REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
September 24, 2003
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular
Meeting on September 24, 2003, at the 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
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
Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Educational Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Irene Porcarello, Interim Vice Chancellor, Institutional Development
Rosie Barrera, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Patricia Williamson, Interim President, Central College
Margaret Forde, President, Northeast College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Diana Castillo, Interim President, Southeast 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
Butch Herod, President, Faculty Association
Houston Community College System
Regular Board Meeting – September 24, 2003 - Page 2
Carol Clowe, COPA Representative
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the new med
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
Ms. Navarro-Flores led the prayer and pledge of allegiance.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Chairman Murphy recognized special guests including Mr. Luis Carranza Alvarez,
Counsel General of the Republic of El Salvador, and his wife; Jaime Garcia, Mexican
Consulate representative, and Mrs. Amparo Lago Sanchez, visiting poet from Mexico
City.
OBSERVANCE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Jose Salazar, Chairman of the Hispanic Education Leadership Committee, provided
information on the upcoming 2nd Annual Hispanic Education Leadership Gala. Last
years gala raised $82,000, making it possible to award forty-four scholarships for the fall
and spring semesters. The recipients and their families were given a round of
applause. Mr. Salazar stated the committee hopes to raise $100,000 this year.
Mr. Davila expressed appreciation to the Board of Trustees and those who volunteered
to make the Hispanic Education Leadership Scholarship event a success. Ms. NavarroFlores congratulated the students. Mrs. Garcia shared a success story of a former
student from a migrant family from El Salvador who now owns his own landscaping
business.
RECESS CALLED
Chairman Murphy called a recess at 4:55 p.m. for participation in a celebration of
Hispanic Heritage Month.
MEETING RECONVENED
Chairman Murphy reconvened the meeting at 5:05 p.m.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Chairman Murphy gave preface to the hearing of citizens and asked if anyone were
present to speak.
Mrs. Denise Beck addressed the Board regarding difficulties she encountered in the
registration process at Southwest College.
The Trustees expressed concern and asked administration to ensure that good
customer service is practiced throughout the System.
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Mr. David Lopez, attorney, encouraged the Board to implement dispute resolution
and mediation procedures to address employee concerns. The Chancellor was
asked to provide a report on the dispute resolution policy.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Learning Corridor Workshop – Dr. Cook discussed an upcoming workshop on
September 30, hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. Mr. Austin will introduce
members of a panel discussion and Dr. Leslie will moderate a discussion of economic
and demographic trends and the impact on education in Houston and throughout Texas.
Financial Report – Gloria Walker presented the financial report for the month ending
August 31, 2003. The internal management report compared financial activities to the
approved budgets, strategic priorities, and financial policies for the reported fiscal year.
The financial report accounts for activities in the operating, unexpended plant and
auxiliary budgets and is recorded on a modified accrual basis. Ms. Walker stated the
report identifies financial activities in comparison to the approved budget and strategic
priorities. She responded to questions from the Board Members.
UPCOMING MEETINGS CANCELED OR RESCHEDULED
Motion — Mr. Litt made a motion to cancel the Board Meeting of October 23, 2003 and
to reschedule the Board Retreat of November 1, 2003, due to bond activities. Mr.
Davila seconded the motion, which carried 7-0. (Trustees Oliver and Williams were out
of the room)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion — Mr. Austin moved approval of the minutes from the Special Meeting of August
12, 2003; the meeting of the Committee of the Whole of August 21, 2003; and the
Regular Meeting of August 28, 2003. Mr. Aiyer seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Motion — Mr. Austin moved approval of the consent agenda with the exception of items
set aside for further discussion and/or consideration following closed session. Mr. Aiyer
seconded the motion, which carried 9-0. The following recommendations were
approved by consent:
Approved payment to Bracewell & Patterson for professional services rendered
for the period of August 1, 2003 through August 15, 2003, in the amount of
$35,950.27;
Approved the investment report for the month of August 2003; and
Approved the 2002-2003 and the 2003-2004 contract with Westwood school of
Aviation.
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TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPLEMENT RESULTS
BASED BUDGETING†
Motion - Mr. Austin made a motion to appoint a task force to implement results based
budgeting for fiscal year 2004-2005. Mr. Aiyer seconded the motion. (Mr. Murphy
relinquished the chair to Mrs. Garcia for discussion purposes)
Mr. Austin explained that under results based budgeting, funding and management
decisions are closely tied to carefully developed measures to assess a program’s
effectiveness in serving its key customers (students) and achieving its mission, goals
and objectives. Results based budgeting is an evaluative tool, which has a cause and
effect relationship in terms of performance, program efforts, funding levels, and
expected results.
