Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/11/2019 05:00 PM Senate LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

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Audio Topic
05:00:25 PM Start
05:27:05 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Ratification of Charity Events TELECONFERENCED
- 19th Annual Thanksgiving in March
- 56th Annual Legislative Skits
+ Committee Business TELECONFERENCED
- Legislative Council Travel & Per Diem Policy
Amendment
+ Contract Approvals TELECONFERENCED
- RFP 625 TMLOB Windows & Exterior Renovation -
Executive Session
-- Teleconference Listen Only --
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                   ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                   
                     LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
                        APRIL 11, 2019                                                                                        
                           4:59 PM                                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
   MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                            
   Senator Gary Stevens, Chair                                                                                                
   Representative Louise Stutes, Vice Chair                                                                                   
   Senator John Coghill                                                                                                       
   Senator Mia Costello                                                                                                       
   Senator Cathy Giessel                                                                                                      
   Senator Lyman Hoffman                                                                                                      
   Senator Bert Stedman                                                                                                       
   Representative Bryce Edgmon                                                                                                
   Representative Neal Foster                                                                                                 
   Representative DeLena Johnson                                                                                              
   Representative Chuck Kopp                                                                                                  
   Representative Steve Thompson                                                                                              
   Representative Tammie Wilson                                                                                               
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
   MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                             
   Senator Natasha von Imhof                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
   OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
   AGENDA                                                                                                                     
   APPROVAL OF MINUTES                                                                                                        
   RATIFICATION OF CHARITY EVENTS                                                                                             
   COMMITTEE BUSINESS                                                                                                         
   CONTRACT APPROVALS                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
   SPEAKER REGISTER                                                                                                           
   Jessica Geary, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency                                                              
   JC Kestel, Procurement Officer, Legislative Affairs Agency                                                                 
   Wayne Jensen, President, Jensen Yorba Lott Architects                                                                      
     5:00:25 PM                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                              
I.   Call to Order                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR STEVENS  called the Legislative  Council meeting to order                                                          
     at 5:00pm in  the Senate Finance Committee Room. Present at the                                                          
     call  were:   Senators  Coghill,  Costello,  Giessel,  Hoffman,                                                          
     Stedman,  Stevens;  Representatives  Edgmon,  Foster,  Johnson,                                                          
     Kopp, Stutes Thompson, Wilson. Senator von Imhof was absent.                                                             
                                                                                                                              
     13 members present.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
II. Approval of Minutes                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
     a.    February 25, 2019                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
     5:01:35 PM                                                                                                             
     VICE-CHAIR  STUTES  moved  and  asked  unanimous  consent  that                                                          
     Legislative  Council  approve the  minutes  dated  February 25,                                                          
     2019 as presented.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR   STEVENS  asked  if   there  were  any   corrections  or                                                          
     additions? Seeing no objections, the minutes are approved.                                                               
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
III. Ratification of Charity Events                                                                                         
                                                                                                                              
     a.    19th Annual Thanksgiving in March                                                                                  
     b.    56th Annual Legislative Skits                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
     5:02:12 PM                                                                                                             
     VICE-CHAIR  STUTES  moved   and  asked unanimous  consent  that                                                        
     Legislative  Council  ratify  the  Chair's  sanctioning of  the                                                          
     following  charitable events  per  AS 24.60.080  (a)(2)(B): the                                                          
     19th  Annual   Thanksgiving  in  March   and  the  56th  Annual                                                          
     Legislative Skits.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR STEVENS objected  for purposes of discussion. He reminded                                                          
     members of  this processmy  office reviewed these applications,                                                          
     sanctioned  these  events,  and  verified  they  are  501(c)(3)                                                          
     organizations. Is there any discussion?                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
     SENATOR  COSTELLO  asked  is  it  possible  to share  with  the                                                          
     committee  what  charities  receive  the  benefits  from  these                                                          
     fundraisers?                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR STEVENS asked Jessica Geary to please respond.                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
     JESSICA GEARY,  Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency,                                                          
     said  for  Thanksgiving   in  March  the  proceeds  go  to  the                                                          
     Southeast  Alaska Foodbank  and for  the Legislative  Skits the                                                          
     proceeds go to Big Brothers Big Sisters and AWARE.                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
     SENATOR COSTELLO replied thank you.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR  STEVENS asked  if there  was further  discussion. Seeing                                                          
     none, he removed his objection and those  events were ratified.                                                          
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
IV. Committee Business                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
     a.    Legislative Council Travel and Per Diem Policy Amendment                                                           
                                                                                                                              
