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September 28, 2005
Room 302 Wyoming Capitol
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Representative Pete Illoway, Chairman
Senator Jayne Mockler, Chairman
Senator Tony Ross
Representative Layton Morgan
Senator John Hanes
Representative Burke Jackson
Dan J. Pauli, Director
Mark Quiner, Assistant Director
Wendy K. Madsen,
Legislative Information Officer
Please refer to
Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.
Chairman Illoway called the meeting to order at 1:00pm. The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic. Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.
Minutes from the June 30, 2005 Committee meeting were approved without changes.
Representative Illoway explained that the Legislature held an evacuation drill during the 2005 General Session and that the Cheyenne Fire Department was invited to observe the drill and provided recommendations for improvement. He noted that at the June 2005 meeting, the Committee requested that Joe Moore, director of the Homeland Security Office, address the Committee at its next meeting regarding the deficiencies identified in the fire drill and regarding agency responsibilities for coordinating such events.
Mr. Moore addressed the Committee and noted that the safety and security of citizens, legislators, and elected officials is paramount. He noted that several state agencies have multiple responsibilities for ensuring the security of the Capitol and explained to the Committee that he requested all of the state officials involved in security issues to address the committee. Mr. Doug Cook, of the General Services Division in the Department of Administration and Information updated the Committee on concerns about the integrity of external fire escapes. He explained to the Committee that A&I has commissioned a structural review of the fire escapes and should have results from the review in October, but he expects that the review will find that the escapes are structurally sound. Once A&I receives the report, they will determine if any work needs to be completed on the fire escapes before the next legislative session.
Mr. Jim Narva, State Fire Marshall, addressed the Committee and explained that his Office is working closely with the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and the Department of Administration and Information to develop protocols for evacuation of the Capitol during emergencies, including fire drills.
Mr. Narva explained that some of the other issues raised in the Fire Department’s recommendations, including the lack of a sprinkling system in the Capitol, illustrate the importance of a solid evacuation plan and the need to practice the plan periodically. He commended the Committee for holding a fire drill during the 2005 legislative session and urged the Legislature to hold drills annually during session.
Captain Perry Jones and Lieutenant Scott Minyard of the Wyoming Highway Patrol addressed the Committee regarding security and emergency issues in the Capitol that are the responsibility of the Highway Patrol. Captain Jones explained that the Wyoming Highway Patrol is statutorily charged with some security responsibilities in the Capitol. He noted that the Patrol has been working to address identified security issues and have developed and implemented several policies to improve security at the Capitol. He explained that the Patrol has reorganized its staffing of the security desk and that more troopers in the Cheyenne area will be involved in staffing the security desk. The Committee discussed security concerns in the Capitol with the Patrol staff and noted that while security is an important issue, it is also important that citizens believe the building is accessible. Representative Illoway commended the Patrol staff in the Capitol for their positive interaction with the public. Mr. Moore concluded that it is a delicate balance to provide security, while still making people feel welcome.
Senator Larson, Chairman of the Joint Legislative and Executive Task Force on Legislative Facilities updated the Committee on the work of the Task Force. Senator Larson explained that the Task Force held its final meeting in the morning and recommended several long-range planning activities for a final report to the Management Council, Joint Appropriations Committee, and State Building Commission. He explained that the Task Force requested that the Select Committee on Legislative Facilities take the lead in identifying long-term space needs of the Wyoming Legislature, while the Task Force recommended that the State Building Commission start a planning process to make recommendations for the Capitol Complex. He noted that while the work of the Task Force addressed many of the short-term space needs in the Capitol, the State needs to move forward with a long-range plan for use of the Capitol Complex. He noted that the time may be right, given the State’s surplus, to begin to address long-term issues in the Capitol Complex, such as the need for a major investment in the renovation of the Capitol. Representative Illoway urged the Committee to begin to look at issues related to the legislative branch’s long-term needs as part of the larger planning process of the State Building Commission.
Representative Illoway requested that Mr. Marc Thayer, of Corporate Protective Services provide an update for the Committee on progress to install the artwork security system, which was approved by the Committee at its June 2005 meeting. Mr. Thayer explained that his company has been meeting with legislative and executive staff in the Capitol to determine how to install the security system. He noted that the Wyoming Highway Patrol has agreed to monitor the security system from the security desk in the Rotunda during business hours. Mr. Minyard explained that the Wyoming Highway Patrol will monitor the system during business hours, but that a solution needs to be identified for after-hours monitoring. Ms. Wendy Madsen, of the Legislative Service Office, explained that LSO staff is working with the parties to address where the system will be monitored after-hours.
Mr. Manny Vigil, from the Wyoming State Museum explained to the Committee that Museum staff will work with Corporate Protective Services and the Legislative Service Office staff to inventory the artwork on the second and third floor that should be monitored by the system. Mr. Vigil noted that protocols are needed to address the circumstances under which artwork can be removed under the system, for restoration or storage. Mr. Jones noted that protocols can include a requirement that staff notify the trooper on duty at the security desk prior to moving artwork. Ms. Madsen will work with relevant staff members to develop protocols for administration of the artwork security system.
Representative Illoway explained to the Committee that at its last meeting, the Committee had received bids from three interested companies. Due to the large variation in the cost estimates for each of the three bids received, the Committee requested a second bid to narrow the scope of work and to ensure that issues related to the structural integrity of the benches was addressed. He noted that two bidders responded to the second bid request: Wooden Works of Cheyenne and Eggli Brothers of Lander. The Committee reviewed both bids and noted that the bid from Eggli Brothers did not include upholstery work.
Mr. Gary Stephenson and Mr. Larry Buchholtz, of Wooden Works, addressed the Committee regarding the bid they submitted to refinish the benches. Mr. Stephenson noted that the benches are structurally sound, but that the finish needs to be restored and the frames need to be reassembled and reglued. He noted that a great deal of the cost of the bid is to replace the leather on the benches and that several of the benches will need to be covered in two pieces of leather with a seam to reduce the costs for leather replacement. Senator Ross moved that the Committee accept the bid from Wooden Works and approve the contract as bid, with a planned start date of April 1, 2006, contingent upon an additional appropriation for the bidder to complete work on all benches in 2006. The motion carried unanimously. Representative Illoway requested that an additional appropriation be requested to complete the restoration of all benches in 2006.
Senator Mockler explained that the Committee at its June 2005 meeting, requested that LSO staff develop a draft memorial artwork donation policy to provide procedures for the Legislature to accept donations of artwork in honor of, or in memory of, former legislators. She explained that LSO staff developed a draft policy after consulting with the State Museum for the Committee’s consideration. Ms. Dominique Schultes, of the State Museum, made several technical recommendations to the policy and the Committee discussed other changes to the draft to ensure that the Legislature would not be limited in the types of acquisitions it would consider.
Ms. Madsen explained the Committee needs to consider whether the Legislature, through the Legislative Service Office, should directly administer this program or whether to coordinate acquisition and loans through the Wyoming State Museum. She explained that all applicable State Museum policies and criteria for acceptance of pieces into the state’s permanent art collection would need to be followed if the State Museum administered this program, including possible rotation of the collection out of the Capitol. Ms. Madsen noted that if the program is administered directly by the Wyoming Legislative Service Office, LSO staff will need to develop donation and loan forms to provide to the State of Wyoming Risk Management Division within the Department of Administration and Information for insurance purposes and explore other legal issues related to the administration of this program.
Representative Illoway requested that LSO staff revise the
draft policy based on the Committee’s discussion and the State Museum’s
recommendations. He also requested that the Committee consider
the issue of whether LSO or the State Museum should administer the program at
its next meeting.
Representative Illoway explained that at its last two meetings, the Committee has discussed the appropriation to study options for opening the skylights to natural sunlight and agreed that artificial lighting is the most appropriate solution to address concerns about lighting the stained glass in the House and Senate chambers. Mr. Rich Cathcart, of the Department of Administration and Information, explained that the Committee may wish to seek out an engineering firm to study and design artificial lighting solutions. Mr. Cathcart explained that the engineering firms that are on contract with A&I are not design firms, but electrical engineers. The Committee stressed that the study should look at museum-quality lighting and should have expertise in lighting stained glass. Senator Ross moved to have A&I staff work with LSO to craft language for a request for information to solicit expertise in designing lighting systems for stained glass. The motion carried.
Mr. Cathcart updated the Committee on the status of remodeling the Joint Appropriations Committee in Room 204. He explained that the remodel includes new electrical, sound, carpet, chairs, and desks, but likely will not include new lighting or modifications to the existing ceiling. He explained that the chairs for the Committee members and staff will be purchased by the LSO through its existing chair contract.
LSO Director, Mr. Dan Pauli, explained that the LSO budget includes an appropriation for furnishings that will be used to purchase the chairs.
Senator Mockler explained that at its July 2005 meeting, the Management Council approved the services of a professional space planner before proceeding with renovations, as a result of the Committee’s concerns about ensuring the best use of the space available in Room 204. The Committee used the services of Jo Haley of TDSi to provide A&I with space configuration plans and specifications for committee member desks. Senator Mockler explained that the Committee’s concern about the configuration of the room has been addressed because the desks and electrical systems have been designed to be rearranged, so the room arrangement is not fixed. Senator Ross moved to approve the payment of TDSi for its services from the Committee’s miscellaneous furnishings fund. The motion carried.
Senator Mockler summarized a meeting held with the House and Senate Chief Clerk regarding remodeling the front desks in each of the chambers. She noted that requests include the need to restore the historic woodwork, accommodate technological and wiring needs, address storage components and space beneath the desks, and modifications to the platforms leading up to the desks. Senator Mockler moved LSO staff proceed with the remodeling project and identify the parties needed to address the remodeling requests, including the Department of Administration and Information for wiring and platform work, Eggli Brothers for the woodwork, and TDSi for storage options beneath the desks. The motion carried.
Senator Mockler updated the Committee on the purchase of historic reproduction coat racks for Rooms 204 and 302. She explained that the Committee requested price information to purchase reproduction historic wooden coat racks from Eggli Brothers. She noted that the Eggli Brothers provided a bid of $1,944 for eight racks, but the bid does not include hooks. Senator Mockler moved to purchase the coat racks from Eggli Brothers and to request that they include the price of hooks in the construction of the racks. The motion carried.
Representative Illoway explained that the Committee at a previous meeting, approved the construction of committee room door signs to reduce the number of documents taped to committee doors and walls outside of legislative committee rooms. He noted that the Committee wanted to replicate the same signs that were designed for the Montana Capitol by a company called Sign Products, which has an office in Sheridan. Representative Morgan moved to sole source the construction of the committee room door signs through Sign Products in Sheridan. The motion carried. Representative Illoway requested additional pricing information from Sign Products to trim the signs out in both wood and in brass and to provide cost information to the Committee at its next meeting to determine if the existing appropriation is adequate to complete signs for all committee rooms.
Mr. Pauli updated the Committee on the status of the project to repaint and recarpet LSO office space in the east wing of the basement. He explained that any asbestos present will need to be abated in the basement before LSO can proceed with the recarpeting project, which is slated to begin after the 2006 Budget Session. He noted that LSO has requested that the State Building Commission authorize funding for the asbestos abatement project from the funds appropriated to the Commission as part of the Joint Legislative and Executive Task Force on Capitol Facilities work.
Mr. Pauli also explained that LSO has requested a cost estimate from A&I to repaint the LSO main office. He noted that there is money available in the LSO budget to proceed with the work, if approved by the Management Council.
Ms. Susie Pouliot, Executive Director of the Wyoming Medical Society, addressed the Committee regarding the costs of supplies and equipment for the Medical Aid Station (See Appendix C) . She noted that equipment represents one-time costs, while the supplies represent an annual cost estimate. She explained that the Medical Aid Station needs a new blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, and otoscope for the 2006 Budget Session, but that the other equipment could be purchased after the session. Mr. Pauli explained that the supplies and equipment needs for the 2006 session could be purchased out of the existing LSO budget, but that the Committee may wish to seek an appropriation for the remaining equipment needs.
The Committee discussed concerns with the sound systems in the House and Senate Chambers. Representative Illoway requested that the LSO staff explore options to include microphone on/off switches on top of the podiums in the House. Senator Ross requested that LSO staff work with Muzak to address the quality of the Senate sound system. Mr. Pauli noted that the Select Committee on Legislative Technology is also reviewing this issue. Senator Mockler noted that long-term solutions to address sound system problems in the House and Senate need to include tasteful speaker systems that blend in with the décor of the Chambers.
The Committee also discussed whether to pursue an appropriation to commission portraits of the eight past governors who do not have official portraits. Ms. Judy Sargent, Capitol Tour Guide, explained that the portraits could be painted from existing photographs. The Committee estimated that the portraits would probably cost a minimum of $8,000 each, so a $64,000 appropriation would be needed to complete the project.
The Committee also discussed the need for a thorough cleaning of the Chambers, including cleaning the chandeliers, moldings, and murals. The Committee also considered whether to replace the existing white boards used by some committee chairmen and secretaries in committee rooms, but did not recommend action at this meeting.
The Committee discussed possible appropriations to request for the upcoming budget session to address legislative facilities projects. Appropriations recommended by the Committee for consideration at its next meeting included: an additional $18,000 to complete restoration of all historic benches, $5,000 for reproduction historic coat racks for the House chamber, $50,000 for replacement of committee chairs, $10,000 for audience chairs, $5,000 for miscellaneous furnishings, $2,000 for equipment in the Medical Aid Station, $70,000 to commission portraits of past governors, and $7,500 for repainting and wallpapering the LSO Main Office. Representative Illoway requested that the Committee budget to meet three to four times in 2006.
Chairman Illoway requested that the Committee meet again in December to finalize its recommendations for funding for legislative facilities projects for Management Council’s consideration at its December meeting. There being no further business, Chairman Illoway adjourned the meeting at 3:45pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Representative Pete Illoway, Chairman