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Legislative Council approves Homer and Kodiak district office lease renewals; members question short-term openings and CPI adjustments
Summary
The council unanimously approved lease extensions for Homer and Kodiak legislative district offices. Staff described one-year renewal options and annual CPI adjustments; Representative Stutes raised concerns that some district offices are open only six months of the year.
The Legislative Council on Sept. 10 approved two district office lease renewals: renewal number one for the Homer legislative information office for $58,119.12 and renewal number three for the Kodiak office for $71,012.52. Senator Kiel moved both measures; each passed 11-0 after staff discussion.
JC Kestel, payment officer for the Legislative Affairs Agency, told the council the agency requested the Homer renewal as the first of up to five optional one-year renewals and that both the Homer and Kodiak offices serve as district offices for Senator Stevens and Representative Vance. Kestel described the lease structure: an initial five-year period followed by multiple one-year renewal options to provide building owners a longer-term investment incentive and to allow flexibility if legislators’ district needs change.
Senator Tobin asked why the dollar change on one renewal line amounted to 52 cents; Kestel said the figure comes from an annual consumer price index (CPI) adjustment that can vary year to year. Representative Edgmon asked why the Legislature uses one-year renewal options after the initial term; Kestel reiterated the approach gives the Legislature and agency flexibility as district needs evolve.
Representative Stutes, whose district includes one of the offices, said she had experienced a legislative information office closed for six months while the LIO worker was out of town and asked who determined offices would be open only half the year. Chair Hannon and council members agreed that question did not relate directly to the lease and asked that it be brought up as a separate discussion item.
Miss Truett conducted roll-call votes after objections were removed for discussion; both lease renewals were approved unanimously. No spending amendments or additional conditions were recorded in the meeting excerpts.