     5:04:04 PM                                                                                                             
     VICE-CHAIR  STUTES  moved and  asked  that Legislative  Council                                                          
     approve  the amendment  to the  Legislative Council  Travel and                                                          
     Per Diem Policy.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR  STEVENS objected  for purposes  of discussion.  There is                                                          
     information  on this item in your meeting  packet. The Per Diem                                                          
     Office  Allowance  Subcommittee  met  on  March  28, 2019,  and                                                          
     recommends   the  policy   amendment  before  you.   What  this                                                          
     amendment does  is keep the daily per  diem rate capped at $302                                                          
     per day  for the remainder of the year,  so when the rate jumps                                                          
     to $322 per  daywhich  will occur on April 16the  per diem will                                                          
     not  increase. However,  if Federal  per diem  were to  go down                                                          
     anytime during  the year, so will the  per diem. This amendment                                                          
     sets the rate in  January of every year for the entire year. He                                                          
     asked  if there is  any discussion. Seeing  none, Chair Stevens                                                          
     removed his objection.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
     A roll call vote was taken.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
     YAYS: Senators Coghill,  Costello,  Giessel, Hoffman,  Stedman;                                                          
     Representatives   Edgmon,  Foster,  Johnson,   Kopp,  Thompson,                                                          
     Wilson, Vice-Chair Stutes, Chair Stevens.                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
     NAYS: None                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                              
     The motion passed 13-0.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
V.   Contract Approvals                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
     a.    RFP 625 Terry Miller Legislative  Office Building Windows                                                          
           and Exterior Renovation                                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
     5:06:11 PM                                                                                                             
     VICE-CHAIR  STUTES  moved  and  asked  unanimous  consent  that                                                          
     Legislative  Council go  into  Executive Session  under Uniform                                                          
     Rule  22(B)(1), discussion of matters,  the immediate knowledge                                                          
     of  which would adversely  affect the finances  of a government                                                          
     unit and 22(B)(3),  discussion of a matter that may, by law, be                                                          
     required   to  be  confidential.  I   ask  that  the  following                                                          
     individuals remain  in the room: Jessica Geary; JC Kestel; John                                                          
     Cayce;  Megan Wallace; Wayne Jensen;  and any legislative staff                                                          
     working  for Council members.  We also welcome  any Legislators                                                          
  who are not on Legislative Council to remain in the room.                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR  STEVENS  asked if  there  was objection  to  the motion.                                                          
     Hearing none, Council will go into Executive Session.                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
     5:07:05 PM                                                                                                             
     Council went into Executive Session.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
     5:18:31 PM                                                                                                             
     Council came out of Executive Session.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
     5:18:35 PM                                                                                                             
     VICE-CHAIR  STUTES moved  that Legislative Council  approve the                                                          
     award  of  RFP 625  to  F&W Construction  Company  for  a total                                                          
     contract price of $1,769,794 out of existing capital funds.                                                              
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR  STEVENS  objected for  purposes of  discussion.  For the                                                          
     public's  knowledge, JC  Kestel, will  you please  explain this                                                          
     project?                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                              
     JC  KESTEL,  Procurement Officer,  Legislative  Affairs Agency,                                                          
     replied through the  Chair that on February 1, 2019, the Agency                                                          
     issued  RFP  625 to  solicit  proposals for  siding  and window                                                          
     exterior renovation on the Terry Miller Building.                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
     On  March 11,  2019, two proposals  had been  receivedone  from                                                          
     Dawson   Construction,  LLC  and  one   from  F&W  Construction                                                          
     Company. We had  a Proposal Evaluation Committee (PEC) evaluate                                                          
     both  proposals. After the  evaluation, it was  determined that                                                          
     F&W Construction  Company was the successful offeror. Their bid                                                          
     price was $1,769,794.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
     The  PEC  recommends  award  of  RFP  625 to  F&W  Construction                                                          
     Company.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR STEVENS asked if there was further discussion.                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
     REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON  asked about the timeline, specifically                                                          
     the start and completion dates.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
     MR. KESTEL  replied that, if approved,  the project would start                                                          
     at  the  beginning  of June  with  an  estimated completion  by                                                          
     October 31, 2019.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR  STEVENS asked if  there is any  discussion. Seeing none,                                                          
     he removed his objection.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
     A roll call vote was taken.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
     YAYS: Senators Coghill,  Costello,  Giessel, Hoffman,  Stedman;                                                          
     Representatives   Edgmon,  Foster,  Johnson,   Kopp,  Thompson,                                                          
     Wilson, Vice-Chair Stutes, Chair Stevens.                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
     NAYS: None                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                              
     The motion passed 13-0.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR  STEVENS  noted there  is  one more  issue,  which  is to                                                          
     appoint a Capitol  Art Subcommittee. If anyone is interested in                                                          
     serving  on  that subcommittee,  please  let  me know.  Senator                                                          
     Coghill  has been  instrumental  in finding  a project  for our                                                          
     consideration and is here to explain.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
     SENATOR  COGHILL said to celebrate and  honor Alaska's sixtieth                                                          
     year  of  Statehood,  he is  considering  a  life-size bust  of                                                          
     Alaska's first State Governor William Egan.                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
     Senator  Coghill began research into  appearance and cost, then                                                          
     located a local  artist willing and perhaps able to produce the                                                          
     piece.  The artist, son of Elizabeth  Peratrovich, has sculpted                                                          
     a  bust already in the  Capitol and provided  Senator Coghill a                                                          
     preliminary estimate.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
     Senator  Coghill spoke with  Chair Stevens and  expressed that,                                                          
     as  Rules Chair, he  would like  to proceed with  this project.                                                          
     Senator  Stevens suggested he  propose the idea  to Legislative                                                          
     Council.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                              
     He  continued that  Governor Egan served  us well  for decades,                                                          
     and  while the main  road in the  Capital is named  for him, it                                                          
     seems  appropriate to  display Alaska's  first Governor  at the                                                          
     Capitol's  front  entrance  with  a  plaque  honoring him  this                                                          
     sixtieth year of Statehood.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
     Senator  Coghill said retired Senator  Dennis Egan seemed quite                                                          
     excited  about  this possible  project. He  secured  photos and                                                          
     began further  research on bronzing,  etc. The general estimate                                                          
     is just less than $20,000.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                              
     Senator Coghill concluded  this is something he wants to do and                                                          
     appreciates having Legislative Council part of it.                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR  STEVENS  thanked Senator  Coghill for  moving  ahead and                                                          
     finding  out  so much  information.  He also  spoke  about this                                                          
     project with  Senator Dennis Egan who thinks  it is a wonderful                                                          
     thing  for  his father.  Chair  Stevens  asked architect  Wayne                                                          
     Jensen to please come forward and share his thoughts.                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
     WAYNE JENSEN, of  Jensen Yorba Lott Architects noted he was one                                                          
     of  the co-chairs  for the construction  of the  William Seward                                                          
     statue  in  the plaza  across  from the  Capitolwhich   is much                                                          
     larger and  more expensive than a bust. It  is a great idea and                                                          
     tribute  to  memorialize in  bronze.  The bust  of  Senator Bob                                                          
     Bartlett  on  the  Capitol's second  floor  was  well done  and                                                          
     adding another bust would be very appropriate.                                                                           
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were questions.                                                                             
                                                                                                                              
