SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
June 9, 2004
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Special
Meeting on Wednesday, June 9, 2004, at the System Administration Building, 2nd
Floor Conference Room, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Herman Litt, Chairman
Michael P. Williams, D. Min., Vice Chairman
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Secretary
Diane Olmos Guzmán, Deputy Secretary
Jay K. Aiyer
Bruce A. Austin
Abel Davila
James R. Murphy
Christopher W. Oliver
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
Patti Carlton for Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Norma Perez for Diana Castillo, Interim President, Southeast College
Sue Cox, President, Southwest College
Margaret Forde, President, Northeast College
Gilda McFail for Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Cheryl Peters for Patricia Williamson, Interim President, Central College
Rosie Barrera, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Willie Williams, Executive Director, Human Resources
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson
Gene L. Locke, Special Counsel, Andrews & Kurth LLP
Dr. Richard Murray, Director, University of Houston Center for Public Policy
Butch Herod, President, Faculty Association
Other administrators, representatives of the news media and interested citizens
Houston Community College System
Special Board Meeting – June 9, 2004 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Litt called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. and declared the Board
convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College
System as listed in the duly posted meeting notice.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Dr. Williams led the prayer and pledge of allegiance.
RECOGNITION OF GUESTS
Mr. Litt welcomed dignitaries and community representatives who were seated in
the audience. He announced that the Hearing of Citizens portion had not been
posted, however the Board had decided to waive policy and allow speakers to
express their views later in the meeting.
CONSIDERATION OF ANNEXATION ISSUES
Motion — Mr. Murphy made a motion to proceed with efforts to expand HCCS
territory through annexation, but to do so without the utilization of the election
method outlined in Sec. 130.073 of the Texas Education Code (county-wide
method), in order to allow individual communities the ability to determine their
own destiny.
Mr. Austin seconded the motion with the proviso that the Board work on a two,
four and six-week plan to study the issue and talk to the various jurisdictions to
determine the viability of holding an election in the communities of Alief, Katy,
Spring Branch and North Forest independent school districts.
Mr. Oliver expressed opposition to eliminating any options for annexation. He
was opposed to raising taxes; however, he noted that may be the only viable
option. Mr. Aiyer spoke in favor of the motion since it preserved other options for
holding elections and allowed an opportunity for the Board to make a case to the
communities.
Dr. Williams objected to recent negative characterizations of the Board as
attempting to force annexation or to disenfranchise voters in the four school
districts. He stated the Board had openly discussed annexation for several years
and the Board had merely voted on the preferred method of election which was
not binding. He urged his colleagues to move forward with a positive dialogue
and make the best decision for all concerned.
Mr. Austin noted that according to the 1990 census, Texas ranked 39th in
graduation rates and felt that all concerned must work together to improve those
rates and ensure that Texas maintains a viable and competitive workforce. He
acknowledged that HCCS must review options and agree on the best way to
move forward. Mr. Murphy acknowledged that contact with the communities had
been insufficient and had resulted in distrust and concern. In his opinion, there
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Special Board Meeting – June 9, 2004 – Page 3
could be no positive dialogue with the communities unless the county-wide
method of election was removed from consideration. Mr. Aiyer agreed and
stated the motion on the table would allow the Board six weeks to go out into the
communities and make a case for annexation. He felt it was important for
citizens to understand that HCCS had already spent a considerable amount of
money and resources in the four districts.
Mr. Oliver expressed concern that a six-week timeline might not be sufficient to
present a case for annexation. He noted that the Board had openly discussed
annexation since 1996 and felt that during that time HCCS had developed
relationships with the communities.
Mr. Davila felt that the negative response from citizens represented a lack of true
engagement with the districts. He recommended leaving all options open and
pursuing a dialogue on the best way to proceed. He thanked the community
representatives for coming forward with their concerns and noted he was not in
favor of increasing taxes. He stated the Board might want to investigate other
creative means of enhancing revenue besides annexation.
Dr. Williams pointed out that the countywide election method was only one of
several methods allowed by the Texas Legislature. He felt the lack of
engagement with communities was a failure on the part of management.
However, he stated he was committed to annexation and doing what was best for
the region and all concerned should work together for the best solution for the
education of young people. He pointed out that HCCS had invested $125 – 145
million in those areas and would like to make a greater investment if those
communities so desired.
Ms. Navarro Flores indicated she had not taken a position on annexation and
had abstained from voting on the election method because she felt there had not
been sufficient communication with the areas proposed for annexation. She
stated she was not in favor of eliminating any options from discussion.
Ms. Olmos Guzman favored exploring the annexation issue further and hoped
the districts would decide to join the HCCS District since education is vital to the
growth of the Texas economy.
ANNEXATION ISSUE TABLED
Motion – Dr. Williams made a motion to table the annexation issue until the next
Regular Board Meeting on June 24, 2004. Mr. Davila seconded the motion.
Motion carried 5-3. Trustees Austin, Davila, Navarro Flores, Olmos Guzman and
Williams voted in favor of the motion and Trustees Aiyer, Litt and Murphy voted in
opposition. Trustee Oliver abstained.
Houston Community College System
Special Board Meeting – June 9, 2004 – Page 4
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Chairman Litt gave preface to the hearing of citizens and asked the groups
present to select one speaker to represent them.
Louis Stoerner, Superintendent, Alief ISD, expressed opposition to a county-wide
election method as unfair to voters in the districts proposed for annexation
Lois Stromberg, Neighborhood Liaison for Rep Dwayne Bohac, stated that Rep.
Bohac was in favor of each district holding its own election.
Teresa Kosmoski, Spring Branch ISD Trustee, stated SBISD was not opposed to
the idea of annexation, but to the countywide method. She felt those voters
would be disenfranchised because they would be outnumbered in an election.
Ms. Kosmoski encouraged further dialogue with Spring Branch and urged the
HCCS Board to eliminate the countywide election method from consideration.
Jan Crow, District Director for Congressman John Culberson, read a statement
from the Congressman that without removing the countywide election method the
HCCS Board would be sending the message that they did not believe annexation
could stand on its own merits and encouraged the Board to take this option off
the table and allow self-determination and move on with championing all the
things that HCCS has to offer the community.
Leonard Merrill, Superintendent, Katy ISD, agreed with previous speakers and
added that Katy residents were prepared to engage in a dialogue, but want to
know what they would be getting if they approved annexation.
Dr. Elaine Berry, Interim Superintendent, North Forest ISD, voiced her
agreement with previous speakers. She stated North Forest taxpayers need a
voice in making a decision on annexation. She invited the Trustees to a town
hall meeting with Senator Rodney Ellis to discuss the proposed annexation of
North Forest.
George Hammerlein spoke on behalf of Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector
Paul Bettencourt encouraging the HCCS Board to allow the districts to hold their
own elections. He called attention to a letter signed by members of the Harris
County Delegation urging the Board not to go forward with a countywide election
and to explore other options.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Litt adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 4:35 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. Litt reconvened in Open Session at 5:55 p.m.
and entertained discussion.
Houston Community College System
Special Board Meeting – June 9, 2004 – Page 5
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Litt adjourned the
meeting at 5:56 p.m.
Minutes Prepared by:
Reliable Transcription Services
Reviewed, Finalized and Submitted by:
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
June 24, 2004
Posted by: Erica Carmen Delvalle