Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

01/27/2023 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

Audio Topic
09:00:54 AM Start
09:01:32 AM Presentation: Defferred Maintenance - Office of Management and Budget, Department of Transportation, University of Alaska
10:11:54 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Teleconferenced --
+ Deferred Maintenance TELECONFERENCED
- Office of Management & Budget
- Department of Transportation
- University of Alaska
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                     January 27, 2023                                                                                           
                         9:00 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:00:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman   called  the  Senate   Finance  Committee                                                                    
meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Neil Steininger, Director, Office  of Management and Budget,                                                                    
Office   of  the   Governor;  Jason   Sakalaskas,  Director,                                                                    
Facilities  Services,   Department  of   Transportation  and                                                                    
Public  Facilities;   Chad  Hutchison,  Director   of  State                                                                    
Relations, University of Alaska.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Alesia  Kruckenberg,  Director  of  Strategy,  Planning  and                                                                    
Budget, University of Alaska.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PRESENTATION: DEFFERRED  MAINTENANCE - OFFICE  OF MANAGEMENT                                                                    
and  BUDGET,  DEPARTMENT  OF TRANSPORTATION,  UNIVERSITY  OF                                                                    
ALASKA                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman discussed the agenda.                                                                                          
^PRESENTATION: DEFFERRED MAINTENANCE  - OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT                                                                  
and  BUDGET,  DEPARTMENT  OF TRANSPORTATION,  UNIVERSITY  OF                                                                  
ALASKA                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:01:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NEIL STEININGER, DIRECTOR, OFFICE  OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,                                                                    
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, introduced himself.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
JASON SAKALASKAS,  DIRECTOR, FACILITES  SERVICES, DEPARTMENT                                                                    
OF   TRANSPORTATION   AND  PUBLIC   FACILITIES,   introduced                                                                    
himself.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger  discussed a presentation  entitled "Deferred                                                                    
Maintenance,  Senate Finance  committee, January  27, 2023,"                                                                    
(copy on file).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:02:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger turned to slide  looked at slide 2, "Deferred                                                                    
Maintenance Overview":                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Deferred maintenance is  maintenance or repair projects                                                                    
     that  have been  delayed or  postponed due  to lack  of                                                                    
     funds  within  an   entity's  normal  operating  budget                                                                    
     cycle.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     State of Alaska property portfolio:                                                                                        
     • 2,400+ facilities (includes University)                                                                                  
     • 20 million square feet of space                                                                                          
     • 15 State Agencies                                                                                                        
     • Type varies by Agency                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:03:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger  spoke to  slide 3,  "Funding Recommendations                                                                    
and Targets":                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     There  is  no  one  definitive rule  on  the  level  of                                                                    
     preventive  maintenance  necessary  to  avoid  deferred                                                                    
     maintenance,  but  a  2012  National  Research  Council                                                                    
     publication references  a range of 2-4%  of replacement                                                                    
     cost value.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     FY2021 replacement  cost value  (excluding University):                                                                    
     $7,678,370.1                                                                                                               
     1% = $76.8 million                                                                                                         
     2% = $153.6 million                                                                                                        
     4% = $307.1 million                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:05:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger  referenced   slide  4,  "Governor's  Budget                                                                    
Maintenance  Funding,"  which  showed   a  table  of  FY  24                                                                    
Governor's     budget    maintenance     funding    totaling                                                                    
approximately $13 million.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     FY2024 Capital Bill                                                                                                      
    Corrections Statewide Security Doors and Windows DM                                                                       
     $1,000.0                                                                                                                   
     UGF                                                                                                                        
     Courts DM                                                                                                                
     $3,050.0                                                                                                                   
     Alaska Capital Income Fund                                                                                                 
     Fish and Game Sport Fish Hatcheries DM                                                                                   
     $1,000.0                                                                                                                   
     UGF                                                                                                                        
     Fish and Game Vessel and Aircraft DM                                                                                     
     $500.0                                                                                                                     
     Alaska Capital Income Fund                                                                                                 
     Statewide DM                                                                                                             
     $29,283.6                                                                                                                  
     Alaska Capital Income Fund                                                                                                 
     FY2024 Capital Total                                                                                                     
     $34,833.6                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     FY2024 Operating                                                                                                         
     Maintenance and Operations  All Agencies                                                                                 
     $77,783.2                                                                                                                  
     Various                                                                                                                    
     FY2024 Operating Total                                                                                                   
     $77,783.2                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Capital and Operating Total                                                                                              
     $112,616.8                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:06:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Steininger   turned   to  slide   5,   "Statewide   DM                                                                    
Appropriation by  Agency," which showed  a table that  was a                                                                    
historical lookback  of deferred  maintenance appropriations                                                                    
by agencies  for the previous  six years. He  explained that                                                                    
the reason the total was so low  in FY 21 was because of the                                                                    
Covid-19 Pandemic.  In that  year the  legislature adjourned                                                                    
early  and there  had not  been a  full capital  budget. The                                                                    
following  year  made up  the  difference  for the  lack  of                                                                    
funding in FY  21. He highlighted that DOC  received a large                                                                    
amount each year  due to its complex  facilities. He pointed                                                                    
to  significant  amounts also  went  to  the University.  He                                                                    
mentioned large  amounts for family and  Community Services,                                                                    
which   maintained  Pioneer   Homes  and   Juvenile  Justice                                                                    
Facilities.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:08:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger considered  slide  6,  " Backlog  $703,493.1                                                                    
(excluding   University),"   which   showed  a   bar   graph                                                                    
illustrating the  backlog of deferred maintenance.  He cited                                                                    
that there  were backlogs in  approximately $7  million. The                                                                    
number  excluded  the  University, which  would  provide  an                                                                    
update later in the meeting.  He highlighted that DOT&PF had                                                                    
the  largest backlog,  with DOC  following second.  He noted                                                                    
that  DNR had  a lot  of  remote field  sites that  required                                                                    
maintenance.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:09:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger  relayed that he would  turn the presentation                                                                    
over to Mr. Sakalaskas.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:09:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sakalaskas informed  that he  would cover  the approach                                                                    
used by DOT to identify  and prioritize deferred maintenance                                                                    
projects  and  needs.  He   displayed  slide  7,  "Statewide                                                                    
Funding Approach":                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Allocation process                                                                                                         
        • OMB facilitates the collection of agency deferred                                                                     
          maintenance lists                                                                                                     
        • State Facilities Council reviews and prioritizes                                                                      
          deferred maintenance projects across executive                                                                        
          branch agencies                                                                                                       
        • Facilities Council deferred maintenance workshops                                                                     
          anticipated February through June, with goal of                                                                       
          Statewide prioritized list to OMB June 2023                                                                           
        • Projects to be prioritized based on combination                                                                       
          of   significant    factors   including   facility                                                                    
          importance, building system, and urgency to                                                                           
          create a *Project Index Value (PIV).                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:11:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  asked to go  back to slide 6  and referenced                                                                    
the two columns for DOT.  He asked Mr. Sakalaskas to explain                                                                    
the differences between the two columns.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sakalaskas explained  that the  first column  reflected                                                                    
DOT assigned  buildings. The  second column  represented the                                                                    
DOT  Public  Building  fund  and  was  part  of  a  separate                                                                    
investment.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson found  it  concerning that  DOT  had such  a                                                                    
deferred   maintenance    backlog,   considering    it   was                                                                    
responsible for  airports and aviation  in rural  Alaska. He                                                                    
cautioned  that   airports  in  rural  areas   falling  into                                                                    
disrepair was a safety issue.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas  explained that aviation facilities  in rural                                                                    
areas were included in the backlog.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Olson  was   concerned  with   maintaining  rural                                                                    
airports which received heavy snow  and ice formation, which                                                                    
made it  difficult to stop  an airplane. He  mentioned less-                                                                    
than-pristine  road  graters,  and asked  whether  equipment                                                                    
needs in  rural locations  were included  in the  DM backlog                                                                    
for DOT&PF.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sakalaskas  stated  that   the  facilities  needs  were                                                                    
included but not equipment.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:14:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sakalaskas   highlighted  slide  8,   "Project  Ranking                                                                    
Formula":                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     • Project prioritization a combination of the below to                                                                     
     create a Project Index Value (PIV):                                                                                        
     PIV = (MAI) x (System Factor) x (Need)                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
        • MAI - Mission Alignment Index, alignment of                                                                         
          facility to an Agency's mission                                                                                       
        • System Factor - Scale related to various building                                                                   
          systems and their impact on building                                                                                  
        • Need   -   The   urgency   and   criticality   for                                                                  
          replacement                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     • If  known, other attributes are  also considered such                                                                    
     as  anticipated  return  on investments,  any  matching                                                                    
     funds,  or eligibility  as  a  financed energy  savings                                                                    
     performance project                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:15:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas looked at slide 9, "Mission Alignment                                                                            
Index":                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     •   Mission  Alignment   Index  (MAI)   identifies  the                                                                    
     relative  importance of  a facility  in relation  to an                                                                    
     agency's  primary  mission.  Besides how  critical  the                                                                    
     facility is to the agency mission it considers:                                                                            
          • How capable is it to deliver services                                                                               
          • How utilized is it, how many people, citizens                                                                       
             or state services does it impact                                                                                   
          • Availability of other facility options at that                                                                      
             location                                                                                                           
     •  The  most  critical  facilities  of  an  agency  are                                                                    
    directly aligned with the agency's purpose to exist                                                                         
          • Amongst multiple critical facilities within in                                                                      
          an agency, there are still varying degrees                                                                            
     •  Allows  better  risk  management  to  programs,  and                                                                    
     guides investment and divestiture decisions                                                                                
    • Determined by the agency. Periodically revisited.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:16:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop asked where, under the three categories of                                                                       
the project formula, one would find         life-safety and                                                                     
health.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas relayed that life-safety would be placed in                                                                      
the system factor and would be a critical component.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:17:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas addressed slide 10, "Mission Alignment Index                                                                     
Examples":                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
       Critical:                                                                                                              
          • The Agency cannot meet its mission without this                                                                     
         facility. There are no viable workarounds                                                                              
          Index Scale  0.75-0.9                                                                                               
          Facility: Key Maintenance Station, Correctional                                                                     
          Center, Hangar, School, etc.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
       Important:                                                                                                             
          •   Would   impact   the   Agency's   mission   if                                                                    
          unavailable. Possible workarounds                                                                                     
          Index Scale  0.5-0.74                                                                                               
          Facility: Cartain Office Buildings                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
       Supportive:                                                                                                            
          • Would possibly impact the Agency's mission if                                                                       
         unavailable, but other options available                                                                               
          Index Scale  0.25.0.49                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
       Other / Non Mission Critical:                                                                                          
          • Would not have an effect on the Agency's                                                                            
          mission if unavailable                                                                                                
          Index Scale  0.0-0.24                                                                                               
          Facility: Certain Warehouses or Storage Buildings                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:18:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas advanced to slide 11, "Systems & Needs                                                                           
Examples                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
       Life, Health, Safety, Structure                                                                                        
          • Sprinkler, Fire Alarm, Structural,                                                                                  
          • Including Life, Health, Safety issues caused by                                                                     
          envelope, mechanical, electrical, or other system                                                                     
          failures                                                                                                              
          System Factor - 0.75-1.0                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
       Envelope and Shell                                                                                                     
          • Roof, Exterior Walls and Windows                                                                                    
          System Factor  0.5-0.74                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
       Mechanical, Electrical, Conveying, Process                                                                             
             HVAC, Plumbing, Power, Lighting, Elevators,                                                                        
          Escalators, industry specific systems                                                                                 
          System Factor  0.5-0.74                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
       Interior, exterior grounds, other                                                                                      
         • Interior Doors, Walls, Floors, Finishes                                                                              
          System Factor  0.25-0.49                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Need                                                                                                                     
     5  Critical                                                                                                              
          -Corrects critical life safety or code hazard                                                                         
          -Imminent failure, requires immediate action to                                                                       
          return facility to normal operations                                                                                  
     4  Important, not yet critical                                                                                           
          -Requires action within next 5 years to stop                                                                          
          intermittent interruptions                                                                                            
          -Corrects deterioration or potential safety                                                                           
          hazards                                                                                                               
     3  Necessary                                                                                                             
          -Require   appropriate   attention   to   preclude                                                                    
          deterioration or potential downtime                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:20:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl asked how DOT balanced between and among the                                                                      
different missions of different agencies.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sakalaskas stated  that the  formula was  designed with                                                                    
the intention of striking the  balance. He said that the MAI                                                                    
was  the  tool used  within  agencies  to identify  priority                                                                    
projects.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:22:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas looked at slide 12, "Examples From Last                                                                          
Prioritization Cycle:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
        • Mission Alignment Index       Determined by the                                                                       
          owning department. In this example, each is a                                                                         
          critical building essential to serving the                                                                            
          mission of the respective department.                                                                                 
        • System Factor  Average of the inputs from each                                                                        
          member of the Facilities Council                                                                                      
        • Need  Average of the inputs from each member of                                                                       
          the Facilities Council                                                                                                
        • Project Index Value  Calculated and ranked for                                                                        
          over 100 projects from the last ranking cycle                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Final prioritized list was reviewed and approved by                                                                        
     Facilities Council, then shared with OMB to                                                                                
     inform    the    recommended    deferred    maintenance                                                                    
     allocation.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:23:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas showed slide 13, "Deferred Maintenance                                                                           
Project Implementations":                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     General Processes                                                                                                        
        • Typical project efforts may include planning,                                                                         
          design and construction phases with varying                                                                           
          durations depending on scope and intensity                                                                            
        • Projects offer opportunities for local and                                                                            
          statewide design professionals and contractors                                                                        
         through the State's procurement processes                                                                              
        • Typical project cost impacts may include economic                                                                     
          markets of contracting, commodity prices, scope                                                                       
          increases due to unknown conditions or hazardous                                                                      
          materials.                                                                                                            
          o Projects can come in both under or above                                                                            
             estimates. In some cases the state has seen                                                                        
             bids exceeding estimates by ranges of 65-113%                                                                      
          o These challenges are shared within Facilities                                                                       
             Council forums and used to help inform future                                                                      
             projects                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:25:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson asked  Mr.  Sakalaskas  to discuss  possible                                                                    
supply chain issues.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas affirmed that the  department had seen supply                                                                    
chain  issues,  and  there  were  "long  lead"  items  under                                                                    
discussion  within the  Facilities  Council. The  Facilities                                                                    
Council  was  trying to  take  critical  items into  account                                                                    
early in the process as to not hold up project delivery.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson asked  about  Infrastructure Investment  and                                                                    
Jobs Act  (IIJA) funds  and asked whether  any of  the funds                                                                    
could be used for the deferred maintenance backlog.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas responded  that he was not  familiar with the                                                                    
topic.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger interjected that most  of the IIJA funds were                                                                    
used  for  new projects  and  not  necessarily for  deferred                                                                    
maintenance of existing facilities.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson noted there  were new infrastructure projects                                                                    
listed  on the  DOT list.  He  wondered whether  any of  the                                                                    
projects were eligible for IIJA funds.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger  agreed to  look  at  specific projects  and                                                                    
summarized  that   the  federal  dollars  were   for  energy                                                                    
projects or  surface transportation  programs. He  said that                                                                    
opportunities  to use  the  federal funds  for  DM would  be                                                                    
explored.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:28:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson asked what measures  had been taken to ensure                                                                    
that the estimates for projects were realistic.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas explained that much  of the cost pricing data                                                                    
was  based  upon historic  cost  pricing  with projects  and                                                                    
delivery. He  commented that  contractor prices  were coming                                                                    
in high, and trends were being examined.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson thought that  project budget projections that                                                                    
were  wildly  different  from  the  real  bottom  line  were                                                                    
irresponsible and a sign of incompetence.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:30:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl  mentioned that he had  not seen consideration                                                                    
of a  project's impact on operating  maintenance costs going                                                                    
forward.  He  asked  whether   there  was  a  prioritization                                                                    
process  that  examined  the savings  of  one  project  over                                                                    
another.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sakalaskas   said  that  the  facilities   Council  had                                                                    
discussed the matter. He said  that high priority needs were                                                                    
being considered with the limited available funding.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl referenced the  slide title "Statewide Funding                                                                    
Approach," and pondered that the  $35 million for FY24 would                                                                    
get to the 1 percent to 4  percent range.  He asked what the                                                                    
statewide  funding  approach  was  and  suggested  that  the                                                                    
administration's    proposal   should    align   with    the                                                                    
presentation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger   explained  that   the  funding   that  was                                                                    
available  for  deferred  maintenance  was  clearly  "pretty                                                                    
constrained,"  which was  a result  of  the states    fiscal                                                                    
situation.  He  posited that there  were no  available funds                                                                    
to address  every need  that came to  OMB. He  mentioned the                                                                    
Alaska Capital  Income Fund, which  was the  state's primary                                                                    
mechanism  for funding  deferred maintenance.  The fund  was                                                                    
populated by  a ring-fenced  portion of the  Permanent Fund.                                                                    
He noted that  an earlier slide showed a  couple of projects                                                                    
outside the  CIF funding, which the  administration had felt                                                                    
were necessary.                                                                                                                 
9:34:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl  thought it  was  incumbent  upon the  Senate                                                                    
Finance Committee  to find resources  to avoid  disaster. He                                                                    
noted that there was about  $34 million in spending from the                                                                    
CIF on slide 4. He asked  Mr. Steininger to address the fund                                                                    
source for the fund.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger explained  that the amount in  the CIF varied                                                                    
from year to year and  was appropriated from an estimate. He                                                                    
said that when crafting  the budget, the amount appropriated                                                                    
from the CIF was equal  to the estimated amount projected by                                                                    
the APFC.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:35:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl  asked  whether  the  fund  was  going  to  a                                                                    
negative  balance   in  the  current  fiscal   year  or  the                                                                    
following fiscal year.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger  relayed that  if  less  than the  estimated                                                                    
funds  were  in the  CIF  then  there  would be  less  funds                                                                    
available   for  bills.   He  explained   that  there   were                                                                    
mechanisms in  place to assure  the state didnt   bounce any                                                                    
checks.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:36:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger showed slide 14, "Appendix."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger turned to slide  15, " State-Owned Facilities                                                                    
Count by Agency," which showed a bar graph.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:37:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger considered  slide 16,  "State-Owned Facility                                                                    
Space by Agency,"  which was a bar graph  that showed square                                                                    
footage  of facility  space for  each  agency. He  commented                                                                    
that  the  University had  the  most  total square  feet  in                                                                    
assets over all other agencies.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:38:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger displayed  slide  17, "State-Owned  Disposed                                                                    
Assets":                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     • Department  of Health  and Social  Services Ketchikan                                                                    
     Youth Center returned to the City                                                                                          
     • Department  of Health and Social  Services Nome Youth                                                                    
     Facility in-progress                                                                                                       
     •  Department   of  Natural  Resources   sold  facility                                                                    
    associated with the Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund                                                                         
     • Department of Military  and Veterans Affairs divested                                                                    
     15  Army  National  Guard  facilities  with  50  others                                                                    
     planned or in progress                                                                                                     
     •  Department of  Transportation and  Public Facilities                                                                    
    transferred the Telephone Hill property to the City                                                                         
     •  Department of  Transportation and  Public Facilities                                                                    
     sold two facilities from Kulis  Anchorage                                                                                  
     • University  of Alaska reduced space  through property                                                                    
     sales, elimination of leases, and demolition                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:38:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  asked Mr.  Steininger to  provide a  list of                                                                    
facilities that had been sold over the last 3 years.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger replied in the affirmative.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  asked how  long Mr.  Sakalaskas had  been in                                                                    
his current job.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas  relayed he  had been  in the  position since                                                                    
the beginning of December 2022.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  assumed that Mr. Sakalaskas  was prepared to                                                                    
conduct  a  systemwide  review   to  assess  efficiency  and                                                                    
