Southwest Management District Board of Directors met May 23

Southwest Management District Board of Directors met May 23.

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 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 Le, Jr., thus constituting a quorum. Also present were Alice Lee, Annie Trinh, Alan Bernstein, Victor Beserra, and Linda Clayton, all with Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP; Tim Austin, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, LLP; Jack Roland, Governmental Financial Reporting; and Alyssa Saccomen, McCall Gibson Swedlund Barfoot PLCL. Others attending the meeting were Blue Baillio, Frank Donnelly, Erica Rocha, SEAL Security: Charmaine LeBlanc; Sean Rajkor; Gislaine Williams; Rocio Witte; Nelvin Adriatico; Teresa Trinh; and Thanh Le. Chairman Li called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m.

RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Public comments were received from Charmaine LeBlanc, Nelvin Adriatico, Teresa Trinh, and Thanh Le.

APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD APRIL 25, 2022.

Upon a motion made by Director Holmes, and seconded by Director Shani, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the April 25, 2022, Board meeting, as presented.

12:15 p.m. Director Le, ir, arrived meeting.

APPROVE FY2021 ANNUAL FINANCIAL RESPORT AND AUDIT FROM MCCALL GIBSON SWEDLUND BARFOOT PLLC.

Ms. Saccomen presented the FY2021 Annual Financial Report and Audit, included in the Board materials. She reviewed the Independent Auditor's Report and reported an unmodified/clean opinion. She went over pages 4-7, Management's Discussion and Analysis; page 10, Statement of Activities and Governmental Fund Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance; pages 12-20, Notes to Financial Statements; and page 22, Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance, Budget and Actual General Fund. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the FY2021 Annual Financial Report and Audit, as presented.

RECEIVE ASSESSMENT COLLECTION REPORT.

Ms. Lee presented the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. She reported a 95% collection rate on the 2021 assessments, and $814,137 in uncertified values in 2021. 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. Staff answered questions regarding the TML insurance invoice for auto coverage. Ms. Lee reported she would get with TML to discuss. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Bookkeeper's Report and approved payment of invoices, as presented.

RECONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF NUMBER OF BOARD POSITIONS.

Mr. Austin reported at the April Board meeting, the board discussed and increased the number of board positions to thirteen. He reported several Board members were not present at the meeting and would like to discuss and reconsider the action taken at the meeting. Director Holmes reported he does not object to the Board expansion; however, since the Board only has two candidates to the fill the vacant positions, he would recommend only expanding the board positions to eleven. After full discussion by the Board, and upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Holmes, Directors Bhandara, Peters, Acquaro, Holmes, Le, Jr. and Adnani voted to (1) rescind the action taken at the April board meeting expanding the board to thirteen positions; and voted to (2) expand the board two positions for a total of eleven positions on the Board of Directors. Director Shani abstained. Directors Li and Wang voted nay. The motion passed.

RECONSIDERATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS.

Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to ratify its action taken at the April Board meeting nominating Frank Donnelly and Blu Baillio to the Board and authorized submitting the slate of new candidates Frank Donnelly and Blu Baillio and reappointments to the City for approval

CONSIDER SUPPORT LETTER REGARDING CONNECT COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES CORRIDOR GREEN MASTER PLAN.

Ms. Lee reported My Connect Community has requested a support letter for its grant funding application for the Social Services Green Master Plan. Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Le, Jr., the Board voted unanimously to approve providing a support letter to Connect Community regarding its grant funding application for the Social Services Corridor Green Master Plan.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

Director Peters reported the Committee met on May 11, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider the July 3, 2022, Fireworks Festival Budget.

