MINUTES

Regular Meeting – Board of Trustees

June 2, 2003

 

In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Monday, June 2, 2003, at  6:00 p.m. in the Board Room (201) at the Highland Business Center of Austin Community College located at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Rafael Quintanilla, Chair/Presiding Officer; Barbara P. Mink, Board Vice Chair; Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary; John F. Hernandez; Nan McRaven [arrived at 6:10 p.m.]; Beverly Silas; and John Worley.  Trustees Beverly Watts Davis and Lillian J. Davis were absent.

 

It is further found and determined that in accordance with the policies and orders of this Board, the notice of this meeting has been posted and return thereof made pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, and there has been full compliance with the terms and provisions of said act, including the timely posting of the subjects of this meeting.

 

Recognitions

·        There were no recognitions.

 

Citizens Communication

·        Daniel Traverso, ACC Faculty, spoke regarding the budget and compensation.

·        John Cise, ACC Faculty, spoke regarding Fiscal Year 2004 salary needs.

·        Myra Bradley, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding ACC priorities.

·        Betty Edgemond, South Austin resident, spoke regarding the South Austin Campus.

 

Reports from Associations

·        Adjunct Faculty Association – Don Morris, President, commented on the tax referendum and compensation.

·        Classified Employees Association – Judy Green, President-Elect, spoke regarding the referendum and Association activities.

·        Full-Time Faculty Senate – Stacey Thompson, President, spoke regarding the successful referendum and commented on overloads, presidential search committee, and compensation.

·        Professional-Technical Employees Association – John Kennie, President-Elect, spoke regarding the referendum; presidential search committee, staffing, and compensation.

·        Student Government Association – No report was presented.

 

Reports to the Board

·        Report on Achievements and Recognitions – Dr. Steve Kinslow, Executive Vice President, distributed information and recognized recent awards/recognitions received by faculty/programs, staff, students, and Austin Community College.

·        Financial Report – April 2003 – Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business Services presented the monthly financial report and detailed year-to-date expenditures and revenues against the budget and a monthly revised fiscal-year projection of expenditures and revenues.  He stated the College will have a positive balance of revenues versus expenditures for the current fiscal year and that the College will meet the expectations of the minimum reserves level policy (G-6) or the corrective action plan requirements.  Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees.

·        Comptroller’s Report – Update on Implementation Status – Vice President Ben Ferrell and Committee Co-Chair/ACC Professor Terry Perrin, presented an updated report of the College’s responses to the State Comptroller’s recommendations in the 2002 Texas School Performance Review of Austin Community College.  Mr. Ferrell and Ms. Perrin responded to questions from Trustees.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Agenda Item 7708

Minutes of the May 5, 2003, Regular Meeting and May 7, 2003, Special Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees

 

Dr. Barbara Mink moved and Beverly S. Silas seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve the minutes of the May 5, 2003, and May 7, 2003, Board meetings as presented.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0.

FOR:  John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.

Trustees Beverly Watts Davis and Lillian J. Davis were absent from the meeting.

 

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION

 

Agenda Item 7709

South Austin Campus – Selection of Architect and Authorization for Administration to Negotiate Contract

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item and Bronson Dorsey, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations, provided information concerning the South Austin Campus.  The Comprehensive Master Plan recommended that Austin Community College construct a new campus on the site purchased in 2002 at the intersection of Manchaca Road and Stassney Lane.  The Board of Trustees authorized the administration to undertake a solicitation for Architect/Engineer and Construction Manager-at-Risk at its Regular Meeting on March 4, 2003.  The initial project budget was projected to be approximately $21 million which included costs of constructing the building and parking garage, architect/engineer fees, furniture and equipment, permits, surveying, and other associated support costs.  Funding for the project was included in the May 3, 2003, capital improvement program bond referendum.

Mr. Dorsey stated that presentations were made by each of the finalists at the May 19, 2003, Board Work Session, and the solicitation and evaluation processes were discussed.  He called attention to the Evaluation Committee’s review and scoring of each proposal.  Mr. Dorsey stated that the Evaluation Committee recommended three finalists for the architect and three finalists for the construction manager.


Architects – Carter-Burgess; Hillier with Cotera +Reed; Page Southerland Page

Construction Managers – American Constructors; Bartlett Cocke; and Gilbane  

 

Board Secretary Allen Kaplan moved and Trustee Nan McRaven seconded that:

ORIGINAL MOTION:  The Board of Trustees select Page Southerland Page – Austin as the Architect/Engineer team for the South Austin Campus project.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0

FOR:  John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara Mink, Beverly Silas, Rafael Qunintanilla, and John Worley.

Trustees Beverly Watts Davis and Lillian J. Davis were absent from the meeting.

 

Agenda Item 7710

South Austin Campus – Selection of Construction Manager-at-Risk and Authorization for Administration to Negotiate Contract

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item.

