MINUTES
Regular
Meeting – Board of Trustees
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, March 2, 2009, at 6:07 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: Ms.
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
·
Mr. Mike Midgley,
ACC Vice President, introduced Ms. Shayna Lee, ACC student in the Alternative
Renewable Energy Associate Degree program, a Capital Idea student, and mother
of 4 children. She stated that she began
the program in January 2008 with a 5- month-old baby, 4-year-old son,
6-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter.
She stated that she entered ACC with a lot of pressure due to family
circumstances. She expressed
appreciation for the assistance of Workforce and Capital Idea and stated that
she would graduate, do well, and secure the future for her family. She expects to be a major player in the
future of renewable energy. Ms. Lee
stated that she has wanted to play a major role in sustainability for many
years. She responded to questions from
Trustees.
Citizens
Communication
The following individuals were
registered to address the Board:
·
Mr. Daniel White,
·
Ms. Ann Palmer, ACC employee, spoke regarding pictures of the President
and various role models.
·
Mr. Jon Lucksteade, Secretary of Full-Time Faculty Association, spoke
regarding Board Policy F-10, Employee Compensation.
Reports from
Associations
·
Adjunct Faculty Association – Mr. Don Morris, President, invited
attendance at a
·
Classified Employees Association – Ms. Suzanne Ortiz, President, spoke
regarding Board Policy F-10, Employee Compensation.
·
Full-Time Faculty Senate – Dr. Dan Dydek, President, spoke regarding Board
Policy F-10, Employee Compensation, and the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.
·
Professional-Technical Employees Association – Ms. Susan
Thomason, President, expressed appreciation to Trustees Kaplan, Mahoney, and
Rivera for attending the Association’s February 27, 2009, meeting and spoke regarding
Board Policy F-10, Employee Compensation, and the Association’s “You Rock ACC”
project.
·
Student Government Association – Mr. Adam
Oliphant, Vice President, introduced Petra Ferarza, Director of Communications for the Association and
also the Public Information Officer for ACC’s honor society, Phi Theta
Kappa. Mr. Oliphant called attention to SGA
activities and SGA’s lobbying agenda; expressed appreciation to Alicia del Rio
for assistance in the legislative session and to Trustee Mahoney for attending
the Black Out event; and provided information regarding upcoming SGA activities
and events.
President’s
Report
Dr. Stephen B.
Kinslow, College President/CEO, provided information on ACC Spring enrollments,
minority increases, and growth of campuses and programs.
Reports to the Board
·
Facilities Update – Mr. Bill Mullane, Executive Director
of Facilities and Construction, called attention to current construction and
renovation projects, GO Tax Bond Projects, District-Wide Renovation Projects,
and Detailed Usage of Interest Earnings. There were no questions from Trustees. He stated that the Guaranteed Maximum Price
was received from SpawGlass
Contractors, Inc., for the Round Rock Campus and noted that ACC would receive a very
favorable price.
·
Financial Report – January 2009 – Mr. Ben
Ferrell, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration, called attention
to the information provided including:
o Based on current
information, the College’s budget was on track and projecting a positive $5.8
million in Net Revenues & Expenses, and an $11.4 million increase in Net Assets.
o Spring enrollments
were up 12.5%. Fall SCH enrollments were
up about 5.0%. This exceeded the
original projections of 2% growth, and therefore tuition revenues were
projected to be above budget.
o As for expenses,
Adjunct Faculty and Overloads were projected to slightly exceed original
estimates due to the increased enrollments and vacancies in Full-Time Faculty
Salaries. This would be offset by
increased tuition revenues and lapsed salaries in Full-Time Faculty. Total salaries were projected to be under
budget by $1.8 million.
In summary, adjusting
revenues up by $4.6 million and expenses down by $1.2 million, Net Revenues
over Expenses projected a budget surplus of about $5.8 million and an increase
in Total Net Assets of about $11.4 million.
Cash and investments were in line at approximately $230 million, including
$128 million in bond proceeds.
·
Report on Northridge and Eastview Campus Forums - Trustees
McGuffee and Mahoney provided comments from the Northridge Campus Forum
including pedestrian access to the Northridge Campus. Trustee Mahoney noted that approximately
50-60 persons attended the Eastview Campus Forum and discussed several issues.
·
Report on February ACC Foundation Board Meeting – Trustee
Barbara Mink stated that the Foundation is in the middle of a 4-4-4 fundraising
campaign--4 years for 400 scholarships for $1,000,000. The Foundation has raised $496,000. Four new scholarships were announced at the
February meeting: $15,000 from the
·
Legislative Update - Ms. Linda Young, Special Assistant to
the President for External Affairs, stated that Mark Strama and Rodney Ellis
have introduced legislation since the March 4 press conference about energy held
at the ACC Riverside Campus on the establishment and funding of the green job
skills training program; ACC Student Government President Brad Burnett
testified on March 2 regarding tax exemptions for textbooks. Ms. Young stated that on the state-level, the
Texas Association of Community Colleges has called attention to House Bill 2083
with a companion Senate Bill 41 by Senator Zafferini regarding proportionality;
the TACC website has an update entitled “advocates network” with additional
information; at the federal level, the American Association of Community
Colleges has posted governmental information on their website. Ms. Young presented a brief slide show on the
Stimulus Package of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
·
Report on
Trustees Cortez
and Mahoney reported that the meeting was a great experience and it was especially
interesting to be there at the end of the Stimulus package legislation. Chair McRaven noted that Brad Burnett, SGA
President from ACC, presented information, and members and staffers heard what
he had to say. Trustee Kaplan stated
that the ACCT Legislative Summit was the most receptive he had ever seen; the
whole atmosphere of Washington and the new Secretary of Education were
extremely positive about the money placed in higher education, especially for
community colleges; the Stimulus discussion was very interesting; and
participation by ACC student Joshua Bacak was very impressive as he presented
information at the Summit and articulated about community colleges and veterans
education. Meetings were scheduled throughout
and results are beginning to show for community colleges and especially for
ACC. ACC is on the cutting edge of
sustainability and is being recognized throughout the country. Appreciation was expressed to Linda Young,
ACC staff, and ACC students.
CONSENT ITEM(S)
Chair McRaven
introduced the Consent Agenda.
Agenda Item 8563
Minutes of the
and
of the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the Minutes
as presented.
Trustees Barbara P. Mink moved and Tim Mahoney seconded
that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda Item
8563, Minutes of the February 2, 2009, Regular Meeting and
February 18, 2009, Board Forum of the Austin Community College District Board
of Trustees.
VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 8-0.
FOR: Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James
McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, and Jeffrey Richard.
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee
Veronica Rivera.
DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION
Agenda Item 8564
Selection of Delivery Method and
Delegation of Authority to Enter into
Contracts for Miscellaneous Campus
Improvement Construction Projects
·
Riverside Campus,
Building G,
Building Exterior Improvements
·
Riverside Campus,
Building G,
Roofing System Improvements
Chair McRaven
introduced the item and Mr. Ben Ferrell provided information.
Trustees Raul Alvarez moved and Tim Mahoney seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of
Trustees select the Interlocal Contract Method and delegate authority to the
President to enter into a contract for Building Exterior Improvements to
Building G at the
VOTE: The motion
passed on a vote of 8-0.
FOR: Raul
Alvarez, John-Michael
Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P.
Mink, and Jeffrey Richard.
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee
Veronica Rivera.
Trustees Raul Alvarez moved and Tim Mahoney seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of
Trustees select the Interlocal Contract Method and delegate authority to the
President to enter into a contract for Roofing System Improvements to Building
G at the
VOTE: The motion
passed on a vote of 8-0.
FOR: Raul
Alvarez, John-Michael
Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P.
Mink, and Jeffrey Richard.
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee
Veronica Rivera.
Agenda Item 8565
Policy Compliance Report:
C-6, College-Community Linkages
Chair McRaven
introduced the item and Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, College President/CEO, provided
information and called attention to ACC’s Communication Overview and Master
Plan Linkages; Overview of College/Community Linkages, ACC Board Policy C-6,
Implementation; Summary of External Partnership Activities, 2008-09; Summary of
External Partnerships Receiving ACC Facilities Support; Criteria for Staff
Evaluation of Partnership Requests; and Board Policy C-6, College-Community
Linkages. Dr. Kinslow responded to
questions from Trustees.
Dr. Kinslow and
Trustees expressed appreciation for the networking which occurs with each
partnership.
Agenda Item 8566
Discussion of Campus Advisory Committees
Chair McRaven
introduced the item and Dr. Kinslow stated that this was to continue the
discussion regarding campus advisory committees which began at last year’s
Board Retreat. Trustees discussed the
Description and Purpose and Overview of Campus Advisory Committees, the Process
for Appointments, and Membership Lists.
Dr. Kinslow
thanked Trustees for the discussion and stated staff would make suggestions for
the committees. He stated that he would
work with Trustees Mahoney and Mink and forward information back to the
Board. He expressed the need to have the
revised model in place by late April 2009.
Agenda Item 8567
Transportation Planning Discussion
Chair McRaven
introduced the item and Mr. Ben Ferrell, Executive Vice President for Finance
and Administration, stated that the
ACC Master Plan calls for both additional parking to address significant
parking limitations at ACC Campuses, and includes examining options to reduce
parking demand through greater use of transportation alternatives including
mass transit, carpooling, and other alternatives to reduce parking demand. Staff has been exploring options with the
Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority (Cap Metro) to enhance options for
students, faculty, and staff. Mr.
Ferrell stated that staff has met with Cap Metro regarding destinations and
origin that they would need to look at patterns to serve ACC campuses. Cap Metro indicated that the data would be
available by mid-April. Chair McRaven
stated that this item would be included on the agenda of a future Board meeting.
Agenda Item 8568
Approval to Purchase Additional Land for
the
Chair McRaven
introduced the item.
Agenda Item 8569
Authorization to Negotiate for Real Estate in the Vicinity
of
Chair McRaven
introduced the item.
Executive Session
The Board of
Trustees of the Austin Community College District recessed into Executive
Session on Monday, March 2, 2009, at 8:45 p.m. to consult with Legal Counsel regarding
the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, including real estate
in the vicinity of the ACC Rio Grande Campus, real estate in the vicinity of
Bastrop, Texas, real estate in the vicinity of Kyle/Buda, Texas, and potential
negotiations for purchase of property pursuant to Government Code 551.072.
Reconvene
The Board of
Trustees reconvened in public session pursuant to Texas Government Code,
Chapter 551, at
Agenda Item 8568
Approval to Purchase Additional Land for
the
Chair McRaven
introduced the item.
Trustees McGuffee moved and Allen Kaplan seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve purchase of the
property by the District and authorize the President of the District, or his
designee, to take such action to execute such documents as the President deems
necessary or appropriate to complete the purchase of the property under the
terms set forth in the contract and on such additional terms or conditions as
the President deems necessary or advisable.
VOTE: The motion
passed on a vote of 8-0.
FOR: Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James
McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, and Jeffrey Richard.
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee Veronica
Rivera.
Agenda Item 8569
Authorization to Negotiate for Real
Estate in the
Vicinity of
Chair McRaven
introduced the item.
Trustees Allen Kaplan moved and James McGuffee seconded
that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees authorize the staff to
negotiate for real estate in the vicinity of
VOTE: The motion
passed on a vote of 8-0.
FOR: Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James
McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, and Jeffrey Richard.
AGAINST: None.
ABSENT: Trustee Veronica
Rivera.
Adjournment
Having no motion before the Board, the
Approved By
Dr. James W. McGuffee, Board
Secretary