Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
04/10/2008 05:00 PM House LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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APRIL 10, 2008
The Legislative Council was called to order at 5:05pm by Senator Cowdery, Chairman, in the
House HESS Committee Room.
1. ROLL CALL
The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members: Senators Cowdery, Davis, Elton,
Green, Hoffman, Stevens, and Wilken; Representatives Coghill, Dahlstrom, Harris, Samuels,
Stoltze, Wilson, and Guttenberg. Staff present: Varni, Makinster, Cook, Ibesate, Johnston, Lesh,
Price, Schofield, and Strong. Others present: Joyce Anderson, Administrator, Select Committee
on Legislative Ethics, and Darrel Sutherland, Dell Representative.
2. APPROVAL OF MARCH 20, 2008 MINUTES
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the minutes of the March 20,
2008 Legislative Council meeting as presented.
The motion passed with no objections.
3. SANCTIONING OF A CHARITABLE EVENT
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council sanction the 2008 Kenai River Classic
per AS 24.60.080(c)(10).
Senator Wilken objected to the motion. He expressed that he had some questions regarding what
one gets when one receives a ticket and what is the total value.
Joyce Anderson, Administrator, Select Committee on Legislative Ethics, testified that the Ethics
Committee discussed this event last year. The Kenai River Classic participants pay a large sum
of money in support of the event, but the ticket is for the actual cost of the dinner, the fishing, the
guide, so the value is a lot less than the participants pay. The Kenai River Classic is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit, so all proceeds go to charity.
Ms. Anderson stated that the Ethics Committee did look at this issue and determined that it was
an educational event and recommended that the organization should ask for sanctioning by
Legislative Council this year for the first time.
Discussion followed.
Representative Coghill joined the meeting at this time.
The motion was on the floor and roll call was taken.
YEAS: Cowdery, Davis, Elton, Stevens, Wilken, Coghill, Dahlstrom, Harris, Samuels,
Stoltze, Wilson, Guttenberg
NAYS: None
The motion passed 12-0.
4. TRAVEL & MOVING POLICY UPDATE APPROVAL
Senator Cowdery summarized this item to state that it allows Legislators the same travel
accommodations for special session for spouses and dependents as it does for regular session.
Karla Schofield was available for questions.
Senator Green joined the meeting at this time.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve a change to the Moving and
Travel Policy allowing spouse and dependent travel for special sessions.
YEAS: Cowdery, Davis, Elton, Green, Stevens, Wilken, Coghill, Dahlstrom, Harris,
Samuels, Stoltze, Wilson, Guttenberg
NAYS: None
The motion passed 13-0.
5. ALASKA STATUTE PUBLICATION CONTRACT
Executive Director Pam Varni stated that the Legislature currently has a contract with Matthew
Bender & Co., Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group for the publication of Alaska Statutes.
The contract has two options to renew for two years each. Ms. Varni said this issue is being
brought before the Council for members to decide if they would like to exercise one of the two
remaining options or issue an RFP for a new contract.
Pam Finley, Revisor of Statutes and Project Manager for this contract, and Kathryn Kurtz,
Assistant Revisor of Statutes, were available for questions.
Ms. Finley stated that the current contract was executed in 2000 and was a six-year contract with
three successive options to renew for two years each. The Legislative Council exercised one
option, which extended the contract through fall of 2008. By July 1, 2008, we need to tell the
vendor if we want to exercise another two-year option. Ms. Finley directed Ms. Kurtz to look at
other contracts in comparison and the general conclusion was that we currently have a very good
contract and recommend that we extend.
Discussion followed.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council renew the existing contract with
Matthew Bender & Co., Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group, for an additional two year term
for the publication of the Alaska Statutes and on line research.
YEAS: Cowdery, Davis, Elton, Green, Stevens, Wilken, Coghill, Dahlstrom, Harris,
Samuels, Stoltze, Wilson, Guttenberg
NAYS: None
The motion passed 13-0.
6. RFP FOR ANCHORAGE OFFICE SPACE
Pam Varni, Executive Director, stated that the Legislature currently has a lease for our office
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space at 716 W 4 Avenue. We have five one-year renewals. Our lease agreement is due to
expire May 31, 2009. Ms. Varni put before the Council the option of issuing a Request for
Proposals for office space in Anchorage. If the Council likes any of the proposals, they can
consider those options. If the Council does not like any of the proposals, the choice remains to
exercise the option for a one-year renewal of the existing lease. We must exercise the one-year
renewal option 30 days prior to expiration of the contract (May 31, 2009), so there is plenty of
time to issue an RFP and review any proposals.
Discussion followed.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council establish a subcommittee to work on
Request for Proposals (RFP) for Anchorage office space before immediately exercising our first
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one-year renewal option in our existing space at 716 W 4 Avenue.
YEAS: Cowdery, Davis, Elton, Green, Hoffman, Stevens, Wilken, Coghill, Dahlstrom,
Harris, Samuels, Wilson, Guttenberg
NAYS: None
The motion passed 13-0.
Senator Cowdery appointed the following members to the subcommittee: Representatives
Samuels, Meyer, Hawker, Doogan, and Crawford; Senators Bunde, French, Davis, and McGuire.
Representative Samuels will chair the subcommittee.
7. 2008 TECHNOLOGY REFRESH APPROVAL
Curtis Clothier, Information Services Manager, testified that the proposal is our annual computer
refresh whereby we replace old computers and printers with new gear. We do this every year.
This year we are proposing to replace 80 of the oldest computers, 35 of the older printers, and
purchase additional color printers for the Capitol. Curtis has met with both Rules Committee
Chairs to determine the above-named priorities.
Mr. Clothier stated that we use the State contract to determine pricing. That contract is called the
Western States Contracting Alliance (WSAC) and includes Dell, Gateway, HP, IBM, and Apple.
We have chosen to standardize with Gateway for the last nine years. We have no problems with
reliability of service and they are easy to work with. Comparing prices across these vendors
shows that Gateway is the best price available. Gateway often gives us an additional discount
over the contract price.
Darrell Sutherland, Dell Representative, testified that Dell's position on this is that they would
like an opportunity to provide comparable pricing. The prices are basically the retail prices of the
WSAC. Dell has negotiated with the State of Alaska to provide an additional discount on top of
the WSAC price. Dell wants to make sure that they have an opportunity to present their
discounted State of Alaska price to the Legislature. Dell's pricing structure is very, very
competitive.
Discussion followed.
Senators Hoffman and Elton left the meeting at this time.
Representative Dahlstrom moved that Legislative Council approve the solicitation, award and
expenditures not to exceed $160,000 for computer and printer upgrades from the IT
Subcommittee funds.
YEAS: Cowdery, Davis, Green, Stevens, Wilken, Coghill, Dahlstrom, Harris, Samuels,
Wilson, Guttenberg
NAYS: None
The motion passed 11-0.
8. OTHER BUSINESS
Senator Cowdery informed the members of Legislative Council that he appointed the following
subcommittee members for the Capitol Annex Child Care Center:
Senator Lesil McGuire, Chair; Representative Mary Nelson; Lisa Kirsch, Attorney, Legislative
Affairs Agency; Joy Lyon, Executive Director, AEYC; Shelia Ray, Regional Trainer, AEYC;
Max Mertz, CPA, Elgee, Rehfeld, Mertz; Stephanie Allison, Senior Auditor, Legislative Audit;
and Tania Wink, Staff Auditor, Legislative Audit.
Representative Harris inquired about the duties of the subcommittee and Senator Cowdery
responded that the subcommittee members will review RFPs submitted by prospective service
providers.
There was no action necessary for this item.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15pm.
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