ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL    AUGUST 27, 2025  1:00PM    MEMBERS PRESENT  Representative Sara Hannan, Chair  Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair  Representative Ashley Carrick  Representative Chuck Kopp  Representative Mike Prax  Representative Calvin Schrage  Representative Louise Stutes  Representative Donna Mears (alternate)  Senator Cathy Giessel  Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson  Senator Jesse Kiehl  Senator Löki Tobin(alternate)    MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Bryce Edgmon  Senator Matt Claman  Senator Lyman Hoffman  Senator Bert Stedman    OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT  None    AGENDA  APPROVAL OF AGENDA  APPROVAL OF MINUTES  COMMITTEE BUSINESS  EXECUTIVE SESSION    SPEAKER REGISTER  Jessica Geary, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs  Agency (LAA)  JC Kestel, Procurement Officer, LAA  Tim Powers, Chief Technology and Outreach Officer, LAA        I. CALL TO ORDER    1:03:40 PM  CHAIR HANNAN called the Legislative Council meeting to order  at 1:03pm on August 27, 2025, in the Denali Room of the  Anchorage Legislative Office Building.    Present at the call were Representatives Carrick, Kopp,  Schrage, Stutes, Mears, Hannan; Senators Gray-Jackson, Kiehl,  Tobin, Stevens.    Representative Prax joined the meeting at 1:32pm. Senator  Giessel joined the meeting at 2:21pm.    II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA    1:05:16 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved asked unanimous consent that  Legislative Council approve the agenda as presented.    The motion passed without objection.    III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  a. June 25, 2025, Meeting Minutes  1:05:41 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved and asked unanimous consent that  Legislative Council approve the minutes dated June 25, 2025,  as presented.    The minutes were approved without objection.    IV. COMMITTEE BUSINESS  a. Anchorage Legislative Office Building (ALOB) Janitorial  Contract Renewal No. 4    1:06:16 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve  Renewal No. 4 of the contract for janitorial services with Q-1  Services LLC in an amount not to exceed $56,000.00.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and asked  Procurement Officer JC Kestel to speak to this item.    JC KESTEL, Procurement Officer, Legislative Affairs Agency  (LAA), said that the Agency is requesting approval to renew the  janitorial services contract for the Anchorage Legislative  Office Building. This is the fourth renewal option being  exercised, the Agency has been happy with the services  provided, and the operations manager feels the contractor has  been a great partner to work with.    There was no discussion, and a roll call vote was taken.    1:07:43 PM  YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Schrage, Stutes, Mears,  Hannan; Senators Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin, Stevens    NAYS: none    The motion passed 10-0.    V. EXECUTIVE SESSION  a. RFP 689Audio/Video Installation for the ALOB  b. ALOB Denali Room Committee Dais Replacement  c. Security BriefingDept. of Homeland Security Consultant  d. Mailroom Relocation Funding and Equipment Purchase    CHAIR HANNAN stated that Legislative Council would go into  Executive Session for consideration of an RFP for the  Anchorage Legislative Office Building audio/visual system  installation, the Denali Room dais replacement, a Department  of Homeland Security consultant's briefing, and the Capitol  mailroom relocation.    1:09:27 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  online for the Executive Session: Jessica Geary, Santé Lesh,  Tim Powers, JC Kestel, Michael Mills, Dana Nicholas, Brian  Heimbigner, Megan Wallace, Emily Nauman, Tom Koloski, Micaela  Bradner, Matt Simpson, any legislators not on Legislative  Council, and any staff of Legislative Council members.    1:10:03 PM  Council went into Executive Session.    3:22:18 PM  Council came out of Executive Session.    Roll was taken to establish a quorum. Present at the call  were: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes,  Mears, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin,  Stevens.    Twelve members present.    a. RFP 689Audio/Video Installation for the ALOB  3:24:46 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve  award of RFP 689 to Sound Decisions LLC with a not-to-exceed  contract value of $257,000.00.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and asked  Tim Powers, Chief Technology and Outreach Officer, to speak to  this item and JC Kestel, Procurement Officer, to be available  for questions.    TIM POWERS, Legislative Affairs Agency Chief Technology and  Outreach Officer, stated that before members is a request for  approval of the replacement and modernization of the audio- video system for the Anchorage Legislative Information Office  (LIO) meeting spaces in the Anchorage Legislative Office  Building. He explained that the need for this update mirrors  the challenges successfully addressed in the Capitol last  year. The existing system in the LIO, originally designed for  a different facility and reprogrammed upon relocation, lacks  sufficient capacity, has reached end of life, and is  increasingly unreliable. Current issues include static on  video/audio streams and phone lines, microphones that are  difficult to hear remotely, and limited support for hybrid  meetings. He noted that the Anchorage LIO has not had a  professional Teams integration, and the system does not meet  the demands of modern hybrid testimony.    