     SENATOR  COSTELLO  thanked Senator  Coghill  for  bringing this                                                          
     forward.  She  stated  it would  be  appropriate  to have  text                                                          
     associated  with the bust  and update the  Capitol walking tour                                                          
     for visitors.  She asked who would  write the explanatory text,                                                          
     would Legislative  Council review, and  what would that process                                                          
     be?                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR  STEVENS  responded   that  the  goal  is  to  appoint  a                                                          
     committee  to look  into this;  the Council  is not  making any                                                          
     commitment  today.  The  text would  be  discussed and  brought                                                          
     before Council before anything occurs.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
     Any member interested  in serving on that committee, please let                                                          
     me  know.  Chair Stevens  appointed  himself,  Senator Coghill,                                                          
     Senator  Stedman,  Wayne  Jensen,  Representative  Wilson,  and                                                          
     Representative Kopp.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
     This   will  be  interesting   to  explore  and   evaluate  the                                                          
     possibilities.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
VI. Adjourn                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
     CHAIR STEVENS noted  if there is nothing further to come before                                                          
     the Committee at this time, we are adjourned.                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
     5:27:05 PM                                                                                                             

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
4.11.19 Leg. Council Meeting Packet.pdf JLEC 4/11/2019 5:00:00 PM
Leg. Council Packet