TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 48, A

003

Chair Verger

Calls the committee to order at 3:23 p.m.  Opens a public hearing on SJM 7.

SJM 7 – PUBLIC HEARING

022

Don Mann

General Manger, Port of Newport.  Presents his written testimony in favor of SJM 7 (EXHIBIT A).

085

Chair Verger

Expresses her concern regarding how much of an impact sending memorials to Washington D.C. really has.  Considers if there is a way to strengthen the message.

093

Mann

Remarks on the congressional support for this issue.  Feels this memorial will be well received.  Offers that this is one more tool of support.

095

Chair Verger

Observes the crucial funding needs for local ports.  Talks about the situation at the Port of Coos Bay.  Closes public hearing on SJM 7.  Opens a work session on SJM 7.

SJM 7 – WORK SESSION

125

Sen. Whitsett

MOTION:  Moves SJM 7 be sent to the floor with a BE ADOPTED recommendation.

127

VOTE:  3-0-2

AYE:            In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.

EXCUSED:  2 - Metsger, Prozanski

Chair Verger

The motion CARRIES.

SEN. VERGER will lead discussion on the floor.

133

Chair Verger

Closes work session on SJM 7.  Opens a public hearing on SB 961.

SB 961 – PUBLIC HEARING

140

Judith Callens

Committee Administrator.  Explains the provisions of SB 961.

150

Pat Egan

Port of Portland.  Submits written testimony in favor of SB 961 (EXHIBIT B).

190

Egan

Discusses the needs to address pilotage issues in assisting marine commerce.

235

Jeff Krug

Marine Operations, Port of Portland.  Relays his background as a maritime pilot.

269

Krug

Testifies in support of SB 961.  Notes the decline in the number of vessels coming into local ports.

310

Krug

Feels this needs to be addressed to help Oregon ports remain competitive.

340

Chair Verger

Asks how the task force created by this measure would help lower business costs.

345

Egan

Replies that this will force a conversation on rate making in the pilotage process.  Talks about the current difficulties of negotiating between parties.

359

Chair Verger

Observes the primary goal is starting a dialogue to improve the process.   Discusses the appropriation of funds from the general fund.

375

Egan

Talks about the potential makeup of the task force.  Comments on the potential appropriation of funds from tariffs.

397

Chair Verger

Observes that Oregon needs to be more competitive.

TAPE 49, A

007

Tom Gallagher

Columbia River Bar Pilots.  Presents written testimony in opposition to SB 961 (EXHIBIT C).

045

Gallagher

Agrees there needs to be a dialogue.  Feels the focus is too narrow to cause a significant result.

053

Dave Fiskum

Columbia River Pilots.  Testifies in opposition to SB 961.  Expresses the concerns of river pilots with the proposed legislation.

085

Fiskum

Observes that task forces are more effective when they have strong leadership.  Touches on the committees concern regarding funding the task force.

115

Chair Verger

Voices her opinions on Mr. Gallagher’s testimony.  Wonders what they would recommend instead of SB 961.

130

Fiskum

Feels the cost of commerce on the river goes far beyond pilotage.  Observes the need for a broader perspective.

147

Gallagher

Acknowledges the difficulty of bringing opposing parties to the table. 

169

Chair Verger

States they cannot legislate cooperation.

173

Gallagher

Makes additional remarks.

175

Lori Sundstrom

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).  Presents written testimony (EXHIBIT D).  Discusses the background and relations between the Maritime Board and ODOT.  Talks about budgetary considerations.

200

Chair Verger

Desires to know the opinions of the committee members.

220

Sen. Whitsett

Voices his desire for additional pilotage representation on the task force.

231

Sen. Prozanski

Wonders about the task force costs.  Considers the possibility of it being an interim process. 

259

Chair Verger

Offers her hopes for a resolution to this problem.  Closes the public hearing on SB 961.  Opens a public hearing on SB 640

SB 640 – PUBLIC HEARING

295

Judith Callens

Explains the -3 amendment to the measure (EXHIBIT E).  Notes the other proposed amendments are base upon the -3 amendments.  Describes the various changes made by the -4 (EXHIBIT F), -5 (EXHIBIT G), -6 (EXHIBIT H), -12 (EXHIBIT I), -13 (EXHIBIT J), -14 (EXHIBIT K), and -15 amendments (EXHIBIT L).

355

Sen. Prozanski

Wonders about the production of biometric ID cards.  Considers if it will be on site or at a centralized location.

359

Callens

Replies the -3 amendments keeps things as is, notes the -4 amendments create the centralized issuance by mail. 

395

Callens

Continues to detail the variations between the proposed amendments.

TAPE 48, B

004

Callens

Concludes describing the amendments.

015

Chair Verger

Discusses the amendments.  States they will come back to this measure.  Closes public hearing on SB 640.  Opens a work session on SB 71.

SB 71 – WORK SESSION

021

Chair Verger

Offers an overview of the “Connect Oregon” proposal.

030

Callens

Discusses the provisions of the measure.  Describes the proposed -4 amendments (EXHIBIT M).

083

Sen. Whitsett

MOTION:  Moves to ADOPT SB 71-4 amendments dated 4/1/05.

087

Sen. Metsger

Notes some issues he had with the measure that the -4 amendments resolve.  Voices concerns that some of the language is too broad.  Feels the focus should be on the improvement of the transportation system as a whole. Appreciates the need to move this forward.

118

Sen. Whitsett

Comments on some pieces of the -4 amendments that he feels weaken the bill. 

138

Sen. Prozanski

Feels this measure provides a needed starting point.

145

Sen. B. Starr

Thanks Sen. Verger for her assistance in pulling this together.  Feels the -4 amendments are a great improvement to SB 71 as drafted.

170

VOTE:  5-0-0

AYE:            In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.

Chair Verger

The motion CARRIES.

177

Sen. Whitsett

MOTION:  Moves SB 71 to the floor with a DO PASS AS AMENDED recommendation and BE REFERRED to the committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.

185

VOTE:  5-0-0

AYE:            In a roll call vote, all members present vote Aye.

Chair Verger

The motion CARRIES.

191

Chair Verger

Closes the work session on SB 71.  Opens the public hearing on SB 640.

SB 640 – PUBLIC HEARING

200

Chair Verger

Observes she will need additional time to study the multitude of amendments.

205

Sen. Prozanski

Remarks on the value of having more time to examine the amendments.  Feels they are moving in the right direction to address the concerns raised by various parties.

225

Chair Verger

Notes the intent to bring this measure back at a later hearing.

230

Cyndy Birmingham

Washington County resident.  Testifies in favor of SB 640. 

275

Birmingham

Outlines the impact of identity theft and the disruption caused to her family.

329

Chair Verger

Appreciates her coming to testify before the committee.  Wonders if the identity thief was caught.

335

Birmingham

States the thief was caught, but the problems took a while to resolve.

370

Chair Verger

Closes public hearing on SB 640.  Opens a public hearing on SB 566.

SB 566 – PUBLIC HEARING

380

Chair Verger

Discusses the provisions of the measure.

390

Sen. Prozanski

Mentions the -2 amendments (EXHIBIT N) and the changes they make.

415

Sen. Bill Morrisette

Senate District 6.  Testifies in favor of SB 566.

TAPE 49, B

005

Sen. Morrisette

Discusses the proposed -2 amendments to SB 566.

038

Sen. Prozanski

Mentions they might want to move the discussion to SB 894.

043

Sen. Morrisette

Concludes his testimony on SB 566.

050

Sen. Prozanski

Remarks on highway designation language proposed by Senator Johnson

060

Chair Verger

Closes public hearing on SB 566. Opens a public hearing on SB 894.

SB 894 – PUBLIC HEARING

062

Bob Russell

President, Oregon Trucking Associations.  Testifies in favor of SB 894 with the -5 amendments (EXHIBIT O).

090

Russell

Remarks on the parties involved in the discussion regarding the “hole in the air” needed for moving large trucks.

120

Russell

Talks about the categories of roads being discussed.

150

Christopher Henry

Transportation Planning Engineer, City of Eugene.  Passes out oversized map of Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (EXHIBIT P).  Opposes SB 894 and favor SB 566.

185

Chair Verger

Requests that he clarify his previous statement.

190

Henry

Reiterates that they are trying to reach a compromise.  Talks about the design process involved for vehicle clearance.

217

Chair Verger

Asks him to about road reinforcement.

220

Henry

Relates that the design process has to take into account the kinds of vehicles passing on a given roadway.

230

Leonard Goodwin

Assistant Public Works Director, City of Springfield.  Presents written testimony that they cannot support SB 894 (EXHIBIT Q).  Feels Sen. Morrisette’s -2 amendments to SB 566 appear to meet all of the cities concerns.

255

Chair Verger

Observes the -2 amendments to SB 566 don’t seem to address the increase in freight over time.

273

Sen. Prozanski

Clarifies the routes through Springfield.

277

Scott Bricker

Policy Director, Bicycle Transportation Alliance.  Discusses his concern with capacity issues.    

300

Bricker

Talks about potential highway designations.

330

Chair Verger

Expresses the need to address this issue.

357

Russell

Makes additional comments.

360

Sen. Prozanski

Notes the letter from Oregon City given to the committee (EXHIBIT R).

380

Russell

Comments he doesn’t know about other specific city concerns.

410

Chair Verger

Closes the public hearing on SB 894.  Adjourns the committee at 5:11 p.m.