Ms. Lee reported the Committee discussed the Fireworks Festival being taken over by the District as a signature event with Sharpstown Civic Associates acting in a volunteer role to help with the event. She reported the Committee requested an estimate and breakdown of the budget for the Board to consider. She reported staff has received several proposal/invoices from vendors for the event and is requesting authorization to negotiate contracts for the event. She reported the overall budget is estimated at $99,250. The board requested an overall budget and spreadsheet for consideration at the next meeting. After full discussion by the Board, a motion was made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Le, Jr. The board voted unanimously to authorize negotiation of contracts for the event and authorized a partial budget of $40,000.00; and requested an overall budget and spreadsheet for consideration at the next meeting.

b. Consider sponsorship request from The Alliance for its annual Back to School Fair on August 6, 2022, at PlazAmericas Mall.

Ms. Lee reported the Committee reviewed the request from The Alliance to sponsor its annual Back to School Fair being held August 6 at PlazAmericas Mall and is recommending approval in the amount of $5,000.00. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from The Alliance to sponsor its annual Back to School Fair being held August 6 at PlazAmericas Mall in the amount of $5,000.00.

c. Consider sponsorship request from AAREA for its Annual Gala on May 28, 2022, at Ocean Palace.

Ms. Lee reported the Committee reviewed the request from Asian American Real Estate Associations to sponsor its 18th Annual Gala on May 28 and is recommending approval in the amount of $2,000.00. Upon a motion made by Director Holmes, and seconded by Director Le, Jr., the Board voted to approve the request from Asian American Real Estate Associations to sponsor its 18th Annual Gala on May 28 in the amount of $2,000.00. Chairman Li abstained. The motion passed.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

Director Acquaro reported the Committee met on May 11, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He provided highlights of the Committee meeting and answered questions.

a. Consider support funding request from HPD to send officers to attend the NAPOA Symposium on August 8-12, 2022, Houston.

Director Acquaro reported the Committee reviewed and is recommending approval of the support funding request from HPD to send officers to the attend the NAPOA Symposium on August 8-12,2022, in the amount of $1,625.00.

b. Consider support funding request from South Gessner Command Station for HPD officers to attend the National Law Enforcement & Corporate Crimes Convention in Dallas, August 16-19, 2022.

Director Acquaro reported the Committee reviewed and is recommending approval of the support funding request from S. Gessner Command Station for HPD officers to attend the National Law Enforcement & Corporate Crimes Convention in Dallas August 16-19, 2022, in the amount of $2,125.00.

c. Consider support funding request from Midwest Command Station for HPD officers to attend the Texas Gang Investigators Association training conference in San Antonio, June 21-July 1, 2022.

Director Acquaro reported the Committee reviewed and is recommending approval of the support funding request from Midwest Command Station for HPD officers to attend the Texas Gang Investigators Association training conference in San Antonio June 21-July 1, 2022, in the amount of $1,500.00

Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to (a) approve the support funding request from HPD to send officers to the attend the NAPOA Symposium on August 8-12, 2022, in the amount of $1,625.00; (b) approve the support funding request from S. Gessner Command Station for HPD officers to attend the National Law Enforcement & Corporate Crimes Convention in Dallas August 16-19, 2022, in the amount of $2,125.00; and (c) approve the support funding request from Midwest Command Station for HPD officers to attend the Texas Gang Investigators Association training conference in San Antonio June 21-July 1, 2022, in the amount of $1,500.00.

d. Consider budget and proposed security plan for the Fireworks Festival on Sunday, July 3, 2022, at PlazAmericas Mall.

Director Acquaro reported the Committee reviewed the proposed budget and security plan for the Fireworks Festival event being held on Sunday, July 3 at PlazAmericas Mall and is recommending approval in the amount of $13,500.00. He reported Zaladium is donating two cameras. Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Peters, the Board voted unanimously to approve the budget and security plan for the Liberty Fireworks Festival in the amount of $13,500.00

RECEIVE UPDATE FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE.

Director Le, Jr. reported the Committee met on May 11, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He provided highlights of the Committee meeting and answered questions. No action from the Board was required.

RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

The Executive Director's Report is included in the Board materials for review. No action from the Board was required.

ADJOURN.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Li adjourned the meeting at 1:39 p.m.

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