Legislature(2019 - 2020)Anch LIO Lg Conf Rm
06/25/2019 02:00 PM Senate LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
JUNE 25, 2019
2:00 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair
Representative Louise Stutes, Vice Chair
Senator John Coghill
Senator Bert Stedman
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Neal Foster
Representative DeLena Johnson
Representative Steve Thompson
Representative Tammie Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mia Costello
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Natasha von Imhof
Representative Chuck Kopp
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
AGENDA
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
CONTRACT APPROVALS
SPEAKER REGISTER
Jessica Geary, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA)
Tim Powers, Information and Teleconference Manager, LAA
Tim Banaszak, Information Technology Manager, LAA
2:03:11 PM
I. Call to Order
CHAIR STEVENS called the Legislative Council meeting to order at
2:03pm in the Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO)
Large Conference Room. Present at the call were: Senators
Coghill, Stedman, Stevens; Representatives Edgmon, Foster,
Johnson, Stutes, Thompson, Wilson. Senators Costello, Giessel,
Hoffman, von Imhof and Representative Kopp were absent.
9 members present.
II. Approval of Minutes
a. May 6, 2019
2:04:38 PM
VICE-CHAIR STUTES moved and asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council approve the minutes dated May 6, 2019, as
presented.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were corrections or additions to
those minutes. Seeing none, the minutes are approved.
III. Committee Business
a. LIO Hours of Operation
2:04:56 PM
VICE-CHAIR STUTES moved that Legislative Council return all
year-round Legislative Information Offices (LIOs) to full-time
operation during the interim.
CHAIR STEVENS objected for purpose of discussion and asked Tim
Powers to give a brief explanation and history of this request.
TIM POWERS, Manager of Information and Teleconference for the
Legislative Affairs Agency, said he wanted to provide the
Committee some background on the LIO's operations and some cuts
that have occurred over the past few fiscal years.
Mr. Powers shared that in FY16, the LIO budget was reduced by
$358,700 which resulted in the following changes: reduced the
Utqiagvik and Kotzebue offices from twelve to six month
operation; reduced the Fairbanks and Mat-Su office Information
Assistant positions from twelve to six months; reduced eight
Juneau moderator positions from five to four months; and the
casual labor pool was reduced.
In FY17, the LIOs were further reduced by $298,000. Legislative
Council moved that all year-round LIOs close at noon on Fridays
during the interim. This was compared to the Court System half
day Friday closure, in which the entire Court System closes, not
just one section. In practice, this has proved impractical and
confusing for the public, legislators, and staff wanting a
teleconference on Friday afternoons. With this cut, they reduced
17 employees from 12 months to 11.3 months, resulting in a 6.1%
reduction in annual salary.
This reduction resulted in several issues, including morale and
employee retention. Short term effects included reduced
paychecks and leave accrual, while long term it affected
employee retirement. There were many long-time employees nearing
retirement whose salaries were reduced equivalent to two steps
or four years of work in longevity, which set back their
retirement.
Since the cuts began, LIOs lost Information Officers in
Utqiagvik, Cordova, Glennallen, Kenai, Kotzebue, Sitka,
Unalaska, Valdez (twice); Administrative Assistants in Juneau
and Anchorage; and two Information Assistants in Anchorage.
Employee turnover has increased drastically from eight
resignations in the nine years before the cuts, to 15
resignations in the four years since.
Mr. Powers said he has continued to exercise fiscal restraint
and lower overall costs, for example: turned off cellular data
(wifi back up) for the committee iPads for $10,000 annual
savings; upgraded the digital teleconference phone circuits
which reduced the teleconference operating costs $17,680
annually; turned on geographic call blocking which prevents
callers from using long distance when a local number is
available for $12,000-$24,000 annual savings. Costs have also
been reduced by printing both the Pocket Directory and the
Directory of State Officials in-house (22 and 25 per copy
respectively) with added flexibility in print quantity and
timeframe.
He said he is still looking for ways to save money and actually
lapsed $226,000 in FY16; $35,000 in FY17; $190,000 in FY18; and
approximately $200,000 in FY19.
