Southwest Management District Board of Directors met Sept. 27

Southwest Management District Board of Directors met Sept. 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

September 27, 2021

DETERMINE QUORUM; CALL MEETING TO ORDER.

The Board of Directors of the Southwest Management District held a regular meeting at 12:00 p.m. at Hawes Hill & Associates LLP; 9610 Long Point Road, Spring Branch District Conference Room, Suite 130, Houston, Texas 77055, outside the boundaries of the District, open to the public, and open to the public via videoconference and teleconference, and the roll was called of the duly appointed members of the Board, to-wit:

Position 1 - Kenneth Li, Chairman

Position 2 - Fred Bhandara, Vice-Chairman

Position 3 - David Peters

Position 4 - Harry Shani, Secretary

Position 5 - Don Wang

Position 6 - Peter F. Acquaro, Jr.

Position 7 - John R. Holmes, Jr.

Position 8 - Stephen Le, Jr.

Position 9 - Raj Adnani

and all the above were present, with the exception of Director Holmes, thus constituting a quorum. Also present were David Hawes, Alice Lee, Annie Trinh, Alan Bernstein, Victor Beserra, and Linda Clayton, all with Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP; Tim Austin, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP; Jennifer Abad and Brenda Garcia, Municipal Accounts; and Pat Hall, Equi-Tax. Others attending the meeting were Paul Young, District J; Cherrelle Duncan, District F; Erica Rocha, SEAL Security; Ivan Chang; Sandra Rodriguez; Denis Hyams; Anne McDonald; Skip Reeder; Michael Roa; Frank Donnelly; Alisa Hsu-Young; Ringo Tseng; Taghi Hajizade; Berzin Bhandara; Randy Sim; Kermit Pittman; Robert Martinez; Julian Cao; Michelle Bair; and John Graves. Chairman Li called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m.

RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Frank Donnelly, property owner requesting to be annexed into the District, made public comments regarding the proposed annexation, and stated this is an opportunity to have an outlet to address public safety needs in the area. Paul Young, Chief of Staff for District ), made public comments regarding the proposed annexation of property into the District and stated Mayor Turner and Council Member Pollard are both in favor of the annexation. Taghi Hajizade made public comments regarding the duration of construction at 3366 Fountainview. Berzin Bhandara, property owner requesting to be annexed into the District, made public comments regarding the proposed annexation. Randy Sim, property owner requesting annexation into the District, made public comments. Cherrelle Duncan, District F, thanked the Board for its work in the District and expressed gratitude for the memorial markers placed by TIRZ#20 on Bellaire. Kermit Pittman made public comments regarding the proposed annexation of property into the District.

APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AUGUST 23, 2021.

Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Acquaro, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the August 23, 2021, Board meeting, as presented.

CONSIDER REAPPOINTMENTS OF DIRECTORS WITH EXPIRED TERMS AND AUTHORIZE SUBMITTAL TO CITY FOR APPROVAL.

Mr. Hawes reported the terms for positions 6, 7, 8, and 9 have expired and the current board members have expressed their desire to continue to serve. He stated although the terms have expired a Director continues to serve in the expired position until he is reappointed or resigns. Upon a motion made by Director Wang, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted to reappoint Directors Acquaro, Holmes, Le, Jr., and Adnani to the Board of Directors; and authorized staff to submit the reappointments to the City for approval. Directors Acquaro and Le, Jr. abstained. The motion passed.

Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Le, Jr., the Board voted unanimously to move to item 8 on the agenda.

RECEIVE ANNEXATION PETITIONS FOR INCLUSION OF PROPERTY INTO THE DISTRICT.

a. Consider adoption of Order Adding Land to the District and execute Amendment to Information Form. Mr. Austin reported his office has reviewed and validated the Petitions for Addition of Certain Land into the District which consists of 35 petitions and includes 101 properties. Mr. Austin handed the Petitions to Ms. Clayton and were accounted for. Mr. Austin reviewed the Order Adding Land to the District and stated one revision was made to Section 2. He stated under the paragraph a clause was added stating "subject to terms of Petition." He reported these are all voluntary petitions from property owners requesting to be annexed into the District. Mr. Hawes stated the current issue the property owners are experiencing is public safety issues. He reported the assessment revenue on these properties for the 2021 tax year is $92,917.00.

