SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
November 17, 2008
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College held a Special Meeting
on Monday, November 17, 2008 at the System Administration Building, 3100 Main,
2nd Floor, Seminar Room A, Houston, Texas.
Board of Trustees Present:
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Chairwoman
Bruce A. Austin, Vice Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Mills Worsham, Deputy Secretary
Abel Davila
Neeta Sane
Richard Schechter
Administration Present:
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Doretha Eason, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor
Bill Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Daniel Seymour, Interim Vice Chancellor, Planning & Institutional Effectiveness
Cheryl Sterling, Interim Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Others Present:
Jarvis Hollingsworth, Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Gene Locke, Counsel, Andrews Kurth
Rolando Rios, Attorney at Law
Judy Cantwell, Vice President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Flores called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m. and declared the Board
convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College as
listed on the duly posted Meeting Notice.
CONTRACT FOR ELECTION SERVICES FOR THE NOVEMBER 4, 2008
Recommendation - Approve contract for election services performed by Harris County in
conjunction with the November 4, 2008 Houston Community College District Special
Election for annexation of all of the territory within Alief Independent School District.
Houston Community College
Special Meeting – November 17, 2008 – Page 2
Motion - Mr. Schechter motioned and Mr. Davila seconded. The motion passed with
a vote of 7-0.
ORDER CANVASSING RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF
THE NOVEMBER 4, 2008 HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
SPECIAL ELECTION FOR ANNEXATION OF ALL OF THE TERRITORY
WITHIN ALIEF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE
ASSIGNMENT OF SUCH TERRITORY TO ONE OR MORE OF THE
CURRENT DISTRICTS.
Motion – Mr. Austin moved and Mrs. Guzman seconded the motion to approve the
order canvassing returns and declaring the results of the November 4, 2008 Houston
Community College special election for annexation of all of the territory within Alief
Independent School District.
Vote - The motion passed with a vote of 7-0.
Motion – Mr. Schechter moved to temporarily assign the Alief territory to a District.
Mrs. Sane seconded the motion.
Mr. Locke noted that temporary assigning for 60 days will require the Board to revisit
the matter.
Mr. Schechter noted that District VI is under re-election in 2009; therefore, the issue
must be addressed.
Mr. Locke noted that the Board is not required to redistrict; however, the area must
be assigned to a district.
Mr. Austin mentioned that the reason for decennial census is to redistrict.
Mr. Oliver noted that those who have been on the Board for a number of years have
dealt with the issue of redistricting.
Mr. Davila mentioned that his position is to request that the state approve the
addition of more board members and he also requested that a strategy plan be
presented.
Mrs. Guzman asked what are the requirements. Mr. Locke mentioned that the
College is required to assign the area under a district. He noted that the area could
be placed in Districts VI and/or VII. He also apprised that all the districts will be
reassigned after the census in 2010.
Mr. Locke noted that the DOJ has approved the calling of the election and now there
must be a submission for the annexation to be approved by the DOJ. He
recommended delaying the approval from DOJ until a decision has been identified
by the Board in regards to assigning the territory.
Houston Community College
Special Meeting – November 17, 2008 – Page 3
Mr. Locke apprised that if the territory is assigned to District VI, there could be some
problems because the district is up for re-election in 2009.
(Mr. Oliver arrived at 4:24 p.m.)
Mr. Austin mentioned that although “one man, one vote” is important, the issue is
public forum. He noted that the court normally looks at whether you are over a ten
percent variation or deviation to see if something is right or wrong. He noted that in
this forum, we should annex Alief and deal with the issue of redistricting and
reapportioning after the 2010 census.
Mr. Oliver mentioned that he was under the impression that Mr. Locke would inform
the Board when the appropriate time would be for redistricting. He noted that as
long as there is no endangerment of disenfranchisement, things should be kept in
place until after the 2010 census.
Mr. Locke informed that there will be a requirement to redistrict and redraw the lines
for all nine districts after the 2010 census.
Mr. Oliver asked Mr. Locke his opinion. Mr. Locke mentioned that he would place
the area in Districts VI or VII on a temporary basis and determine what to do at a
later time to see what is practical and reasonable.
Mr. Davila mentioned that it is not unconstitutional to do it today. He mentioned that
if there is going to be annexation of other areas, then good faith should be shown.
Mr. Davila apprised that he is in support of adding two more seats to the Board.
Mr. Locke noted that the issue at hand is to determine where to place the people in
Alief that has now been annexed.
Mr. Davila noted that the next step should be to review all available options.
Mrs. Flores noted that there were other options provided by Mr. Rios.
Mr. Rios mentioned that he worked with Mr. Locke after the 2000 redistricting. He
noted that Mr. Locke is correct in the opinion provided. He noted that there is some
exposure to the One Person-One Vote rule. He provided information depicting the
following options for assigning the Alief territory: (1) place the entire area in District
VI; (2) place the entire area in District VII; or (3) divide the area between Districts VI
and VII.
Mr. Schechter recommended that the Board temporary assign the area for sixty days
and noted that the decision should be based on what best benefits the area.
Mr. Oliver expressed that it will not be allowed for the voting strength of one group to
become diluted while the voting strength of another group is increased. He noted
that he would not sit idle to allow this to happen and noted that the membership of
one group will be increased to the detriment of another.
Houston Community College
Special Meeting – November 17, 2008 – Page 4
Mrs. Flores mentioned that Alief is one of the most diverse communities; therefore,
she is not sure that it would negatively affect any one community.
Mr. Davila noted that he agrees with Mr. Oliver and noted that this is why he
recommends that all options are reviewed. He noted that his efforts are to find a
balance.
Mr. Flores recessed the meeting for five minutes at 4:42 p.m. The meeting
reconvened at 4:47 p.m.
Amendment to Motion - Mr. Davila offered a friendly amendment and motioned to
extend the temporary assignment for ninety days and assign the area to District VI.
Mr. Schechter seconded the motion.
Mr. Schechter asked if the location of the area is changed will a new election need to
be held. Mr. Locke mentioned that the new plans would have to be submitted to the
DOJ for approval, but new elections in the area are not required.
Mr. Schechter mentioned that some district will inherit a large number of the
population and noted that Trustees would need additional funds to communicate to
the new community.
Mr. Schechter clarified that if one or two Trustees will be asked to pick up a huge
number of people who they have not had a chance to meet nor have been elected
by them, then they should have the tools to communicate with the people.
Mr. Davila mentioned that the Board is taking some statements too personal and
associated with Mr. Austin in that the Board has always tried to do what is best. He
requested to see how all the districts will be reflected. He noted that the right
strategy needs to be identified.
Vote Amended motion – The motion passed with a vote of 7 -0.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:04 p.m.
Recorded by:
Sharon R. Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Transcribed and submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved: