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