REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
January 27, 2005
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, January 27, 2005, at the System Administration Building, Second Floor Auditorium,
3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Michael P. Williams, D.Min., Chairman
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Vice Chairman
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin, Deputy Secretary
Jay K. Aiyer
Abel Davila
Herman Litt
James R. Murphy
Christopher W. Oliver
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Doretha Eason, Interim Deputy to the Chancellor
Irene Porcarello, Interim Vice Chancellor, Institutional Development
Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Fena Garza, President, Southeast College
Sue Cox, President, Southwest College
Margaret Ford, President, Northeast College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Patricia Williamson, Interim President, Central College
Rosie Barrera, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications & Marketing
Charles Hebert, Associate Vice Chancellor, Workforce Development
Willie Williams, Interim Executive Director, Human Resources
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson (left at 3:30 p.m.)
Phil Fraissinet, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson (arrived at 3:30 p.m.)
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Williams called the meeting to order at 2:38 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
Mr. Litt led the prayer and pledge of allegiance.
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Regular Board Meeting – January 27, 2005 – Page 2
AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS
Presentation to Outgoing Chairman – Mr. Litt was presented with a plaque in recognition of
outstanding service as Board chairman for 2004. The other Trustees commended Mr. Litt on his
exemplary leadership during his tenure as Board chairman.
Mr. Litt expressed appreciation to his colleagues for their support and effort over the past year.
He stated he had gained a deeper appreciation of the efforts of the Chancellor, faculty and staff
while serving as chairman and pledged his support to Dr. Williams.
Recognition of President Fena Garza - Ms. Olmos Guzman commended President Fena Garza
for bringing together HISD and HCCS trustees to discuss a free tuition program and upcoming
collaborative efforts to promote a state-funded scholarship and exemption program to allow
economically disadvantaged public high school students to apply for one year of free tuition at
any public college or university in Texas.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Officers for 2005 – Chairman Williams announced new Board officers for 2005, who were
elected on January 20, 2005:
Yolanda Navarro Flores – Vice Chairman
Diane Olmos Guzman – Secretary
Bruce Austin – Deputy Secretary
Chairman Williams announced that his plan for the year would be to "narrow our focus to
maximize our performance.” He plans to focus on the following areas of governance:
1.
Capital Improvement Plan
2.
Board efficiency
3.
Lay the foundation for annexation
4.
Strengthen the relationship and communication between the Board
and the Chancellor
Appointment of Committees – Chairman Williams appointed Standing and Ad Hoc committees
for 2005.
Standing Committees:
Committee Chair:
Finance
James Murphy
Facilities
Abel Davila
Academic
Bruce Austin
Legal/Legislative
Jay Aiyer
Board Operations
Diane Olmos Guzman
Marketing
Herman Litt
Ad Hoc Committees
Committee Chair:
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Regular Board Meeting – January 27, 2005 – Page 3
Technology
Bruce Austin
Strategic Initiatives
Christopher Oliver
Internal Communications
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Annexation
Michael P. Williams
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Chairman Williams adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 3:35 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 a subsequent Public Meeting. He
reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 3:41 p.m. and entertained motions on pending
matters.
(Mr. Oliver arrived at 3:35 p.m.)
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mr. Davila moved approval of the Consent Agenda and Item 15 of Topics for
Discussion and/or Action. Mr. Litt seconded the motion. Motion carried 8-0 (Mr. Oliver had not
yet arrived).
•
Dain Rauscher selected to provide financial advisory services for HCC and Chancellor
authorized to negotiate and execute a contract for financial advisory services with the
firm. The contract will be for one year with renewal options
•
Sub recipient Agreement between HCCS and HEB to provide training and job placement
to new and/or incumbent workers
•
Purchase of diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline for the Northeast College Truck Driving
Training Program
•
Transportation services for the Katy Mills facility - Project 05-14
•
Ratification of expenditures for Smarthinking (On-LineTutoring)
•
Investment Report for the month of November 2004
•
Chancellor authorized to negotiate a loan and execute all necessary loan documents with
the financial institution approved by the Board to finance the following items and ratify
any prior actions taken regarding same. The items to be financed are as follows:
ÿ Westgate Atrium building - $7,785,000
ÿ 24.2636 acres of land adjacent to the Westgate Atrium building - $3,170,000
ÿ 89.0567 acres of land adjacent to the Northeast Campus - $3,640,803;
and Chancellor authorized to take necessary action on a Resolution expressing intent to
finance expenditures to be incurred in acquiring the facility and land identified above,
which will enable the System to be reimbursed for those expenditures made from the
public facility corporation bond proceeds
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Regular Board Meeting – January 27, 2005 – Page 4
•
Chancellor authorized to negotiate and approve a contract to lease property located at 811
Dallas to serve as HCCS’ Corporate Training facilities for the Central College
Continuing Education Division
•
Chancellor authorized to negotiate a contract with State Construction to provide the West
Loop Center Build-Out for the Early College High School located at the West Loop
Center at a cost not to exceed $2,920,000
•
Chancellor authorized to negotiate a Design-Build Contract with Pepper-Lawson
Construction to provide for the design-build construction of Phase 1 of the Public Safety
Institute that includes the burn building, firing range and training tower structures
•
Resolution and settlement of all issues related to the pending Chapter 11 Bankruptcy of
Dibens Enterprises, LLC
•
Chancellor authorized to negotiate a contract with Groundwater Services, Inc. (GSI) to
conduct environmental testing relating to the potential purchase of the Drennan property
from the City of Houston (Item 15 under Topics for Discussion and/or Action – January
27, 2005 agenda)
BOYKINS & SCHNIEDER SELECTED TO PROVIDE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS SERVICES TO HCC
Rosie Barrera explained that an RFQ for federal government relations services was developed
and published on January 4, 2005. Nine firms responded and five were selected to make
presentations to the Board. Firms making presentations were:
1.
