"JUNEAU UPDATE"

Kodiak Daily Mirror publication date of May 14, 1997

Without much fanfare, the first session of the 20th Alaska Legislature pulled up to the station late Sunday night and let everybody off. With quite a few train wrecks in recent years, it was nice to end this session early and without the acrimony of some past legislative sessions.

I am very pleased in how Kodiak fared with the Capital budget. Senator Jerry Mackie and I worked very close in positioning Kodiak to take advantage of any extra monies. I have to give my staff and that of Senator Mackie's a lot of the credit. They worked some incredibly long hours to coordinate budget activities, research the many bills introduced and respond to the needs of Kodiak's residents.

Credit also goes to Lorna Steelman and Mary Lund at the Kodiak Legislative Information Office in Kodiak. With their assistance and expertise, they ensured the smooth flow of information and requests between Kodiak and Juneau. Thank you ladies!

Capital Budget

Due to the Legislature's addition of funding to the Municipal Matching Grant Program, the city will receive $214,321 in grant monies for the St. Herman Harbor Facilities . These dollars are a good beginning to fund the desperately needed deferred maintenance projects of the harbor. A special legislative task force is already at work to determine the extent of Alaska's infrastructure and public facility maintenance needs and establish options for possible funding. The U.S. Corps of Engineers program will provide another $500,000 for the ongoing harbor construction.

Several other capital projects were funded for Kodiak and the villages. The Kodiak Island Borough will receive funding for the hospital, the Peterson Elementary addition, and waste management/treatment. The capital budget also authorizes the expenditure of over $5 million for improvements to the airports main runway and taxiways. In addition, it will also allow the construction of an equipment/sand storage building on the airport property.

The Larsen Bay Harbor project will receive $900,000 in Corps funding. Additionally, Larsen Bay will receive monies for erosion control. The villages of Akhiok, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie and Port Lions all have monies in this years budget for a variety of projects. Thanks to all of the folks in these villages for supplying us with their priority projects and providing the back up material.

Economic Development

Four bills I sponsored this year are on their way to the Governor for his signature. HB 35 reauthorizes funding for private, nonprofit corporations such as the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference (SWAMC), which promote private sector economic development within their designated regions for three more years. These organizations have the unique ability to forge strong partnerships with the public and private sectors within their regions and collectively throughout the state. With a relatively small contribution from the state, these organizations leverage millions of federal and private dollars for a number of projects and services vital to the strong economic growth of Alaska. Thanks to Mayor Jerome Selby and Wayne Stevens of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce for all the back up and support of this vital economic program.

Aerospace Board

The present board of directors of the AADC has served the State of Alaska extremely well in directing the purposes of the corporation. The professional, technical and scientific expertise provided by the University of Alaska members of the board have guided the start-up phase of this undertaking. I felt that it was important though, as we move into the construction, marketing and operational phases of this endeavor, to restructure the board to include specific members of the Alaska business community. These individuals will have experience in finance, marketing analysis and an understanding of economic development. Most of my colleagues agreed, and HB 208 was the last bill passed by the legislature this session.

Fisheries Wrap-up

The AMSEA bill, HB 13 passed the Senate with its $150,000 fiscal note intact on May 5th. During conference committee, after final passage of the bill, the funding level was reduced to $100,000. I and the folks at AMSEA are appreciative for this funding. I applaud them for their fine work in marine safety training. The bill has been on the Governor's desk since May 7th awaiting his signature.

HB 141 is legislation which imposes a moratorium on scallop vessels in state waters. It passed on May 10th after changes were adopted in Senate Resources. Without a moratorium implemented in state waters, it is probable that there would be an increase in effort on our state water scallop stocks, as well as on the associated marine habitat and create an unmanageable fishery.

HB 19, my sport fish guide licensing legislation, passed the House in April and has been sitting in the Senate Resources Committee ever since. Senator Rick Halford who chairs this committee, has shown a reluctance to schedule this legislation. When the second session reconvenes in January, I will work with Senator Halford to schedule hearings on this bill. Having said that, I have had no indicators that the chairman is willing to change his mind.

Another bill which sits in Senate Resources, is HB 123 by Representative Ivan Ivan. This bill would have extended the life of the Division of Investment's federal tax obligation loan program three more years. Since this bill did not go through this session, the program will lapse May 27th of this year. As a consequence, fishermen will not be able to get loans to pay for federal tax obligations after May 27, 1997, as this program will sunset.

HB 149, the FISH Initiative legislation, had two hearings in, but did not move out of the Fisheries committee. There was a lot of good testimony given overwhelmingly against this bill. It was never my intention to move this legislation out of committee, but I believe the discussion needs to happen in hopes of diffusing the issue with valid information. HB 149 will be among other topics the Fisheries Committee will be taking testimony on in the fall, when we meet around the state this interim.

SB 40, Senator Halford's Discrete Stock Management bill, did not move from his Senate Resources Committee. As you may recall from my prior Juneau updates, Halford drafted a CS which does not mandate the Board to change its management emphasis as the original bill did, but provides for the Board, with public input, to prioritize research needs. The money for this research would be provided by $1 from sport fish licenses, $10 from crew member license increased fees and $500,000 from all salmon limited entry permit holders to be prorated based on fishery value. Coincidentally, SB 7, which passed May 11th will decrease sport fishing licenses $1, voiding any effective cost increase to sport fishers, if SB 40 should pass.

Special Session?

The topic remaining on the table is subsistence. It is probable that a special session will be called in a few months to construct and pass a package including a constitutional amendment, ANILCA changes and statutory changes, in order to keep the federal government from taking over Alaska's resource management.

Peterson Elementary

I want to express my delight and thanks for the kids at Peterson for creating and sending down the wonderful array of masks for the Art in the Capitol program. Those who had works displayed were: Justin Kellams for toothy walrus, Emily Callahan for her swimmingly colorful sea turtle, Steven Leitheiser for his halibut headwear, Ryan Theriot for his very radical dragon, Leslie Jones for her multi-colorful dragon, Jouhan Allende for his bright-eyed dragon, Katie Vanderworf for her spotted dragons and Pam Hardenbrook for her very quiet black cat. Thanks to the teachers for giving so much to our young people in Kodiak.

Visitors

Linda Freed and Walter Sapp were among my last visitors for the year this session. Remember, if your ever traveling to Juneau for business or a vacation, please call my office for any assistance you may need.

Office Numbers

My number in Kodiak will remain the same at 486-8872. This number will be activated after May 26th. Cliff Stone will once again staff the local office. If you need to talk with someone before then, please call my Juneau office at the toll free number 1-800-865-2487. Those folks who are calling from the villages may reach the Kodiak office by dialing the toll free number after May 26th. My office in Kodiak is located within the Kodiak Legislative Information Office at 112 Mill Bay Road, just up the street from Subway. If you would like to leave me a message before the 26th, please call Lorna at the LIO. Her number is 486-8116. My E-mail address remains the same. {Representative_Alan_Austerman@Legis.state.ak.us}

Thanks Kodiak for your many letters, calls, faxes, POM's and emails. Your correspondence does make a difference! Remember - my door is always open.