He would like to restore the LIOs hours of operation to full
time and has money in the current budget to allow for that. He
would like to have LIOs open 37.5 hours per week, like every
other section in the Agency, to continue to assist the
Legislature.
CHAIR STEVENS thanked Mr. Powers and asked what the benefits to
the public are in taking this action.
MR. POWERS replied that the LIO functions as a contact for the
public to help them better understand the often complex
Legislative process.
To that end, in 2017, he implemented an online chat service on
the Legislature's website where the public can instantly connect
with an LIO information officer. Each year since, there have
been approximately 2000 contacts through this service.
Having the LIOS work full time would make them available to the
public every weekday, including Friday afternoons, to answer
legislative questions and/or arrange meetings.
VICE-CHAIR STUTES said she noticed this motion was for full time
only during the interim and asked Mr. Powers if he anticipated
going back to part time when the Legislature is in session?
MR. POWERS asked if she was referring to the session only LIOs.
VICE-CHAIR STUTES responded yes.
MR. POWERS replied that session only LIOs do still operate six
months per year, traditionally December through May, and could
possibly be open for special sessions. This action would not
impact any of those six month positions.
VICE-CHAIR STUTES requested additional clarification and read
the motion, "to return all year-round LIOs to full-time
operation during the interim." She asked if they were at full
time operation during session.
MR. POWERS replied yes, the LIOs do operate full time during
session.
VICE-CHAIR STUTES asked about the loss of 15-16 jobs and if
those were resignations from people quitting or retiring.
MR. POWERS replied three of the positions were due to
retirement.
CHAIR STEVENS said there has been discussion about impact to the
public, will you please discuss the impact to legislators. Is it
correct that currently there can be no committee meetings on
Friday afternoons?
MR. POWERS replied that this Friday, it would be possible. Since
there was such a short time between the first and second special
sessions, LIO staff currently work the session schedule. Upon
adjournment of the second special session, LIO staff will return
to the interim schedule and close LIOs on Friday afternoons
unless this motion passes.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON noted that Mr. Powers said he already had
money in the budget, so was his budget increased this year?
MR. POWERS responded that his budget was flat, not increased.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said it sounded like this would be a cost
increase of around $298,000, and wants to understand how that
money is in the LIO budget if it was flat and there was no money
in the interim before.
MR. POWERS said he was citing the lapsed fundsmoney achieved
through cost saving measures and not spent. He anticipated
lapsing approximately $200,000 this year and the cost of this
motion is approximately $107,000.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked to confirm, this action will cost
approximately $107,000?
MR. POWERS replied yes, that will be the increased employee
expenses.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were further comments or questions.
He continued that his biggest concern is that when LIO staff are
not present on Friday afternoons, partisan staff must take care
of any issues as people walk in and ask questions, instead of
focusing on their work. He asked Ms. Geary for her comments or
recommendations on this motion.
JESSICA GEARY, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency,
responded that this is something that has needed to happen. As
Mr. Powers mentioned, there have been severe morale issues; this
is a matter of fairness since the rest of the Agency remains
open and continues to work and be paid for a full day Friday.
Mr. Powers has done a phenomenal job decreasing costs and
finding efficiencies. Having LIO staff work full time, like the
rest of the agency, is an excellent use of the budget.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were comments or questions. Seeing
none, he requested a roll call vote.
A roll call vote was taken.
YEAS: Senators Coghill, Stedman, Stevens; Representatives Edgmon,
Foster, Johnson, Stutes, Thompson.
NAYS: Wilson
The motion passed 8-1.
IV. Contract Approvals
a. FY20 Annual Hardware Refresh
2:20:58 PM
VICE-CHAIR STUTES moved that Legislative Council approve the
FY20 hardware refresh expenditure of $149,836 out of existing
capital funds.
CHAIR STEVENS objected for purposes of discussion and asked Tim
Banaszak to please provide a brief explanation of this request.
