LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  December 18, 2003 1. ROLL CALL  The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 2:10 pm by nd Representative Masek, Vice-Chairman, Legislative Council, in the Anchorage 2 Floor Conference Room and via teleconference. The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members: Therriault, Cowdery, Gary Stevens, Ben Stevens, Ogan (via teleconference), Coghill, Kott, Masek (via teleconference), Rokeberg, Stoltze (via teleconference), Lincoln, Weyhrauch, Wagoner, Berkowitz and Dahlstrom (via teleconference). Staff present: Varni, Bannister, Collins, Clothier, Cook, Hay, Huber, Ibesate, Johnston, Lounsbury, Maher, Price, Schofield. 2. APPROVAL OF JULY 8, 2003 MINUTES  Senator Therriault moved the minutes of July 8, 2003 meeting be approved. YEAS: Gary Stevens, Cowdery, Coghill, Ogan, Ben Stevens, Therriault, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Stoltze and Berkowitz NAYS: None ABSENT: Weyhrauch, Lincoln and Wagoner With no objection the motion was approved. 3. ELECTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN Vice Chairman, Masek called for the nominations of Legislative Council Chairman. Senator Ben Stevens moved to elect Senator Therriault as Chairman of Legislative Council. No other nominations were put forward. Representative Berkowitz objected. He stated that there might be a conflict-of- interest in regards to Senator Therriault also being Senate President and that Senator Therriault might not be able to dedicate the appropriate time to chair Legislative Council. Representative Berkowitz also expressed concerns with a conflict-of-interest in the balance of power in the Legislature and how investing all this discretionary ability into a single individual who regardless of who she/he is serves the interest of the Legislature as a whole. Representative Weyhrauch joined the meeting. Senator Ben Stevens stated that in the past there has been one Senator and two Representatives that have served as Legislative Council Chairman at the same time they were serving as Presiding Officer. They were: Senator Frank Peratrovich, in the Second Legislature (1961 - 1962); Representative Bruce Kendall, Third Legislature (1963 - 1964); and Representative Mike Gravel, Fourth Legislature (1965 - 1966). Discussion followed. Representative Berkowitz withdrew his objection. YEAS: Gary Stevens, Cowdery, Coghill, Ogan, Ben Stevens, Therriault, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Weyhrauch, Stoltze, Wagoner, and Berkowitz NAYS: None ABSENT: Lincoln Senator Wagoner joined the meeting. With no objection the motion was approved. Senator Lincoln joined the meeting.   4. LATE TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST -   REPRESENTATIVE NANCY DALHSTROM  Senator Cowdery moved for approval of Representative Dahlstrom's late per diem request. YEAS: Gary Stevens, Cowdery, Coghill, Ogan, Ben Stevens, Therriault, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Stoltze, Weyhrauch, Lincoln, Wagoner and Berkowitz NAYS: None ABSENT: None With no objection the motion was approved. 5. RFP #391  Chairman Therriault made a motion to move into Executive Session. Representative Rokeberg requested to ask Mr. Acree questions beforehand. There was no objection. Mr. Acree, Landlord for the current Anchorage legislative office space presented information to Legislative Council related to the BOMA Standards of usable sq. ft. Senator Gary Stevens moved that Legislative Council move into Executive Session to review RFP #391 under Uniform Rule 22(b)(3) for discussion of a matter that may, by law, be required to be confidential to discuss the request for Proposals for the Anchorage Office Space. Senator Stevens requested that the following individuals be approved to attend the Executive Session: Pam Varni, Jan Price, Tam Cook, Tom Maher, Terry Bannister, Curt Clothier, Karla Schofield, Don Johnston, Annette Skibinski and Joel Lounsbury. Representative Berkowitz requested that Rosemary Karish be allowed to participate in the Executive Session. Discussion followed. Chairman Therriault moved that Legislative Council approve the addition of Rosemary Karish's name to the attendees for the Executive Session. YEAS: Lincoln and Berkowitz NAYS: Gary Stevens, Cowdery, Coghill, Ogan, Ben Stevens, Therriault, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Weyhrauch, Stoltze and Wagoner ABSENT: None Motion failed 11 to 2. Discussion followed. Chairman Therriault stated that his staff person, Tom Maher, could be excluded from the Executive Session. Senator Cowdery stated his staff member would not participate. Speaker Kott stated his staff member would not participate. Senator Gary Stevens moved that Legislative Council move into Executive Session to review RFP #391 under Uniform Rule 22(b)(3) for discussion of a matter that may, by law, be regarded to be confidential and that the following individuals be approval to attend the Executive Session: Pam Varni, Jan Price, Tam Cook, Terry Bannister (via Teleconference), Curt Clothier (via Teleconference), Karla Schofield (via Teleconference), Don Johnston (via Teleconference). YEAS: Gary Stevens, Coghill, Cowdery, Ogan, Ben Stevens, Therriault, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Weyhrauch, Stoltze, Lincoln, Wagoner and Berkowitz NAYS: None ABSENT: None With no objection the motion was approved. The Council came out of Executive Session. The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 pm.   Because of two Senate vacancies on Legislative Council, Senate President Therriault appointed Senator Gary Stevens and Senator Tom Wagoner to replace Senator Taylor and Senator Dyson.