(St. Paul, MN…) With Friday’s release of updated architectural plans for the new Senate Office Building, Senate Republicans have sent a letter to Majority Leader Bakk and Commissioner Cronk requesting a public response to several questions at today’s Rules hearing. Republicans expect the appropriate people to be in the room to answer these questions this afternoon.

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April 7, 2014

Senator Tom Bakk
Minnesota Senate
Capitol 226
Chairman, Senate Rules Committee

Commissioner Spencer Cronk
Minnesota Department of Administration
200 Administration Building
50 Sherburne Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55155

Gentlemen:

I am writing on behalf of the Republican members of the Senate Rules Committee in advance of today’s hearing on the proposed Senate office building. In the spirit of getting clear answers for the public regarding this proposal, we are sending you some of the key questions we plan to ask at today’s hearing.

I am asking you to have the right people in the room to help answer these questions including staff from the Department of Administration, representatives of the Governor, the House of Representatives and the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board.

Questions:

According to testimony in the House Rules Committee last week, the new building plan is larger and more expensive than the plan that left the Senate Rules Committee in January.

1. What was the square footage of the proposed building as it left the Senate Rules Committee last January?

2. What is the square footage of the proposed building approved by the House Rules Committee last week?

3. What was the cost of the proposed building as it left the Senate Rules Committee in January?

4. What is the cost of the proposed building approved by the House Rules Committee last week?

5. If the new building is more expensive, what explains the increase in cost?

The need for a new Senate office building is driven by the space allocation plan for the state capitol. Please be prepared to show a blueprint for the Capitol restoration that explains the proposed space allocation.

1. How much new space is planned for the governor’s office in the capitol renovation?

2. Please describe the difference between the governor’s current space and proposed space.

3. Why does the governor need the added space and what does his administration plan to do with it?

4. How much new space is planned for the House?

5. Please describe the difference between the House’s current space and proposed space.

6. Why does the House need the added space and what does Speaker Thissen and Majority Leader Murphy plan to do with it?

7. Will some House members have two offices, one in the capitol and one in the State Office Building?

8. If this plan is approved and all 67 Senate offices are in the new building, will the space allocation plan for the capitol renovation change?

9. Who will use the space currently set aside for Senate offices, specifically the space adjacent to the Senate chamber on the second and third floors of the capitol?

10. Will some Senators have two offices, one in the capitol and one in the new Senate office building?

11. If this plan is approved, who will occupy the space on the first and ground floors of the State Office Building, currently used by the Senate minority?

12. Is the space allocation agreement final? Who signed off on the space allocation agreement for the capitol renovation?

13. How much net new space (measured in square feet) will there be in the capitol complex for the Governor, Senate and House once this plan is approved and a new building is built?

14. Couldn’t we solve our space problems by limiting the growth of the Governor and House and repurposing some of the space in the State Office Building? Please comment on Rep. Jim Knoblach’s proposed solution as printed in the StarTribune on March 26, 2014.

Other questions:

1. Does this plan have to be approved by the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board and will moving the mechanicals to the roof cause this building to be taller than the capitol? How much taller?

2. According to testimony in the House Rules Committee, the debt service for the revised plan is $6.4 million per year. How will this project be funded? Will it be included in the bonding bill or the supplemental budget bill this session?

We hope sending you these questions in advance will facilitate a more productive hearing for the Senators on the committee and the public. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Senator David Hann
Senate Republican Leader

CC: Governor Mark Dayton
Members of the Senate Rules Committee