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