HB 186-NAMING IRENE WEBBER BRIDGE  1:35:16 PM CHAIR STUTES announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 186, "An Act naming the irene Webber Bridge." 1:35:15 PM SARA PERMAN, Staff, Representative Louise Stutes, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 186 on behalf of Representative Stutes, prime sponsor. She noted that the three-line HB 186 is quite simple: a bridge formerly known to the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOTPF) as "Bridge 406, Scott Glacier Number 6 Bridge" would be renamed "irene Webber Bridge." Ms. Webber passed away in 2018 and this bridge, if renamed, would serve to remind Cordovans of the legacy she leaves behind. MS. PERMAN stated that Ms. Webber was an Alutiiq woman born in Cordova, where she and her husband of 61 years raised their three children. She added that Ms. Webber took up running as a way to overcome alcohol dependency issues and will be remembered as the original founder of the Cordova Running Club and Salmon Run Marathon, even making clam chowder at her house for race committees to help attract more attendees when the entrant list was low. Ms. Perman stated that 'irene' is not a typo; the family wishes her to be remembered with a lower case 'i'. MS. PERMAN related that Ms. Webber was an involved philanthropist, having volunteered for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as well as lending her help with Cordova's Bike-a-Thon and the Cordova 2x2 Cancer Walk, the latter of which has raised over $100,000 for cancer patients in Cordova. The City of Cordova and the Native Village of Eyak have included letters supporting the renaming. The bridge is located at mile 9.5 from Cordova City Center. During the Salmon Runs Ms. Webber founded, runners use this bridge. 1:40:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked which creek or river the bridge goes over. 1:40:30 PM MS. PERMAN said she wasn't sure. 1:40:41 PM CHAIR STUTES said that perhaps one of Ms. Webber's daughters would know. She then opened invited testimony on HB 186. 1:41:01 PM KIM ASPELUND, daughter of Irene Webber, related that her mother was an inspiration to the people of Cordova, having impressively overcome many obstacles in her life. Having had a drinking problem for a very short time, Ms. Webber ended with 37 years' sobriety. Running became her needed outlet; even when she was out salmon fishing, she would ask to be dropped off on the beach to run her requisite miles for training. She was a highly dedicated person, not only to herself but also to the community, even taking the time to encourage runners she drove past in her vehicle. Ms. Aspelund related that her mother helped people in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and in the running club alike, as well as through her role as a boundless volunteer whose legacy will be upheld by her children. 1:44:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked which creek or river the bridge goes over. 1:44:35 PM CHAIR STUTES surmised that it may be the Scott River. She then thanked Ms. Aspelund for her emotional testimony. 1:45:10 PM KATRINA HOFFMAN, Irene Webber's daughter-in-law, said she believes that the bridge does indeed go over a branch of the Scott River. She went on to relate that although Ms. Webber spelled her name with a lower case 'i,' there was nothing diminutive about her accomplishments. She was raised in the village of Ellamar near Tatitlek, and later moved to Cordova to raise her three children with her lifelong love, Bill Webber. That resulted in 10 grandchildren and "about as many" great- grandchildren, all of whom have very deep ties to Alaska and Cordova. Ms. Hoffman imparted to the committee that Ms. Webber was a businesswoman in the community, a good neighbor, a great sourdough cook, a doting grandmother, and the admiral on the family fishing vessel, having overseen multiple generations of family members make their living off commercial salmon fishing. MS. HOFFMAN related that at Ms. Webber's memorial service, the deceased's grandson Christopher said he knew his grandmother to be two people: a wonderfully loving grandma and a formidable deck boss whose word was law on the water. Ms. Webber's Salmon Run has become a key feature of the Copper River Salmon Jam summer festival in Cordova. The bridge in question is enjoyed in all seasons by outdoor recreators, and from it one can even view the "9-mile sand pile," where families gather for joy and fun. 1:48:42 PM CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony on HB 186. PETE HOEPHNER stated that Irene Webber has increased the health and well-being of Cordovans, and that "just seeing her made people smile," as seeing her name on the bridge would likely do as well. Mr. Hoephner echoed the testimony of Ms. Aspelund and Ms. Hoffman when he spoke of Webber's dedication to her family as well as her dedication to volunteering in the community. 1:50:13 PM JERRY MCCUNE related to the committee that Irene Webber taught him how to make fried bread while waiting months for herring. He also related that, before the fishing season opened, the Webbers would stop and talk to each fisherman and make sure he was going to be safe for the season. 1:51:15 PM CHAIR STUTES, after ascertaining that no one else which to testify, closed public testimony. 1:51:28 PM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON thanked testifiers and let listeners know that hearing the stories of Ms. Webber brought to his mind some pillars of the community in his own home of Dillingham. He urged the committee to take swift action on HB 186. 1:52:08 PM CHAIR STUTES echoed Representative Edgmon's remarks by saying that when she mentioned HB 186 in Cordova, she received extremely positive feedback from the community. 1:53:00 PM The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:53 p.m. 1:53:18 PM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved to report HB 186 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 186 was reported out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.