A motion was made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Shani, to adopt the Order Adding Land to the District and authorize execution of Amendment to Information Form.

The Board had a full discussion regarding the annexation of property into the District. Mr. Austin answered questions and stated the District will make every effort to benefit the annexed property owners and can skip over the ones that are not annexed into the District. He stated the District is not required to provide the same level of service to property owners not annexed into the District.

Director Wang made a motion to tablet the item, Chairman Li seconded. Director Wang and Chairman Li voted to table the item; Directors Bhandara, Shani, Acquaro, Le, Jr. and Adnani voted against tabling. Director Peters abstained. The motion did not pass.

Director Bhandara disclosed he owns property requesting to be annexed and will be abstaining from the vote due to a conflict of interest. Directors Peters, Shani, Acquaro, Le, Jr., and Adnani voted to approve the Order Adding Land to the District; and authorized execution of the Amendment to Information Form. Directors Wang, Bhandara, and Li abstained. The motion passed.

2:15 p.m. Directors Le, Jr. and Bhandara left the meeting; a quorum was still present.

RECEIVE ASSESSMENT COLLECTION REPORT. Ms. Lee presented the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. She reported a 97% collection rate on the 2020 assessments and 294 unsettled accounts. No action from the Board was required.

RECEIVE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AND APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES.

Ms. Abad presented the Bookkeeper's Report and went over invoices, included in the Board materials. Staff answered questions regarding the invoice from CJ Professional Services in the amount of $450.00 for A/C repair at the HPD Ranchester Storefront. Ms. Abad reported an invoice from EV1 Pro in the amount of $800 was received after the report was generated and requested approval to pay. Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Shani, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Bookkeeper's Report, approved payment of invoices, as presented, and approved payment of the EV1 Pro invoice in the amount of $800.00.

AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SET DATE, TIME AND PLACE AND APPOINT HEARING EXAMINER FOR HEARING ON SUPPLEMENTAL ASSESSMENT ROLL.

Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the Executive Director to set the date, time and place and appoint hearing examiner for hearing on supplemental assessment roll.

2:35 p.m. Director Acquaro left meeting; a quorum was still present.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

The Committee met on September 13, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider sponsorship request from Asia Society for its November Night Market. Ms. Lee reported the Committee reviewed the request from Asia Society to sponsor its November Night Market and is recommending approval in the amount of $2,500.00. Upon a motion made by Director Wang, and seconded by Director Shani, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Asia Society to sponsor its November Night Market in the amount of $2,500.00.

b. Consider sponsorship request from Memorial Hermann Foundation for the School Based Health Centers and Neighborhood Health Center.

Ms. Lee reported the Committee reviewed the request from Memorial Hermann Foundation to provide support funding for its Neighborhood Health Center and for its School Based Health Centers and is recommending for approval $10,000.00 to the Neighborhood Health Center and $10,000 for the School Based Health Centers for a total support funding amount of $20,000.00. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Peters, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Memorial Hermann Foundation for support funding in the amount of $10,000.00 for the Neighborhood Health Center and $10,000.00 for the School Based Health Centers.

RECEIVE UPDATE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

The Public Safety Committee met on September 8, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials for review.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE.

The Environmental & Urban Design Committee met on September 8, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider Price Wagener Task Order for irrigation repairs. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Peters, the Board voted unanimously to approve Price Wagener task order #2975 for irrigation repairs in the amount of $1,500.00, as presented.

b. Consider letter of support to METRO for new bus pads for four bus stops in the District. Upon a motion made by Director Wang, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to approve the support letter to METRO regarding proposed bus shelter improvements in the District

RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

The Executive Director's Report is in the Board materials for review.

ADJOURN.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Li adjourned the meeting at 2:45 p.m.

https://southwestmanagementdistrict.org/the-district/more-information/board-agendas-meeting-minutes-and-board-packets/