Southwest Management District Board of Directors met March 28

Southwest Management District Board of Directors met March 28.

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, with the exception of Directors Acquaro, Holmes, Jr., and Le, Jr., thus constituting a quorum. Also present were Alice Lee, Annie Trinh, Victor Beserra, Alan Bernstein, 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; Skip Reeder; Frank Donnelly; Kelly Hsu; Ellen Goldberg; Aaron Schneider; L] Woodard; Natalie Victor; Hannah Zarr; Michelle Yi; Penny Liu; Alicia Loa; Sandra Rodriguez; Michelle Leigh Smith; and Melissa Jung. Chairman Li called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m.

RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Public comments were received from Skip Reeder, Ellen Goldberg, and LJ Woodard.

APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 28, 2022.

Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the February 28, 2022, Board meeting, as presented.

RECEIVE ASSESSMENT COLLECTION REPORT.

Ms. Hall presented the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. She reported a 91% collection rate on the 2021 assessments, $814,137 in uncertified values and 446 unsettled accounts. No action from the Board was required.

RECEIVE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AND APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES.

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

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Director Shani reported the Committee met on March 14, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials for review.

a. Consider sponsorship request from Tzu Chi Foundation for its charity walkathon.

Ms. Lee reported the Committee reviewed the request from Tzu Chi Foundation to sponsor its charity walkathon and is recommending approval in the amount of $1,500.00 for 200 t-shirts, which will include the District's logo. Mr. Austin answered questions regarding guidelines for sponsoring events and reported since the District's logo is on the t-shirts this is a marketing tool. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Wang, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Tzu Chi Foundation to sponsor its charity walkathon in the amount of $1,500.00 for 200 t-shirts which will include the District's logo.

b. Consider sponsorship request from iFest USA for its International Festival USA.

Ms. Lee reported the Committee reviewed the request from iFest USA to sponsor its International Festival USA scheduled for May 28. She reported the Committee is recommending approving sponsorship at the Bronze level in the amount of $5,000.00. Mr. Woodard answered questions regarding the festival and stated a 10x10 booth would be included at the Bronze level for the District. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve sponsoring the iFest USA International Festival on May 28 at the Bronze level, with the inclusion of a 10x10 booth at the event in the amount of $5,000.00.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

Mr. Beserra reported the Committee met on March 9, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He reviewed the HPD crime statistics for each division in the District and answered questions. He reported the March on Crime event is scheduled for March 29, at HBU at 11:00 a.m.

a. Consider amended SEAL Security contract per approved budget.

Mr. Beserra reviewed the SEAL Security Contract Amendment, included in the Board materials. He reported the amendment adds one additional officer and increases the hourly pay from $30.00 to $32.00. He reported the cost is included in the approved FY2022 budget. Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Wang, the Board voted unanimously to approve the SEAL Security Contractual Amendment, as presented.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE

Ms. Lee reported the Committee met on March 9, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider price increase for Bellaire Corridor maintenance for 2022 from SMC Landscape Services.

Ms. Lee reported SMC Landscape Service is requesting an increase for landscape maintenance for Bellaire Corridor. She reported the Committee reviewed the request and is recommending for approval the amended contract for landscape maintenance in a monthly amount of $6,155.63, to be effective January 1, 2022. She reported the agreement includes an annual increase based on the consumer price index and the Committee is in agreement for approval. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Service Agreement with SMC Landscape Services, in the amount of $6,155.63 per month, with a clause permitting an annual increase based on the consumer price index, as presented.

RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

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

CONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.074, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, DISCIPLINE, OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.

The Board convened into Executive Session at 1:05 p.m.

RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION AND AUTHORIZE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, DISCIPLINE, OR DISMISSAL OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE AND BOARD MEMBER POSITIONS.

The Board reconvened in Open Session at 2:18 p.m. Upon reconvening in Open Session, the following actions were taken:

Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Shani, Directors Bhandara and Shani voted to expand the Board of Directors to eleven (11) positions. Directors Li, Wang, and Peters voted nay. Director Adnani abstained. The motion did not pass,

Upon a motion made by Director Wang, and seconded by Director Adnani, Directors Li, Wang, Peters and Adnani voted to expand the Board of Directors to thirteen (13) positions. Directors Bhandara and Shani voted nay. The motion passed.

Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to nominate for appointment of Frank Donnelly to a two-year term and Blu Baillio to a four-year term on the Board of Directors and authorized submitting slate of new candidates Frank Donnelly and Blu Baillio and reappointments to the City for approval. Two (2) positions will remain vacant, and the Board is not taking action on filling the vacancies at this time.

ADJOURN.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Li adjourned the meeting at 2:26 p.m.

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