TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 3, A

005

Chair Shields

Opens the meeting at 4:13 p.m., and opens a public hearing on SB 157.

SB 157 – PUBLIC HEARING

009

Judith Callens

Committee Administrator. Explains the provisions of SB 157.

025

Cathy Pollino

State Auditor, Secretary of State Audit’s Division. Presents  (EXHIBIT A) and testifies in support of SB 157.  

051

Pollino

Explains provisions of SB 157, to include the fact that it more clearly defines who the statute applies to and establishes a dollar threshold.

071

Chair Shields

Ask if there will be times when the cost of the investigation would exceed the dollar value of the infraction.

075

Pollino

Responds that there may be cases where the investigation exceeds the loss, but that the message is important as it acts as a deterrent.

102

Chair Shields

Asks if the division is adequately staffed to handle the additional workload.

105

Pollino

Answers that they are doing the best they can with what they have.

121

Sen. Verger

Asks if, during the audit, they also provide technical assistance on reducing or preventing losses.

133

Pollino

Responds that their role is to determine what breakdowns occurred, and to ensure fiscal accountability, which includes tightening controls and training.

150

Sen. Verger

Comments that the identified patterns need to be broken.

156

Sen. Walker

Notes that the audit reports are interesting reading, and helpful in familiarizing oneself with the budgets. Points out that the 30-day requirement for completion of the investigations is “open ended.”

174

Pollino

Answers that  the investigations often get “out of their hands,” i.e., they get into the legal system.

186

Sen. Walker

States that there are some current investigations which illustrate this point.

194

Chair Shields

Closes the public hearing on SB 157, and opens a public hearing on SB 90.

SB 90 – PUBLIC HEARING

202

Callens

Explains the provisions of SB 90.

222

Bill Foster

Acting Administrator, Facilities Division, Department of Administrative Services (DAS). Presents (EXHIBIT B) and testifies in support of SB 90.

256

Foster

Explains the provisions of the bill, which permanently abolishes the Capitol Planning Commission.

272

Mitch Rohse

Interim Urban Planning Administrator, City of Salem. Presents (EXHIBIT C) and testifies that the City of Salem  is neutral on SB 90.

314

Rohse

Notes that the City wants to keep their ability to “remain in the loop,” and to ensure that the land use development done by the state in the City is consistent with their planning and zoning.

329

Chair Shields

Wants to know what there is in the bill that will ensure that the City remains involved.

341

Foster

States that DAS has addressed this issue in administrative rules.

355

Chair Shields

Comments that we may want to put the administrative rules into statute.

360

Sen. Walker

Notes she does not support the bill as we should not do away with the Capitol Planning Commission.

382

Chair Shields

Expresses that he would like to see some vehicle to keep the City involved.

400

Rohse

Responds that there is an advisory committee to DAS and that the committee does include the City’s Community Development Director.

412

Sen. Verger

Asks how involved the City has been in Capitol projects.

TAPE 4, A

012

Foster

Reviews the history of the Capitol Planning Commission. Adds that most of the outstanding issues with the City are resolved or close to resolution.

031

Foster

Comments that there is less of a need for the commission.

047

Rohse

Agrees that there has been a good working relationship with DAS. Notes, however, that there may be future land use issues that arise, hence their desire for inclusion in the process.

053

Chair Shields

Relates the need for cooperation between the City and the state.

067

Sen. George

Comments on other examples of the need for partnership between the City and the state.

081

Sen. Verger

Asks about the transfer of funds in the bill.

092

Foster

Answers with an explanation of the transfer. Adds that the funds in question were small residual operating funds, and that the language used within the bill is standard with Legislative Counsel when abolishing an agency.

104

Sen. Verger

Wants clarification that there will be no continuation of funds going into the account after the commission is abolished.

111

Foster

Answers that there will be no future funds for that account.

117

Sen. Verger

Asks if the language referring to executive residence account is new.

121

Foster

Responds that it is not.

127

Chair Shields

Asks the witnesses to work on language that would ensure the City continues as a participant.

135

Chair Shields

Closes the public hearing and opens a public hearing on SB 80.

SB 80 – PUBLIC HEARING

147

Eileen Webb

Registered Geologist and Vice Chair, Board of Geologist Examiners. Presents (EXHIBIT D) and testifies in support of SB 80. Explains the provisions of the bill.

181

Sen. Verger

Asks whether the bill makes the requirements easier and broader, rather than raising the standards.

183

Webb

Responds that the intent is to make sure that the course work is sufficient.

188

Sen. Verger

Notes that the bill removes the requirement that the applicant have a degree in order to register as a Geologist-in-Training (GIT).

203

Webb

Answers that there are a number of people qualified to do the work based on their coursework, even though they don’t have a degree.

204

Susanna Knight

Administrator, State Board of Geologist Examiners.  Further explains the provision of the bill regarding the education requirements.

217

Sen. Verger

Notes the additional interest in this field since the tsunami.

221

Knight

Comments that on a national level, the numbers of those in geological coursework is dropping.

237

Sen. Verger

Reemphasizes the importance of the profession.

241

Chair Shields

Closes the public hearing and adjourns the meeting at 5:01 p.m.