SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
October 6, 2008
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Special
Meeting on Thursday, October 6, 2008 at the System Administration Building, 3100
Main, 2nd Floor, Seminar Room A, Houston, Texas.
Board of Trustees Present:
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Chair
Bruce A. Austin, Vice Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Abel Davila
Richard Schechter
Administration Present:
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Remmele Young, Director, Office of Government Relations and Sustainability
Others Present:
Maureen Singleton, Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Flores called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. and declared the Committee
convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College System
as listed on the duly posted Meeting Notice.
FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED TAX RATES
Dr. Spangler apprised that this is the first public hearing of the two required public
hearings. She informed that the Board at a Special Meeting held on Wednesday,
September 24, 2008, considered approving the proposed Maintenance and
Operations Tax rate of $.077563 per $100 assessed valuation and Debt Service Tax
rate of $.014926 per $100 assessed valuation. The combined rate for Maintenance
and Operation and Debt Service approved is $.092489. She noted that the item also
identified the next meeting for the second public hearing.
She extended the opportunity for any individual in the audience to speak on the
proposed tax rate. (No individuals requested to speak before the Board).
Mrs. Flores asked if there is a tax rate increase. Dr. Tyler apprised that the debt
service requirements were increased; therefore, it is proposed to increase the debt
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Special Meeting – October 6, 2008 – Page 2
services rate .014926 in order to cover the increase in debt service. He noted that
the maintenance and operations rate was lowered to .077563. He noted that the
rationale was to make certain there was enough money to cover debt and secondly
to get as close as possible to what was proposed in the budget. He noted that there
was also a commitment to the potential voters in Alief not to raise the tax rate above
.092.
The Board discussed the date and time for holding the second meeting.
Administration apprised that the notice has already been posted in the Chronicle as
required. Dr. Tyler noted that the item must be approved by the Board by
November 27, 2008. Dr. Tyler noted that originally the meeting was scheduled for
Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. but a quorum could not be established.
The Board concluded to poll for the scheduling of the next meeting.
APPROVE RESOLUTION REGARDING FACULTY AND STAFF OPERATIONS
AFFECTED BY HCC CLOSURE DUE TO HURRICANE IKE
Motion - Mr. Austin motioned to approve the resolution and Mr. Davila seconded.
The vote was 4-0-1 with Mrs. Flores abstaining.
Dr. Spangler stated that the item was discussed as to what should be done for parttime hourly employees who were unable to work while the school was closed due to
Hurricane Ike. She noted that general counsel prepared a resolution, which enables
the Board to approve paying everyone during the time off.
Mrs. Guzman reiterated that the request from the September meeting was to opine
whether there is a law that prevents the Board from the action in the resolution.
Mr. Schechter asked each of the attorneys present to state that the action is legal.
Mrs. Flores asked why is it necessary for a resolution to be passed as opposed to it
being an administrative action. Mrs. Singleton stated that the Board has to
determine that passing the item meets the public purpose and the resolution set
forth the reasons the Board believes it meets a public purpose. She also noted that
two requirements must be met (1) Board determines it serves a public purpose and
(2) issue of controls as in the case of giving administration ability to change the
calendar. She noted that both items are included in the resolution submitted for
approval.
Mr. Schechter asked if both counsels present were advising that it is legal to take
those actions. Mrs. Byas advised that it is based on the statutes.
Vote – The motion failed with a vote of 4-0-1 with Mrs. Flores abstaining.
Mrs. Byas advised that the Board needs to declare that an emergency exists and
that there is a public purpose under the statutes. Mr. Austin asked if these
statements needed to be made by the Board.
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Special Meeting – October 6, 2008 – Page 3
Mr. Schechter asked if the Board moves to adopt the resolution, will all the
requirements be met. Mrs. Byas advised that research was completed.
Motion - Mr. Schechter motioned to approve the resolution because an emergency
existed pursuant to article 44.031 of the Texas Education Code that left the facilities
of Houston Community College inoperable due to natural disaster of Hurricane Ike,
noting that the Board declared that an emergency existed and all governmental area
entities in the area have taken the same approach due to emergency conditions that
existed as a result of Hurricane Ike and Mrs. Guzman seconded the motion. The
motion passed with a vote of 5-0.
Mrs. Flores announced that the second public hearing on the proposed tax rate will
be held on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 4:00 p.m., HCC Administration Building,
3100 Main, 2nd Floor in Seminar Room A.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:59 p.m.
Recorded by:
Sharon R. Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Transcribed and submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved: