ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE  April 10, 2007 1:32 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Albert Kookesh, Chair Senator Donny Olson Senator Bill Wielechowski MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator John Cowdery, Vice Chair Senator Gary Wilken OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT  Representative Jay Ramras COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 137 "An Act authorizing two exchanges of land between the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; and providing for an effective date." MOVED SB 137 OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 8 "An Act naming the law enforcement training facility in Fairbanks the J. Kevin Lamm Law Enforcement Training Facility." MOVED HB 8 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 137 SHORT TITLE: LAND TRANSFERS ALASKA RR & DOTPF SPONSOR(s): TRANSPORTATION 03/23/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/23/07 (S) TRA, FIN 04/10/07 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 BILL: HB 8 SHORT TITLE: J. KEVIN LAMM TRAINING FACILITY SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RAMRAS 01/16/07 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/5/07 01/16/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/16/07 (H) TRA 02/15/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17 02/15/07 (H) Heard & Held 02/15/07 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 03/06/07 (H) TRA AT 1:30 PM CAPITOL 17 03/06/07 (H) Moved Out of Committee 03/06/07 (H) MINUTE(TRA) 03/07/07 (H) TRA RPT 1DP 3NR 03/07/07 (H) DP: FAIRCLOUGH 03/07/07 (H) NR: DOOGAN, JOHNSON, JOHANSEN 03/21/07 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 03/21/07 (H) VERSION: HB 8 03/23/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/23/07 (S) TRA, STA 04/10/07 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 WITNESS REGISTER  Nancy Barnes Staff to Senator Kookesh Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 137 for the sponsor. Fran Zimmerman, Right of Way Agent Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Anchorage, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 137. John Bennett, Right of Way Agent Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Fairbanks, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 137. Phyllis Johnson, Vice-President and General Counsel Alaska Railroad Corporation Anchorage, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 137. Mary Siroky, Special Assistant to the Commissioner Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Juneau, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Available for questions on SB 137. Representative Jay Ramras Alaska State Legislature Juneau, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 8. ACTION NARRATIVE CHAIR ALBERT KOOKESH called the Senate Transportation Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:32:51 PM. Present at the call to order were Senators Wielechowski, Olson, and Chair Kookesh. SB 137-LAND TRANSFERS ALASKA RR & DOTPF    CHAIR KOOKESH announced SB 137 to be under consideration. NANCY BARNES, aide to Chair Kookesh, sponsor of SB 137, explained that the bill authorizes two exchanges of land between the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) to accommodate two DOTPF projects: the widening of the Parks highway in Wasilla, and construction of a cargo apron at the Fairbanks International Airport. 1:35:17 PM SENATOR OLSON asked if anyone would be testifying besides the bill's sponsor. CHAIR KOOKESH replied that there were DOTPF representatives available for questions. 1:35:58 PM FRAN ZIMMERMAN, Right of Way Agent for the DOTPF, said that she was available for questions. JOHN BENNETT, Right of Way Agent for the DOTPF, said that he was available for questions. PHYLLIS JOHNSON, Vice-President and General Counsel for the Alaska Railroad Corporation, said that she was available for questions. 1:36:26 PM SENATOR OLSON asked for clarification on the Fairbanks airport project, including its size and location. MR. BENNETT said that he didn't have much information in the project, but that all aviators were involved in the planning and the project shouldn't cause any problems. SENATOR OLSON asked if the project will take place near a specific runway. MR. BENNETT replied that he didn't know. SENATOR OLSON asked if small aircraft operators have a position on the project. MR. BENNETT replied that he didn't know if specific operators did provide comment, but there was an extensive public comment period. SENATOR OLSON said that his concern is for smaller aircraft which may be affected in their taxiing on the airstrip. 1:38:26 PM CHAIR KOOKESH clarified that the project includes a cargo apron designed to address that issue. SENATOR OLSON asked for comment from the DOTPF representatives. MR. BENNETT said that he was unsure of the description being referenced. CHAIR KOOKESH explained the project description before the committee. 1:39:33 PM MARY SIROKY, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for the DOTPF, said that the project does account for moving larger aircraft away from the taxiway. SENATOR OLSON asked if the addition will be built on the south side of the terminal. MR. BENNETT replied that the land exchange only relates to the cargo apron portion of the project, which will be built apart from the south end of the terminal. SENATOR OLSON asked where the terminal extension will be built. MR. BENNETT replied that he didn't have that information. MS. SIROKY said that she believes it will be at the south end of the existing terminal. 1:41:10 PM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if public notices of the project were sent to local property owners. MS. SIROKY replied that there was a public notice process. MR. BENNETT concurred. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there were any objections to the land exchanges. MR. BENNETT answered that there were none. SENATOR OLSON said that he thinks the addition is a great idea, and related a story about previous issues with the lack of cargo space. 1:42:21 PM SENATOR OLSON moved to report SB 137 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, the motion carried. CHAIR KOOKESH called an at-ease. HB 8-J. KEVIN LAMM TRAINING FACILITY  1:45:49 PM CHAIR KOOKESH called the meeting back to order and announced HB 8 to be under consideration. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS, sponsor of HB 8, explained that the bill pertains to naming a planned shooting range in Fairbanks after J. Kevin Lamm, a police officer who died in the line of duty. The current shooting range used to be part of the airport, but now is a separate facility. He explained the circumstances of Mr. Lamm's death, and said that once homeland security funds are made available the new facility will be built so as to separate law enforcement and public target practicing. 1:49:52 PM SENATOR OLSON asked for clarification on the plans for expanding the existing shooting range. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said that people from Sitka have expressed concern about the idea of a new training facility elsewhere in the state, but the title is something of a misnomer; the future facility will only be a simple shooting range. There is already an indoor shooting range in the basement of the local DOTPF facility, but it would require extensive renovation to be useable. 1:52:00 PM SENATOR OLSON moved to pass HB 8 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, the motion carried. There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Kookesh adjourned the meeting at 1:52:27 PM.