Mr. Powers further emphasized that this upgrade would  standardize technology between Juneau and Anchorage, improve  accessibility for legislators, staff, and the public, and  eliminate the need for a temporary "Teams cart". He reported  that an RFP was issued earlier this summer, generating five  interested parties with one competitive bid received in the  amount of $244,532.71; a five percent contingency of  $12,467.29 brings the total funding request to $257,000. He  added that this project is a complex undertaking, with  separate program and furniture components that do not require  Council action at this time. He concluded that the project is  a critical investment in the efficiency of and accessibility  to the legislative process.    CHAIR HANNAN, noting no further discussion, removed her  objection and asked for a roll call vote.  3:27:56 PM  YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes,  Mears, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin,  Stevens    NAYS: none    The motion passed 12-0.    b. ALOB Denali Room Committee Dais Replacement    CHAIR HANNAN stated that Mr. Powers mentioned that beside the  audio/visual equipment, there will be equipment programming,  and the dais will be replaced as part of the project scope. It  is not a part of the RFP just adopted but in the scope of the  project, and no motion or action would be needed on this item.    c. Security Briefing Dept. of Homeland Security Consultant    Due to the confidential nature of this security item,  Legislative Council did not discuss on the record.    d. Mailroom Relocation Funding and Equipment Purchase    3:29:37 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS after a request to restate the motion and a  brief at-ease, moved that Legislative Council approve the  transfer of funds as follows:    From Legislative Budget and Audit Committee allocation:  $200,000  From Legislative Council allocation: $40,000  From Legislative Operating-Senate allocation: $40,000  From Legislative Operating-House allocation: $44,100    ?for $292,000 to be transferred to Administrative Services and  $32,100 to be transferred to Facilities Rent for a total of  $324,100 to support relocating the Capitol Mailroom to an  offsite package and mail screening center as recommended by  the 2022 CISA security assessment.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and asked  Executive Director Jessica Geary and Procurement Officer JC  Kestel to speak to this item.  JESSICA GEARY, Executive Director, LAA, explained that in  December 2024, the Legislative Council for the Thirty-Third  Legislature approved relocating the mail screening function  from the Capitol to an off-site location. She said that while  work on this project began, funding for the move was not  approved during the most recent budget process. She noted that  this transfer of funds will allow the Agency to continue the  work of moving mail and package screening off-site in advance  of the 2026 session, and that the Agency will reconcile these  budget transactions in the fiscal year 2027 budget request.    CHAIR HANNAN, seeing no further questions, removed her  objection and asked for a roll call vote.    3:33:50 PM  YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes,  Mears, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin,  Stevens    NAYS: none    The motion passed 12-0.    3:34:53 PM  VICE CHAIR STEVENS moved that Legislative Council approve the  purchase of mailroom screening equipment from Pacific MicroRem  Inc., in an amount not to exceed $136,750.    CHAIR HANNAN objected for the purpose of discussion and asked  JC Kestel to speak to this item.    JC KESTEL, Procurement Officer, LAA, stated that the Agency  conducted extensive research to determine the equipment needed  for the mailroom relocation and to ensure proper screening of  incoming packages and mail. Without disclosing specific  details about the equipment, he noted that certain pieces are  only serviced and warrantied through a particular vendor in  Alaska. He said the Agency is requesting approval to proceed  with the purchase of this equipment for the new facility.    3:36:11 PM  Council took a brief at-ease.    3:37:00 PM  Council returned from brief at-ease.    CHAIR HANNAN, noting no further discussion, removed her  objection and asked for a roll call vote.    3:37:15 PM  YEAS: Representatives Carrick, Kopp, Prax, Schrage, Stutes,  Mears, Hannan; Senators Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Kiehl, Tobin,  Stevens    NAYS: none    The motion passed 12-0.    SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked Mr. Powers and Mr. Kestel for  their efforts to enhance the audio and video systems in the  Anchorage LIO committee room, noting the improvements will  benefit the legislature, staff, and the public. She further  expressed appreciation to Chief Mills, Mr. Kestel, and others  involved in efforts to strengthen Capitol security, and  thanked the Committee for supporting these improvement  initiatives.    VI. ADJOURNMENT    There being no further business before the committee, the  Legislative Council meeting was adjourned at 3:38pm.  3:38:53 PM