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Southwest Management District Board of Directors met Nov. 22.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
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 the Southwest Management District Office, 6588 Corporate Drive, Suite 168, Houston, Texas 77036, inside the boundaries of the District, open to the public, and open to the public via videoconference, 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, thus constituting a quorum. A quorum of the Board was present in person, and Directors Shani, Wang and Adnani attended the meeting via videoconference. Also present were Alice Lee, Alan Bernstein, Victor Beserra, and Linda Clayton, all with Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP; Jennifer Abad and Darrell Hawthorne, Municipal Accounts; and Pat Hall, Equi-Tax. Others attending the meeting were Erica Rocha, SEAL Security; Denis Hyams and Blu Baillo, Memorial Hermann; Frank Donnelly; Natalie V; Tammy Rodriguez; Hannah Zarr; Alisa Hsu-Young; Ke Chen and Justin Chen, both of KC United. Chairman Li called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m.
RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
There were no public comments.
APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD OCTOBER 25, 2021.
Upon a motion made by Director Holmes, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the October 25, 2021, Board meeting, as presented.
ACCEPT HEARING EXAMINER'S REPORT AND PROPOSAL FOR DECISION FOR PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL ASSESSMENT ROLL.
Upon a motion made by Director Le, Jr., and seconded by Director Holmes, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Hearing Examiner's Report and Proposal for Decision, as presented.
ADOPT ORDER SUPPLEMENTING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL; LEVYING ASSESSMENTS AGAINST THE PROPERTIES ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FIFTEEN-YEAR PERIOD; AND SETTING THE RATE OF THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE YEAR 2021.
Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the Order Supplementing the Assessment Roll; Levying Assessments Against the Properties on the Supplemental Assessment Roll for the Remainder of the Fifteen-Year Period; and Setting the Rate of the Assessment for the Year 2021, as presented.
RECEIVE AND CONSIDER RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR BOOKKEEPING SERVICES; AWARD CONTRACT; AND AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF CONTRACT.
Ms. Clayton reported Municipal Accounts & Consulting LP is experiencing staffing issues and will be unable to continue providing bookkeeping services to the District. She reported Municipal Accounts has submitted a resignation letter, a copy is included in the Board materials, effective December 31, 2021. Ms. Clayton stated a Request for Qualifications and Proposal for General Accounting and Payroll Services was issued and one response was received from Governmental Financial Reporting, a copy of the response is attached as Exhibit A. She reported Governmental Financial Reporting is well qualified and staff is recommending for approval. She reported the proposal is in the amount of $1,750.00 per month and should the District need payroll services the monthly fee would increase to $1,900.00. Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Shani, the Board voted unanimously to award the bookkeeping services contract to Governmental Financial Reporting, as presented, and authorized execution of contract.
RECEIVE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AND APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES.
Ms. Abad presented the Bookkeeper's Report and Quarterly Investment Inventory Report, and went over invoices, included in the Board materials. Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Acquaro, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Bookkeeper's Report and Quarterly Investment Inventory Report; and approved payment of invoices, as presented.
CONSIDER RENEWAL OF OFFICE LEASE AGREEMENT.
Director Le, Jr. abstained from conversation and voting on this item due to conflict of interest. The Board requested Ms. Lee to prepare a letter to the landlord requesting accommodations for a reduced rate/refund for time not utilizing the office during the pandemic. Ms. Lee reviewed the Lease Addendum for renewal of office lease for January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, in the amount of $1,000.00 per month. Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Peters, the Board voted to approve the Lease Addendum to renew the District office lease for a one-year term in the amount of $1,000.00 per month, as presented. Director Le, Jr. abstained. The motion passed.
12:35 p.m. Director Bhandara left meeting; a quorum was still present.
RECEIVE ASSESSMENT COLLECTION REPORT.
Ms. Hall presented the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. She reported a 97% collection rate on the 2020 assessments; no uncertified values and 328 unsettled accounts. No action from the Board was required.
RECEIVE UPDATE FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
Ms. Lee reported the Committee met on November 8, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials for review. No action from the Board was required.
RECEIVE UPDATE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
Director Acquaro reported the Committee met on November 10, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. Mr. Beserra answered questions regarding holiday overtime and patrols. No action from the Board was required.
RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE
Director Le, Jr. reported the Committee met on November 10, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He reported Houston was selected as one of the cities for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art initiatives. He stated installation is planned for late June 2022. He reported Ariel Robinstein is working on a list of trees to be trimmed and submitting 311's of ones blocking streetlights and power lines.
a. Consider work order from Williams Architectural Signage and Consulting to repair the Identification Marker on Bellaire and Fondren.
Director Le, Jr. reported the Committee reviewed the proposal from Williams Architectural Signage and Consulting to repair the ID Marker on Bellaire and Fondren in the amount of $4,152.00 and is recommending for approval. He reported the bill will be submitted to the insurance company for reimbursement. Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Holmes, the Board voted unanimously to approve the work order from Williams Architectural Signage and Consulting to repair the ID Marker on Bellaire and Fondren in the amount of $4,152.00.
RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM NOMINATING COMMITTEE; TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, INCLUDING CONSIDER RESOLUTION INCREASING THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Chairman Li reported the District's legislation allows the Board to increase the number of Directors on the Board up to fifteen board members. He reported the Committee has received five applications and two interviews have been held. He stated the Committee will conduct interviews of the three remaining candidates after the holidays. Upon a motion made by Director Holmes, and seconded by Director Shani, the Board voted unanimously to table this item until all interviews have been conducted.
RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT. The Executive Director's Report is included in the Board materials for review.
ADJOURN.
There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Li adjourned the meeting at 1:08 p.m.
https://southwestmanagementdistrict.org/the-district/more-information/board-agendas-meeting-minutes-and-board-packets/