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MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
February 19, 2003
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System met as a Committee
Of The Whole on February 19, 2003, at the System Administration Building,
Chancellor’s Conference Room 12D11, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
James R. Murphy, Chair
Herlinda Garcia, Vice Chairman
Christopher W. Oliver, Secretary
Jay K. Aiyer
Bruce A. Austin
Abel Davila
Yolanda Navarro Flores
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Herman Litt, Deputy Secretary
Michael P. Williams, D. Min.
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Educational Development
Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Irene Porcarello, Interim Vice Chancellor, Institutional Development and Deputy to the
Chancellor
Pat Williamson, Interim President, Central College
Margaret Forde, President, Northeast College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Sylvia Ramos, President, Southeast College
Rosie Barrera, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Fena Garza, Associate Vice Chancellor, Educational Development
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
Diana Castillo, College Operations Officer, Southeast College
Winston Dahse, College Operations Officer, Southwest College
Ted Wiese, Executive Director, Information Technology
Michael Kyme, Executive Director of Purchasing
Willie Williams, Jr, Interim Executive Director, Human Resources
Reynaldo Pradia, Director, Construction Project
Tim Rychlec, Director, Maintenance
OTHERS PRESENT
Arturo Michel, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson
Felix Fraga, Former City Council Member
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
FINANCE
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Oliver called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. and declared the meeting
convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College System as
listed on the duly posted meeting notice.
DAIRY PRODUCTS FOR THE NEO MARKET AND BAKERY
The Board considered approval of Martin Preferred Foods and Oak Farms Dairy, to
provide dairy products for the Neo Market and Bakery and the Culinary Arts-Baking
program.
Motion – Mr. Murphy moved approval. Mr. Aiyer seconded the motion, which carried 50 (Trustees Garcia and Navarro Flores had not arrived).
ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN 3220 MAIN STREET PARKING GARAGE
The Chancellor asked the Committee to consider Instrumentation and Electrical
Specialist, LLC, as the vendor to provide electrical services by installing an additional
electrical system in the 3220 Main Street parking garage area. Since we are getting
additional tenants in the building, the load is more than was designed for the space. In
answer to Mr. Aiyer, Dr. Leslie explained that the plan to implement parking fees was
temporarily on hold, but would be addressed in the near future.
Motion – Mr. Aiyer moved approval of the recommendation. Mr. Davila seconded the
motion, which carried 5-0.
REPLACEMENT HVAC SYSTEMS AND RELATED WORK
The Trustees considered HBS National Corporation as the vendor to provide
replacement HVAC systems and related work in the Performing Arts Building of Town
& Country. Dr. Leslie stated the systems were not in the best condition when the
facility was acquired and must now be replaced.
Motion – Mr. Murphy moved approval of the recommendation. Mr. Aiyer seconded the
motion, which carried 5-0.
INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION SYSTEM SERVICES FOR WELDING PROGRAM
The Board considered Process Environments as the vendor to provide complete "turnkey" services for installation of an industrial ventilation system in the welding program
at Central College. This action is needed due to air quality issues.
Motion – Mr. Austin moved approval of the recommendation. Mr. Aiyer seconded the
motion, which carried 5-0.
LANDSCAPING AND HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES APPROVED AS AMENDED
The Board considered the extension of contracts for landscaping and housekeeping
services.
Motion — Mr. Aiyer moved to amend the extension of housekeeping and landscaping
contracts, moving the expiration date to April 30, 2003 instead of August 31, 2003.
Mr. Oliver seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. Administration is studying the
possibility of consolidating these contracts.
DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN AND LAN UPGRADES
The Board considered GE IT Solutions to provide additional equipment and
implementation services at the 3100 Main Administration Building, and OMAC Group,
Inc. to provide additional equipment and implementation services at the Westgate
Campus location. This core upgrade will allow proper functioning of the HCCS network
during a disaster event and the equipment will provide the capability for remote
locations to access the disaster recovery site.
The Board considered Simplex-Grinell to provide network cable infrastructure and
implementation services at Northwest College and Westgate Center and OMAC Group,
Inc. to provide network equipment and implementation services at Northwest College
and Westgate Campus.
Motion – Mr. Aiyer moved approval of the recommendations. Mr. Davila seconded the
motion, which carried 5-0.
INVESTMENT REPORT
Ms. Walker presented the investment report and responded to questions from the
Board. The Chancellor was asked to provide a recommendation on investment and
financial advisor services. The Board accepted the investment report.
RATIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND DONATIONS
The Board recommended approval of acceptance of gifts and donations, including
three drums of laboratory glass from Shell Chemical Company, valued at $25,000.
Motion – Mr. Murphy moved approval of gifts and donations as presented, noting that
additional donations will be considered at the upcoming Board Meeting. Mr. Aiyer
seconded the motion, which carried 6-0 (Mrs. Garcia arrived at 4:30 p.m.).
PAYMENT TO BRACEWELL & PATTERSON FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
The Board considered payment to Bracewell & Patterson for professional services
rendered for the period November 16, 2002 through December 31, 2002 and for the
period January 1, 2003 through January 31, 2003.
Motion – Mr. Aiyer moved approval of the recommendation. Mr. Murphy seconded the
motion, which carried 6-0.
FACILITIES
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Aiyer called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. and declared the meeting convened
to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College System as listed on
the duly posted meeting notice. Present were Trustees Aiyer, Austin, Davila, Garcia,
Navarro Flores, Murphy and Oliver.
DESIGN BUILD APPROVED AS CONSTRUCTION METHOD FOR CENTRAL
PARKING GARAGE
The Board considered a request to approve design-build as the method offering the
best value for construction of a parking garage for Central College on existing
property. Adding two more floors to the existing garage was presented as the best
alternative to building a new parking garage. Mr. Peter Jordan, Hermes Architects,
gave a presentation on various construction methods. The Board Members requested
that administration provide additional details and advantages of design-build as well
as other construction methods, in conjunction with discussion on the Capital
Improvement Plan.
Motion – Mr. Austin moved approval of the design-build method for construction of a
parking garage for Central College. Mr. Davila seconded the motion, which carried 6-0
(Ms. Navarro Flores was out of room). It was noted that at this point the Board was
not delegating authority to the Chancellor to proceed with the Request for Qualification
process. The Chancellor will present a design criteria package for consideration at a
future meeting.
REPORT ON BOARD ORIENTATION
Mr. Austin distributed a report on Board transformation and orientation to foster a
learning community and asked the Board to consider placing it on the Board's web
page. Mr. Murphy referred the item to the next meeting of the Committee of the
Whole.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Aiyer adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:42 p.m., notice having
previously been given, and reiterated by him, in accordance with the Open Meetings
Law. He stated that any final action, vote, or decision on any item discussed in
Executive Session would be taken up in Open Session or in a subsequent Public
Meeting. Mr. Aiyer reconvened in Open Session at 6:16 p.m. and entertained
discussion of agenda items.
CHANCELLOR AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE LEASE FOR BABIES ‘R US
Motion – Mr. Oliver made a motion authorizing the Chancellor to negotiate a
traditional operating lease of the Babies 'R Us building located on the Northwest
College Town & Country Campus. Town & Country Ventures has offered to lease the
building to HCC on a traditional operating lease basis until such time has expired for
this lease to convert to a lease with option to purchase. Mr. Davila seconded the
motion, which carried 6-0 (Ms. Navarro Flores had left the meeting).
CONDOMINIUM DECLARATION FOR 3100 MAIN PROPERTY
Motion — Mr. Murphy made a motion to approve and ratify the condominium regime
for the 3100 Main property, including the garage located at 3200 Main. This action will
clarify the separation of tax-exempt and taxable property owned by HCCS at 3100 and
3200 Main, thereby saving the System approximately $1.5 million annually in property
taxes. Mr. Davila seconded the motion, which carried 6-0.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Aiyer adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:21 p.m., notice having
previously been given, and reiterated by him, in accordance with the Open Meetings
Law. He stated that any final action, vote, or decision on any item discussed in
Executive Session would be taken up in Open Session or in a subsequent Public
Meeting. Mr. Aiyer reconvened in Open Session at 6:50 p.m. and entertained
discussion of agenda items.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Ms. Walker distributed a list of proposed projects for Central, Southeast, Northeast
and Southwest Colleges, indicating the ranking given each project by the Executive
Team. The Trustees will also rank the projects to reach consensus on priorities. A
special meeting will be scheduled to consider the Capital Improvement Plan.
LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE
The report on developments in the Texas State Legislature was tabled.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Aiyer adjourned the meeting
at 7:00 p.m.
Minutes Prepared by:
Erica Carmen DelValle, Secretary
Board Services
Reviewed, Finalized and Submitted by:
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
March 6, 2003
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