University keeps technology park
Phoenix - The UA's Science and Technology Park received a new life yesterday when a state lawmaker abandoned her proposal to divest the university of its ownership of the complex.
Rep. Jean McGrath, R-Glendale, introduced her amended House bill that will allow the Arizona Board of Regents to retain control of the park, but prohibits them from creating a new one.
The House Public Institutions and Universities Committee, which McGrath chairs, approved HB 2389 by a 4-2 vote.
Chief UA lobbyist Greg Fahey opposed the bill as amended because of the perceived message it sends to the UA. He said he is concerned that the Regents no longer will be able to establish parks.
"It says what we're doing is wrong, and we think what we're doing is good," he said, adding that the regents will most likely take up the issue at their Feb. 25 and 26 board meeting.
The amended bill will allow the regents to expand the two parks that it already owns at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University.
However, the bill prohibits them from establishing any future research parks directly linked to state universities.
There are 17 companies that lease land in the park, including IBM and Raytheon. Park businesses employ 4,265 people including UA graduates and interns.
Bruce Wright, UA associate vice president for economic development, said the issue of expanding the park is critical. Wright said park officials have already drafted a plan to develop another 1,000 acres of land on the 2 million square foot park.
McGrath previously sponsored two other versions of the bill that had stiffer consequences for the park, located at 9000 S. Rita Rd. The first, which would have forced the regents to sell their ownership of the park, was met with strong resistance from UA officials.
McGrath softened her stance and introduced an amendment that would have transferred the ownership and management of the park from the regents to the Department of Administration.
McGrath, who has called the park a "silly" investment, said she plans to examine how the UA operates the park to make sure it complies with state law. But for now, she said her latest amendment would suffice.
"We don't have the time to come up with something else," she said.
|
