Southwest Management District Board of Directors met Oct. 24

Southwest Management District Board of Directors met Oct. 24.

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 on Monday, October 24, 2022, 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

Position 3 - David Peters

Position 4 - Harry Shani, Secretary

Position 5 - vacant

Position 6 - Peter F. Acquaro, Jr.

Position 7 - John R. Holmes, Jr., Vice-Chairman

Position 8 - Stephen Le, Jr.

Position 9 - Raj Adnani

Position 10 - Blu Baillio

Position 11 - Frank Donnelly, III, Asst. Secretary

and all the above were present, with the exception of Directors Peters, and Acquaro, thus constituting a quorum. Also present were Josh Hawes, Annie Trinh, Alan Bernstein, Victor Beserra, and Linda Clayton, all with Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP; Tim Austin, and Alex Manautou, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, LLP; Jack Roland, Governmental Financial Reporting; and Pat Hall, Equi-Tax. Others attending the meeting were Aimee Turney, Office of Representative Gene Wu; Erica Rocha, SEAL Security; Dawn Lin; Rocio Witte; Chris Chen; and Alicia Liu. Chairman Li called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Public comments were received from Dawn Lin, and Rocio Witte.

APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 26, 2022.

Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Holmes, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the September 26, 2022, Board meeting, as presented.

CONSIDER AGREEMENT WITH MCCALL GIBSON SWEDLUND BARFOOT PLLC FOR FY2022 AND FY2023 AUDIT SERVICES.

Mr. Hawes reviewed the agreement with McCall Gibson Swedlund Barfoot PLLC for audit services for FY2022 and FY2023. He reported the estimated fee for the services range between $10,00 and $11,500 for each year. He reported the Finance Committee reviewed the agreement and is recommending for approval. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Le, Jr., the Board voted unanimously to approve the McCall Gibson Swedlund Barfoot PLLC Agreement for audit services for FY2022 and FY2023, as presented.

RECEIVE ASSESSMENT COLLECTION REPORT.

Ms. Hall presented the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. She reported a 97% collection rate on the 2021 assessments, no uncertified values and 217 unsettled accounts. Director Shani reported the Finance Committee reviewed the report and is recommending the Top Payor Report be provided on an annual basis and the Delinquent Report provided monthly. 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. He answered questions regarding the TexCLASS accounts. 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.

CONSIDER PROPOSAL FROM SWA FOR PREPARATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

Mr. Hawes reviewed the Service Agreement with SWA and went over the scope of services to be provided to prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the District. He reported the fees for the services is in the amount of $299,590.00, plus reimbursable expenses. This item is being sent to the Executive Committee for review and recommendation. This item was tabled.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee met on October 10, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider request from Chinese Community Center to sponsor its Annual Lunar New Year Festival.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee reviewed the request from the Chinese Community Center to sponsor its Annual Lunar New Year Festival and is recommending approval in the amount of $11,500. Director Shani requested the Public Safety Committee split the sponsorship funding in its budget. Mr. Austin reported on the sponsorship proposal from Chinese Community Center it lists Insurance to be included in the Districts in-kind budget. He reported the District cannot provide insurance for this event and requested this be reflected in the Minutes and to inform the Chinese Community Center the District could not provide insurance or pay for insurance. Upon a motion made by Director Holmes, and seconded by Director Le, Jr., the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Chinse Community Center to sponsor its Annual Lunar New Year Festival in the amount of $11,500, and the funds to be split between the budget for Public Safety and Business and Economic Development; and denied providing insurance or in-kind funding for insurance for the event, as directed by the District's attorney.

b. Consider request from BakerRipley to sponsor various events.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee reviewed the request from BakerRipley to sponsor various BakerRipley events including the Asylum Donation Drive, Thanksgiving event, and Holiday Event with Movie Night and Small Business Market and is recommending approval in the amount of $7,500.00. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from BakerRipley to sponsor various events as discussed in the amount of $7,500.00.

c. Consider request from Texas Asia Society to sponsor its Annual Night Market.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee reviewed the request from Texas Asia Society to sponsor its Annual Night Market and is recommending approval in the amount of $2,500.00. He reported the event is being held November 4, 2022, from 6-10 p.m. and the District will receive an onsite tent and marketing opportunities. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Baillio, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Texas Asia Society to sponsor its Annual Night Market in the amount of $2,500.00.

d. Consider funding for District branded marketing material.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee discussed purchasing branded marketing material. He reported the Committee is recommending approval to expend funds in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 on branded marketing material and requested vendors inside the District be used. He reviewed various types of branded materials and answered questions. Upon a motion made by Director Holmes, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted to authorize staff to purchase District branded marketing materials in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00. Director Bhandara voted nay. The motion passed.

RECEIVE UPDATES FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee met on October 12, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. The was general discussion regarding crime statistics in the District. 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 October 12, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He provided highlights of the Committee meeting and answered questions. He reported the Big Walls Big Dreams Mural location picked by the Committee is at 6895 S. Gessner.

a. Consider task order from Price Wagener for repairs to damaged irrigation controllers in the District.

Upon a motion made by Director Le, Jr., and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to approve Price Wagener Work Order #3111 for repairs to damaged irrigation controllers in the amount of $13,000.00, as presented.

b. Consider task order from Williams Architectural Signage & Consulting for repairs to damaged District signs.

Upon a motion made by Director Le, Jr., and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the work order from Williams Architectural Signage & Consulting for repairs to damaged District signs in the amount of $49,925.00, as presented.

RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

Mr. Hawes reported the Executive Director's Report is included in the Board materials for review. Mr. Austin introduced Attorney Alex Manautou. He reported the supplemental assessment hearing is scheduled for November 1. No action from the Board was required.

ADJOURN.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Li adjourned the meeting at 12:56 p.m.

https://southwestmanagementdistrict.org/accountability/board-materials/minutes/