Southwest Management District Board of Directors met Feb. 27

Southwest Management District Board of Directors met Feb. 27.

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, February 27, 2023, 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 - vacant

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, thus constituting a quorum. A quorum of the Board was present in person, and Director Baillio attended the meeting via videoconference. Also present were Josh Hawes, Annie Trinh, Alan Bernstein, and Linda Clayton, all with Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP; Tim Austin, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, LLP; and Jack Roland and Caryn Adams, Governmental Financial Reporting. Others attending the meeting were Erica Rocha, SEAL Security; Victoria Calvillo and Jesus Zamora, Harris County Pct. 4; Tina DeFiore, Houston Apt. Assoc., Atul Badwal; Cathy Podell; Berzin Bhandara; Jay Shani; Charmaine LeBlanc; Rocio Witte; Don Giles; Arnavaz Sethna. Chairman Li called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Public comments were received from Berzin Bhandara, Jay Shani, and Cathy Podell.

BOARD OF DIRECTOR MATTERS:

a. Discuss Open Meetings Act.

Mr. Austin provided an overview and answered questions regarding the Open Meetings Act and Public Information requests. No action from the Board was required.

b. Conduct Election of Officers.

A motion was made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Donnelly to conduct an election of officers. Directors Shani, Bhandara and Donnelly voted aye. Directors Li, Peters, Acquaro, Le, Jr., and Baillio voted nay. Director Adnani abstained. The motion did not pass.

APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD JANUARY 23, 2023.

Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the January 23, 2023, Board meeting, as presented.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE.

a. Receive Assessment Collection Report.

Mr. Hawes reviewed the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. He reported a 68% collection rate on the 2022 assessments, no uncertified values, and 545 unsettled accounts. No action from the Board was required.

b. 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. Mr. Roland reported next month a Balance Sheet will be added to the report. 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.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

Director Peters reported the Committee met on February 13, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

c. Consider sponsoring a horse to the Houston Police Department's Mounted Patrol.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the request to Adopt-A-Horse - Houston Police Foundation Mounted Patrol and is recommending sponsorship in the amount of $5,000.00. He reported the sponsorship is for a year and is a marketing opportunity. He reported the sponsorship includes naming the horse, a plaque on the horse's stall recognizing the sponsorship, and the District will be recognized as a horse sponsor on the website. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the sponsorship of the Houston Police Foundation Mounted Patrol "Adopt-A-Horse" in the amount of $5,000.00.

d. Consider sponsorship request from Zoroastrian Association of Houston for its Nowruz

Spring Festival.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the sponsorship request from Zoroastrian Association of Houston to sponsor its Asia Society Spring Festival and is recommending sponsorship in the amount of $2,000.00. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to approve the sponsorship request from Zoroastrian Association of Houston to sponsor its Asia Society Spring Festival in the amount of $2,000.00.

e. Consider sponsorship request from Houston Taiwan Institute for Senior Citizens for its 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the sponsorship request from Houston Taiwan Institute for Senior Citizens to sponsor its 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert and is recommending approval in the amount of $1,000.00. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the sponsorship request from Houston Taiwan Institute for Senior Citizens to sponsor its 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert in the amount of $1,000.00.

f. Consider sponsorship request from Indian Film Festival of Houston for its 15th Indian Film Festival and Awards Night.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the sponsorship request from Indian Film Festival of Houston to sponsor its 15th Indian Film Festival and Awards Night and is recommending approval in the amount of $2,500.00. Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Acquaro, the Board voted unanimously to approve the sponsorship request from Indian Film Festival of Houston to sponsor its 15th Indian Film Festival and Awards Night in the amount of $2,500.00.

a. Consider District messaging budget adjustment for Board Chair monthly messaging and Director interviews.

Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Bhandara, Directors Bhandara, Peters, Shani, Acquaro, Le, Jr., Adnani, Baillio, and Donnelly voted to table this item for the Committee to review and make recommendations to the Board. Chairman Li voted nay. The motion passed.

b. Consider hiring of District staff outside of District intern program.

Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Adnani, Directors Bhandara, Peters, Shani, Acquaro, Le, Jr., Adnani, Baillio, and Donnelly voted to table this item for the Committee to review and make recommendations to the Board. Chairman Li abstained. The motion passed.

RECEIVE UPDATE FROM COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee met on February 13 to discuss setting goals and future visions for the District. A copy of the Committee discussion items is included in the Board materials for review. No action from the Board was required.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

Director Acquaro reported the Committee met on February 8, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He reported the March on Crime Luncheon is scheduled for March 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Houston Christian University.

a. Consider purchase of kitchen supplies for S. Gessner command station.

Upon a motion made by Director Le, Jr., and seconded by Director Li, the Board voted unanimously to table this item for the Committee to review and make recommendations to the Board.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE.

Director Le, Jr. reported the Committee met on February 8, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider Regency Square esplanade maintenance.

Director Le, Jr, requested the Request For Proposals for landscaping services include the Regency Square esplanades. Mr. Hawes noted Regency Square is only requesting maintenance landscaping for the esplanades and the maintenance request does not include the fountain. The Board stated they would like to see the request from Regency Square to specifically state their request does not include maintenance of the fountain. No action was taken on this item and landscaping maintenance of the esplanades for Regency Square will be included in the Request For Proposals for landscaping maintenance before it is issued for proposals.

RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

Mr. Hawes provided the Executive Director's Report and answered questions. No action from the Board was required.

ADJOURN.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Li adjourned the meeting at 1:49 p.m.

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