Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/10/2001 02:15 PM House LEC
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
April 10, 2001
1. ROLL CALL
The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 2:15 p.m. by Representative
Green, Legislative Council Chair, in the Senate Finance Committee Room at the
Alaska State Capitol.
The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members Green, Kott, Murkowski,
Ogan (via teleconference), Porter, Rokeberg, Berkowitz, Cowdery, Donley, Pete
Kelly, Pearce and Elton. Members absent were Halford and Torgerson. Staff
present were Varni, Cook, Bill Ellis, Melanee Ellis, Gullufsen, Ibesate, Logan,
McCauley, Schofield and Wyatt.
2. APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 26, 2001 MEETING MINUTES
Speaker Porter moved the minutes of the February 26, 2001 meeting be approved.
YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Ogan, Porter, Berkowitz, Donley, Kelly,
Pearce and Elton
NAYS: NONE
ABSENT: Rokeberg, Cowdery, Halford and Torgerson
The motion was approved unanimously.
3. NATURAL GAS STUDY
Representative Green explained as the Governor has established a task force in
determining gas sales and there have been discussions of an appointment of a joint
committee on the gas line issue Legislative Council might want to act as an interim
committee to review the gas line proposal. There may be a need to hire a
professional consultant(s) to review the best interest of the State and Legislative
Council is the only interim committee that can function as a fiscal committee.
Discussion followed by Senator Elton and Representatives Ogan and Porter.
It was decided to defer any action on this item.
4. FY 00 AUDIT OF LEGISLATURE
Pamela Varni, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency, presented the FY 00
Audit of the Legislature completed by KPMG and noted there were no audit
exceptions. We will be going out to bid in the fall for another 3-year audit contract.
Speaker Porter moved to accept the FY 00 Statement of Appropriations,
Expenditures and Encumbrances and Statement of Revenues for the Audit of the
Legislature.
YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Porter, Rokeberg, Berkowitz, Cowdery,
Donley, Pearce and Elton
NAYS: NONE
ABSENT: Ogan, Halford, Kelly and Torgerson
The motion was approved unanimously.
5. MAT-SU LEASE - PROPERTY OWNER CHANGE APPROVAL
Pam Varni explained that per Sec. 160 of the Legislative Procurement Procedure,
Legislative Council approval is required to amend the current lease agreement to
reflect the new owner's name. The Mat-Su lease space in Wasilla agreement
changed from DJD Associates to Dennis and Dorothy Smith.
Speaker Porter moved that Legislative Council approve the change of name of our
leased space in Wasilla per Sec. 160.
YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Ogan, Porter, Rokeberg, Berkowitz, Cowdery,
Donley, Pearce and Elton
NAYS: NONE
ABSENT: Halford, Kelly and Torgerson
The motion was approved unanimously.
6. LEGAL SERVICES CONTRACT AMENDMENT
Ted Popely, Majority Counsel, explained the contract amendment for $20,000 with a
time extension of one year on an existing legal contract between Legislative Council
and Donald Mitchell, the attorney currently representing Legislative Council in a
federal case before the District Court in Washington DC. He gave a brief history of
the case in that the State of Alaska through the Attorney General's Office, and
Legislative Council, sought to intervene in an action filed by 3 village organizations
regarding applications to the National Indian Gaming Commission. Both motions for
intervention were denied and if Legislative Council wants to pursue further litigation
the contract must be extended. Ted Popely introduced Don Mitchell, who was
available for discussion via teleconference.
Discussion followed by Representatives Berkowitz and Green regarding
recommendations and the appeal process.
Representative Berkowitz moved Legislative Council vote on the $20,000 contract
amendment and the one-year time extension on the Donald C. Mitchell Contract.
YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Ogan, Porter, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Donley,
Kelly and Pearce
NAYS: Berkowitz and Elton
ABSENT: Halford and Torgerson
The contract amendment and extension was approved 10 - 2.
7. PNWER DUES
Matt Morrison, Executive Director of Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER)
gave a brief history of PNWER in that the organization is the only trans-boundary
statutory organization of its kind in North American with the ability to leverage federal
funding. He explained he was representing PNWER's Executive Committee in
asking Alaska to participate in PNWER and pay the $15,000 in dues.
Discussion and recommendations followed by U.S. Consul General Hugo Lorenz,
Representatives James and Dyson.
Representative Berkowitz moved that Legislative Council approve $15,000 for
payment of dues to PNWER.
YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Ogan, Porter, Rokeberg, Berkowitz, Cowdery,
Donley, Kelly, Pearce and Elton
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Halford and Torgerson
The motion was approved unanimously.
8. IT SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT & RECOMMENDATIONS
Representative Kott, Information Technology Subcommittee Chair, and Bill
McCauley, Manager Data Processing, Legislative Affairs Agency, explained the
findings and recommendations of the IT Subcommittee that was formed by
Legislative Council on February 8, 2001.
Key issues and recommendations:
1. Purchase computers rather than leasing.
2. Update Hardware and Review Legislative Network Security Standards
3. Capitol Projects
Recommended Capitol Projects:
a. Purchase 50 leased PCs
b. Purchase Windows NT site licenses
c. Purchase Office 2000 Professional site licenses
d. Replace 111 E-3000 (200MHz) PCs
e. Upgrade RAM for 250 PCs
f. Replace 16 HP 4M+ Printers
Recommendations on the use of the older PCs that are to be replaced were put
forth. These recommendations included donating the computers to various schools
or using the computers in the interim offices. Many members had expressed concern
over the down time imposed by legislative moves to and from session and it was
recommended that the older computers be placed in interim offices.
Discussion followed by Representatives Rokeberg, Green and Porter.
Due to phone line problems Representative Ogan dropped off, as he was not
needed for a quorum.
Senator Pearce moved the approval of the buy out of 50 leased Gateway computers
in the amount of $31,043.25 and the approval of the solicitation, award and
expenditure of legislative funds in the amount of $279,000 to implement the 4/10/01
recommendations of the IT Subcommittee. Funding for these expenditures will be
split between Session, Senate and House Operating, and Legislative Council funds.
With no objection the motion was approved unanimously.
9. LIO COMPUTER PURCHASE APPROVAL
Representative Kott explained the IT Subcommittee recommended upgrading the
desktop PCs and printer for all LIO offices which would be a continuation of the
Production Systems upgrades for Legal Services, Chief Clerk, Senate Secretary,
House & Senate Records, House & Senate Finance Secretaries and the Print Shop.
The total cost for the upgrades would be as follows:
Replace 62 PCs $90,000
Purchase 18 HP 4050TN printers $27,000
Representative Kott moved the approval of the solicitation, award and expenditure of
Legislative Affairs Agency funds in the amount of $117,000 for LIO Production
Systems Upgrades.
With no objection the motion was approved unanimously.
10. NCSL DUES
Speaker Porter explained that during a joint leadership meeting he entertained a
motion that the membership in various governmental organizations should be paired
down. It is his contention that membership in NCSL (National Conference of State
Legislatures) and CSG (Council of State Government) is redundant and that with the
expense needed for travel and the NCSL dues of $82,000 a year he recommends
not renewing the dues for NCSL.
Speaker Porter moved that Legislative Council not renew dues with NCSL.
Discussion followed by Senators Elton, Pearce, Kelly, Representatives Kott and
Green. Discussion regarding the use of information provided by NCSL, the amount
of dues paid to other organizations, and the number of people and travel monies
involved in the participation of meetings.
Speaker Porter felt that the issue was worthy of further discussion and withdrew his
motion until the next Legislative Council meeting providing that additional information
on travel costs.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:25 p.m.
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