Task Force Meeting Information

November 19, 2008

Casper City Council Chambers

 

Task Force Members Present

Senator Henry H.R. “Hank” Coe, Co-Chairman

Representative Del McOmie, Co-Chairman

Jerry Austin, Wamsutter, Representing Oil and Gas

Mary Behrens, Casper, Representing Health Care

Joan K. Evans, Cheyenne, Representing Workforce Services

Steve L. Johnson, Sheridan, Representing Mining

Tom Kinnison, Sheridan, Representing Small Business Community

Bryan Pedersen, Cheyenne, Representing Public-At-Large

David R. Reetz, Powell, Representing Community Colleges-Academic Programs

 

Task Force Members Absent

Senator Rae Lynn Job

Senator Michael Von Flatern

Representative Pete Jorgensen

Representative Lorraine Quarberg

Lynn Birleffi, Cheyenne, Representing Travel, Tourism & Recreation

Glenn Dalton, Rock Springs, Representing Community Colleges-Vocational Programs

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Dave Nelson, School Finance Manager, Brenda Long, School Finance Analyst

Matthew Sackett, Research Analyst, Josh Anderson, Staff Attorney

 

Others Present at Meeting

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

Executive Summary

The Community College Task Force met for one day at the Casper City Council Chambers.  The Task Force reviewed proposals forwarded from the October 27, 2008 meeting.  The Task Force amended the proposed findings and proposed legislation and voted to adopt the amended documents and present them to the Joint Appropriations Committee and to the Joint Education Committee.

 

Call To Order

Co-Chairman Coe called the meeting to order at 9:15 am.  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.

 

Approval of Minutes

Task Force member Tom Kinnison moved that the Task Force approve the minutes from October 27, 2008 with no changes.  The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

 

Finalization of Task Force Recommendations

Mr. Dave Nelson of the Legislative Service Office provided handouts to the Task Force (see Appendix 3 for a copy of the handouts).  Mr. Nelson noted that the proposals had been forwarded from the previous meeting related to the different topics.  He noted that the “A” documents are the written recommendations and the “B” parts are the statutory implementation.

 

Mr. Nelson noted that there were several proposed amendments to the capital construction process and provided copies of the amendments to the Task Force (see Appendix 4 for a copy of the amendments). Mr. Nelson noted that the amendments proposed by Task Force member Kinnison provide that all phases of construction and control of the funds are done through the Department of Administration and Information.  The amendment included administrative funding for DA&I.

 

Mr. Nelson noted that the amendment proposed by Representative Quarberg would provide for control and funding of all phases of construction through the Community College Commission. Mr. Nelson noted that the amendments require a similar amount of administrative funding and include funding for 3 at-will positions.  Mr. Nelson noted that the amendments proposed by Senator Coe and Representative McOmie allow for a joint approach with control of funding under the Commission, but with the Department providing construction management.

 

Mr. Rich Cathcart of the Department of Administration and Information urged the Task Force to be mindful that whoever manages the projects needs to have control of construction expenditures. He noted that there would be some additional costs for the three employees and noted that construction managers are relatively expensive employees because their positions require a lot of travel around the state.

 

In response to a question, Dr. Jim Rose of the Community College Commission noted that the Commission would consult with the construction management division and would want to have the guidance of the Division so that the construction process can be done in concert between the two entities.

 

Task Force member Kinnison made a motion to adopt the McOmie/Coe amendment.  The motion was seconded.

 

In response to a question, Mr. Nelson noted rationale for the joint effort of both the commission and DA&I was that since a local funding match is generally a requirement for state funding of construction projects, the  Commission would in the best position to collect local match money and to release combined funds for construction.

 

Mr. Cathcart noted that the construction manager needs to have control of the money so that payments can go out promptly and noted that in their experience if the agency has control of the funds they spend any savings.

 

After additional discussion by the Task Force, the original motion by Task Force member Kinnison passed by voice vote.

 

Mr. Nelson provided a handout to the Task Force on capital construction (see Appendix 5 for a copy of the handout). Mr. Nelson noted that in addition to those projects depicted for 2008, the spreadsheet also provides a list projects for submission to the 2009 session seeking authorization only.  In response to a question, Dr. Rose noted that there are existing projects that have been prioritized but did not receive funding and those projects remain authorized but no state funding has been provided.

 

Mr. Nelson provided Kinnison amendment #4 to the Task Force (see Appendix 6 for a copy of the amendment).  The amendment clarifies the computation of college reserves in relation to expenditure limitations.  Task Force member David Reetz moved that the Task Force adopt the amendment, the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

 

Mr. Nelson provided Kinnison amendment #5 to the Task Force (see Appendix 7 for a copy of the amendment), which modifies the phased-in hold-harmless levels.  The amendment failed for lack of a second.

 

Mr. Nelson provided Kinnison amendment #6 to the Task Force (see Appendix 8 for a copy of the amendment).  Mr. Nelson noted that the amendment would add student goal attainment back into statute as a performance benchmark..  Cochairman McOmie moved that the Task Force adopt the amendment, the motion was seconded.  After additional discussion by the Task Force, the motion passed by voice vote.

 

Mr. Nelson provided Coe/McOmie amendments # 4 and 5 to the Task Force (see Appendix 9 for a copy of the amendments.  Mr. Nelson noted that the amendments apply to the initial strategic plan process and requires approval by the majority of the community college presidents prior to final plan approval. Cochairman McOmie made a motion that the Task Force adopt the amendment.  The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

 

Mr. Nelson stated that the Legislative Service Office will consolidate all of the proposed changes to statute into one draft bill and all of the narratives into one document for a final report to the Joint Appropriations Committee and the Joint Education Committee to fulfill statutory reporting requirements of the Task Force.  After additional discussion by the Task Force, Cochairman McOmie suggested that the report include a provision that the Task Force would continue to serve at the pleasure of the legislature.

 

In response to a question, Mr. Nelson provided handouts to the Task Force of funding for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 with college reserves included and excluded (see Appendix 10 for a copy of the handouts).

 

After additional discussion, the Task Force voted to forward the suggested draft language and the report as amended by a roll call vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 6 absent (see Appendix 11 for a copy of the vote form).

 

Meeting Adjournment

There being no further business, Co-Chairman Coe adjourned the meeting at 11:30 am.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix		Appendix Topic		Appendix Description		Appendix Provider
1		Committee Sign-In Sheet		Lists meeting attendees		Legislative Service Office
2		Committee Meeting Agenda		Provides an outline of the topics the Committee planned to address at meeting		Legislative Service Office
3		Proposed recommendations		Proposed recommendations		Legislative Service Office
4		Proposed amendments		Proposed amendments		Legislative Service Office
5		Capital construction		Capital construction authorization status		Legislative Service Office
6		Proposed amendment		Proposed amendment		Legislative Service Office
7		Proposed amendment		Proposed amendment		Legislative Service Office
8		Proposed amendment		Proposed amendment		Legislative Service Office
9		Proposed amendments		Proposed amendments		Legislative Service Office
10		Max loss estimates		Max loss estimates		Community College Commission
11		Vote form		Vote form		Legislative Service Office