Alcalde & Fay – Arlington, Virginia
2.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld – Austin, Texas
3.
Cornerstone Government Affairs – Washington D.C.
4.
Russ Reid Company – Washington, DC (by phone)
(Mr. Aiyer arrived at 4:23 p.m.)
5.
Boykins & Schneider – Houston, Texas
Motion – Ms. Navarro Flores made a motion to approve the firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer &
Feld. Mr. Austin seconded the motion. Motion failed 3-6 with Trustees Austin, Davila and
Navarro Flores voting in support and Trustees Aiyer, Litt, Murphy, Oliver, Olmos Guzman and
Williams opposed.
Motion – Mr. Oliver moved to approve Boykins & Schneider and authorize the Chancellor to
negotiate a contract with the firm to represent and advise HCC on federal government relations
issues. Motion carried 9-0.
Ms. Navarro Flores encouraged the firm to utilize Hispanic-owned small businesses.
Mr. Murphy felt the Trustees had not given the Chancellor sufficient guidelines for federal
government relations services. He expressed concern over prior government relations efforts and
emphasized the need to determine goals, communication processes, milestones, internal staffing,
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Regular Board Meeting – January 27, 2005 – Page 5
and the role of the Trustees in government relations. He requested that administration ensure
good management of the federal government relations services and the funds expended.
Mr. Aiyer asked the status of the hiring of an internal Government Relations Director. The
Chancellor replied that 77 applications were received and the screening process was completed
last week. By next week a short list of applicants will be submitted to the Chancellor and he will
conduct interviews and make a recommendation. Mr. Oliver stressed the importance of
involving Trustees directly in the government relations process.
Mr. Litt recommended that a special meeting be called with the Government Relations Director
and Boykins & Schneider to develop a strategy for approaching government relations at the
federal level.
Motion – Ms. Navarro Flores made a motion to table approval of architects and engineers for the
2004 CIP until the February 17 meeting of the Committee of the Whole, to give Trustees
additional time to review backup material. Ms. Olmos Guzman seconded the motion.
Mr. Aiyer stated he would like the Trustees to discuss the issue and have an opportunity to
express specific concerns. Chairman Williams asked Ms. Navarro Flores to withdraw her
motion to allow each Trustee to voice an opinion on whether or not to table the recommendation.
Ms. Navarro Flores withdrew the motion and Ms. Olmos Guzman withdrew the second.
Each Trustee was given one minute to speak to the issue. Mr. Austin chose not to comment. Mr.
Murphy asked that administration prepare an analysis of why each architect/engineer was or was
not selected, by the next Board Meeting. Mr. Aiyer asked that the Trustees submit any questions
to administration in advance of the meeting.
There was consensus to table the item until the Regular Board Meeting of February 24 or a
special meeting and to request an opinion from the attorneys on legal options.
(Trustees Davila and Navarro Flores left at 5:20 p.m.)
PRE-OBSERVANCE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The HCC Black History Month Committee presented a program in celebration of Black History
Month. Trustees Austin, Oliver and Williams serve as honorary chairs of the Committee. Dr.
Beverly Perry began the celebration by leading the audience in singing the Black National
Anthem.
Trustee Austin spoke on the Niagara Movement, which was the first collective civil rights
movement of the 20th century. He explained that proponents of the movement demanded equal
enforcement of the law for all races and active political involvement at all levels of society. This
belief ran counter to the teachings of the influential Booker T. Washington, who believed that
African Americans should focus on agriculture and industrial education, stay out of politics and
not mix socially with whites. Washington used his power and influence to stifle press coverage
and only a few newspapers reported on the movement. Nonetheless, the Niagara Movement
cleared the way and charted a course for the NAACP in 1909; it marked W.E.B. DuBois’ first
attempt at civil rights organization and rejected Washington as the spokesman for African
Americans.
Trustees Litt, Olmos Guzman, Williams, and Murphy read brief biographies of early African
American leaders including Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, William Monroe Trotter
and John Hope.
(Mr. Austin left the meeting at 5:43 p.m.)
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Regular Board Meeting – January 27, 2005 – Page 6
Mr. Oliver announced that the Tenth Annual Black History Month Awards Banquet would be
held at the Power Center on Saturday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m. Former Mayor Lee P. Brown
will be honored at the Contemporary Black History Maker for 2005. Ticket donations benefit
the Committee’s student scholarship program. A Black History Month website is available for
further information about events that will be held at the various college campuses and criteria for
the essay contest.
In closing, Chairman Williams expressed appreciation to Dr. Leslie for his support of diversity
and recognized members of the Committee.
RECESS CALLED
Chairman Williams called a recess at 5:46 p.m. for a Pre-Observance reception in the foyer. The
meeting was reconvened at 6:14 p.m. with Trustees Williams, Litt and Murphy present.
ADJOURNMENT
Without a quorum present, the meeting was adjourned at 6:15 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 discuss System business but not take action
on such business.
Minutes Prepared by:
Linda Gray, Board Services
Reviewed and Submitted by:
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
February 24, 2005