TIM BANASZAK, Manager, Information Technology, said on behalf of
the Legislative Council's IT Subcommittee, he offered the
following FY20 hardware end-of-life equipment replacement
recommendations for consideration: 21 laptop workstations that
replace models dating back to 2011/12; 35 tiny workstations; 20
color printers that replace models dating back to 2011/12; and
38 monitors. The total estimated cost is $149,836.
This is consistent with the Three Year Technology Plan and is
based on a five year or older equipment replacement cycle to
manage upkeep costs, maintain reasonable performance, address
obsolescence, and manage security risks to an acceptable level.
The IT Subcommittee technology recommendations are also: first,
integrating with hardware used in the mobile workstation
initiative that eliminates computer equipment being shipped
between district and session offices twice a year; second, it
applies a phased approach to standardizing one color laser
printer for each office, reducing the maintenance and toner
costs; and third, it is cost efficient, leveraging government
contract volume discount pricing that all three branches of
government use to leverage buying power.
Mr. Banaszak said he is happy to answer any questions.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were questions. Seeing none, he
requested a roll call vote.
A roll call vote was taken.
YEAS: Senators Coghill, Stedman, Stevens; Representatives Edgmon,
Foster, Johnson, Stutes, Thompson, Wilson.
NAYS: None
The motion passed 9-0.
b. Governor Egan Bust
2:24:48 PM
VICE-CHAIR STUTES moved that Legislative Council award a
contract to artist Roy Peratrovich to commission a bronze
sculpture of Governor Bill Egan in the amount of $19,000.
CHAIR STEVENS objected for purposes of discussion. He noted that
Council appointed the Capitol Art Subcommittee which met on May
11, 2019, reviewed the proposals, and selected Mr. Peratrovich
as the artist. Senator Coghill brought this issue to the Council
and has been working on it for some time. Chair Stevens asked
Senator Coghill to please discuss the project.
SENATOR COGHILL said in dealing with the sixtieth anniversary of
the Legislature, he considered how to commemorate it and honor
one of Alaska's first Governors. Bill Egan came to mind, so
Senator Coghill spoke with Governor Egan's son, former Senator
Dennis Egan, and requested permission to propose placing a bust
of Governor Egan in the Capitol foyer. Senator Egan agreed, so
Senator Coghill made the proposal to the Council and Rules
Chairs.
Senator Coghill found that both Eagle Bronzing in Wyoming and
Roy Peratrovichwho produced the bust in the Capitol of his
mothercould create this piece. Mr. Peratrovich's bid was lower
than Eagle Bronzing, and a new, less experienced sculptor could
create it for slightly less than Mr. Peratrovich. Senator
Coghill advocated for Mr. Peratrovich because of his experience
and historical context, and noted he is becoming physically
infirm so this may be one of his last sculptures. This is a fine
way to honor the Chairman of the constitutional convention and
first Governor. Due to the recent passing of his father, Senator
Coghill expressed that he became quite sentimental about this
project.
CHAIR STEVENS asked Senator Coghill to please speak to the
historical context and Mr. Peratrovich's background so everyone
is aware.
SENATOR COGHILL responded that Mr. Peratrovich's mother was a
historic civil rights activist, his father was in the
Constitutional Convention, he has sculpted many pieces including
one in the Capitol of his mother. He is a fine Alaskan and it
would bring historical value to his sculpture due to the
artistry, and the artist. Mr. Peratrovich has had many firsts
including being the first Alaska Native civil engineer licensed
in the stateand brings a deep history.
CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were any questions and thanked
Senator Coghill for making this project a reality. Seeing no
questions, he requested a roll call vote.
A roll call vote was taken.
YEAS: Senators Coghill, Stedman, Stevens; Representatives Edgmon,
Foster, Johnson, Stutes, Thompson, Wilson.
NAYS: None
The motion passed 9-0.
V. Adjourn
CHAIR STEVENS said if there is no further business to come
before the Council, we are adjourned.
2:29:36 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 6.25.19 Leg. Council Meeting Packet.pdf |
JLEC 6/25/2019 2:00:00 PM |
6.25.19 Leg. Council Meeting Packet |