International Management District Board of Directors met Aug. 26

International Management District Board of Directors met Aug. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

DETERMINE QUORUM; CALL TO ORDER.

The Board of Directors of the International Management District held a regular meeting at 12:00 p.m., via videoconference, with access available to the public pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.125 and Governor Greg Abbott's emergency disaster declaration dated March 13, 2020, and the roll was called of the duly appointed members of the Board, to-wit:

Position 1 - Jay Shani

Position 2 - Fred Bhandara, Vice-Chairman

Position 3 - Karen Loper, Secretary

Position 4 – Thuy Vu

Position 5 - Anness Jensen

Position 6 - H.D. Chambers

Position 7 -Sally A. Reynolds

Position 8 - Stephen Le

Position 9 – Dr. Nancy Mai

Position 10-Owen C. Wang

Position 11 - Wea Lee, Chairman

Position 12 - Escobar Santos

and all of the above were present with the exception of Directors Vu, Reynolds and Mai, thus constituting a quorum. Consultants present were Natali Hurtado, Alice Lee, Annie Trinh, Victor Beserra, and Linda Clayton, all with Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP; Tim Austin, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP; Jack Roland, Governmental Financial Reporting; and Pat Hall, Equi-Tax. Others attending the meeting were Erica Rocha, SEAL Security; Lisa Graiff, Houston Parks Board; Jim Webb and Kirk Myers, The Goodman Corporation; Lawrence Bell, Harris County Pct. 3; Barbara Quattro; Cynthia Young; Skip Reeder; Michelle Bair; Alan Steinberg; and Patricia Gulley. Chairman Lee called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m.

RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Cynthia Young made public comments following up on her comments last month regarding the lack of commercial property owners keeping the parking lots and property clean.

APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD JULY 22, 2021.

Upon a motion made by Director Loper, and seconded by Director Le, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the July 22, 2021, Board meeting, as presented.

RECEIVE ASSESSMENT COLLECTION REPORT.

Ms. Hall presented the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. She reported a 98% collection rate on the 2020 assessments, uncertified values for 2020 in the amount of $789,983 and 166 unsettled accounts. She reported once she receives the certified numbers for 2021, she will provide that information to the Board. No action from the Board was required.

RECEIVE BOOKKEEPER'S REPORT AND APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES.

Mr. Roland presented the Bookkeeper's Report and went over invoices, included in the Board materials. Upon a motion made by Director Loper, and seconded by Director Le, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Bookkeeper's Report and approved payment of invoices, as presented.

RECEIVE PRESENTATION FROM SUPERINTENDENT HD CHAMBERS REGARDING THE ALIEF ISD BOND ELECTION.

Director Chambers acting in his role as Superintendent of Alief ISD provided a presentation on the upcoming Alief ISD Bond 2021-2028 election, and answered questions. A copy of the presentation is included in the Board materials. He provided an overview of the four propositions: (A) General Construction; (B) Other Recreational Facilities; (C) Crump Stadium Upgrades & Maintenance; and (D) Technology Equipment. A motion was made by Director Loper to provide a support letter to Alief ISD for the Bond 2021-2028 Election Propositions. Director Escobar seconded. Directors Shani, Bhandara, Loper, Jensen, Le, Wang, Lee and Escobar voted to provide the support letter. Director Chambers abstained. The motion passed.

CONSIDER RESOLUTION ADDING ADDITIONAL MEETING PLACES.

Ms. Hurtado reviewed the Resolution Establishing Additional Meeting Places, included in the Board materials. She reported the Resolution added Alief ISD Center for Talent Development located at 14411 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas 77082, as a place for District meetings. Upon a motion made by Director Le, and seconded by Director Loper, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the Resolution Establishing Additional Meeting Places, as presented.

RECEIVE UPDATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

Ms. Hurtado reported the Committee met on August 19, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider Houston Parks Board proposal regarding the feasibility study for the CenterPoint easement trail. Ms. Hurtado reviewed the Houston Parks Board proposal to do a Feasibility study for a potential CenterPoint trail of approximately 2.4 miles in the amount of $25,475.00. She reported the Committee reviewed the proposal and is recommending for approval. Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Wang, the Board voted unanimously to approve engaging Houston Parks Board to conduct the Feasibility Analysis Study in the amount of $25,475.00, as presented.

b. Consider The Goodman Corporation proposal regarding pursuit of grant funding opportunities services. Ms. Hurtado reported the Committee reviewed the proposal from The Goodman Corporation to provide services to identify and pursue projects for grant funding and is recommending for approval, Director Shani reported The Goodman Corporation has had success in assisting other districts identifying and obtaining funding. Mr. Webb with The Goodman Corporation provided an overview of the scope of services and upcoming funding sources for project funding opportunities for International District. He went over each task in the scope of services and answered questions. Upon a motion made by Director Loper, and seconded by Director Shani, the Board voted unanimously to approve The Goodman Corporation proposal for services to pursue grant funding opportunities in 2,500.00; and authorized execution of a Contract with The Goodman Corporation.

RECEIVE UPDATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

Director Bhandara reported the Committee met on August 19, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. Mr. Beserra presented the District's HPD statistics and answered questions.

a. Consider finalized Harris County Attorney contract for nuisance abatement services. Mr. Beserra reviewed the Interlocal Agreement with Harris County to provide nuisance abatement services, a copy is included in the Board materials. He reported two full-time attorneys and one paralegal will be assigned to fulfill the contract services. Upon a motion made by Director Loper, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Interlocal Agreement with Harris Count to provide nuisance abatement services, as presented.

b. Consider amendment to SEAL Security Agreement for increase of security hours for additional patrolling. Mr. Beserra reported the Committee discussed extending the hours SEAL Security patrols from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. to deter burglaries to commercial properties in the District. He reported 45 out of the 69 burglaries in the last three months have occurred between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. He reported the cost to extend the hours through the end of the year is $20,100.00. He reviewed SEAL Security Contract Amendment and answered questions. Upon a motion made by Director Loper, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the SEAL Security Contract Amendment, as presented, and to increase the budget for the services in the amount of $20,100.00.

RECEIVE UPDATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

Director Loper reported the Committee met on August 19, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider support funding request submitted by Memorial Hermann Southwest for Neighborhood Health Center. Director Loper reported the Committee reviewed the request from Memorial Hermann Southwest to provide support funding for its Neighborhood Health Center and is recommending approval in the amount of $10,000. She reported the funding will go directly to the Alief Health Center that serves students that fall into the "insurance gap". Upon a motion made by Director Loper, and seconded by Director Le, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Memorial Hermann Southwest to provide support funding for its Neighborhood Health Center in the amount of $10,000.00

b. Consider proposals for installation of electricity at the community garden. Tabled.

RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT IN SUPPORT OF INITIATIVES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SERVICE PLAN.

Ms. Hurtado presented the Executive Director's Report, included in the Board materials.

ADJOURN.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Lee adjourned the meeting at 1:08 p.m.

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