MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
October 16, 2003
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System met as a Committee Of
The Whole on October 16, 2003, at the System Administration Building, 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
Bruce A. Austin
Abel Davila
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Michael P. Williams, D. Min.
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Doretha Eason, Interim Deputy to the Chancellor
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Educational Development
Irene Porcarello, Interim Vice Chancellor, Institutional Development
Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Diana Castillo, Interim President, Southeast College
Dr. Sue Cox, President, Southwest College
Margaret Forde, President, Northeast College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Patricia Williamson, Interim President, Central College
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
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
Patti Carlton, Executive Director, Contract Training and Continuing Education
OTHERS PRESENT
Arturo Michel, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson
Jorge Rodriguez, Financial Advisor, Coastal Securities
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Committee of the Whole – October 16, 2003– Page 2
Butch Herod, President, Faculty Association
Glenda Cordray, President, COPA
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
FINANCE
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Oliver called the meeting to order at 4:35 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.
ONE TIME LUMP SUM PAYMENT APPROVED FOR FULL-TIME STAFF;
COMPRESSION COMMITTEE PROPOSAL DEFERRED
Willie Williams, Interim Executive Director, Human Resources, presented the
compensation compression proposal to the Board. The Compensation Committee,
Human Resources, and Fox Lawson & Associates worked to identify solutions that
would resolve compression issues among full-time staff and faculty. Mr. Williams noted
that a one-time payment of $500.00 to full-time staff and faculty was proposed to help
defray increased out-of-pocket costs associated with medical benefits. Mr. Lawson gave
an analysis of the compensation issue and responded to questions from the Board. He
explained that compression refers to a longer-term employee being paid equal to or less
than an employee in the job for less time.
Amended Motion – Mr. Aiyer offered an amended motion to approve the one time lump
sum payment to full-time employees and to defer consideration of the compression
proposal to an upcoming meeting. Dr. Williams seconded the motion.
Motion carried 8-0. (Ms. Navarro Flores had not yet arrived)
DEBT PLAN FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AND RELEASE OF RFQ FOR
MANAGING UNDERWRITERS APPROVED
Jorge Rodriguez, HCCS Financial Advisor from Costal Securities, presented an analysis of
the debt plan for the HCCS general obligation bond. The debt plan prepares HCCS for the
sale of the general obligation bonds. He explained before the actual sale, the Board would
have to approve the Resolution authorizing the Issuance, Bond Purchase agreement,
Escrow Agreement, and Paying Agent/Registrar Agreement in addition to selecting the
underwriting syndicate. Mr. Rodriguez stated HCCS was in a position to take advantage of
favorable market opportunities by selecting its underwriting syndicate in November. He
presented the Board with a potential financing timeline, bond finance team, working group
list, request for qualifications letter and list of potential underwriters. He concluded his
presentation by answering questions from the Board.
Motion – Dr. Williams made a motion for implementation of the debt plan for the potential
HCCS general obligation bond, if the bond election is successful; and as such, approve the
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Committee of the Whole – October 16, 2003– Page 3
sale of $150,750,000 General obligation Bonds, as outlined in the debt plan; and approve
the request for qualifications and authorize the release, thereof, for the managing
underwriters for potential HCCS bond offering. Mr. Aiyer seconded the motion. Motion
carried 8-0.
AGREEMENT FOR WebCT DISTANCE ED COURSES AND TESTING SYSTEM FOR
ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM APPROVED
Motion – Mr. Aiyer made a motion to approve an agreement between HCCS and Pearson
Education, Inc. (PE), formerly known as Prentice Hall, allowing HCCS to provide WebCT
Distance Education EMS Courses and to approve the purchase of the Health Education
Systems, Inc. (HESI) testing and review services for the NCLEX-RN Review for a total
amount of $34,997 for the 2003-2004 academic year. Mr. Litt seconded the motion, which
carried 8-0.
CONTRACT FOR DIGITAL DOCUMENT IMAGING SERVICES APPROVED
Motion – Mr. Williams moved to authorize the Chancellor to negotiate and execute the
contract with Image Now to provide digital document imaging services to HCCS at a cost of
$303,202. Mr. Davila seconded the motion, which carried 8-0.
