Legislature(1999 - 2000)

03/17/1999 12:15 PM Senate LEC

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL                                                                                                           
March 17, 1999                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
1.    ROLL CALL                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 12:15 p.m. by Senator                                                    
Miller, Legislative Council Chair, in the Butrovich Room, Capitol Room 205.                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The roll was taken.  In attendance were Council members Miller, Donley,                                                         
Hoffman, T. Kelly, Leman, Pearce, Barnes, Cowdery, Ogan, G. Phillips, Porter,                                                   
and Rokeberg.  Members absent were Torgerson and Berkowitz.  Staff presents                                                     
were Varni, Ibesate, Kempton, Price, and Schofield.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2.    APPROVAL OF JANUARY 20, 1999 MEETING MINUTES                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Barnes moved the minutes of the January 20, 1999 meeting be                                                      
approved. The motion was approved unanimously.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3.    FY 00 LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AGENCY PROPOSED BUDGET                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
Ms. Varni presented the FY 00 proposed operating budget for the Legislative                                                     
Affairs Agency.  Representative Barnes moved the Legislative Affairs Agency's                                                   
budget be forwarded to the House and Senate Finance Committees.  The motion                                                     
passed unanimously.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4.    FY 00 OMBUDSMAN PROPOSED BUDGET                                                                                         
                                                                                                                              
Ms. Maria Moya, Acting Ombudsman presented the FY 00 proposed operating budget                                                  
for the Office of the Ombudsman.  Representative Barnes moved the Ombudsman's                                                   
proposed budget be forwarded to the House and Senate Finance Committees.  With                                                  
no objection, the motion passed unanimously.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5.    IS SUBCOMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS                                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
Council Chair Miller authorized an Advisory Committee made up of staff to                                                       
provide input and recommendations to the Council on all facets of computers                                                     
with the Agency.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
6.    LEGISLATOR SALARY AND BUSINESS EXPENSE REPORT SUBCOMMITTEE                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Council Chair Miller appointed a Legislator Salary and Business Expense Report                                                  
Subcommittee to look into reporting regarding the financial information                                                         
required annually for the members of the Legislature.  Council Chair Miller                                                     
appointed Senator Donley as Chair and Senator Hoffman and Rep. Ogan as                                                          
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7.    DHL POUCH SERVICE RENEWAL                                                                                               
                                                                                                                              
Ms. Varni stated the DHL Airways, Inc. contract was up for renewal.  This is                                                    
the second and the final renewal option  with DHL Airways, Inc. to provide                                                      
pouch services to and from specified legislative  offices.  Representative                                                      
Barnes moved the Council renew the contract  with DHL Airways, Inc. not to                                                      
exceed $35,000.  The motion passed unanimously.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                              
8.    LEASE RENEWALS/LEASE EXTENSION                                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
BARROW - LEASE RENEWAL FOR THE BARROW LIO.  Ms. Varni stated the Barrow lease                                                 
was up for renewal as per the terms of the contract.  Representative Barnes                                                     
moved that the lease renewal for Barrow in the amount of $37,869.36 annually                                                    
($6.31 per sq. ft. for 500 sq. ft.) be approved.  The motion passed                                                             
unanimously.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
KODIAK - LEASE EXTENSION FOR KODIAK LIO, SEN. MACKIE, AND REP. AUSTERMAN                                                      
OFFICE SPACE.  Ms. Varni explained the Lessor agreed to another lease                                                         
extension (5 year lease extension with 2 one-year renewal options) with a 15                                                    
percent reduction in rent.  Representative Barnes moved the Kodiak lease                                                        
extension in the amount of $18,225.78 (first year) annually ($1.23 per sq. ft.                                                  
for 1,200 sq. ft.) be approved.  The motion passed unanimously.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
WASILLA - LEASE RENEWAL FOR THE WASILLA LIO, SEN. GREEN, SEN. HALFORD, REP.                                                   
KOHRING, REP. MASEK, AND REP. OGAN OFFICE SPACE.  Ms. Varni explained the                                                     
Wasilla lease was up for renewal as per the terms of the contract.                                                              
Representative Ogan requested the Agency widen the scope to include Palmer                                                      
next time a Request for Proposal goes out for office space.  Representative                                                     
Barnes moved the lease renewal for Wasilla in the amount of $53,306.88                                                          
annually ($1.22 per sq. ft. for 3,652 sq. ft.) be approved.  The motion passed                                                  
unanimously.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
9.    LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM                                                                                
                                                                                                                              
Ms. Varni stated this is the final year for participation in the Retirement                                                     
Incentive Program (RIP) was passed in 1996.  If an opening is declared by the                                                   
Legislative Council, the latest application deadline allowed under this                                                         
program would be June 30, 1999.  A discussion followed.  Council Chair Miller                                                   
decided to address the RIP program at the next Council meeting.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10.   LEGISLATIVE SHARE CAMPAIGN                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
Senator Pearce moved the Council authorize the Legislative Branch to                                                            
participate in the Share Campaign.  With no objection, the motion passed                                                        
unanimously.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
11.   POLICY REQUEST                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
Senator Pearce requested the Legislative Affairs Agency research a policy                                                       
approved by Legislative Council in the past regarding Legislative employee                                                      
longevity.  A discussion followed.  Ms. Varni explained the policy was put in                                                   
place by the Joint Rules Committee and passed on the floor in 1988.  It would                                                   
require a Joint Rules Committee meeting to change the policy.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
 The meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects