KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Officials from the City of Kodiak were in Juneau last week for the Alaska Municipal League’s annual lobbying meetings with members of the state legislature. Mayor Pat Branson, reached in Juneau on Monday, said last week’s meetings went very well.
— (Lobbying 1 29 sec "Representative Austerman was there … our goods leaving Kodiak.")
The governor has floated a multi-million dollar general obligation bond proposal which is before the legislators. Branson said the city is trying to get the Pier 3 project included:
— (Lobbying 2 22 sec "You know the governor did … to voters in the fall.")
City Manager Aimee Kniaziowski says a new traveling crane is not part of the city’s request, though it does include money to install crane rails and upgrade the electrical system. Horizon Lines, which leases Pier 3, would select, replace, and pay for a replacement crane.
The mayor said that the time is right for Kodiak to pursue project funding like this because of the positions our local legislators are in:
— (Lobbying 3 15 sec "Such an important issue for us … it’s a good time for that.")
Branson is in Juneau this week on behalf of her daytime job, as executive director of the Senior Citizens of Kodiak. She is there participating in lobbying for AGE-Net, the Alaska Geriatric Exchange Network, and for meetings of the Alaska Commission on Aging, on which she sits.
— (Lobbying 4 30 sec "We will be holding forums … for those issues as well.")
She said she will be returning to Juneau in late March along with members of the Kodiak City Council to further try and sway legislators with the annual Kodiak Seafood Reception, co-hosted by the Kodiak Island Borough.
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