Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/26/2007 05:00 PM House LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
April 26, 2007
1. ROLL CALL
The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m. 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, Elton,
Green, Hoffman, Stevens, Wilken, Coghill, Harris, Samuels, Stoltze, and Guttenberg. Absent
member was Wilson. Staff present were: Varni, Schofield, Cook, Clothier, Gullufsen, Johnston,
Ibesate, Strong, Carlson, and Makinster.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the minutes of the March 5,
2007, Legislative Council meeting.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Representative Stoltze joined the meeting at this time.
3. FY 06 LEGISLATURE AUDIT
Pam Varni, Executive Director of the Legislative Affairs Agency, presented the audit addressed
to the Council and Budget and Audit Committee members which includes a Management Letter
and Schedules of Appropriations, Expenditures, Encumbrances, and Revenues for the
Legislature for FY 06. Ms. Varni further stated there were no audit exceptions and that no action
was needed on this item. The Agency will exercise its last one year renewal option with KPMG
LLP for the Legislature's FY 07 Annual Audit in FY 08.
4. GOLDSTEIN LEASE RENEWAL APPROVAL
Pam Varni, Executive Director, informed the Council that the Juneau Storage lease is up for
renewal. The lease exceeds the $25,000 yearly threshold requiring Legislative Council approval.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the one-year renewal option
for existing lease space in Juneau with the Goldstein Improvement Company in the amount of
$33,449.28.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Senator Elton joined the meeting at this time.
5. IT SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Curtis Clothier, Data Processing Manager of the Legislative Affairs Agency, briefed the Council
on the recommendations of the IT Subcommittee regarding the annual technology refresh for the
Legislature. In the past, the oldest computers in the Legislature have been replaced with newer
models. This year the Subcommittee agreed that it would be more cost effective to upgrade the
memory of the existing computers and delay the purchasing of new desktop PCs for one year.
The Subcommittee also recommends buying 25 laptop computers for those offices who have
requested them. These laptops will replace existing computers in legislative offices.
Discussion followed.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the expenditure, solicitation,
and award not to exceed $100,000 for computer upgrades and laptops from the IT capital funds.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the policy revisions to the IT
Resources Policy and the Internet/Network Policy.
The motion was approved unanimously.
6. ANCHORAGE OFFICE SPACE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION -
BLOCK 39 APPROVAL
Chairman John Cowdery stated that at the April 11, 2007, meeting of the Legislative Council
Anchorage Office Space Subcommittee, the decision was made by the Subcommittee to
recommend that Legislative Council move forward with the Block 39 development plans as
proposed by the Alaska Court System. The Subcommittee believes that the long term benefits of
owning the Anchorage LIO space outweigh the small costs saving projected for the first few
years of the lease.
Discussion followed.
Ryan Makinster, staff to Chairman Cowdery, Legislative Council, stated that Legislative Council
has the statutory authority to enter into a lease-purchase agreement. The next step would be for
the Council to get legislation drafted and accepted by both bodies. The legislation would have to
include the total construction costs or acquisition costs of the project, anticipated amount of the
rental obligation, and the total lease payments for the full term of the purchase agreement.
Discussion followed.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve moving forward with the
Block 39 proposal from the Court System and draft and introduce legislation necessary for the
Legislature to participate in a lease-purchase agreement for a new facility for consolidation of
Anchorage Legislator's Offices, LIO, Audit, Ombudsman, and Office of Victims' Rights along
with the administrative offices of the Court System.
Senator Wilken objected.
Discussion followed.
Senator Wilken maintained objection.
YEAS: Cowdery, Davis, Elton, Green, Hoffman, Stevens, Coghill, Dahlstrom, Harris,
Samuels, Stoltze, and Guttenberg
NAYS: Wilken
ABSENT: Wilson
Motion passed 12 - 1.
7. DURAN CONSTRUCTION CO. SNOWPLOWING CONTRACT APPROVAL
Pam Varni, Executive Director, asked that Legislative Council approve a $21,000 amendment to
the Duran Construction contract due to the heavy snowfall this winter in Juneau.
Discussion followed.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve an increase of $21,000 to the
Duran Construction Company snowplowing contract along with the solicitation exemption under
Sec. 040 of the Legislative Procurement Procedures.
The motion was approved unanimously.
8. SECURITY CAMERA POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Senator Stevens informed the Council that the Security Camera Policy Subcommittee met on
March 23, 2007. The Subcommittee looked at procedures adopted by other states, and
recommends that Legislative Council adopt a security camera policy and incorporate these
guidelines into the Legislative Council Records Policy:
Discussion followed.
Senator Wilken moved that an amendment be made to the Policy that approval to view security
tapes may be granted by concurrence of the Chair and Co-Chair of Legislative Council without
being brought to a Legislative Council meeting.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council adopt the Security Camera Policy as
presented by Senator Stevens and incorporate these guidelines into the Legislative Council
Records Policy with the conceptual amendment offered by Senator Wilken.
Representative Harris objected to the amendment.
Discussion followed.
Chairman Cowdery asked for a vote of all in favor of withdrawing the motion and bringing this
subject up again at a future Legislative Council meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:54 pm.
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