Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors met March 15

Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors met March 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A meeting of the Harris Central Board of Directors was held Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. at the HCAD offices.

Chairman Sullivan called the meeting to order at 9:46 a.m.

Board member Kathy Blueford-Daniels led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Salute to the Texas Flag.

Roll Call. The presence of a quorum was established. Chairman Sullivan, Al Odom, Martina Lemond Dixon, and Kathy Blueford-Daniels were present. Ann Harris Bennett, Jonathan Cowen, and Jim Robinson were absent.

Chief Appraiser Roland Altinger and Todd Stewart of Olson and Olson, legal counsel, also were in attendance.

Recognition of Service Awards and Employees of the Month. Chief Appraiser Altinger and Board member Al Odom presented a 10-year service award to Elma Loreto of the Human Resources Division.

10-year service awards were presented to Herman Breaux of the Residential Property Division, Alycia Bryant of the Information & Assistance Division, Brittany Douglas of the Business & Industrial Property Division, Michael Gipson of the Residential Property Division, Amie Powers of the Residential Property Division, and Karrie Sept of the Information & Assistance Division.

A 15-year service award was presented to Terry Ardon of the Information & Assistance Division, and Maya Newman of the Information & Assistance Division.

A 20-year service award was presented to Edward Wolff of the Residential Property Division.

Employees of the Month. Chief Appraiser Altinger and Board Member Al Odom presented employee of the month plaques to Karen Berry-Polk of the Business & Industrial Property Division, Yesenia Lopez of the ARB Operations Division, Diane McCarthy of the Legal Services Division, and Deboney Thomas of the Information & Assistance Division.

Comments from Members of the Public. Property owner, Marian Wright addressed the board. Handouts were provided to the board.

Consent Agenda

“All matters listed under consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion, there will not be separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.”

Mr. Odom, seconded by Ms. Blueford-Daniels, moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

a. Approval of Minutes. Reviewing and approving the minutes of the regular meeting of February 15, 2023.

b. Verizon Wireless Service. Approving a contract renewal for wireless and internet services from Texas DIR vendor Verizon Wireless for $116,000.

c. Eccentex Corporation Subscription Fee. Approving a contract for one-year subscription to case management system from Eccentex Corporation for $64,128.

d. EBC Funds. Approving funds for employees’ 2023 social event for $12,000.

e. Financial Reports. Receiving the district’s monthly financial reports.

f. Bills and Payroll. Authorizing payment of bills and payroll in amount of $6,190,409.24 as submitted.

Temporary Staffing Contract. Ms. Lemond Dixon, seconded by Ms. Blueford-Daniels, made a motion to award a one-year primary temporary-staffing vendor contract to Corestaff Services with three one-year renewal options, and to award a one-year secondary temporary-staffing vendor contract to A-1 Personnel also with three one-year renewal options. The motion carried unanimously.

List of Payees. Ms. Blueford-Daniels, seconded by Mr. Odom, moved to authorize staff to issue checks greater than $25,000 without prior board approval for those payees on the list presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Microsoft Licenses Renewal. Ms. Blueford-Daniels, seconded by Ms. Lemond Dixon, made a motion to approve purchase of Microsoft software licenses by exercising the district’s third one year renewal of Enterprise Agreement and True-Up from Texas DIR vendor SoftwareOne for $427,000. The motion carried unanimously.

HCAD Building Loan. Mr. Odom, seconded by Ms. Blueford-Daniels, made a motion to approve exercising the district’s option to purchase the district’s headquarters facility through the pre payment of the remaining loans on the facility by using funds from the district’s Restricted Operating Reserve Fund and authorizing the chief appraiser to effectuate and execute the payment and paperwork associated with the transfer of title. A slide presentation was provided to the board. The motion carried unanimously.

Chairman Sullivan called for a brief recess. The meeting was called back to order at 10:40 a.m.

2023 Reappraisal & Status of Noticing. RPD Associate Chief Appraiser Stephen Atchison and CPD Associate Chief Appraiser Erika Nettles reported on the market trends and the 2023 status of noticing of residential and commercial properties. A PowerPoint presentation was provided to the board. A slide presentation was provided to the board.

HCAD Community Relations. Jack Barnett, Chief Communications Officer, provided an overview of the district’s community outreach to inform Harris County residents about the appraisal process, exemptions, and the property tax system. Board members expressed appreciation and gratitude to all those who made the workshops successful.

2023 Summer Hire Program. Sally Vardy, Chief Human Resources Officer, reported on the 2023 High School Summer Employment Program. This is an eight-week work program that provides high school students with the opportunity to work in a public sector organization and gain beneficial experiences.

Strategic Plan. Jason Cunningham, Deputy Chief Appraiser, reported on the strategic plan for 2023-2027. The plan includes HCAD’s mission and vision statements and a list of 2022 accomplishments. The plan also includes an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, strategic direction, and future goals. A slide presentation was provided to the board.

Taxpayer Liaison Officer Report. A written report was provided in the board packet.

Appraisal Review Board Report. ARB Chairman, Winnie Tunsel, reported on the progress of hearings, attendance by members of the appraisal review board at hearings, and activities of the executive staff and the board’s attorney.

Protest and Hearings. Jeff Morrison, Chief of Hearings, reported on protests and hearings, including iFile and iSettle. As of this morning, for the 2023 tax year, 307 protests have been received. Hearings are now being scheduled one day per week to complete prior year, correction, and exemption accounts. The agent meeting will be held Thursday, March 23rd. The division is currently working on a scheduling plan and getting ready for another big challenge this year.

Appraisal Matters. There were none.

Executive Session. Chairman Sullivan called the board into executive session at 12:05 p.m. for the purpose of: (a) private consultation with the board’s attorney regarding (i) pending and potential litigation, (ii) settlement of pending appeals to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, (iii) settlement of pending arbitrations under Texas Tax Code Chapter 41A, and (iv) settlement of pending litigation under Texas Tax Code Chapter 42; (b) considering the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer, or employee, including the duties and appointment of the chief appraiser; (c) considering the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices; (d) deliberating the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person, as permitted by the Open Meetings Act, Chap. 551, Government Code.

Chairman Sullivan opened the meeting at 12:12 p.m.

Roll Call. Board members Martina Lemond Dixon, Kathy Blueford-Daniels, and Al Odom were present. Ann Harris Bennett, Jonathan Cowen, and Jim Robinson were absent.

Pending Litigation. Ms. Blueford-Daniels, seconded by Ms. Lemond-Dixon, moved to approve settlement of pending litigation, arbitrations, and SOAH appeals as submitted by staff. The motion carried with Chairman Sullivan abstaining. A list is attached.

Appeals Under Sec. 42.02 Tax Code. There were none.

Adjournment. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 12:13 p.m.

https://hcad.org/assets/uploads/pdf/resources/2023/Board-book-April-19-2023-meeting.pdf