MINUTES

Special Meeting - Board of Trustees

February 25, 2004

In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Wednesday, February 25, 2004, at 6:02 p.m. in the Board Room (201) of 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 Mink, Vice Chair; Allen Kaplan, Secretary; John Hernandez; Nan McRaven [arrived at 6:07 p.m.]; Beverly S. Silas; and John Worley. Trustee Lillian Davis was absent from the meeting. Trustee Beverly Watts Davis resigned from the Board on October 1, 2003, and therefore did not attend the meeting.

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.

Items for Discussion/Possible Action

The agenda was re-ordered.

Agenda Item 7860

Matters Related to Conduct of May 15, 2004, Board of Trustees Election

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Linda Young, Special Assistant to the President for Governmental and Community Relations, provided information regarding an Order setting polling places, election officials, and joint election agreements for the May 15, 2004, general election.

Agenda Item 7858

Proposed Revisions to Board Policy E-2, Provision of College Facilities

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Trustee John Worley provided information concerning the suggestion revisions. Trustees discussed the proposed revisions and suggested additional changes to read:

[7] College facilities-development activities shall be conducted so as to respect other community priorities, including environmental protection of the City of Austin’s desired development zone. New construction and renovation shall make maximum practical use of sustainable building principles, energy conservation, and renewable energy, particularly solar energy, to the extent that: (a) the economic benefit of a conservation or renewable energy measure will match or outweigh its cost over its useful life and (b) the cost of such a measure will not impede the accomplishment of other facilities goals included in the master plan. The master plan must include a discussion of how it is addressing and complying with this policy.

This item will be reviewed by the shared governance group of the College and brought back to the Board for possible action at the April Board meeting.

Agenda Item 7859

Overview of College Facilities

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Ben Ferrell, Vice President of Business Services, provided information concerning the general planning assumptions: ACC would increase capacity by 10,000 students as part of the State’s Closing the Gaps initiative, and this would coincide with the College’s historical average growth of 1,000 students per year; programmatic renewals/renovations are, or would be, needed at most ACC facilities; and deferred maintenance issues exist at most ACC facilities. Mr. Ferrell stated that ACC has taken the following actions based on the assumptions: developed a plan to add capacity for 10,000 students by 2010; conducted extensive internal reviews to identify programmatic needs; determined deferred maintenance costs; formulated the current facilities master plan to combine the results of the studies; and passed a $99 million tax bond referendum in 2003 to begin addressing identified needs. He stated that the facilities master plan also responds to Recommendation 17 of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) report concerning inadequacies in space provided for student service functions at several campuses.

Bronson Dorsey, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations, presented an overview of the Austin Community College campuses: Cypress Creek, Eastview, Highland Business Center, Northridge, Pinnacle, Rio Grande, Riverside, and South Austin. Trustees discussed ownership of facilities, general facilities operations, long-term planning/annexation, parking, a capital improvement program/bond referendum, and unfunded projects. Mr. Hilary Johns, Manager-Environmental Services, Terracon, provided information regarding the tunnel located on the Rio Grande Campus. Mr. Ferrell and Mr. Dorsey responded to questions from Trustees regarding the presentations.

Trustees expressed appreciation for the presentation and the informative dialogue.

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the February 25, 2004, special meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

Approved By

Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary