ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  APRIL 27, 2017  4:17 PM    MEMBERS PRESENT    Representative Sam Kito, Chair  Representative Matt Claman  Representative Bryce Edgmon  Representative Charisse Millett  Representative Dan Ortiz  Representative Louise Stutes  Representative Harriet Drummond, Majority Alternate  Representative David Eastman, Minority Alternate  Senator Pete Kelly  Senator Anna MacKinnon  Senator Kevin Meyer  Senator Peter Micciche  Senator Gary Stevens  Senator Cathy Giessel, Alternate    MEMBERS ABSENT    Senator Bert Stedman, Vice Chair  Representative David Guttenberg  Senator Lyman Hoffman    AGENDA    APPROVAL OF AGENDA  EXECUTIVE SESSION    SPEAKER REGISTER    Brian Meissner-AIA, Principal Architect, ECI Alaska  Pam Varni, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency 4:20:04 PM    I. CHAIR SAM KITO called the Legislative Council meeting to  order at 4:20 p.m. in Room 519 (House Finance) of the State  Capitol. Present at the call were Representatives Claman,  Millett, Ortiz, Stutes, Eastman (alternate), and Kito;  Senators Meyer, Micciche, Stevens, and Giessel (alternate).  Representatives Edgmon, Drummond (alternate) and Senators  Kelly and MacKinnon joined the meeting for executive  session. Representative Guttenberg and Senators Hoffman and  Stedman were absent.    II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA    SENATOR MICCICHE moved that Legislative Council approve the  agenda.    The motion was approved without objection.    III. EXECUTIVE SESSION    4:22:12 PM  SENATOR MICCICHE moved that Legislative Council go into  executive session Uniform Rule 22(b)(1) discussion of  matters, the immediate knowledge of which would adversely  affect the finances of a government unit. Any Legislators  not on Council can remain in the room along with  legislative staff that work for Legislative Council  members. In addition, the following people can be on line  or remain in the room:    Pam Varni  Doug Gardner  Brian Meissner, Principal Architect with ECI Alaska  Helen Phillips, House Finance Staff  Bree Wiley, House Finance Staff  Jodie McDonnell, House Finance Staff  Donna Page, House Finance Staff  Keira Alkema, LIO Moderator  Sant? Lesh, Recorder  Tim Banaszak    Legislative Council went into executive session.    4:34:41 PM  Legislative Council came out of executive session.    Roll call was taken to reflect members present after  executive session. Present at the call were,  Representatives Claman, Edgmon, Millett, Ortiz, Stutes,  Drummond (alternate), Eastman (alternate), and Kito;  Senators Kelly, MacKinnon, Meyer, Micciche, Stevens, and  Giessel (alternate).    SENATOR MICCICHE said that the original proposal at the  last meeting was to spend $8,000,000 on the building at  1500 W Benson, which also house the Legislative Information  Office. He said Council took some extra time over the last  couple of weeks to work with the architect and others, and  decided to reduce that cost, if approved today at $3.5  million. The only work that is being considered today is  the work necessary for the air system handling and the code  requirements for the LIO section. These renovations are for  the benefit of the public only. There is an active group  that engages with the Legislature regularly and he wanted  them to know that these costs are simply to outfit an  adequate LIO, and none of the costs are associated with  comfort for the Legislators in the other floors of the  building.    SENATOR STEVENS asked Mr. Meissner, the lead architect for  the renovation, about the issue of sound quality. One of  the problems in the 716 W 4th building was that the  conference room was not sound proof, so when a committee  went into an executive session, anyone could hear the  discussion. Since there is a public area right outside the  meeting rooms in the 1500 W Benson building, he wanted to  know if there would be adequate sound control for executive  session meetings.    BRIAN MEISSNER, Principal Architect with ECI Alaska,  responded that the intent was that each of the walls around  all three of the conference rooms will be acoustic walls;  they will be constructed up to the structural deck above  and sound proofed at all gaps. The only source of sound  leakage will be around the doors; the doors will have  acoustic seals. He said the acoustic separation between  rooms will be quite satisfactory.    DISCUSSION FOLLOWED regarding signage. Representative  Drummond wanted to know the current location of the sign  from 716 W 4th Avenue since it had disappeared once the  Legislature vacated the building. Ms. Varni said she would  follow-up. Further discussion regarding that issue, as well  as Wells Fargo's re-branding signage requirements included  in the lease agreement.    CHAIR KITO noted that we are in discussions with Wells  Fargo regarding their signage needs as they are in the  middle of their re-branding process. His goal would be to  look at signage once Wells Fargo finished the process, and  would be bringing that issue back before Council. He added  that as we look forward, we will be considering other  modifications to the building on a piece-by-piece process,  and some of that activity will be taking place over the  interim, so there will be office space discussions in  upcoming Legislative Council meetings. He said that what  was before Council at this particular meeting was work to  remodel the first floor Legislative Information Office and  the core building systems, which are necessary to ensure  safety and security for the building.    SENATOR MICCICHE said that as we adjust the scope and cost  of this project by over 50 percent to just the bare bones  necessities of the LIO, he thanked the Chair for being  flexible, professional, and very reasonable. He further  thanked Mr. Meissner and said he had been a pleasure to  work with; he said he certainly had a better understanding  of some of the deficiencies of that system. It was  inadequately designed initially and, again, we've taken it  down to what is necessary for serving the constituents in  the LIO.    4:44:07 PM  SENATOR MICCICHE moved that Legislative Council approve the  Phase I Construction budget of $3.5 million for the core,  shell, and 1st floor remodel at 1500 W Benson Blvd from  legislative capital funds with the Department of  Administration/Coldwell Banker government-to-government  property management RSA for construction services.    The motion passed without objection.    There being no further business before the committee,  Legislative Council adjourned at 4:44 p.m.    4:44:38 PM