MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
September 21, 2004
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System met as a Committee
Of The Whole on Tuesday, September 21, 2004, at the System Administration Building,
Seminar Room A, Second Floor, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Michael P. Williams, D.Min., Vice Chairman
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Secretary
Diane Olmos Guzman, Deputy Secretary
Jay K. Aiyer
Bruce A. Austin
Abel Davila
James R. Murphy
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Herman Litt, Chair
Christopher W. Oliver
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Doretha Eason, 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
Sue Cox, President, Southwest College
Margaret Forde, President, Northeast College
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
Chet Woodard, Internal Auditor
Michael Kyme, Executive Director, Purchasing
Willie Williams, Interim Executive Director, Human Resources
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson
Robert Miller, Legislative Consultant, Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
Julie Gilbert, Legislative/Marketing Consultant, Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
Mike Edwards, President, Faculty Association
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – September 21, 2004 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Dr. Williams called the meeting to order at 3:25 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.
MARKETING
CONSIDERATION OF CONTRACT AND PLANS FOR HCCS 15TH ANNIVERSARY
Henry de La Garza, Agency Principal of de La Garza Public Relations, Inc., presented a
public relations proposal for celebrating the 15th anniversary of HCCS as an
independent institution with a nine-member Board of Trustees. The Trustees discussed
whether to hold the celebration in unison with the 33rd anniversary of the founding of
HCCS.
Motion – Mr. Austin made a motion to place the item on the consent agenda for the
Regular Board Meeting of September 30. The second was not audible. Motion carried
5-0 with Trustees Aiyer, Austin, Olmos Guzman, Murphy and Williams voting in support.
Ms. Navarro Flores abstained and Mr. Davila had not arrived.
CONSIDERATION OF CONTRACT AND PLANS FOR ANNUAL SIGNATURE EVENT
Brad Deutser with Yaffey/Deutser presented plans to establish an annual signature
event that would enhance HCCS’ image in the community and raise funds for
scholarship programs.
Motion – Mr. Austin made a motion to place the item on the consent agenda for the
Regular Board Meeting of September 30. Mr. Murphy seconded the motion. Motion
carried 6-0, with Trustees Aiyer, Austin, Olmos Guzman, Murphy, Navarro Flores and
Williams voting in support. Mr. Davila had not arrived.
MEDIA RESPONSE POLICY
Consideration of the media response policy was deferred to the Board Retreat
scheduled in October.
BOARD OPERATIONS
DISCUSSION OF BOARD RETREAT
Ms. Olmos Guzman, Committee Chair, discussed plans for a Board Retreat scheduled
for October 29-30, 2004 at the Woodlands Conference Center.
REORGANIZATION OF BOARD SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Ms. Olmos Guzman presented a staffing plan for the Board Services Office to increase
efficiency and provide additional services to the Trustees, especially in the area of
community involvement. The plan included the addition of a Board Liaison Officer to
provide services that would enhance the Board’s visibility in the community. Dr. Leslie
provided additional information on the fiscal impact of the proposed reorganization and
funding options. The Chancellor was authorized to proceed with hiring an Executive
Administrative Assistant and a Secretary III.
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – September 21, 2004 – Page 3
Recommendation: The Trustees reached consensus to consider the reorganization
plan at the upcoming Retreat.
RECESS CALLED
Dr. Williams called a recess at 4:36 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 4:50 p.m.
Present were Trustees Aiyer, Austin, Davila, Murphy, Navarro Flores, Olmos Guzman,
and Williams.
FACILITIES
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Navarro Flores called the meeting of the Facilities Committee to order at 5:56 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.
PRESENTATIONS BY HUB/SMALL BUSINESS TEAMS
The Board heard presentations from three firms that responded to an RFQ to develop
and manage a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)/Small Business Program in
support of the 2004 capital improvement program. The following teams made
presentations:
1.
2.
3.
O. A. Phillips & Associates
Grijalva & Allen P.C.
The Principle Partnering Group
RECESS CALLED
Ms. Navarro Flores called a recess at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 6:05
p.m.
THE PRINCIPLE PARTNERING GROUP SELECTED TO PROVIDE HUB/SMALL
BUSINESS PROGRAM SERVICES
Upon advice from Legal Counsel Ms. Navarro Flores declared that no conflict of interest
existed between herself and Linda Morales, a member of The Principle Partnering
Group.
Motion – Ms. Olmos Guzman made a motion to accept The Principle Partnering Group
to provide HUB/Small Business Program services and to authorize the Chancellor to
negotiate a contract with the team. Mr. Davila seconded the motion. Motion carried 61, with Trustees Aiyer, Austin, Davila, Navarro Flores, Olmos Guzman and Williams
voting in support. Trustee Murphy voted against the motion.
RECESS CALLED
Ms. Navarro Flores called a recess at 6:19 p.m.
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – September 21, 2004 – Page 4
LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Aiyer called the meeting of the Legal/Legislative Committee to order at 6:20 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.
CONSIDERATION OF STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Julie Gilbert, Legislative Consultant, Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, reviewed the state
legislative agenda developed by the Board Legislative Committee in preparation for the
79th Legislature. Robert Miller was also present for the discussion. The Chancellor and
consultants responded to questions from the Trustees. Ms. Navarro Flores requested
that funding of employee benefits for Ms. Olmos Guzman be added to the legislative
agenda.
FACILITIES (Cont’d)
RECONVENING OF FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Ms. Navarro Flores reconvened the Facilities Committee at 6:31 p.m.
DISCUSSION OF CPMS AND FACILITIES SPACE PROGRAMMING SERVICES
The construction program management team, PGAL, and the facilities space
programming team, Perspectiva, Facilities Programming and Consulting, and LlewelynDavies Sahni, discussed the roles, responsibilities and corresponding timelines
associated with construction program management services and facilities space
programming.
(Mr. Austin left at 6:34 p.m.)
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTON FOR MAYOR BILL WHITE
Motion – Dr. Williams made a motion to approve a Resolution submitted by the Hispanic
Educational Leadership Committee to recognize Mayor Bill White for his support of the
Hispanic community and education. Motion carried 6-0.
(Dr. Williams left at 6:40 p.m. and Mr. Aiyer left at 6:45 p.m.)
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Ms. Navarro Flores adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:57 p.m., notice
having previously been given and reiterated by her in accordance with Sections 551.071
of the Open Meetings Law. She 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. She reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 7:20 p.m.
and entertained motions on pending matters.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – September 21, 2004 – Page 5
Minutes Prepared by:
Linda Gray, Board Services
Reviewed and Submitted by:
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
October 28, 2004