CONTRACT APPROVED FOR ELECTRIC ENERGY SERVICES
Motion – Mr. Litt made a motion to authorize the Chancellor to negotiate and execute an
agreement with the Houston Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to provide electric energy
services. Mr. Aiyer seconded the motion, which carried 8-0.
CONTRACT WITH BARNES & NOBLE COLLEGE BOOKSTORE, INC. APPROVED
Motion – Dr. Williams made a motion to authorize the Chancellor to negotiate and execute a
new contract with Barnes & Noble for the period of November 1, 2003 through February 28,
2009, and for an additional five-year renewal period upon written agreement by both parties.
Mr. Aiyer seconded the motion, which carried 8-0.
CONSIDERATION OF FINANCE AGENDA
Motion – Dr. Williams made a motion to consider the Finance Agenda, with the exception of
items set aside for further discussion. Mr. Aiyer seconded the motion. Motion carried 8-0.
The following items were approved:
Approved the Adult Education TANF funded subcontracts for the fiscal year 20032004;
Approved the Adult Education grant funded Memoranda of Understanding for 20032004;
Approved the amended and restated resolution authorizing the Issuance of $100,000
HCC maintenance tax mold remediation note;
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Committee of the Whole – October 16, 2003– Page 4
Reviewed and approved changes to the HCC investment policy;
Approved payment to Bracewell & Patterson for professional services rendered for
the period of August 15, 2003 through September 15, 2003, in the amount of
$120,744.71; and
Approved the investment report for the month of September 2003.
FACILITIES
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Aiyer called the meeting to order at 5:45 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.
CONTRACTORS APPROVED FOR DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES
Motion – Mr. Murphy moved to authorize the Chancellor to negotiate and execute the
contract for design-build services to design, construct and renovate the two-level addition to
the existing parking garage structure at Central College utilizing Tribble and
Stevens/Autoarch Architects. Dr. Williams seconded the motion.
The Trustees discussed the need to develop a model procurement policy in order to move
forward with the capital improvement projects in an efficient manner. The Board also
emphasized the importance of small business participation.
Motion carried 9-0 (Ms. Navarro Flores arrived at 5:50 p.m.).
CHANCELLOR TO EVALUATE STRATEGIES FOR EXPANSION IN HEALTH
SCIENCE PROGRAMS
Motion – Dr. Williams moved to authorize the Chancellor to evaluate various strategies,
including financing, to expand facilities to accommodate the growth demands for HCC
health science programs. Mr. Litt seconded the motion.
The Chairman asked administration to evaluate and develop a recommendation on the
programmatic impact of the expansion and to provide a statistical analysis of the
Coleman building regarding enrollment and student participation.
Motion carried 9-0.
ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZED TO SOLICIT PROFESSINAL SERVICES OR RFQ
FOR SYSTEM ARCHITECT(S) SERVICES
Motion – Dr. Williams moved to authorize administration to solicit professional services or
requests for qualifications to hire System Architect(s). The solicitation will seek qualified
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Committee of the Whole – October 16, 2003– Page 5
firms and will focus on small business firms with a net worth (owner’s equity) not to exceed
$2 million annually, preferably. Mr. Litt seconded the motion. Motion carried 9-0.
ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND DONATIONS
Motion – Dr. Williams moved approval of the recommendation that the Board of Trustees
ratify acceptance of the gifts and donations received. Mr. Oliver seconded the motion.
Motion carried 9-0.
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED
Motion – Dr. Williams moved approval of the recommendation to schedule a Special Board
meeting on November 10, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. at the Town & Country Center. Mr. Oliver
seconded the motion. Motion carried 9-0.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Aiyer adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:05 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. Murphy reconvened in
Open Session at 6:48 p.m. and entertained discussion.
PERSONNEL AGENDA APPROVED AS PRESENTED
Motion – Mr. Austin moved approval of the Personnel Agenda as presented. Mrs. Garcia
seconded the motion, which carried 7-0. (Trustees Aiyer and Litt had already left the
meeting).
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Murphy adjourned the meeting
at 6:48 p.m.
Minutes Prepared by:
Reviewed, Finalized and Submitted by:
Erica Carmen DelValle, Secretary
Board Services
Christopher W. Oliver, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
December 11, 2003