 

Board Secretary Allen Kaplan moved and Trustee Nan McRaven seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees select American Constructors – Austin/California as the Construction Manager-at-Risk for the South Austin Campus project.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0.

FOR:  John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.

Trustees Beverly Watts Davis and Lillian J. Davis were absent from the meeting.

 

Trustees requested that no additional Requests for Proposals (RFPs) be issued until the current process at the College is reviewed.

 

Agenda Item 7711

Approval and Use of Preliminary Official Statement – Austin Community College District Limited Tax Bonds, Series 2003

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item.  Jorge Rodriguez, Coastal Securities, and Tom Pollan, College Legal Counsel, Bickerstaff, Heath, Smiley, Pollan, Kever, and McDaniel, L.L.P., responded to questions from Trustees regarding the preliminary official statement.

Board Vice Chair moved and Allen Kaplan seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve the Resolution Authorizing the Use of the Official Statement in Connection with the Austin Community College District Limited Tax Bonds, Series 2003, and Authorizing and Approving other Matters Related Thereto.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0.

FOR:  John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.

Trustees Beverly Watts Davis and Lillian J. Davis were absent from the meeting.

 

The agenda was re-ordered.

 

Agenda Item 7713

Discussion of Proposed Revision of Board Policy A-4, Tuition Rates

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item. Dr. Richard Fonte, College President, provided information concerning the proposed revisions and stated the action was recommended by the State Comptroller to base tuition on cost.  Trustees discussed proposed revisions to the policy and requested information.  Dr. Fonte stated the policy would be referred for review and comments of the College’s shared governance organizations.

 

Agenda Item 7714

Discussion of Proposed Revision of Board Policy G-1, College Budget

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item and Trustees discussed proposed revisions.  Trustees discussed the need to define “immediately” as proposed in section 7, third paragraph.  Dr. Fonte stated he would work on language as proposed by Trustees.

 

Agenda Item 7715

Discussion of Proposed Revision of Board Policy G-7, Property Taxes

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item.  Trustees discussed proposed revisions to the policy and the need for a listing of the properties designated as historical landmarks which receive tax reductions.  Dr. Fonte stated the information would be provided and that the policy would be referred for review and comments of the College’s shared governance organizations and the historical commission.

 

Agenda Item 7716

Discussion of Proposed Revision of Board Policy E-4, Organizational Performance Evaluation/Auditing and State Comptroller’s Recommendation 45-Internal Auditor

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item and Board Secretary Allen Kaplan discussed proposed changes to Board Policy E-4 to effect the Internal Auditor reporting directly to the Board of Trustees.  The Internal Auditor currently reports directly to the President.  Trustees discussed the reporting structure and roles of the internal and external auditors including duties and the cost of any additional responsibilities of the external auditor.  Dr. Fonte responded to questions from Trustees and stated he would provide additional information in response to requests from Trustees.

 

Agenda Item 7717

Presidential Search Process/Request for Proposal (RFP) Criteria

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item and Allen Kaplan and Nan McRaven called attention to the criteria for selection of the presidential search consultant (weight) and provided a listing of thirty-plus additional presidential search firms.

Nan McRaven moved and Beverly Silas seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to all 50+ presidential search firms and that the deadline be issued two weeks from the date of mailing.

Trustees discussed the criteria for the president search process and presidential search committee.  Trustees reaffirmed that no additional RFPs would be issued until the RFP process at the College was reviewed.

The motion was withdrawn.

The criteria will be sent to the College’s shared governance organizations for review and comments.  This item will be included on the agenda on June 16, 2003, with a complete listing of presidential search firms.

 

Agenda Item 7712

Presentation of FY04 Projected Budget Revenue and Expenditures

Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item and Ben Ferrell discussed the revenue and expense projections for Fiscal Year 2004.  He distributed updated information on the FY2004-2006 Projected—Revenues vs. Expenditures.  Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees concerning the projections and FY 2004 budget options.  Dr. Fonte will provide a line-by-line budget for review by Trustees. 

 

President’s Administrative Report

There was no report presented.

 

Executive Session

There was no Executive Session.

 

Announcements

·        Allen Kaplan stated that the May 26 College picnic was a successful event and everyone had a good time.  He commended the efforts of Ed Osborn, Dahlia Anzaldua, and Trustee Barbara Mink, as well as all others who arranged the event for the enjoyment of all.

 

Meeting Review

Trustees commented regarding the meeting: 

What we did well:  good; good meeting; really good meeting—out a little earlier we thought;

enjoyed the discussion on the Internal Auditor, thought we had a lively and enlightening discussion; very good meeting.

What we can do better:  felt we were getting into too much at one point, and people were saying the same thing back and forth.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the June 2, 2003, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

 

Approved By          

Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary