Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

CAPITOL BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Date:02/20/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:34 PM to 02:22 PM
Eddins
X
Goldman
E
Place:SCR 353
Hite
X
Lombardi
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Nichols
*
Georgianna Contiguglia
Nunnally
X
Rogers
X
This Report was prepared by
Sill
X
Jennifer Thomsen
Weingardt
X
Weissmann
E
Bacon
E
Contiguglia
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Approval of Minutes
Capitol Solar Panel Project
Update on Capitol Lighting and Elevator Projects
Presidential Portraits
Other Business		-
-
-
-
-


01:34 PM -- Approval of Minutes

 The committee was called to order by the chair, Ms. Contiguglia.
BILL:Approval of Minutes
TIME: 01:34:55 PM
MOVED:Hite
MOTION:Moved that the committee approve the minutes of the January 16, 2009 meeting. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Eddins
Goldman
Excused
Hite
Lombardi
Nichols
Absent
Nunnally
Rogers
Sill
Weingardt
Weissmann
Excused
Bacon
Excused
Contiguglia
Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 1 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection




01:35 PM -- Capitol Solar Panel Project

Jennifer Hampton from the Governor's Office of Energy, Deon Wolfenbarger of Three Gables Preservation, and Lance Shepherd from the Office of the State Architect, provided information on the proposed display on the Capitol solar panel project. Ms. Hampton explained that she and Ms. Wolfenbarger had researched energy use at the Capitol, and showed the committee the draft via a PowerPoint presentation and responded to committee questions about the slides (see Attachment A).

Mr. Shepard noted that he would send the presentation in an electronic format to committee members after the meeting.

Ms. Hampton began, explaining that the display will address heating in the Capitol. The committee discussed the eight slides addressing the Capitol's heating system. The slides describe the building's steam heating system, which was originally powered by coal fired boilers housed in the sub-basement. The slides go on to describe the 1909 decision by the legislature to build a separate museum building, with new boilers, engines, and a heating and power plant beneath that carried steam and power to the Capitol through tunnels. The next slide addresses the heating system describe the heating plant building constructed in 1940 using Public Works Administration grants. The final slide explains that the Capitol no longer produces its own power, though the tunnels are still used to carry steam, water, and electricity to the building.

Next, Ms. Hampton described the three slides addressing cooling in the building. The slides explain that the architect designed the dome atop the rotunda to serve as a chimney to release hot air from the Capitol and circulate cooler, fresh air in the offices.

Ms. Hampton continued, describing the eight slides related to lighting in the building, noting that much of the light in the public areas is natural light, and moving into a discussion about carbide gas and electric lighting. The slides highlight the fact that over the years, some updates to the Capitol have removed or covered skylights and transoms, requiring more lighting to make up for the loss of natural light.

The next slides covered by Ms. Hampton addressed the technology changes over the years that effected how power was used at Capitol. Finally, she talked about slides addressing current energy usage, noting that the Capitol building is a leader in reducing energy consumption, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and decreasing the environmental impact of state government operations.

Ms. Hampton concluded by describing the display that would illustrate the power output of the solar panels. Committee members asked a number of questions about the slides and suggested clarifications that would make the slides more meaningful for visitors.

01:53 PM


Ms. Contiguglia thanked and commended Ms. Wolfenbarger for her work on the slides about the history of energy usage in the capitol. Mr. Shepherd responded to questions about the display, explaining it would be placed in the south end of Mr. Brown's Attic and would run on a three to five minute cycle. The committee discussed the slides, providing recommendations on the text and other contents of the slides. Ms. Contiguglia suggested that some of the longer captions could be shortened. She also suggested that the slide presentation be given to a fifth- or sixth-grade student to read, to ensure that the display is timed to allow adequate time for a visitor of that age to read it.

01:59 PM -- Update on Capitol Lighting and Elevator Projects

Mr. Shepherd provided an update on the Capitol lighting and elevator projects. He explained that because of budget reductions, some money from the capitol lighting project would be used for the elevator project. He said there is about $230,000 remaining for the lighting project, which would be used for dimmers and repairs for the House and Senate Chambers lighting, as well as security lighting. Mr. Lombardi commented that there are insurance moneys as well. Mr. Shepherd said the light-emitting diode (LED) lighting for the exterior will be priced, but not pursued at this time. He also said moneys remaining after the work on the east stairs would be used for work on the north sidewalks this summer.

Mr. Shepherd talked about federal stimulus moneys, saying a list has been provided to the Governor's Energy Office that includes restoring windows in the Capitol. He also provided an update on the dome project, saying that $3 million from the State Historical Fund has been promised if matched by an additional $7 million in capital development funds. Ms. Nunnelly talked about a recent tour of the dome, saying the committee should lead the charge to get stimulus moneys for work on the building. Ms. Contiguglia suggested a letter to the Capital Development Committee on these issues. She asked Mr. Shepherd to draft some talking points and email them to staff so that a letter to the Capital Development Committee could be drafted. After the letter is drafted, staff will request time on the Capital Development Committee's agenda.

Mr. Shepherd provided the latest reports on building assessments (Attachments B and C).

The committee discussed making building repairs a priority. Representative Weissmann explained that the Capital Development Committee makes recommendations to the Joint Budget Committee, which approves or rejects recommendations. Committee discussion ensued, with conversation about whether federal stimulus moneys might come available or whether the availability of such moneys might free up state moneys for needed repairs.

02:13 PM -- Presidential Portraits

Representative Weissmann and Ms. Nunnelly said they had nothing to report on funding for presidential portraits at this time.

Mr. Hite noted that President George Bush's final year needs to be added to the plaque under his portrait on the third floor rotunda. Mr. Lombardi said the Department of Personnel and Administration would take care of that issue.

Ms. Sill asked for an update on the Clinton portrait. Representative Weissmann said the portrait is scheduled to be returned in March, and said he would request that the loan be extended for another year. Representative Weissmann said he would provide the address of the Clinton Library to staff so that a letter requesting the extension may be drafted.

02:16 PM -- Other Business

Ms. Contiguglia reported that the Capital Development Committee approved the request to move the information desk. The committee discussed the current configuration of the Tour Guide Services.

Ms. Contiguglia reported to the committee the status of repairs in Mr. Brown's Attic.

Ms. Contiguglia said she had received the signed MOU from the Council on the Arts for the basement rotunda display.

Ms. Contiguglia said she drafted a letter to the Sierra Club regarding the Enos Mills sculpture. She said she would work with Senator Bacon on this issue.

02:21 PM

Mr. Rogers commented that he had spoken to Jil Rosentrater at the Arts Council about the hanging system for the basement rotunda display and was pleased that the system would not be unpainted aluminum.

02:22 PM

The next scheduled committee meeting is Friday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m.

The committee recessed to tour the areas of the building impacted by the Capitol Life Safety Project.



Action Items - Pending from January 16 meeting

Action Items - Current

Future Agenda Items