Amended Motion — Mrs. Garcia offered an amendment to identify a Board Member to
serve on the task force to develop recommendations for review by the Finance
Committee. Dr. Williams seconded the motion. Motion carried 9-0.
Mr. Murphy reclaimed the chair and the Meeting continued.
PROPERTY TAX RATE SET FOR 2003
Motion — Mr. Aiyer moved approval of a Resolution to adopt the current tax rate of
$.08133 per $100 assessed valuation for 2003. Dr. Williams seconded the motion.
Arturo Michel, Bracewell & Patterson, briefed the Board on constitutional changes in
legislation.
Mr. Aiyer encouraged administration to investigate options for providing exemptions for
seniors, the disabled, and offering tax relief for the subsequent year. Dr. Leslie
commented that HCC has the 6th lowest tax rate among the 50 community colleges in
Texas.
At the request of Mrs. Garcia, Mr. Michel explained legislation recently enacted that
would allow community colleges to freeze taxes for voters 65 years of age and older.
This legislation takes effect on January 1, 2004.
Motion carried 9-0.
CONSIDERATION OF DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES DEFERRED
Motion — Mr. Aiyer made a motion 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 one of the
five finalist firms selected by the Board. Mr. Litt seconded the motion.
†
Minutes corrected on December 11, 2003 at request of Trustee Austin to change reference to ‘Performance Based
Budgeting’ to “Results Based Budgeting.”
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Dr. Leslie explained that proposals were received and evaluated by a five-person
evaluation team. The firms were rated on methodology, experience, and good faith
effort in small business utilization.
Motion — Dr. Williams moved to defer the recommendation to the October 16, 2003
Committee of the Whole meeting. Mrs. Garcia seconded the motion, which carried 7-0.
Trustees Davila and Navarro-Flores abstained.
AUTHORIZATION GRANTED TO SUPPORT MIDTOWN CIVILITY ORDINANCE
Motion – Dr. Williams made a motion to authorize the Chancellor to sign a petition
asking the Houston City Council to incorporate Midtown into the Downtown Civility
Ordinance. The second was inaudible.
Dr. Williams expressed support for the petition and stated that the enactment and
enforcement of the ordinance has proven effective in reducing problems and crime on
downtown streets.
Amended Motion – Dr. Williams offered an amendment to sign the petition, subject to
review by HCC counsel. Mr. Austin seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. (Trustees
Aiyer, Davila, Navarro-Flores, and Oliver were out of the room)
AGREEMENT APPROVED FOR EASEMENT AT CODWELL HALL/ NORTHEAST
COLLEGE‡
Motion — Mr. Austin moved to authorize the Chancellor to seek an agreement from the
owners of a parcel of land adjacent to the Northeast College campus to obtain an
easement allowing an extension of Codwell Drive to Oates Road and Highway 90. Mr.
Litt seconded the motion. Dr. Leslie provided an analysis of the situation and answered
questions from the Board.
Amended Motion – Mr. Austin offered an amendment to obtain an easement allowing
for student accessibility on road east/west via I-10 and road north/south via 6-10, to
ensure mobility for students and secure an access road to encourage maximum
attendance. Dr. Williams seconded the amended motion. Motion carried 9-0.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Chairman Murphy adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:10 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 6:23 p.m.
and entertained motions on pending matters.
PERSONNEL AGENDA APPROVED AS AMENDED
Motion — Mr. Oliver moved approval of the Personnel Agenda with the exception of the
proposed termination of employment for Liza Chau. Mr. Litt seconded the motion;
‡
Minutes corrected on December 11, 2003 at request of Trustee Austin to indicate location of easement.
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which carried 5-0 (Trustees Aiyer, Davila, Garcia, and Navarro-Flores had already left
the meeting).
SETTLEMENT APPROVED IN MATTER OF HCC v. A.J.’S PAINTING
Motion — Mr. Litt moved approval of settlement in the matter of HCC v. A.J.’s Painting
on the terms proposed by the attorneys in closed session and authorized the Chancellor
to execute any settlement documents. Dr. Williams seconded the motion, which carried
5-0.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING MEETINGS
The Board will meet as a Committee of the Whole on Thursday, October 16, 2003,
4:00 p.m., at the System Administration Building, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas
The Regular Board Meeting scheduled for October 23, 2003, was canceled
The Board Retreat set for November 1, 2003 will be rescheduled
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Board, the Meeting was adjourned at
6:28 p.m.
DINNER
Following adjournment, the Board of Trustees met for dinner in the Chancellor’s
Conference Room on the 12th floor, where they may generally discuss System
business, but do not take action on such business.
Minutes Prepared by:
Reviewed and Submitted by:
Erica Carmen DelValle, Secretary
Board Services
Christopher W. Oliver, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Corrected:
December 11, 2003
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