LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL  March 17, 1999      1. ROLL CALL The Legislative Council meeting was called to order at 12:15 p.m. by Senator Miller, Legislative Council Chair, in the Butrovich Room, Capitol Room 205. The roll was taken. In attendance were Council members Miller, Donley, Hoffman, T. Kelly, Leman, Pearce, Barnes, Cowdery, Ogan, G. Phillips, Porter, and Rokeberg. Members absent were Torgerson and Berkowitz. Staff presents were Varni, Ibesate, Kempton, Price, and Schofield. 2. APPROVAL OF JANUARY 20, 1999 MEETING MINUTES Representative Barnes moved the minutes of the January 20, 1999 meeting be approved. The motion was approved unanimously. 3. FY 00 LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AGENCY PROPOSED BUDGET    Ms. Varni presented the FY 00 proposed operating budget for the Legislative Affairs Agency. Representative Barnes moved the Legislative Affairs Agency's budget be forwarded to the House and Senate Finance Committees. The motion passed unanimously. 4. FY 00 OMBUDSMAN PROPOSED BUDGET    Ms. Maria Moya, Acting Ombudsman presented the FY 00 proposed operating budget for the Office of the Ombudsman. Representative Barnes moved the Ombudsman's proposed budget be forwarded to the House and Senate Finance Committees. With no objection, the motion passed unanimously. 5. IS SUBCOMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS    Council Chair Miller authorized an Advisory Committee made up of staff to provide input and recommendations to the Council on all facets of computers with the Agency. 6. LEGISLATOR SALARY AND BUSINESS EXPENSE REPORT SUBCOMMITTEE  Council Chair Miller appointed a Legislator Salary and Business Expense Report Subcommittee to look into reporting regarding the financial information required annually for the members of the Legislature. Council Chair Miller appointed Senator Donley as Chair and Senator Hoffman and Rep. Ogan as members. 7. DHL POUCH SERVICE RENEWAL    Ms. Varni stated the DHL Airways, Inc. contract was up for renewal. This is the second and the final renewal option with DHL Airways, Inc. to provide pouch services to and from specified legislative offices. Representative Barnes moved the Council renew the contract with DHL Airways, Inc. not to exceed $35,000. The motion passed unanimously.   8. LEASE RENEWALS/LEASE EXTENSION    BARROW - LEASE RENEWAL FOR THE BARROW LIO. Ms. Varni stated the Barrow lease was up for renewal as per the terms of the contract. Representative Barnes moved that the lease renewal for Barrow in the amount of $37,869.36 annually ($6.31 per sq. ft. for 500 sq. ft.) be approved. The motion passed unanimously.   KODIAK - LEASE EXTENSION FOR KODIAK LIO, SEN. MACKIE, AND REP. AUSTERMAN  OFFICE SPACE. Ms. Varni explained the Lessor agreed to another lease extension (5 year lease extension with 2 one-year renewal options) with a 15 percent reduction in rent. Representative Barnes moved the Kodiak lease extension in the amount of $18,225.78 (first year) annually ($1.23 per sq. ft. for 1,200 sq. ft.) be approved. The motion passed unanimously. WASILLA - LEASE RENEWAL FOR THE WASILLA LIO, SEN. GREEN, SEN. HALFORD, REP.  KOHRING, REP. MASEK, AND REP. OGAN OFFICE SPACE. Ms. Varni explained the Wasilla lease was up for renewal as per the terms of the contract. Representative Ogan requested the Agency widen the scope to include Palmer next time a Request for Proposal goes out for office space. Representative Barnes moved the lease renewal for Wasilla in the amount of $53,306.88 annually ($1.22 per sq. ft. for 3,652 sq. ft.) be approved. The motion passed unanimously.       9. LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM    Ms. Varni stated this is the final year for participation in the Retirement Incentive Program (RIP) was passed in 1996. If an opening is declared by the Legislative Council, the latest application deadline allowed under this program would be June 30, 1999. A discussion followed. Council Chair Miller decided to address the RIP program at the next Council meeting. 10. LEGISLATIVE SHARE CAMPAIGN    Senator Pearce moved the Council authorize the Legislative Branch to participate in the Share Campaign. With no objection, the motion passed unanimously. 11. POLICY REQUEST    Senator Pearce requested the Legislative Affairs Agency research a policy approved by Legislative Council in the past regarding Legislative employee longevity. A discussion followed. Ms. Varni explained the policy was put in place by the Joint Rules Committee and passed on the floor in 1988. It would require a Joint Rules Committee meeting to change the policy. The meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.