LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL April 29, 2002 1. ROLL CALL  The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. by Representative Joe Green, Legislative Council Chair, in the House Finance Committee Room at the Alaska State Capitol. The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members Green, Kott, Murkowski, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Halford, Stevens, Torgerson and Elton. Staff present were Varni, Cook, Collins, Clothier, Ibesate, Johnston, Price, and Schofield. 2. APPROVAL OF MARCH 1, 2002 MINUTES    Senator Torgerson moved the minutes of the March 1, 2002 meeting be approved. With no objection the motion was approved unanimously. 3. NORTH POLE, BETHEL & FAIRBANKS LEASE RENEWALS    Senator Halford moved that the Legislative Council approve the one year renewal options for the following leases: North Pole - Legislative Offices of Senator Therriault and Representative James in the amount of $25,019.16 annually ($1.09 per sq. ft. for 1,905 sq. ft.). Bethel LIO - Legislative Offices of Senator Hoffman and Representative Kapsner in the amount of $39,354.48 annually ($1.86 per sq. ft. for 1,767 sq. ft.). Fairbanks LIO - Legislative Offices Senator Kelly, Senator Lincoln, Senator Wilken, Representative Coghill, Representative Davies, Representative Hayes, Representative Whitaker in the amount of $111,772.44 annually ($1.85 per sq. ft. for 5,035 sq. ft.). The motion was approved unanimously. 4. CAPITOL FIRE ESCAPE UPGRADE APPROVAL    Pam Varni, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency stated that at a previous Legislative Council meeting the Capitol Fire Escape project was approved. The Agency went out to bid for the project to replace existing handrails with railing assemblies that meet code requirements, install opaque panels under grates and stair treads, add new beams and columns to stiffen the existing structure and replace cracked or broken sprinkler pipe brackets. The Agency received two bids: 1) Triplette Constructions, Inc. - $333,382.00; 2) North Pacific Erectors, Inc. - $290,512.00. Senator Cowdery moved that the Legislative Council approve and award the Capitol Fire Escape upgrade project to North Pacific Erectors, Inc. for $290,512.00. The motion was approved unanimously.   5. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AGENCY RECORDS POLICY REVISION    Pam Varni, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency presented two amendments to the Legislative Affairs Agency Records Policy. Amendment number 1 places language in the Records Policy to recognize the current practice of making phone and address information available on a limited basis for business purposes. Amendment number 2 formalizes the current practice of keeping applications, employment examinations, and other assessment materials confidential. Pam Varni made a motion to amend Amendment #1 (a) 1. to read as follows: "Appointing authorities and supervisor's have access to this information for employees they supervise". Representative Rokeberg made a motion to amend Amendment #1 (a) 3. to read as follows: "The Executive Director has access to this information and may release this information to other employees, Legislators, or with employees consent". Pam Varni withdrew her motion to discuss in favor of Representative Rokeberg's motion. Discussion follows. YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Stevens, Torgerson NAYS: Elton ABSENT: Ogan, Porter, Berkowitz, Donley, Halford, P. Kelly The motion failed 7-1. Senator Torgerson made a friendly amendment to Representative Rokeberg's motion to read as follows: "The Executive Director has access to this information and may release this information to other employees, Legislators, or in case of emergency to the public if necessary". YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Stevens, Torgerson, Elton NAYS: None ABSENT: Ogan, Porter, Berkowitz, Donley, Halford, P. Kelly The motion passed 8-0. Council Chair Green took up Pam Varni's motion to amend Amendment #1 (a) 1. YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Stevens, Torgerson, Elton NAYS: None ABSENT: Ogan, Porter, Berkowitz, Donley, Halford, P. Kelly The motion passed 8-0. nd Representative Rokeberg made a motion to amend amendment #2, Section II, 2 (d) 2 st sentence of the 1 paragraph to include "after notices to the applicant". Discusion followed. YEAS: Kott, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Stevens, Torgerson, Elton NAYS: Green, Murkowski ABSENT: Berkowitz, Donley, Halford, P. Kelly, Ogan, Porter Motion failed 6 - 2. Representative Green requested a vote on amendment number 2 as submitted. YEAS: Green, Kott, Murkowski, Rokeberg, Cowdery, Stevens, Torgerson NAYS: Elton ABSENT: Berkowitz, Donley, Halford, P. Kelly, Ogan, Porter Motion failed 7 - 1. 6. REP. CHENAULT LATE PER DIEM REQUEST    Senator Torgerson requested that this item be taken up at the next Legislative Council meeting. 7. IT SUBCOMMITEE REPORT    Representative Kott, IT Subcommittee Chair gave an Information Technology overview report to Legislative Council. He stated the Subcommittee has been an active group this year. The IT Subcommittee is the largest committee on record, meeting each month with a busy agenda. Every meeting included a keynote presentation highlighting some aspect of communication. He said that they formed five work teams, have surveyed all Representatives and Senators, and have addressed the questions and concerns related to communication and computers and the systems that support them here in the Legislature. The work teams were each charged with specific tasks. They've reported back to the IT Subcommittee with their progress, and their results. Funds are being requested in the Capital Budget for IT Subcommittee projects, such as the Constituent Management System. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.