MINUTES

Regular Meeting – Board of Trustees

January 23, 2006

 

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, January 23, 2006, at 6:00 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: Dr. Barbara P. Mink, Chair/Presiding Officer; Mr. John F. Hernandez, Board Vice Chair; Mr. Jeffrey Richard, Secretary; Dr. Lillian J. Davis; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Ms. Nan McRaven [arrived at 6:05 p.m.]; Mr. Rafael Quintanilla; Ms. Veronica Rivera; and Dr. John Worley.

 

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

·        New Employees – There were no new employees.

·        Report on Achievements and Recognitions – Mr. Bill Carter, Associate Vice President for Information Technology, presented the Kudos Report and called attention to recent awards/recognitions received by faculty/programs, staff, students, and Austin Community College.

 

Citizens Communication

·        Ms. Lucille Turner, citizen, spoke regarding a freeze on the homestead tax for the elderly and disabled.

·        Mr. Dave Shaw, Austin Public Library Foundation, spoke regarding new central library for Austin.

·        Mr. Albert Sierra, San Marcos, spoke regarding favorable consideration of the Resolution Certifying the Voter Petition for the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District to call an election for annexation of San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District.

 

Reports from Associations

·        Adjunct Faculty Association – Mary Gilmer, Vice President, spoke regarding Servant Leadership and Student Success, and association activities.

·        Classified Employees Association – Mr. Tobin Wiegand, President, expressed appreciation for the Classification and Compensation Study and spoke regarding parking at the Northridge Campus, renovations, and association activities.

·        Full-Time Faculty Senate – Mr. Al Purcell, President, invited Trustees to attend association meetings and spoke regarding faculty advising and program review.

·        Association of Professional-Technical Employees – Mr. Jerry North, President, spoke regarding association activities and invited Trustees to attend meetings of the association including a February 3 luncheon meeting.

·        Student Government Association – No report was presented.

 

President’s Administrative Report

Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, College President, stated the current headcount for Spring 2006 for the College was 29,673 which represented a 2.5 percent increase in unduplicated headcount and a 2.8% increase in contact hours.  He advised that the official reporting date would be the twelfth class day.

 

Reports to the Board

·        Monthly Construction Update – Mr. Bill Mullane, Director of Facilities and Construction,  highlighted current construction and renovation projects and responded to questions from Trustees regarding the Rio Grande Campus and San Marcos/Hays County. 

·        Financial Report – November 2005 – Mr. Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business Services, stated  that the College’s budget was on tract and projecting approximately $600,000 increase in Unrestricted Net Assets, and a $40,000 increase in Total Assets.  Total Revenue was projected at approximately $142.9 million or $1.1 million over original projects due to increases in enrollment.  Total expenses were projected at $142.3 million or about $0.5 million over budget.  Cash and Investments were in line at approximately $91 million, including $70 million in bond proceeds.  He responded to questions from Trustees regarding waivers.

·        South Austin Campus Advisory Committee Report – Ms. Guadalupe Sosa expressed appreciation to Trustee Rivera for information.  Ms. Sosa spoke regarding the new campus, additional information desired, committee replacements, and campus planning and reporting.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Chair Mink introduced the Consent Agenda.

 

Agenda Item 8163

Proposed Approval of Minutes of the December 13, 2005, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees

 

Trustees Jeffrey Richard moved and Nan McRaven seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve the minutes of the December 13, 2005 Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees as presented.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR:  Lillian J. Davis, John F. Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Jeffrey Richard, Veronica Rivera, and John Worley

AGAINST:  None.

 

Discussion/Possible Action:

 

Old Business:

 

Agenda Item 8164

Certification of Voter Petitions for Annexation of San Marcos

Consolidated Independent School District

Dr. Mink introduced the item and Ms. Linda Young, Special Assistant to the President for Governmental and Community Relations, presented and read the signed, notarized affidavit and presented, for review, the actual, verified signature petitions collected by citizens of the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District for an annexation election in the service area of the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District.  The required number of registered voter signatures was determined by a percentage (5 percent) of the number of voters registered throughout the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District as of November 2004.  The total number of registered voters within the District by that date, including precincts in Hays, Caldwell, and Guadalupe Counties was 37,952 with 31,804 residing in Hays County 2,342 residing in Guadalupe County and 3,806 residing in Caldwell County.  Five percent of that number was 1,898 registered voters.  The San Marcos/ACC YES! Coalition submitted a petition with 3,002 signatures, 1,963 of which signatures were verified by the ACC department of Governmental Relations as valid, which number of signatures exceeds the 5% of the registered voters required by Section 130,065 of the Texas Education Code.

 

Trustees Lillian Davis moved and Jeffrey Richard seconded that:

MOTION:  The Austin Community College Board of Trustees approve A Resolution Certifying The Voter Petition for the Annexation of San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District.

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT:  Trustee Veronica Rivera requested that Section 3 be changed from “Order” to “Resolution” and that Section 8, Authorization to Execute, be changed from “President” to “Chair of the Board”.

Trustees Lillian Davis and Jeffrey Richard accepted the Friendly Amendment.

Trustees discussed the Friendly Amendment to Section 8 with College Legal Counsel Myra McDaniel and it was determined that Section 8 should remain as originally provided to read “President of the Board” and the signature line also show “President of the Board.

Trustee Lillian Davis read the Resolution into the record.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 9-0.

FOR:  Lillian J. Davis, John F. Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Jeffrey Richard, Veronica Rivera, and John Worley

AGAINST:  None.

 

* * * * *

A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING THE VOTER

PETITION FOR THE ANNEXATION OF

SAN MARCOS CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

THE STATE OF TEXAS     §

                                                                §

COUNTY OF TRAVIS                         §

                                                                §

 

                On this the 23rd  day of January, 2006, the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Austin Community College District (“ACC”) convened in regular session, open to the public at the ACC District Administrative Offices, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with a quorum present, and among other proceedings had by said Board was the following:

 

WHEREAS the Board received a voter petition for an annexation election in ACC’s service area to annex the territory of the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (“SMCISD”); and

 

WHEREAS the Board has reviewed and investigated all matters pertaining to said voter petition, including the number of registered voters at the last General Election, the total and validity of the signatures; and

 

WHEREAS the Board diligently inquired into the petition which was duly and lawfully verified by the ACC department of Government Relations;

 

NOW THEREFORE, the Board hereby finds that:

 

(1)                               The total number of registered voters within the SMCISD at the last general election was 37,952 of which 31,804 reside in Hays County, 2342 reside in Guadalupe County and 3806 reside in Caldwell County.

(2)                               5% of the total number of registered voters is 1898.

(3)                               The San Marcos/ACC YES! Coalition has submitted a petition with 3002 signatures, 1963 of which signatures were verified by the ACC department of Government Relations as valid, which number of signatures exceeds the 5% of the registered voters required by Section 130.065 of the Texas Education Code.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ACCORDINGLY FOUND, DECLARED, AND RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT THAT:

 

                Section 1.                               The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District is within the service area of Austin Community College District.  The San Marcos Independent School District had 37,952 registered voters at the last General Election.

 

                Section 2.                               Nineteen hundred and sixty-three (1963) of the resident qualified voters of the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District validly petitioned for an election to be held to determine whether the territory of the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District can be annexed into the Austin Community College District.  The Board hereby finds and determines that the petition in all aspects is in conformity with the law, that more than 5% of the resident, registered voters at the last General Election have signed the petition and that, therefore, the Board can call said annexation election on a uniform election date that is not less than 62 days after the date of the Order calling said election.

 

Section 3. Preamble Incorporation.  The recitals contained in the preamble hereof are hereby found to be true, and such recitals are hereby made a part of this Resolution Order for all purposes and are adopted as part of the judgment and findings of the Board.

 

Section 4.               Inconsistent Provisions.  All orders and resolutions, or parts thereof, which are in conflict or inconsistent with any provision of this Resolution are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict, and the provisions of this Resolution shall be and remain controlling as to the matters ordered herein. 

 

Section 5.               Governing Law.  This Resolution shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and the United States of America.

 

Section 6.               Severability.  If any provision of this Resolution or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held to be invalid, the remainder of this Resolution and the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall nevertheless be valid, and the Board hereby declares that this Resolution would have been enacted without such invalid provision.

 

Section 7.               Notice of Meeting.  The Board officially finds, determines, recites and declares that written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which this Resolution is adopted was posted on a bulletin board located at a place convenient to the public at the District’s administrative offices for at least 72 hours preceding the scheduled time of the meeting; that a telephonic or telegraphic notice of such meeting was given to all news media who have consented to pay any and all expenses incurred by the District in connection with providing such notice, both as required by the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended; and that such meeting was open to the public as required by law at all times during which this Resolution and the subject matter thereof was discussed, considered and formally acted upon.

 

Section 8.               Authorization to Execute.  The President of the Board is authorized to execute and the Secretary of the Board is authorized to attest this Resolution on behalf of the Board; and the President of the Board is authorized to do all other things legal and necessary in connection with the holding and consummation of the Election.

 

Section 9.               Effective Date.  This Resolution is effective immediately upon its passage and approval.

 

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]


 

PASSED AND APPROVED______________________, 2006.

 

___________________________________

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                President, Board of Trustees

 

ATTEST:

 

___________________________

Secretary, Board of Trustees

 

* * * * *

 

New Business:

 

Agenda Item 8165

FY05 External Audit/Management Letter

Dr. Mink introduced the item and Ben Ferrell stated the Texas Higher Education Code 61.065(a) requires each public community/junior college to be audited by independent Certified Public Accountants in accordance with the approved reporting system developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.  The independent auditors’ engagement was with the Board of Trustees, rather than with the College’s administration; consequently the auditors addressed the report to the Board.

 

Mr. Wayne McConnell and Mr. Eric Eaton of McConnell & Jones, CPA’s, Houston, Texas, presented information concerning the External Audit/Management Letter.  Mr. McConnell stated there were two changes to accounting policies including depreciating library books and reclassification of State appropriations from the Operating category into the Non-Operating category.  He commended Mr. Ben Ferrell and Ms. Leslie Sabin, Controller, for their work.

 

Mr. Eaton presented a summarization of the audit and stated the audit gave Austin Community College an unqualified (“clean”) opinion.  The unqualified opinion assures the Board that the financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the District as of August 31, 2005, and were prepared in conformity with applicable accounting and auditing standards for governmental colleges and universities in the United States.  Mr. Eaton presented information regarding the management letter citing two recommendations:  (1) regarding monitoring and tracking of assets as they move within departments and updating of the status in Datatel should be limited to the receiving department; and (2) a computer system control was initiated to prevent change of name for payees/vendors.  Mr. Eaton responded to questions from Trustees regarding:  date of the management letter; the importance of submission to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by December 31; automated system in place; performance of work in August, interim report in November, and final report in December should be included on Board’s work plan.

 

Trustees commended the work of the auditors and staff and expressed appreciation for the clean audit. 


Agenda Item 8166

Proposed Contract for HVAC Supplies and Equipment

Dr. Mink introduced the item. Mr. Ferrell provided information regarding the need for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) supplies and equipment in order to maintain HVAC equipment at ACC facilities.  He stated that the College issued an Invitation to Bid, responses were received and reviewed.  Mr. Ferrell advised that staff recommended that the Board of Trustees award contracts to two respondents:  The Trane Company and Insco Distributing Company.  Mr. Ferrell, Mr. Gilbert Rodriguez, Director of Purchasing; and Mr. Don Lumas, HVAC Supervisor, responded to questions from Trustees concerning aging equipment and the need for adequate supplies available for repairs and replacements.   

 

This item will appear on the agenda for possible action at the February 13, 2006, Board meeting.

 

The agenda was reordered.

 

Agenda Item 8168

Contract for Election Services for Board of Trustees

Dr. Mink introduced the item and Ms. Linda Young, Special Assistant to the President for Governmental and Community Relations, stated the Travis County Elections division proposed to contract election services for ACC jointly with Travis County and Austin Independent School District for the May 13, 2006, election.  She called attention to the proposed contract which would provide election services for all of the ACC district within Travis County.  A second contract with Williamson County for the Board of Trustees’ election would be necessary for those areas within ACC’s tax district but out of Travis County.  She stated discussions are pending with Williamson County Elections division for the second services contract that would be necessary to provide complete election services for the election.  Ms. Young responded to Trustees concerning the contract expiration date, use of ACC Campuses as polling places, machine and ballot voting, and possible changes in the contract from “will” to “may”.

 

This item will be included on the agenda of the February 13, 2006, Regular Board meeting, for possible action.

 

Agenda Item 8167

ACC/AISD College and Career Preparatory Program,

Interlocal Agreement, September 1, 2006August 31, 2007

Dr. Mink introduced the item and Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, College President, provided information concerning the proposed Interlocal Agreement between Austin Community College (ACC) and the Austin Independent School District (AISD) to continue operations of the College and Career Preparatory Program (CCPP).

 

ACC and AISD have established several strong partnerships to increase high school-to-college opportunities for students.  One of the most successful of these is the CCPP program implemented in July 2003.  A core feature of the program is that ACC serves as the contractor for AISD’s college and career programs and, in particular, the Career and Technology Education program.  Because the CCPP program has been highly satisfactory to both institutions, ACC and AISD staff propose to continue the CCPP program beyond the current contract termination date of August 31, 2006, through an Interlocal Agreement in the amount of  $2,025,265 for the period of September 1, 2006, through August 31, 2009.  The Interlocal Agreement may be extended for additional three-year terms based upon mutual consent of both institutions.  The proposed Interlocal Agreement requires approval by both institutions’ Boards of Trustees. 

 

This item will be included on the agenda of the February 13, 2006, Regular Board meeting, for possible action.

 

Agenda Item 8169

Policy Compliance Report:  E-2, Provision of College Facilities

Dr. Mink introduced the item and Mr. Ben Ferrell provided information noting the governing board hired an external consultant to assist in expanding the facilities master plan.  The consultant study is expected to be completed in September 2006 and will help expand the detail of the ACC Master Plan, as well as help to formulate recommendations for future bond programs.  He noted that staff prepared the report in the format of Board Policy E-2 with comments following each element.  Internally there is a Facilities Committee which is part of ACC’s shared governance structure in which employee and student organizations have representatives which serve on the committee and which assists in identifying and prioritizing facilities-related projects.  Mr. Ferrell and Mr. Mullane responded to questions from Trustees regarding the data provided and the direction in which a future campus might be needed; the need to look not only at where people live, but also where they work; and areas of future growth;

 

Trustees expressed appreciation to Mr. Ferrell and staff for the information provided.

 

Agenda Item 8170

Policy Compliance Report:  A-5, Service Area Responsibilities

Dr. Mink stated discussion of this item was postponed until a future meeting.

 

Executive Session

There was no Executive Session.

 

Announcements

There were no announcements.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the January 23, 2006, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

Approved By

Jeffrey Richard, Secretary