effectiveness of department practices.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sakalaskas  affirmed  that  such a  review  was  a  top                                                                    
priority.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  asked for the  number of  unfilled positions                                                                    
in  the agency.  He also  asked  about a  building that  had                                                                    
collapsed  due to  snow load  and asked  whether precautions                                                                    
were being taken to avoid such an accident in the future.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Sakalaskas agreed  to provide  a vacant  position count                                                                    
for  his  division.  He  said that  snow  loads  were  being                                                                    
monitored throughout the division.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:40:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  asked about  the computer  management system                                                                    
for facilities.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Sakalaskas relayed  that the division was  working to go                                                                    
live with  several components and  had extended  delivery in                                                                    
certain  components. He  said that  other components  of the                                                                    
system were being developed.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:42:44 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:44:49 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAD HUTCHISON,  DIRECTOR OF STATE RELATIONS,  UNIVERSITY OF                                                                    
ALASKA,  addressed a  presentation  entitled "University  of                                                                    
Alaska -  Empower Alaska,"  (copy on  file).   He referenced                                                                    
two  documents   including  a  priority  list   of  deferred                                                                    
maintenance  prepared by  UA Director  Pat  Pitney (copy  on                                                                    
file), and UA Red Book.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison  relayed that  the presentation  would address                                                                    
the DM priority list for the University.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:46:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hutchison  looked  at slide  2,  "UA  Facilities,"  and                                                                    
relayed that  the University had  traditionally had  a large                                                                    
backlog of deferred maintenance:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     A reliable funding source is  required to maintain UA's                                                                    
     facilities and infrastructure across  the state. Due to                                                                    
     many years  of unfunded deferral of  critical projects,                                                                    
     there is  an increasing  risk and evidence  of building                                                                    
     closures,   and   a  deferred   maintenance/renewal   &                                                                    
     repurposing  (DM/R&R) backlog  that has  grown to  over                                                                    
     $1.5 billion.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     UA Facility Profile                                                                                                        
     •  Serve  academic,  research,  and  community  service                                                                    
     mission                                                                                                                    
     •  Facility  type   varies  from  residential  housing,                                                                    
     general    offices,   and    classrooms   to    complex                                                                    
     laboratories                                                                                                               
     •  394 facilities,  spanning 7.9  million square  feet,                                                                    
     average age is 35 years                                                                                                    
     •  $4.9  billion   inflation-adjusted  value  and  $1.5                                                                    
     billion  backlog of  deferred  maintenance and  renewal                                                                    
     projects                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     UA Facility Stewardship                                                                                                    
     • Leverage shrinking  maintenance operations budgets to                                                                    
     lengthen  the  service  life of  buildings  beyond  the                                                                    
     typical age  for major renewal, focusing  on renovation                                                                    
     and renewal where viable                                                                                                   
     • Decrease  overall footprint, through efforts  to move                                                                    
     from leased  to owned  facilities and sell  or demolish                                                                    
     underutilized facilities                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     UA Facility Funding                                                                                                        
     •  Due to  the lack  of sufficient  maintenance funding                                                                    
     UA's backlog of projects continues to grow                                                                                 
     • There  have been numerous unplanned  closures causing                                                                    
     significant hardship on student learning and research                                                                      
     activities,   as   well    as   the   associated   lost                                                                    
     productivity       of        university       students,                                                                    
     faculty/researchers, and staff                                                                                             
     • Within  a couple  of years, UA  can plan  and execute                                                                    
     $35-$50 million a year on deferred maintenance,                                                                            
     renewal and repurposing projects                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:50:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman asked about the new power plant at UA.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison  responded that the power  plant was providing                                                                    
good value for the University.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:50:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hutchison spoke  to slide  3, "  Capital Budget  DM/R&R                                                                    
Funding  History  Unrestricted  General  Funds  &  Backlog,"                                                                    
which showed  a bar graph illustrating  a direct correlation                                                                    
between funding and the DM  backlog. He noted that the green                                                                    
line was  the UA minimum  request. The red  line represented                                                                    
deferred maintenance  and the R  and R backlog.  He observed                                                                    
that over time, when the  state appropriation was lower, the                                                                    
backlog  increased.  He  noted  that the  backlog  was  $1.5                                                                    
billion.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:52:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison referenced slide 4, "FY24 Capital Budget                                                                          
