MINUTES
Regular
Meeting – Board of Trustees
July 9, 2007
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, July 9, 2007, at 6:05 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: Mr.
John F. Hernandez, Chair/Presiding Officer; Ms. Nan McRaven, Board Vice Chair;
Mr. James W. McGuffee, Board Secretary; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Ms. Nan McRaven;
Mr. Barbara P. Mink; Mr. Jeffrey Richard [arrived at 6:07 p.m.]; and Ms.
Veronica Rivera. Trustee Lillian J.
Davis was absent from 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.
Recognitions
·
New Employees – There were no new employees.
·
Student Profile – Mr. Mike Midgley, Vice President for
Workforce Education and Business Development, introduced Ms. Chris Ihorn, ACC
Real Estate student. Ms. Ihorn, provided
information regarding her career change and her real estate classes at
·
Report on Achievements and Recognitions – Ms. Brette
Lea, Executive Director of Public Information and College Marketing, presented the Kudos Report and called
attention to recent awards/recognitions received by faculty/programs, staff,
students, and the Austin Community College District.
Citizens
Communication
The
following persons addressed the Board of Trustees:
·
Ms. Marilyn Snipes, citizen/AARP Chapter 2700,
spoke regarding tax exemption for seniors.
Reports from
Associations
·
Adjunct Faculty Association – Ms. Mary Gilmer,
President, Adjunct Faculty Association, spoke regarding ACC Fiscal Year 2008
budget cuts; compensation; health benefits; and shared governance.
·
Classified Employees Association – Ms. Kathy
Judge, President, spoke regarding the Fiscal Year 2008 ACC budget.
·
Full-Time Faculty Senate – Ms. Linda Welsh,
President, distributed information and expressed appreciation for the delay in
discussion of Board Policy D-4, Assessment, Placement, & Developmental
Courses, and spoke regarding the FY2008 budget; 2008 Master Plan; and
facilities. She expressed appreciation
for having had the opportunity to represent the Full-Time Faculty Senate during
the past year.
·
Professional-Technical Employees–
Ms. Judy Van Cleve, President, spoke regarding Fiscal Year 2008 budget
recommendations and expressed appreciation to the Board for their work during
the past year.
·
Student Government
Association – Mr. Ivan Doyle, Vice President, spoke regarding the Fiscal
Year 2008 budget and activities of the Association.
President’s
Report
Dr. Stephen B.
Kinslow, College President, advised that he would postpone his report due to
the length of the agenda.
Reports to the Board
·
Facilities Update – Mr. Bill Mullane, Director of
Facilities and Construction, called attention to current construction and
renovation projects, GO Tax Bond Projects, Usage of Interest Earnings,
District-Wide Renovations Details and Other Projects. Mr. Mullane responded to questions from
Trustees.
·
Financial Report – May 2007 – Mr. Ben Ferrell, Vice
President, Business Services, called attention to the information provided
including: (1) the College’s budget was
on track and projecting approximately $5.3 million increase in Unrestricted Net
Assets, and a $5.9 million increase in Total Net Assets; (2) Fall & Spring
enrollments were up about 4.2%. Summer
enrollments were up 3.2%. This exceeds
original projections of 2% growth; therefore, tuition revenues were projected
to exceed budget by $1.8 million. As for
expenses, Adjunct Faculty and Overloads were expected to exceed original FY07
estimates due to the increased enrollments and vacancies in Full-Time Faculty
Salaries. Total salaries were projected
to be under budget by about $0.3 million.
In summary,
adjusting revenues by $5.7 million and expenses by $0.4 million, Net Revenues
over Expenses projected a budget surplus of about $5.3 million and an increase
in Total Net Assets of about $5.9 million.
Cash and investments were in line at approximately $98 million,
including $39 million in bond proceeds.
CONSENT ITEM(S)
Mr. Hernandez
introduced the Consent Items:
Agenda Item 8339
Proposed Approval of Minutes of
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the
minutes as presented.
Agenda Item 8340
Board Policy D-4, Assessment, Placement, & Developmental
Courses
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the
revised Board Policy D-4, Assessment, Placement, and Developmental Courses.
Agenda Item 8341
Renumbering of Board Policies: A-4, Tuition Rates (move to G-9); E-3,
Economic Analysis (move to G-10); E-6, Investments (move to G-11); E-8,
Auxiliary Enterprises (move to G-12), and Re-Title Board Policy Group G, Budgeting,
to District Finances
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the
renumbering of Board policies as presented.
Agenda Item 8342
Board Policy G-7, Property Taxes
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve increasing
the Elderly or Disabled exemption by $10,000 per year to achieve an exemption
goal of 60% of the median home value of a senior or disabled taxpayer in the
District.
Agenda Item 8343
Adoption of Master Plan 2008-2010
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees adopt the Master
Plan 2008-2010.
Chair John
Hernandez stated Agenda Item 8340, Board Policy D-4, Assessment, Placement,
& Developmental Courses was pulled from the July 9 agenda and would be
included on a future agenda.
Pulled from the
Consent agenda:
·
Trustee Veronica Rivera pulled Agenda Item 8341 for
discussion.
·
Trustees Allen Kaplan pulled Agenda Item 8342 for
discussion.
·
Trustee Rafael Quintanilla pulled 8343 and requested that
vote on this item be delayed until after vote on the FY08 Budget.
Agenda Item 8339
Proposed Approval of Minutes of
Trustees Barbara Mink moved and Allen Kaplan seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of
Trustees approve minutes of the June 4, 2007, Regular Meeting; June 18, 2007,
Special Meeting; and June 18, 2007, Work Session of the Austin Community
College District Board of Trustees
VOTE: The motion
passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR: John Hernandez;
Allen Kaplan, James McGuffee, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Jeffrey
Richard, and Veronica Rivera.
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee
Lillian J. Davis was absent from the meeting.
Trustee
Trustee Rivera
requested that Value Statements be added to Board Policies G-10, Economic
Analysis, and G-12, Auxiliary Enterprises.
Agenda Item 8341
Renumber of Board Policies A-4, Tuition Rates (move to G-9);
E-3, Economic Analyses (moved to G-10); E-6, Investments (move to G-11); E-8,
Auxiliary Enterprises (move to G-12), and Re-title Policy Group G, Budgeting,
to District Finances
Trustees Veronica Rivera moved and Jeffrey Richard seconded
that:
MOTION: The Board of
Trustees approve the renumbering of Board Policies A-4, Tuition rates, to G-9;
E-3, Economic Analyses, to G-10, with the addition of a Values Statement; E-6,
Investments, to G-11; E-8, Auxiliary Enterprises, to G-12, with the addition of
a Values Statement; and Re-title of Group G, Budgeting, to District Finances.
Trustee
James McGuffee requested a Friendly Amendment:
FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT TO MOTION: That the Board of
Trustees direct the Administration to draft Value Statements to be added to
Board Policies G-10, Economic Analyses, and G-12, Economic Enterprises.
Trustees
Rivera and Richard accepted the Friendly Amendment.
VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
FOR: John Hernandez;
Allen Kaplan, James McGuffee, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Jeffrey
Richard, and Veronica Rivera.
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee
Lillian J. Davis was absent from the meeting.
Trustee
Agenda Item 8342
Board Policy G-7, Property Taxes
Trustees Allen Kaplan moved and James McGuffee seconded
that:
MOTION: The Board of
Trustees approve the proposed revisions to Board Policy G-7, Property Taxes,
and also delete paragraph [4]:
[4] The Austin Community College District shall
participate in the system of tax reductions for properties designated as
historical landmarks. The exemption shall be at the following rates:
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Trustees discussed
the continuing need for citizens to be aware of possible Board action on this
item.
Trustees
MOTION: Agenda Item
8342, Board Policy G-7, Property Taxes, be tabled.
The motion passed on a vote of 6-2.
FOR: John Hernandez,
Allen Kaplan,
AGAINST: James
McGuffee, Jeffrey Richard.
ABSENT: Trustee
Lillian J. Davis was absent from the meeting.
DISUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
Agenda Item 8344
Acceptance of Land Donation and Approval to
Board Chair John Hernandez introduced the item.
Executive Session
The
Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District recessed into
Executive Session at
Reconvene
The Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College
District reconvened in Public Session at
Agenda Item 8344
Acceptance of Land Donation and Approval to
(continued)
Trustees
Veronica Rivera moved and
MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve the Letter of
Intent with the renegotiation of
Sections 4b,10, 13, and 14 as discussed with the Administration.
VOTE: The motion passed unanimously on a vote of
8-0.
FOR: John Hernandez;
Allen Kaplan, James McGuffee,
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee
Lillian J. Davis was absent from the meeting.
Trustees Jeffrey Richard moved and
MOTION: The Board of
Trustees authorize staff to negotiate a purchase agreement with respect to this
real estate matter.
Trustee Rivera requested a Friendly Amendment.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Negotiations
into purchase agreement upon execution of Letter of Intent.
The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 8-0.
FOR: John Hernandez;
Allen Kaplan, James McGuffee,
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee
Lillian J. Davis was absent from the meeting.
Agenda Item 8345
Proposed Adoption of FY08 Budget
Board Chair John Hernandez introduced the item and Dr.
Stephen B. Kinslow, College President, provided information concerning the
proposed Fiscal Year 2008 Budget and the Governor’s recent veto of staff
benefits for community colleges.
Trustees
Allen Kaplan moved and
MOTION: The Board of Trustees adopt the proposed
Fiscal Year 2008 Budget with a $5 increase in Student Fee per credit hour.
Trustee
FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT: To add to the Motion that the
Board of Trustees will look at the Student Fee increase in Spring 2008.
Trustee
Kaplan accepted the Friendly Amendment.
Trustees
Rafael Quintanilla moved and Barbara P. Mink seconded that:
SUBSTITUTE
MOTION: The Board of Trustees adopt the
budget of June 4, 2007, which was $178.3 million which is a $2 million increase
from the May 7 budget, and $1,750,000 for new money requests; $300,000 for additional Marketing money;
$400,000 for Student Success Initiatives; $500,000 of money for Capital
Equipment and Technology; $500,000 for Campus Master Planning; $3,000,000 in
Institutional Advancement = $178.386,000.
Propose to add $3.5 million to the $178,386,000 = $181.8 million, and
also add another $.5 million for the Administration to allocate where they feel
is the most need. This would total
$182.3 million. To pay for that, there
was $178,000,000 in projected revenues as of
Trustee
Jeffrey Richard requested a Friendly Amendment.
FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT TO SUBSTITUTE MOTION: That the
Board of Trustees adopt the President’s budget of
Trustees discussed a possible $2-3 dollar
increase in the General Fee and the implications.
Trustee
McRaven withdrew her support for the original motion and moved that:
NEW
MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve
the July 9, 2007, Fiscal Year 2008 Budget to increase the General Fee by $2 per
semester credit hour (from $13 to $15) for all students, and tuition for
In-District students - $39 per credit hour; Out-District students - $118 per
credit hour; and $276 per credit hour for Out-of-State students. The Administration was requested to determine
how to fund the $2.1 gap, including the $3.8 veto by the Governor.
Trustee
Veronica Rivera seconded the Motion and requested a Friendly Amendment.
FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT: That the proposed fee
increase be a $2 increase in the General Fee.
Trustee
McRaven accepted the Friendly Amendment.
Trustees discussed the proposed fee
increase versus a tuition increase and clarified that this fee increase was for
all ACC students. President Kinslow
indicated cuts would be made to Institutional Advancement, Master Plan
Initiatives, and Deferred Maintenance.
Trustee
Allen Kaplan requested a Friendly Amendment.
FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT: That the Administration not
cut Master Plan Initiatives, and look for cuts to Institutional Advancement and
Deferred Maintenance.
Trustee
McRaven did not accept the Friendly Amendment.
VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 6-2.
FOR: John Hernandez;
AGAINST: Allen
Kaplan, James McGuffee.
ABSENT: Trustee
Lillian J. Davis was absent from the meeting.
Agenda Item 8343
Adoption of FY08 Master Plan
Board Chair John Hernandez introduced the item and Ms.
Soon Merz, Associate Vice President for Effectiveness and Accountability,
provided information and responded to questions from Trustees.
Trustees
Rafael Quintanilla moved and Barbara Mink seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees adopt the Fiscal Year
2008 Master Plan.
VOTE: The motion passed unanimously on a vote of
8-0.
FOR: John Hernandez;
Allen Kaplan, James McGuffee,
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee
Lillian J. Davis was absent from the meeting.
Agenda Item 8346
Presentations by Architects/Engineers for the
Board Chair John Hernandez introduced the item and Ben
Ferrell provided information.
Presentations were made by the architects/engineers finalists for the
Rio Grande Campus Gymnasium Building Renovation pursuant to the approved 2003
Facilities Master Plan as amended February 5, 2007: ERO International, LLP; BLGY, Inc.; and
ARCHITEXAS.
Trustees expressed appreciation for the presentations.
Agenda Item 8347
Presentations by Architects/Engineer for the
Board Chair John Hernandez introduced the item and Ben
Ferrell provided information.
Presentations were made by the architects/engineers finalists for the
Rio Grande Campus New Parking Garage pursuant to the approved 2003 Facilities
Master Plan as amended February 5, 2007:
Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects; Tanigchi & Associates (Joint
Venture); and PROZIGN Architects.
Trustees expressed appreciation for the presentations.
Adjournment
Having
no motion before the Board, the July 9, 2007, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community
College District Board of Trustees was adjourned at
Approved By
James
W. McGuffee, Board Secretary