ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL    MAY 7, 2025  5:15 PM    MEMBERS PRESENT  Representative Sara Hannan, Chair  Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair  Representative Ashley Carrick  Representative Bryce Edgmon  Representative Mike Prax  Representative Calvin Schrage  Representative Louise Stutes  Senator Matt Claman  Senator Cathy Giessel  Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson  Senator Jesse Kiehl    MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Chuck Kopp  Representative Donna Mears (alternate)  Senator Lyman Hoffman  Senator Bert Stedman  Senator Löki Tobin(alternate)    OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT      AGENDA  APPROVAL OF AGENDA  APPROVAL OF MINUTES  COMMITTEE BUSINESS    SPEAKER REGISTER  Jessica Geary, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs  Agency (LAA)  JC Kestel, Procurement Officer, LAA  Shay Wilson, Chief Information Officer, LAA    I. CALL TO ORDER    5:17:19 PM  CHAIR HANNAN called the Legislative Council meeting to  order at 5:17pm on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Room 532  (Senate Finance) of the State Capitol. Present at the call  were Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,  Stutes, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl,  Stevens.    Ten members present.    Senator Claman joined the meeting at 5:26pm.    II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA    5:18:57 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that  Legislative Council approve the agenda as presented.    The motion passed without objection.    III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  a. March 31, 2025, Minutes  5:19:20 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that  Legislative Council approve the minutes dated March 31,  2025, as presented.    The minutes were approved without objection.    IV. SANCTIONING OF CHARITABLE EVENTS  a. Sham JamMay 10, 2025  5:19:54 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that Legislative Council ratify the Chair's sanctioning of the following charitable event per AS 24.60.080(a)(2)(B): Sham JamMay 10, 2025. CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and stated the 501(c)(3) status of the beneficiary of Sham Jam has been verified. The beneficiary is Southeast Alaska Gay & Lesbian Association. There was no discussion. Chair Hannan removed her objection, and the sanctioning of the charitable event was ratified. V. EXECUTIVE SESSION  a. RFQAlaska State Legislature Telephone System  Equipment  b. Telephone System Services  c. Capitol Parking Lot Design, Engineering, and  Construction Administration Services  CHAIR HANNAN stated that Legislative Council would go into Executive Session to discuss several procurement items. 5:21:31 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council go into  Executive Session under Uniform Rule 22(b)(1), discussion  of matters, the immediate knowledge of which would  adversely affect the finances of a government unit and  22(b)(3), discussion of a matter that may, by law, be  required to be confidential. The following people may  remain in the room or on-line for the Executive Session:  Jessica Geary, Santé Lesh, Shay Wilson, Tim Powers, Serge  Lesh, JC Kestel, Ernest Daigle, Emily Nauman, any  legislators not on Legislative Council, and any staff of  Legislative Council members.    REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked for clarification on the  justification for Executive Session, noting the documents  appeared final and would be made public, and inquired what  elements in the documents could adversely affect State  finances or otherwise necessitate going into Executive  Session.    JESSICA GEARY, Legislative Affairs Agency (LAA) Executive  Director, explained that the procurements include vendor  bid information, and to prevent public disclosure before a  contract is awarded, the matter is handled in Executive  Session.    5:23:14 PM  Council went into Executive session.    6:11:56 PM  Council came out of Executive Session.    Roll was taken to establish a quorum. Present at the call  were Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,  Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,  Kiehl, Stevens.    Eleven members present.    a. RFQ 683Alaska State Legislature Telephone System  Equipment    6:13:08 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve  the award of RFQ 683 for telephone system equipment to  Synergy Telecom Inc., in an amount not to exceed  $110,070.71.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and  asked Legislative Affairs Chief Information Officer Shay  Wilson and Procurement Officer JC Kestel to speak to this  item.    