MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
September 14, 2006
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System met as a Committee of the
Whole on Thursday, September 14, 2006, at the System Administration Building, Seminar Room
A, Second Floor, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Jay K. Aiyer – Chairman
Yolanda Navarro Flores – Vice Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin, Deputy Secretary
Abel Davila
Richard M. Schechter
Dr. Michael P. Williams
ADMINISTRATION
Norman Nielsen, Interim Chancellor
Doretha Eason, Deputy to the Chancellor
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Instruction
Irene Porcarello, Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance & Administration
Winston Dahse, Interim President, Southwest College
Margaret Ford, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southeast College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Marsal Stoll, President, Coleman College
Carole Keeney Harrington, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
William Mack, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities and Construction
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Mike Kyme, Executive Director, Procurement
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations
OTHERS PRESENT
Maureen Singleton, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
Mr. Jay Aiyer, Board Chair 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.
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Committee of the Whole – September 14, 2006 – Page 2
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Mr. Aiyer adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 4:30 p.m., notice having previously
been given and reiterated in accordance with Sections 551.071, 551.072, and/or 551.074 of the
Open Meetings Law. Mr. Aiyer 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. Aiyer reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 5:35 p.m. and entertained motions on
pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Aiyer, Austin, Davila, Guzman, Schechter, and Dr. Williams)
Motion – Dr. Williams motioned and Mr. Davila seconded that the following items are moved to
the consent agenda. Motion passed 6-0.
•
B.5 - ACCEPT BID FOR DEMOLITION SERVICES FOR THE EAST WING
LOCATED ON CENTRAL COLLEGE CAMPUS
•
B.6 - APPROVE TERMS OF LEASE AT OFFICE CITY PLAZA FOR
SOUTHEAST COLLEGE COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM
•
B.9 - APPROVE CONTRACT FOR TEMPORARY PERSONNEL AGENCY
SERVICES
•
B.10 - APPROVE ADULT EDUCATION GRANT FUNDED SUBCONTRACTS
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007
•
B.13 - APPROVE PAYMENT TO BRACEWELL AND GIULIANI FOR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR JULY 2006
•
B. 14 - RATIFY AND ACCEPT GIFTS AND DONATIONS
FACILITIES
A.1 - REVIEW 2004 CIP AND OTHER PROJECTS PROGRESS REPORT
The Board concluded to table discussion of the report.
A.2 - APPROVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT SERVICES CONTRACT (PGAL) FOR CENTRAL PLANT-CENTRAL
COLLEGE
Motion – Dr. Williams moved to approve and Mr. Davila seconded.
Mrs. Guzman noted that the Board recently approved additional services for PGAL with the
stipulation that no further additional services should be extended.
Dr. Nielsen informed that PGAL completed the development of the IT infrastructure for the CIP
and further noted that the approvals are for consistency; however there will not be any further
contracts awarded to PGAL.
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Committee of the Whole – September 14, 2006 – Page 3
Mr. Schechter informed that his recommendation was that a benefit analysis should be completed
prior to approving future contracts. Dr. Nielsen noted that the cost analysis was not conducted on
this request for additional services because the contract will terminate once the plans are in place.
Mr. Schechter asked for clarification on the project inspections for $195,000 and asked if the
amount was the total charge for the inspection. Ms. Walker apprised that the cost was consistent
with the CIP which is a component of the contract and informed that the amount is a pass
through to subcontractors.
Mrs. Guzman asked whether the subcontracts have met their small business goals. Mrs. Walker
noted that PGAL has met their small business goals and informed that administration is
developing a report displaying the subcontractors for the project.
Vote: The item passed to the consent agenda with a vote of 6-0.
(Mrs. Flores arrived at 5:51 p.m.)
A.3 - APPROVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT SERVICES PGAL IT CONTRACT FOR HAYES ROAD AND
NORTHLINE CAMPUSES
Motion – Dr. Williams motioned to approve. Mr. Davila seconded the motion.
Mr. Schechter asked for the calculations on the cost for PGAL to complete the IT for the CIP.
Mrs. Walker informed that the fee on the $6.9 million is less than 5%.
Mr. Schechter asked for the percentage fee for the planning and design and asked if a
comparison could be presented that shows what the cost would be if the work was conducted by
a person from the community.
Mr. Davila stated that it is good for the college to have a standardized wireless system; however,
he does not feel that the college should be locked in to using only one vendor.
Vote: The item was not passed to the consent agenda with a vote of 4-0-3 with Trustees
Schechter, Guzman, and Flores abstaining.
Ms. Singleton will research if the item can be placed on the agenda for the Regular Board
meeting scheduled for September 21, 2006.
FINANCE
B.4 - DISCUSS AND APPROVE ADVANCE REFUND OF JUNIOR LIEN BONDS AND
ISSUANCE OF NEW JUNIOR LIEN BONDS
Motion – Dr. Williams moved approval and Mr. Davila seconded the motion.
Mr. Jorge Rodriguez with Coastal Securities presented an overview on the Junior Lien Bonds
and explained the benefits of the bonds to the college.
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Committee of the Whole – September 14, 2006 – Page 4
Mrs. Guzman asked if the funds from the bonds could be used to complete the Southeast
Building.
Mr. Aiyer asked Gloria Walker to provide an overview of how the funds will be utilized. Mrs.
Walker noted that the College would be able to earn funds and cover the CIP shortfall.
Mr. Schechter noted that this particular method allows the college to complete the CIP without
taking funds from the operations of the college.
Mrs. Flores asked for a time frame for bidding on the CIP. Bill Mack informed that at least 10
buildings are scheduled to be under construction by January 2007 which means that the bidding
will be completed between October and December 2006.
(Dr. Williams left at 6:28 p.m.)
Mr. Davila asked if the Board needed to select a firm or bank. Mrs. Walker noted that Jorge
Rodriguez will be managing the process.
Vote: The item passed to the consent agenda with a vote of 6-0.
B.7 - APPROVE UPGRADE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECT 06-36
The Information Technology Department presented an overview on the Network Upgrade
Strategy. The recommendation from administration is to authorize negotiation of a contract with
Siemens to provide equipment and deployment services for the Upgrade IT Infrastructure project
at a cost not to exceed $2,712,419. However, in the event a contract is not negotiated with
Siemens for the hardware, administration request authorization to negotiate with one or more of
the other RFP respondents for hardware and Siemens would only provide the deployment
services.
Motion – Mr. Davila motioned that the Board approves the latter part of the recommendation
from administration that recommends Siemens for the deployment and negotiate with the other
vendors for the hardware. Mrs. Guzman seconded the motion. The item passed to the consent
agenda as an amended motion with a vote of 6-0.
Mrs. Guzman suggested that administration negotiate in the contract with the vendors some form
of partnership where HCC provides workforce training.
B.8- APPROVE ANNUAL CONTRACT RENEWALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007
Mr. Schechter informed that he pulled the item for discussion to make certain the contracts have
been reviewed and that they are in the best benefit to the College.
Dr. Nielsen noted that item #49 should be deleted because the service is not needed. He further
stated that most of the contracts will be used as needed and could be canceled with a 30 day
notice.
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Committee of the Whole – September 14, 2006 – Page 5
Mrs. Guzman requested backup on the small business participation that shows how the vendors
met their small business goals. She noted that she would abstain on the vote in order to review
the requested information.
Mrs. Flores requested information on the bookstore. Dr. Nielsen noted that he is working with
Mrs. Walker on a report to provide the requested information.
Mr. Aiyer noted that he supports items 16-19 and presented the idea of possibly negotiating an
increase in the contract with the vendors in order to provide an opportunity for the vendor to give
increased wages to their employees.
Dr. Nielsen stated that he would review the suggested proposal.
Mrs. Flores questioned how the funds would be monitored.
Mr. Austin suggested the possibility having a tax consultant discuss the tax benefits. He also
recommended that the entire benefit package should be reviewed and requested that the issue is
researched.
Mr. Davila suggested a review to see if outsourcing is actually benefiting the college. Mr.
Austin referred the staff to Federal Acquisition Regulation Section A.76. The Board concluded
that the janitorial and maintenance contracts should be reviewed to compare outsourcing with inhouse staffing.
Vote: The item passed to the consent agenda with a vote of 5-0-1 with Mrs. Guzman abstaining.
APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SYSTEM COMPENSATION
REDESIGN COMMITTEE
Board concluded to move the item to Topics for Discussion at the Regular Board meeting
scheduled for September 21, 2006.
APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Board concluded to move the item to Topics for Discussion at the Regular Board meeting
scheduled for September 21, 2006.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed, & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
Regular Board Meeting on October 26, 2006