIVE DOLL moved to report HJR 23 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HJR 23 was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.