ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  MAY 16, 2016  3:57 PM      MEMBERS PRESENT  Senator Gary Stevens, Chair Representative Bob Herron, Vice Chair Senator John Coghill Senator Lyman Hoffman Senator Anna MacKinnon Senator Kevin Meyer Senator Peter Micciche Senator Cathy Giessel, alternate Representative Mike Chenault Representative Craig Johnson Representative Sam Kito Representative Charisse Millett Representative Mark Neuman Representative Steve Thompson, alternate Representative Harriet Drummond, alternate MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Charlie Huggins Senator Lesil McGuire, alternate Representative Mike Hawker   OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT  Representatives Reinbold and Spohnholz AGENDA  OTHER COMMITTEE BUSINESS SPEAKER REGISTER      4:00:09 PM I. CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the Legislative Council meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in Room 208 of the Bill Ray Center. Present at the call were Senators Stevens, Meyer, Coghill, Hoffman, MacKinnon, Micciche, and Giessel, alternate member; Representatives Herron, Chenault, Johnson, Kito, Millett, Neuman, and Thompson and Drummond, alternate members. Senators Huggins, and McGuire, alternate member, and Representative Hawker were absent. Other Legislators present: Representatives Reinbold and Spohnholz. II. COMMITTEE BUSINES - EXECUTIVE SESSION  a. Anchorage Office Space  b. Bill Ray Center Lease  a. Anchorage Office Space  CHAIR STEVENS noted for members that Council would be going into Executive Session to follow-up on the May 2, 2016, Anchorage office space proposal. 4:01:53 PM VICE CHAIR HERRON moved 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: Doug Gardner, Katrina Matheny, Linda Hay, Curtis Clothier, and any legislative staff working for Council members. In addition, we ask that Kevin Cuddy with Stoel Rives remain on teleconference, and we also welcome any Legislators who are not on Legislative Council to remain in the room or on teleconference. There being no objection, the Legislative Council went into Executive Session. 5:01:54 PM Legislative Council came out of Executive Session. VICE CHAIR HERRON moved that Legislative Council authorize the chair to enter into and sign a purchase and sale agreement, subject to legislative appropriation, for the purchase of the land and office building known as 1500 West Benson Boulevard in Anchorage, for an amount not to exceed $12.5 million. There being no discussion, a roll call vote was taken. A roll call vote was taken. YEAS: Meyer, Coghill, Hoffman, MacKinnon, Micciche, Giessel, Chenault, Johnson, Millett, Neuman, Thompson, Herron, Stevens NAYS: Kito The motion authorizing the Chair to pursue purchasing the land and office building known as 1500 West Benson Boulevard in Anchorage for an amount not to exceed $12.5 million passed 13-1. b. Bill Ray Center Lease  5:03:17 PM VICE CHAIR HERRON moved that Legislative Council authorize the chair to spend up to $25,000 per month, through midsummer 2016, to maintain the Bill Ray Center for legislative office and meeting space as necessary until the Legislature's need for the space during the 29th Alaska State Legislature has concluded. CHAIR STEVENS objected for purpose of discussion, and said that the issue here was that there has been a lot of effort, money, and time into preparing this Bill Ray Center for legislative use. All the materials, the telecommunications, etc., have been put in at the Legislature's expense and we don't want to move out until we know that we are done for this year. As soon as we are done with this special session, the lease will be terminated for this building. The lease cost is $25,000 per month; the building is available through the end of August; and the lease may be exited at any time. Discussion followed regarding the cost of the lease; confirming that the lease is month-to-month through the end of August and can be canceled at any time; and that the rate may be pro-rated. There was also a call to contact the Juneau Foundation to appeal to their desire to keep the Legislature in the Capital City and to help reduce the cost of the special session by contributing toward the lease costs. A roll call vote was taken. YEAS: Meyer, Coghill, Hoffman, MacKinnon, Micciche, Giessel, Chenault, Johnson, Kito, Millett, Neuman, Thompson, Herron, Stevens NAYS: None The motion to maintain the Bill Ray Center for legislative office and meeting space until the end of the special session was approved 14-0. There being no further business before the committee, the Legislative Council meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m. 5:08:19 PM