Legislature(2025 - 2026)ANCH LIO DENALI Rm
08/27/2025 01:00 PM Senate LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
AUGUST 27, 2025
1:00PM
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Sara Hannan, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Calvin Schrage
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Donna Mears (alternate)
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Löki Tobin(alternate)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Senator Matt Claman
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Bert Stedman
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT
None
AGENDA
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
EXECUTIVE SESSION
SPEAKER REGISTER
Jessica Geary, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs
Agency (LAA)
JC Kestel, Procurement Officer, LAA
Tim Powers, Chief Technology and Outreach Officer, LAA
I. CALL TO ORDER
1:03:40 PM
CHAIR HANNAN called the Legislative Council meeting to order
at 1:03pm on August 27, 2025, in the Denali Room of the
Anchorage Legislative Office Building.
Present at the call were Representatives Carrick, Kopp,
Schrage, Stutes, Mears, Hannan; Senators Gray-Jackson, Kiehl,
Tobin, Stevens.
Representative Prax joined the meeting at 1:32pm. Senator
Giessel joined the meeting at 2:21pm.
II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
1:05:16 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council approve the agenda as presented.
The motion passed without objection.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. June 25, 2025, Meeting Minutes
1:05:41 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that
Legislative Council approve the minutes dated June 25, 2025,
as presented.
The minutes were approved without objection.
IV. COMMITTEE BUSINESS
a. Anchorage Legislative Office Building (ALOB) Janitorial
Contract Renewal No. 4
1:06:16 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve
Renewal No. 4 of the contract for janitorial services with Q-1
Services LLC in an amount not to exceed $56,000.00.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and asked
Procurement Officer JC Kestel to speak to this item.
JC KESTEL, Procurement Officer, Legislative Affairs Agency
(LAA), said that the Agency is requesting approval to renew the
janitorial services contract for the Anchorage Legislative
Office Building. This is the fourth renewal option being
exercised, the Agency has been happy with the services
provided, and the operations manager feels the contractor has
been a great partner to work with.
There was no discussion, and a roll call vote was taken.
1:07:43 PM
YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Schrage, Stutes, Mears,
Hannan; Senators Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin, Stevens
NAYS: none
The motion passed 10-0.
V. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. RFP 689Audio/Video Installation for the ALOB
b. ALOB Denali Room Committee Dais Replacement
c. Security BriefingDept. of Homeland Security Consultant
d. Mailroom Relocation Funding and Equipment Purchase
CHAIR HANNAN stated that Legislative Council would go into
Executive Session for consideration of an RFP for the
Anchorage Legislative Office Building audio/visual system
installation, the Denali Room dais replacement, a Department
of Homeland Security consultant's briefing, and the Capitol
mailroom relocation.
1:09:27 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council go into
Executive Session under Uniform Rule 22(B)(1), discussion of
matters, the immediate knowledge of which would adversely
affect the finances of a government unit, and 22(B)(3),
discussion of a matter that may, by law, be required to be
confidential. The following people may remain in the room or
online for the Executive Session: Jessica Geary, Santé Lesh,
Tim Powers, JC Kestel, Michael Mills, Dana Nicholas, Brian
Heimbigner, Megan Wallace, Emily Nauman, Tom Koloski, Micaela
Bradner, Matt Simpson, any legislators not on Legislative
Council, and any staff of Legislative Council members.
1:10:03 PM
Council went into Executive Session.
3:22:18 PM
Council came out of Executive Session.
Roll was taken to establish a quorum. Present at the call
were: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes,
Mears, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin,
Stevens.
Twelve members present.
a. RFP 689Audio/Video Installation for the ALOB
3:24:46 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve
award of RFP 689 to Sound Decisions LLC with a not-to-exceed
contract value of $257,000.00.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and asked
Tim Powers, Chief Technology and Outreach Officer, to speak to
this item and JC Kestel, Procurement Officer, to be available
for questions.
TIM POWERS, Legislative Affairs Agency Chief Technology and
Outreach Officer, stated that before members is a request for
approval of the replacement and modernization of the audio-
video system for the Anchorage Legislative Information Office
(LIO) meeting spaces in the Anchorage Legislative Office
Building. He explained that the need for this update mirrors
the challenges successfully addressed in the Capitol last
year. The existing system in the LIO, originally designed for
a different facility and reprogrammed upon relocation, lacks
sufficient capacity, has reached end of life, and is
increasingly unreliable. Current issues include static on
video/audio streams and phone lines, microphones that are
difficult to hear remotely, and limited support for hybrid
meetings. He noted that the Anchorage LIO has not had a
professional Teams integration, and the system does not meet
the demands of modern hybrid testimony.