JC KESTEL, Procurement Officer, LAA, stated that the Agency  issued RFQ 683 on April 4, 2025, to solicit proposals from  potential contractors to provide new telephone equipment  for the Legislature.    The RFQ was published on the States online public notices  and distributed to several vendors throughout the state.  There were eight bids received in response to the RFQ, and  the low bidder for this project is Synergy Telecom Inc., at  a total price of $110,070.71. After evaluation of the bids,  LAA recommends the award to Synergy Telecom Incorporated.    CHAIR HANNAN, noting there were no further questions,  removed her objection and asked for a roll call vote.    6:14:40 PM  YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,  Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,  Kiehl, Stevens    NAYS: none    The motion passed 11-0.    b. Telephone System Services    CHAIR HANNAN stated that the Telephone System Services  agenda item does not have a motion, but that Shay Wilson  and JC Kestel will provide a brief update.    SHAY WILSON, Chief Information Officer, LAA, stated that  the Legislature's phone system is currently provided  through the Executive Branch at an annual cost of $217,000.  In 2020, SOA began transitioning to Microsoft Teams for  phone service and since the Legislature operates a separate  Microsoft environment, it can no longer rely on the Office  of Information Technology (OIT) to support its phone  services. The Division of Technology and Information (DTI)  identified a preferred provider with projected costs of  $94,000 annually. The Juneau conversion is planned for this  fall, with Anchorage and Fairbanks to follow in 2026. As  this utility is exempt under Section 020 of the Procurement  Procedures, no Legislative Council action or motion is  required.    c. Capitol Parking Lot Design, Engineering, and  Construction Administration Services    6:17:04 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve a  contract award to PND Engineers, Inc., in an amount not to  exceed $75,000.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and  asked Facilities Manager Serge Lesh and Procurement Officer  JC Kestel to provide a brief explanation of this item.    JC KESTEL, LAA Procurement Officer, stated the Agency  solicited proposals from qualified engineering firms  throughout the state to provide design, engineering, and  construction administration services to the Agency for a  revitalization of the Capitol parking garage and bid-ready  construction documents and construction administration  during any construction.    Five firms initially expressed interest in the project,  however only two submitted proposals-the lowest proposal  from PND Engineers for $71,500, and another proposal from  Hollatz Engineering Inc., for $113,950. Both proposals were  reviewed thoroughly to make sure they met the Agency's  requirements. The Agency recommends the award to PND  Engineers Inc., in the amount of $71,500. Serge Lesh, LAA  Facilities Manager, is also available to answer any  questions.    CHAIR HANNAN, seeing no further questions or discussion,  removed her objection and asked for a roll call vote.    6:18:46 PM  YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage, Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Stevens NAYS: none The motion passed 11-0.   VI. Committee Business  a. FY26 Computer Hardware Refresh    6:19:58 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve  the FY26 computer hardware refresh expenditure of $228,084.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and  asked Shay Wilson to speak to this item.    SHAY WILSON, Chief Information Officer, LAA, stated that  members have a memo outlining the FY26 annual hardware  refresh, which replaces outdated technology across the  Legislature and requires Council approval each year. This  year's $228,084 proposal, to be paid from existing capital  funds, reflects price increases due to international  tariffs and includes replacement of a PC model incompatible  with Windows 11. The request also includes the Ombudsman,  Office of Victims' Rights, and Legislative Finance,  agencies that had been previously excluded from annual  requests. Without this funding, DTI would be unable to  replace aging equipment, which would impact legislative  productivity. The IT Subcommittee reviewed the proposal and  recommends approval.    CHAIR HANNAN, seeing no further questions or discussion,  removed her objection and asked for a roll call vote.    6:22:00 PM  YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Edgmon, Prax, Schrage,  Stutes, Hannan; Senators Claman, Giessel, Gray-Jackson,  Kiehl, Stevens    NAYS: none    The motion passed 11-0.    VII. ADJOURNMENT    There being no further business before the committee, the  Legislative Council meeting was adjourned at 6:22pm.  6:22:56 PM