Summary":                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     o   #1  Deferred   Maintenance/Renewal  &   Repurposing                                                                    
     (DM/R&R) -  $17.5 million UAA heating,  mechanical, and                                                                    
     electrical system improvements                                                                                             
     o  #1   Facility  Modernization  -  $2   million  space                                                                    
     renovation for WWAMI expansion                                                                                             
     o Other important requests -  $54.8 million DM/R&R, UAA                                                                    
     COH workforce demand and  learning commons, UAF student                                                                    
     affairs center, and UAS lab consolidation                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison referenced the FY 24 Priority Deferred                                                                            
Maintenance document and discussed the requests highlighted                                                                     
on slide 4.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:54:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison showed slide 5, "UA Highest Priority Capital                                                                      
Projects,":                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     $17.5  million UAA  heating, mechanical  and electrical                                                                  
     system  improvements   -  including   the  Professional                                                                  
     Studies   Building   (PSB),    the   Wendy   Williamson                                                                    
     Auditorium (WWA),  the Social Sciences  Building (SSB),                                                                    
     and   the  Consortium   Library  to   prevent  critical                                                                    
     failures and  provide energy savings  through increased                                                                    
     efficiency. PSB  and WWA are connected  facilities, and                                                                    
     they  share some  of the  infrastructure scheduled  for                                                                    
     replacement  as   part  of   this  project.   All  four                                                                    
     facilities were constructed in the  early 1970s and the                                                                    
     infrastructure is  beyond its  useful life with  a high                                                                    
     risk of failure.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     $2 million  UAA COH WAMMI Facility  Renovation at Sally                                                                  
     Monserud  Hall-  renovated  to expand  the  College  of                                                                  
     Health's  ability  to  educate more  students  to  fill                                                                    
     high-demand workforce  needs. This  renovation supports                                                                    
     the WWAMI program expansion.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     $6 million  grant Alaska Leaders Archive  Renovation at                                                                  
     UAA/APU Consortium  Library    renovation to  create an                                                                  
     expanded  archive,  enhanced  academic  and  conference                                                                    
     space,  and  a  public-facing  museum  for  the  Alaska                                                                    
     Leaders  documents. The  Alaska  Leaders' Archive  will                                                                    
     preserve and  promote the legacy of  public service and                                                                    
     leadership in Alaska.                                                                                                      
     $2.5  million grant  potential  UAF  University Park  -                                                                  
     renovated to support an Early Childhood Development                                                                        
     Center, expanding  childcare options for  employees and                                                                    
     student parents.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchinson stressed that the last two items were                                                                            
receipt authority.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison considered slide 6, "UA Deferred Maintenance                                                                      
Projects,":                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Due  to many  years  of unfunded  deferral of  critical                                                                    
     capital   projects,  there   is  increasing   risk  and                                                                    
     evidence   of  building   closures.  There   have  been                                                                    
     numerous   unplanned   closures   causing   significant                                                                    
     hardship on  student learning and  research activities,                                                                    
     as  well   as  the  associated  lost   productivity  of                                                                    
     university  faculty/researchers,  and  staff.  Priority                                                                    
     projects at the universities include:                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     $3.6 million UAS's  roof repair/replacement - including                                                                  
     Technical Education  Center (Juneau),  Southeast Alaska                                                                    
     Maritime Training Center  (Ketchikan), and Sitka Hangar                                                                    
     (Sitka)   which  have   roofs  that   are  leaking   or                                                                    
     experiencing    other    function   issues    requiring                                                                    
     replacement or significant repair.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     $11.3  million  UAF's   top  projects  address  student                                                                  
     safety across  campus - providing a  safe and compliant                                                                  
     campus for everyone is the  top priority, yet the aging                                                                    
     campus  requires  large  upgrades to  reduce  risk  and                                                                    
     prevent  injury.   Safety  and   regulatory  compliance                                                                    
     projects provide updates to  building features meant to                                                                    
     protect  the occupants  and  reduce  risk to  students,                                                                    
     staff, and faculty.  Work includes updating ventilation                                                                    
     to ensure  sufficient fresh air  is supplied  to active                                                                    
     laboratories, replacing fire  alarm systems, correcting                                                                    
     emergency   egress  paths,   and  creating   accessible                                                                    
     buildings which include replacing elevators.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:57:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.    Hutchison   displayed    slide   7,    "UA   Facility                                                                    
Modernization":                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     UA continues to  look for ways to make the  best use of                                                                    
     existing   space.  Several   facilities,  in   need  of                                                                    
     complete   modernization,   have  been   included   for                                                                    
     consideration in the FY24 capital budget.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
       $8  million UAA Health Workforce  Diversity Expansion                                                                  