Mr. Powers further emphasized that this upgrade would
standardize technology between Juneau and Anchorage, improve
accessibility for legislators, staff, and the public, and
eliminate the need for a temporary "Teams cart". He reported
that an RFP was issued earlier this summer, generating five
interested parties with one competitive bid received in the
amount of $244,532.71; a five percent contingency of
$12,467.29 brings the total funding request to $257,000. He
added that this project is a complex undertaking, with
separate program and furniture components that do not require
Council action at this time. He concluded that the project is
a critical investment in the efficiency of and accessibility
to the legislative process.
CHAIR HANNAN, noting no further discussion, removed her
objection and asked for a roll call vote.
3:27:56 PM
YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes,
Mears, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin,
Stevens
NAYS: none
The motion passed 12-0.
b. ALOB Denali Room Committee Dais Replacement
CHAIR HANNAN stated that Mr. Powers mentioned that beside the
audio/visual equipment, there will be equipment programming,
and the dais will be replaced as part of the project scope. It
is not a part of the RFP just adopted but in the scope of the
project, and no motion or action would be needed on this item.
c. Security Briefing Dept. of Homeland Security Consultant
Due to the confidential nature of this security item,
Legislative Council did not discuss on the record.
d. Mailroom Relocation Funding and Equipment Purchase
3:29:37 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS after a request to restate the motion and a
brief at-ease, moved that Legislative Council approve the
transfer of funds as follows:
From Legislative Budget and Audit Committee allocation:
$200,000
From Legislative Council allocation: $40,000
From Legislative Operating-Senate allocation: $40,000
From Legislative Operating-House allocation: $44,100
?for $292,000 to be transferred to Administrative Services and
$32,100 to be transferred to Facilities Rent for a total of
$324,100 to support relocating the Capitol Mailroom to an
offsite package and mail screening center as recommended by
the 2022 CISA security assessment.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and asked
Executive Director Jessica Geary and Procurement Officer JC
Kestel to speak to this item.
JESSICA GEARY, Executive Director, LAA, explained that in
December 2024, the Legislative Council for the Thirty-Third
Legislature approved relocating the mail screening function
from the Capitol to an off-site location. She said that while
work on this project began, funding for the move was not
approved during the most recent budget process. She noted that
this transfer of funds will allow the Agency to continue the
work of moving mail and package screening off-site in advance
of the 2026 session, and that the Agency will reconcile these
budget transactions in the fiscal year 2027 budget request.
CHAIR HANNAN, seeing no further questions, removed her
objection and asked for a roll call vote.
3:33:50 PM
YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes,
Mears, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin,
Stevens
NAYS: none
The motion passed 12-0.
3:34:53 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve the
purchase of mailroom screening equipment from Pacific MicroRem
Inc., in an amount not to exceed $136,750.
CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and asked
JC Kestel to speak to this item.
JC KESTEL, Procurement Officer, LAA, stated that the Agency
conducted extensive research to determine the equipment needed
for the mailroom relocation and to ensure proper screening of
incoming packages and mail. Without disclosing specific
details about the equipment, he noted that certain pieces are
only serviced and warrantied through a particular vendor in
Alaska. He said the Agency is requesting approval to proceed
with the purchase of this equipment for the new facility.
3:36:11 PM
Council took a brief at-ease.
3:37:00 PM
Council returned from brief at-ease.
CHAIR HANNAN, noting no further discussion, removed her
objection and asked for a roll call vote.
3:37:15 PM
YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes,
Mears, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin,
Stevens
NAYS: none
The motion passed 12-0.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked Mr. Powers and Mr. Kestel for
their efforts to enhance the audio and video systems in the
Anchorage LIO committee room, noting the improvements will
benefit the legislature, staff, and the public. She further
expressed appreciation to Chief Mills, Mr. Kestel, and others
involved in efforts to strengthen Capitol security, and
thanked the Committee for supporting these improvement
initiatives.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the
Legislative Council meeting was adjourned at 3:38pm.
3:38:53 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Item III. a.--June 25, 2025, LC Meeting Minutes.pdf |
JLEC 8/27/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| Item IV. a.--ALOB Janitorail Contract Renewal No. 4 Request to LEC.pdf |
JLEC 8/27/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| Item V. a.--Executive Session Request Memo--RFP 689 Audio and Video Installation for ALOB.pdf |
JLEC 8/27/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| Item V. b.--Executive Session Request Memo--ALOB Denali Room Committee Dais Replacement.pdf |
JLEC 8/27/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| Item V. d.--Capitol Mailroom Relocation Follow-Up Memo.pdf |
JLEC 8/27/2025 1:00:00 PM |
|
| Legislative Council Meeting Agenda August 27, 2025.pdf |
JLEC 8/27/2025 1:00:00 PM |