MINUTES

Regular Meeting – Board of Trustees

July 6, 2009

 

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 6, 2009, at 6:10 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. Nan McRaven, Chair/Presiding Officer; Ms. Veronica Rivera, Board Vice Chair; Dr. Barbara P. Mink, Board Secretary; Mr. Raul Alvarez; Mr. John-Michael Cortez; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Mr. Tim Mahoney; Dr. James W. McGuffee; and Mr. Jeffrey Richard.

 

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 for Workforce Education and Business Development, introduced and provided information on Mr. Gene Binder, ACC Stimulus Response Officer.

·        Ms. Brette Lea, ACC Executive Director of Public Information and College Marketing, introduced Ms. Alexis Patterson, ACC Media Relations Coordinator.

 

Citizens Communication

The following individuals registered and addressed the Board:

·        Mr. A. Hooser, citizen, spoke regarding taxes for senior citizens.

·        Ms. Nicole Bell, President-Elect of ACC Classified Employees Association, spoke regarding parking fee increase.

Mr. Domingo Alba, ACC employee, expressed personal concerns related to several personnel matters.

 

Reports from Associations

·        Adjunct Faculty Association – Mr. Don Morris, President, spoke concerning dialogue between the Association and ACC administration regarding the compensation plan.

·        Classified Employees Association – Ms. Suzanne Ortiz, President, spoke regarding surveys and a recent poll of the Association members regarding compensation.

·        Full-Time Faculty Senate – Dr. Dan Dydek, President, spoke regarding compensation the dedication of faculty/staff to ACC.

·        Professional-Technical Employees Association – Dr. Susan Thomason, President, spoke regarding compensation, Board Policy F-10, and classification.

·        Student Government AssociationMr. Joshua Bacak, President, provided information regarding SGA travel, ACC One card fee, parking fees, and sustainability fee and information requested from ACC administration.

 

President’s Report

Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, College President/CEO, advised that he would respond to the Board regarding Mr. Alba’s comments.  Dr. Kinslow provided information regarding “Achieving the Dream” and spoke regarding the comments made by Mr. Bacak.  He stated the Sustainability Fee would begin in January 2010.

 

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. 

·        Financial Report – May 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 $5.0 million in Net Revenues & Expenses, and a $10.6 million increase in Net Assets.

o       Summer enrollments were up 18.7%.  Spring enrollments were up by 12.5%.  Fall SCH enrollments were up 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 $1.5 million.

In summary, adjusting revenues up by $4.7 million and expenses down by $0.3 million, Net Revenues over Expenses projected a budget surplus of about $5.0 million and an increase in Total Net Assets of about $10.6 million.  Cash and investments were in line at approximately $192 million, including $116 million in bond proceeds.  Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees.

·        Report on June ACC Foundation Board Meeting – Trustee Raul Alvarez stated the meetings of the Foundation Board have been very efficient with increased memberships and 3-4 additional scholarships.  He stated that the Foundation Board is currently at about 50% of its goal.  Trustee Alvarez stated there were currently two or three vacancies on the Foundation Board and suggested that anyone interested should contact him or Mr. Tom Gallagher.  He called attention to naming opportunities for ACC facilities.  Chair McRaven expressed appreciation to Trustees Alvarez and Barbara Mink for serving on the Foundation Board.


CONSENT ITEM(S)

Chair McRaven introduced the Consent Agenda.

 

Agenda Item 8599

Minutes of the June 1, 2009, Regular Meeting and

June 15, 2009, Work Session of the Austin Community

College District Board of Trustees

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the Minutes as presented.

 

Trustees Tim Mahoney moved and Barbara P. Mink seconded that:

MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda Item 8599, Minutes of the June 1, 2009, Regular Meeting and June 15, 2009, Work Session of the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 9-0 on the Minutes of the June 1, 2009, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees.

FOR:  Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST:  None.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a vote of 8-0 on the Minutes of the June 15, 2009, Work Session of the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees.

FOR:  Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSTAIN:  Jeffrey Richard.

 

DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION

 

Agenda Item 8600

Adoption of Master Plan 2010-2012

Chair McRaven introduced the item.  Ms. Soon Merz, Associate Vice President, Effectiveness and Accountability, presented information regarding the Master Plan and responded to questions from Trustees.

 

Trustees James W. McGuffee moved and Barbara P. Mink seconded that:

MOTION: The Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District adopt the Master Plan 2010-2012.

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

FOR:  Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST:  None.

 

Chair McRaven stated Agenda Item 8602  would be discussed prior to the anticipated lengthy discussion of Agenda Item 8601.


Agenda Item 8602

Selection of Delivery Method and Delegation

of Authority to Enter into Contracts for Miscellaneous

Campus Improvement Construction Projects

·        District-wide Fencing of Storm Water –

Detention Ponds                          

Chair McRaven introduced the item and Mr. Ben Ferrell provided information regarding the project.

Trustees James W. McGuffee moved and Tim Mahoney seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees delegate authority to the President to enter into contract for the District-wide Fencing of Storm Water Detention Ponds and select the Interlocal Contract Delivery Method.

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

FOR:  Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

Against:  None.

 

Agenda Item 8601

FY2010 Budget Adoption

Chair McRaven introduced the item and Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, College President, stated the budget was balanced and aligned with Master Plan goals.  Mr. Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Finance and Administration, provided an overview of the budget.  Dr. Kinslow and Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees. 

 

Trustees John-Michael Cortez moved and Allen H. Kaplan seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve a $1 per semester credit hour fee for sustainability beginning in Spring 2010 as a part of the FY 2010 Budget.

Trustees discussed the proposed sustainability/parking fees.

 

Trustees Veronica Rivera moved and Jeffrey Richard seconded that:

SUBSTITUTE MOTION:  ACC fund a pilot program for bus passes in the amount of $750,000, and that staff be allowed to find the funds within the 2010 Budget.

Trustees discussed the Substitute Motion.

VOTE:  The Substitute Motion failed on a vote of 1-8.

FOR:  Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST:  Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, and Jeffrey Richard.

 

VOTE ON ORIGINAL MOTION:  The original motion passed on a vote of 5-4.

FOR:  James W. McGuffee, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, Jeffrey Richard.

AGAINST:  Raul Alvarez, Barbara Mink, Nan McRaven, and Veronica Rivera.

 

Trustees Tim Mahoney moved and John-Michael Cortez seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees increase the current parking fee of $10 to the following rates for FY2010:   Administrators - $50; Full-Time Faculty - $40; Staff—Professional/Technical - $35; Staff—Classified - $30; Adjunct Faculty/Hourly - $20; Students - $15.

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

FOR:  Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

Against:  None.

 

Trustees Barbara P. Mink moved and Jeffrey Richard seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District approve a 2% across-the-Board salary increase for all employees in the FY 2010 Budget beginning September 2009.

Trustees commented on compensation for employees.

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

FOR:  Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST:  None.

 

Trustee Mahoney discussed and distributed information concerning a Wellness Program.  Dr. Kinslow stated ACC has had a Wellness Program for two years and this topic would be discussed during the coming year.

 

Trustees James McGuffee moved and Barbara P. Mink seconded that :

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve and adopt the FY 2010 Budget, including the motions passed during this meeting.

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

FOR:  Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST:  None.

 

Trustees expressed appreciation for the comments provided during the budget process, for the work of Ben Ferrell and Neil Vickers on the budget, and for the Board’s support of the 2% employee increase for FY 2010.

 

Executive Session

There was no Executive Session.

 

Adjournment

There were no announcements.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the July 6, 2009, meeting of the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

 

Approved By:

Dr. Barbara P. Mink, Board Secretary