ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS  STANDING COMMITTEE  February 3, 2004 8:10 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Carl Morgan, Chair Representative Kelly Wolf, Vice Chair Representative Tom Anderson Representative Ralph Samuels MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Pete Kott Representative Sharon Cissna Representative Albert Kookesh COMMITTEE CALENDAR DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW BY COMMISSIONER BLATCHFORD DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, GENE KANE, DIRECTOR TAPES  04-1, SIDE(S) A CHAIR CARL MORGAN convened the meeting of the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee at 8:10 a.m. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION  EDGAR BLATCHFORD, Commissioner, Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), informed the committee that the department has some innovative ideas with regard to what can be done in working with the rural and urban communities in order to get the state's economy moving. Commissioner Blatchford provided the committee with information regarding the department's financial commitment to Alaska through programs dealing directly with communities, the fisheries industry, and power cost equalization. He mentioned working with the Denali Commission in administering over 100 grants, which totaled $13.9 million. He highlighted that the department has spent much time with 65 coastal communities along the Bering Sea regarding the Coastal Development Quota Program. GENE KANE, Director, Division of Community Advocacy (DCA), Department of Community & Economic Development, pointed out that the Division of Community Advocacy was established under Article X, Section 14 of the Alaska State Constitution to advise and assist local governments. The DCA is the only agency in the executive branch that is established by the constitution. He highlighted that the basic mission of the commission is to advance maximum local self government as mandated by Article X, Section 1 of the Alaska State Constitution. In order to fulfill the aforementioned mission, DCA is engaged with cities, boroughs, regional nonprofit organizations, community-based nonprofit organizations, and tribal organizations throughout the state. He noted that committee members should have a copy of DCA's annual report. There was a question and answer session in which there was discussion of the following topics: the Alaska Regional Development Organizations (ARDORs), dissolution, the Denali Commission project, the Rural Utility Business Advisor Program (RUBA), school consolidations, the fisheries revitalization grants, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), and low sulfur diesel. ANNOUNCEMENTS  There were no announcements. COMMITTEE ACTION  The committee took no action. ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 8:50 a.m. NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by contacting the House Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3, Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Third Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.