REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
March 27, 2003
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular
Meeting on March 27, 2003, at the HCC System Administration Building, Second Floor
Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
James R. Murphy, Chair
Herlinda Garcia, Vice Chairman
Christopher W. Oliver, Secretary
Herman Litt, Deputy Secretary
Jay K. Aiyer
Abel Davila
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Bruce A. Austin
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Michael P. Williams, D. Min.
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
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
Sue Cox, President, Southwest College
Diana Castillo, Interim President, Southeast College
Rosie Barrera, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Charles Hebert, Jr., Associate Vice Chancellor, Workforce Development
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
Winston Dahse, College Operations Officer, Southwest College
Ted Wiese, Executive Director, Information Technology
Michael Kyme, Executive Director of Purchasing
Karl Lundquist, Executive Director, Facilities Management
Willie Williams, Jr., Interim Executive Director, Human Resources
OTHERS PRESENT
Arturo Michel, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson
Dale Foster, President, Faculty Association
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
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CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Murphy called the Meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared the Board
convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College System as
listed on the duly posted meeting notice.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mrs. Garcia led the prayer and pledge of allegiance.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Chairman Murphy gave preface to the hearing of citizens and asked if anyone were
present to speak. No speakers had registered; however Mr. Norman Jones, Manager,
Custodial Services of America, asked to address the Board.
Motion – Mr. Davila made a motion to waive policy to allow Mr. Jones to address the
Board. Mr. Aiyer seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Mr. Jones addressed the Board regarding his bid for the System housekeeping contract.
He discussed issues surrounding the selection method for the contract. Mr. Jones
mentioned that his business had the lowest bid. Chairman Murphy acknowledged the
issues raised by Mr. Jones and assured him the matter would be investigated.
AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS
Presentation of Chancellor’s Medallion - Chancellor Leslie recognized Karen Saenz,
Chair, Social Sciences Department, Southeast College, and presented her with the
Chancellor’s Medallion. She helped organize the College Leadership Program and has
implemented technology in the classroom, through multi media, teleconferencing and
WebCT. Ms. Saenz has been an HCCS Psychology instructor for 11 years and
currently serves as department chair.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
HCCS Honorary Degrees
Trustees were encouraged to submit nominations for honorary degree recipients to Dr.
Cook for consideration by the Board at the April 10, 2003 meeting.
The Houston Urban League
The Houston Area Urban League will hold an educational summit on “Promoting
Success for Youth/Children Academically and Socially”. The presentation will be held
on Saturday, March 29, from 8:30-1:00 p.m. at Central College. An invitation was
extended to the Trustees.
Financial Report
Gloria Walker presented the financial report for the month ending February 2003. She
mentioned that budget information includes results of the reduction in state
appropriations. She also stated that, per the Board’s request, formatting changes were
made to the report. Page numbers were added, an additional column in the Revenues
and Expenditures statement denoting the original 2002-2003 budget, and expenditures
comparison by year indicating the year-to-date expenditures. Ms. Walker reported that
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Regular Board Meeting – March 27, 2003 - Page 3
total revenues through February led to the current projected total revenue for the year,
below plan. She also reported that expenditures total year-to-date spending with
projected total expenditures for the year, presenting a balanced budget. She addressed
concerns about how service contracts provide savings and other questions from the
Board. Mr. Litt requested a summary report regarding administrative savings.
Mrs. Garcia pointed out that the Board bylaws state that the Facilities Committee shall
consider all building projects for the System and shall oversee the System capital
improvement plan and the long range maintenance plan for all campuses. Mrs. Garcia
asked to meet with Mr. Oliver and Mrs. Walker.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Board Calendar
Chairman Murphy noted the Board now had an annual calendar. A Board retreat is
scheduled for April 5, 2003, for discussion of the Capital Improvement Plan and
annexation issues.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Academic & Student Services
Chairman Murphy stated that this report would be deferred until Mr. Austin’s arrival or
moved to the next Committee of the Whole meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion — Mr. Litt moved approval of the minutes from the Legal/Legislative Committee
meeting of December 5, 2002; Facilities Committee Meeting of January 15, 2003;
Regular Meeting of March 6, 2003. Mr. Davila seconded the motion, which carried 6-0.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Real Estate and Property Matters
1. Allocation of Student Revenue Bonds
Dr. Williamson, along with Bob Bellomy of Hermes Reed Architects and Alan
Sadeghpour with Prozign Architects, gave a presentation on an updated facilities
assessment master plan summary for Central College. Dr. Williamson reviewed the
1999 ten-year master plan, which included the renovation of San Jacinto, West
Wing/Library, new science and business buildings, and addressed critical issues.
The 2001 master plan update and 3D/I assessment included the disposal/demolition
of the refugee and upward bound buildings and west wing, total renovation or
replacement of San Jacinto, East wing, and BSCC and JDB buildings, deferred
maintenance in remaining buildings and new construction to include a Learning Hub
for student services/library/sciences, central plant, childcare facility and parking
garage. Plan implementation included Board authorization of revenue bonds in
October 2001, programming beginning in the Fall 2002 with the Learning Hub, East
wing and San Jacinto Building, and the Master plan update and allocation of
revenue bonds. Assessment objectives, strategies, and System findings were
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Regular Board Meeting – March 27, 2003 - Page 4
reviewed.
An overview of the Level 1 facility assessment model and a
recommended action plan (RAP) were introduced. A timeline for the entire process
was discussed. Dr. Williamson and the presenters answered questions from the
Board.
Mr. Aiyer moved to table the project for discussion at the Board Retreat on April 5,
2003, or at the Committee of the Whole meeting on April 17, 2003. Mrs. Garcia
seconded the motion. Motion was withdrawn.
Motion — Mr. Aiyer moved approval of allocation of student revenue bonds
previously designated for Central College for specific projects and for completion of
the critical renovation of $2 million to move forward and not delay the overall
process. Mrs. Garcia seconded the motion, which carried 6 - 0.
2. Lease or Purchase of Property
Motion — Mr. Litt moved to authorize the Chancellor to negotiate the purchase of
property without designating a specific location at this point. Mr. Aiyer seconded the
motion, which carried 6-0.
3. Purchase of the DePelchin Property
Motion — Mr. Oliver moved to approve and ratify the purchase of the DePelchin
property at an accepted price of $3.3 million. Mr. Litt seconded the motion, which
carried 6-0.
A DJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Chairman Murphy adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:15 p.m., notice
having previously been given, and reiterated by him, in accordance with Sections
551.071 of 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
subsequent Public Meeting. He reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 7:10 p.m.
and entertained motions on pending matters.
PERSONNEL AGENDA APPROVED
Motion — Mr. Davila moved approval of the Personnel Agenda and waiver of policy DI
(Local) for temporary assignment, as presented by the Chancellor. Mr. Oliver seconded
the motion, which carried 5-0 (Mr. Aiyer had already left the meeting).
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETINGS
The next Board Retreat will be held Saturday, April 5, 2003, 8:30 a.m., The
Houstonian, Houston, Texas.
The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will be held Thursday, April 17, 2003,
4:00 p.m., System Administration Building, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held Thursday, April 24, 2003, 4:00 p.m.,
System Administration Building, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
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ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Murphy adjourned the
meeting at 7:12 p.m.
DINNER
The Board of Trustees will meet for dinner in the Chancellor’s Conference Room, 12th
Floor, Suite 12D15, System Administration Building, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas 77002,
where the Board may generally discuss System business, but will not take action on
such business.
Minutes Prepared by:
Carmen DelValle
Secretary, Board Services
Reviewed and Submitted by:
Christopher W. Oliver
Secretary, Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
June 24, 2003
Reviewed & Revised
6/23/03 lg
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