Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/05/2007 05:00 PM House LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
March 5, 2007
1. ROLL CALL
The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm. by Senator John
Cowdery, Chairman, Legislative Council, in the Senate Finance Committee Room.
The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members: Cowdery, Dahlstrom, Davis,
Green, Hoffman, Stevens, Wilken, Coghill, Harris, Stoltze, and Guttenberg. Absent
members were: Elton, Samuels, and Wilson. Staff present were: Varni, Schofield, Cook,
Price, Clothier, Gullufsen, Johnston, Ibesate, Carlson, and Makinster.
2. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 1, 2007 MINUTES
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the minutes of the
February 1, 2007, Council meeting.
The motion was approved unanimously.
3. SANCTIONING OF CHARITABLE EVENTS
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council sanction the following
charitable events per AS 24.60.080(c)(10): Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Banquet and
the Red Cross Luau.
The motion was approved unanimously.
4. OVR LEASE RENEWAL APPROVAL
Pam Varni, Executive Director of the Legislative Affairs Agency, informed the Council
that the Office of Victims' Rights lease is up for their third and last one-year renewal
option for existing lease space in Anchorage. The lease renewal period is from July 1,
2007 through June 30, 2008.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the one-year renewal
option for existing lease space in Anchorage for the Office of Victims' Rights in the
amount of $45,143.04.
The motion was approved unanimously.
5. TRANSFER OF FY 07 LEGISLATIVE FUNDS APPROVAL
Pam Varni, Executive Director informed the Council that the Session Expenses
Component for FY 07 incurred unanticipated expenditures for two special sessions in the
amount of $969,672. Ms. Varni indicated that a projection of anticipated expenditures
through June 30, 2007 for the Session Expenses Component projects a balance of minus
$600,000 without another special session occurring this fiscal year. Ms. Varni stated that
Council may direct the Executive Director to transfer amounts from one appropriation to
another if the transfer is considered necessary to accomplish the work of the Council. Ms.
Varni explained that Representative Samuels, Chair of Legislative Budget and Audit, has
sufficient FY 07 lapsing funds from LBA Committee Expenses to assist the Session
Expenses Component.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council per AS 24.20.140 direct the
Executive Director to transfer $600,000 in FY 07 funds from the Budget & Audit
Committee Expenses Component to the Session Expenses Component.
The motion was approved unanimously.
6. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AGENCY FY 08 BUDGET
Pam Varni, Executive Director offered the FY 08 Legislative Affairs Agency Budget
overview. Ms. Varni stated that the Legislative Affairs Agency Budget contains eight of
the thirteen budget components and two of the three RDU's in the Legislative Branch.
The Legislative Affairs Agency request is a decrease of $53,300 from the FY 08
Governor's figure and an increase of $21,700 from our FY 08 Adjusted Base figure.
Discussion followed.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council submit the FY 08 Legislative
Affairs Agency Budget Request to the House and Senate Finance Committees for their
review and action.
The motion was approved unanimously.
7. OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN FY 08 BUDGET
Linda Lord-Jenkins, Ombudsman, presented the Office of the Ombudsman's FY 08
proposed budget request.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the FY 08 Office of
the Ombudsman Budget Request and transmit it to the House and Senate Finance
Committees for their review and action.
Representative Stoltze objected for discussion.
Discussion followed.
Representative Stoltze removed his objection.
The motion was approved unanimously.
8. ACCESSIBLE LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE PARKING POLICY
APPROVAL
Chairman Cowdery moved this item until later in the meeting.
9. SCOTTISH RITE TEMPLE CONCEPTUAL PLANS
Chairman Cowdery presented the Council with an update on the Scottish Rite Temple
and conceptual plans for the Council to review. Chairman Cowdery informed the Council
that correspondence was sent to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, asking them if
they are interested in moving to the Scottish Rite Temple or the State Office Building.
Chairman Cowdery stated that he has asked the Agency to go out for a Request for
Proposals for architectural services; the results of the RFP will be brought back to
Council for their approval.
Discussion followed.
10. BLOCK 39 DISCUSSION
Senator Cowdery stated that the Legislature's lease for Anchorage office space will be
over in June of 2009.
Chris Christensen, Deputy Administrative Director of the Alaska Court System, briefed
the Council on Block 39 in Anchorage. He stated that the Court System purchased Block
39 in downtown Anchorage in 1993. The Court System currently uses the space for
administrative and conference offices, warehouse and parking space. The buildings are
old with substantial deferred maintenance needs and structural issues. Due to the extreme
shortage of parking in the downtown area, the Municipality of Anchorage approached the
Court System about Block 39. They would like to build a 620 space parking garage on
half of the Block. According to the Municipality, it is the only publicly owned space in
the downtown area suitable for a large parking garage. The Court System approached the
Legislative Affairs Agency to see if the Legislature might have any interest in
participating in the reconstruction of Block 39. The Court System did some preliminary
work with the Legislative Affairs Agency and the Municipality. Mr. Christensen
presented an architect's conception of what Block 39 would look like if it housed a
parking garage, the Court Building, a Legislative Building and a Galleria.
Discussion followed.
Chairman Cowdery appointed a subcommittee on the Anchorage office space consisting
of the following members:
Senator Cowdery, Chair
Senator French
Senator Bunde
Representative Meyer
Representative Johnson
Representative Doogan
Senator McGuire - Alternate
11. ACCESSIBLE LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE PARKING POLICY
APPROVAL
Pam Varni, Executive Director presented the Council with a draft of the Accessible
Legislative Employee Parking Policy and introduced Don Brandon, State ADA
Coordinator to give an overview of accessible parking - Title III, Title I; public vs.
employee parking, the difference between managed lots, other lots, etc.
Don Brandon presented information about ADA requirements in parking lots.
Discussion followed.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the Accessible
Legislative Employee Parking Policy to ensure employees have a process for reasonable
parking accommodation.
The motion was approved unanimously.
12. UPDATE BY BILL HORN - WASHINGTON STATE FREIGHT
CONTAINER TAX
Chairman Cowdery removed the Bill Horn update due to the fact that Bill Horn was
unavailable.
13. OTHER BUSINESS
Chairman Cowdery notified the Council that he had a request that a Security Policy be
adopted by Legislative Council. Chairman Cowdery appointed a Subcommittee on the
Security Policy consisting of the following members:
Senator Stevens, Chair
Senator Hoffman
Representative Samuels
The meeting was adjourned at 6:09 pm.
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