     and Library Learning Commons  - renovate Sally Monserud                                                                  
     Hall  for   critical  health  workforce   training  and                                                                    
     relocates  the   learning  commons  into   the  UAA/APU                                                                    
     Consortium Library.                                                                                                        
       $12.5 million  UAF Lola Tilly -  modernized to create                                                                  
     a more welcoming, centralized  area for student affairs                                                                    
     and public-facing functions.                                                                                               
         $1  million   UAS  Natural   Sciences  -   relocate                                                                  
     laboratory programs  from the Natural  Science Research                                                                    
     Lab building to the Anderson Building, bringing all of                                                                     
     our Natural Sciences students,  faculty, and staff into                                                                    
     one area for better continuity, economy, and synergy.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:59:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison showed slide 8, "Appendix."                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison looked at slide  9, " UA FY24 Capital Budget,"                                                                    
which showed a table of  the Board of Regents request versus                                                                    
what was included in the Governors proposed budget.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:59:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hutchison  showed  slide   10,  "FY24  Priority  DM/R&R                                                                    
Projects," and  noted that the  following slides  showed the                                                                    
same  information  as  the document  authored  by  President                                                                    
Pitney.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Merrick   recalled   that  the   legislature   had                                                                    
appropriated funds  for drones  the previous year  and asked                                                                    
if the funds had been expended.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison replied that the  funds were in the process of                                                                    
being expended.  He relayed that  exact total  spend amounts                                                                    
would be made available.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:01:40 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  was  concerned that  some  of  the  backlog                                                                    
listed was  for buildings that  were not very old.  He asked                                                                    
for a list of yearly maintenance activities spending.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hutchison expressed  that  Senator  Wilson's point  was                                                                    
well taken. He relayed that  the Leadership Archive had high                                                                    
value  as it  related  to the  preservation  of history.  He                                                                    
noted  that   the  president  recognized  that   there  were                                                                    
maintenance  issues in  many buildings  and had  prioritized                                                                    
the list by the highest need.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
10:03:48 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson thought  it seemed that there  was no funding                                                                    
for  ongoing  operational  issues and  costs.  He  expressed                                                                    
concern about  the way  the UA  maintenance budget  had been                                                                    
applied over the years.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hutchison  pointed  out that  the  Leadership  Archives                                                                    
project was paid for with federal funds.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:04:49 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop asked  whether the  Board of  Regents had  a                                                                    
deferred  maintenance  committee  that vetted  projects  for                                                                    
prioritization.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison relayed that there  was a vetting process that                                                                    
occurred through  which the  proposed items  were discussed.                                                                    
The ultimate list was compiled by President Pitney.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  referenced slide 3  and asked for  the total                                                                    
outstanding bonded debt.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison deferred to Director Kruckenberg.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:06:15 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ALESIA  KRUCKENBERG,  DIRECTOR  OF  STRATEGY,  PLANNING  AND                                                                    
BUDGET,   UNIVERSITY   OF   ALASKA   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
estimated that it could be fully  paid for but was not sure.                                                                    
She  agreed  to provide  the  information  to the  committee                                                                    
later.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:06:45 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson asked  whether the  UA system  had too  many                                                                    
facilities and whether some should be sold or liquidated.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hutchison  relayed that  there  were  some items,  some                                                                    
laboratories, and  some research environments  that required                                                                    
specific  square  footage.  He  said  that  divestment  from                                                                    
assets was always under  discussion. He discussed enrollment                                                                    
declines, which  had been significant over  the previous ten                                                                    
years.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  was concerned about  information on  slide 2                                                                    
when Mr. Hutchison indicated that  the University was moving                                                                    
away  from leasing  and towards  ownership of  buildings. He                                                                    
asked about the rocket launch  facility in Kodiak, and asked                                                                    
how many other  Universities in the nation  were involved in                                                                    
similar projects.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison agreed to provide the information.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson thought that the  project had not lived up to                                                                    
its projected potential.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Hutchison agreed to provide an update on the project.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:10:29 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl  followed  up on  Co-Chair  Olson's  comments                                                                    
about  facilities   that  had  been  divested   compared  to                                                                    
facilities that were purchased.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Hutchison did  not  have the  information  at hand  but                                                                    
agreed to provide the information.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman discussed housekeeping.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
10:11:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 10:11 a.m.