Southwest Management District Board of Directors met March 27

Southwest Management District Board of Directors met March 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, March 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, with the exception of Directors Li, Acquaro, and Le, Jr., thus constituting a quorum. Also present were Susan Hill, Josh Hawes, Annie Trinh, Alan Bernstein, Linda Clayton, and Sheridyn Moreland, Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP; Alex Manautou, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, LLP; Jack Roland, and Caryn Adams, Governmental Financial Reporting. Others attending the meeting were Aimee Turney, and Carolyn Riley, State Rep. Gene Wu's Office; Cathy Podell; Skip Reeder; Jeanette Einkauf; Don Giles; Rocio Witte; Tommy Holstien; and Sophia Jamal Secretary Shani called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Public comments were received from Cathy Podell.

APPROVE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 27, 2023; AND SPECIAL METING HELD MARCH 23, 2023.

Director Adnani noted in the Minutes of February 27, 2023, he abstained from the vote regarding the election of officers. Upon a motion made by Director Baillio, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the February 27, 2023, Board meeting, as amended; and approved the Minutes of the March 23, 2023, special Board meeting, as presented.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE.

a. Receive Assessment Collection Report.

Mr. Hawes presented the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. He reported a 92% collection rate on the 2022 assessments, no uncertified values and 534 unsettled accounts. He reported the delinquent assessment accounts for 2022 will be submitted to the delinquent attorney's office for collection in July. No action from the Board was required.

b. Receive monthly financial report and approve payment of invoices.

Director Donnelly reported the Finance Committee reviewed the report and invoices and is recommending for approval. He reported on several expenses expected for next month. He reported the Committee requested a detailed breakdown for the Commercial properties listed in the Property Value Summary Report under the Assessment Report. He reported under the Balance Sheet Line Item #12781 "Due to Other District" the funds were inadvertently deposited into the District's Account for another District and were refunded. Upon a motion made by Director Peters, and seconded by Director Baillio, 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 March 13, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He provided an update on the Liberty Fest planning. Director Bhandara voiced concerns regarding expenditures for the Liberty Fest event. The Board was in consensus to evaluate after the event this year and possibly capping expenses paid by the District for next year's event.

a. Consider sponsorship request from HPD's Lion Dance Team.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the request from HPD Lion Dance Team to sponsor its Lion Dance Team and is recommending approval in the amount of $1,800.00. Upon a motion made by Director Baillio, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to approve the sponsorship request from HPD Lion Dance Team to sponsor the dance team in the amount of $1,800.00.

b. Consider sponsorship request from Houston Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the request from Houston Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association to "Hydrate the Officers" in the District by providing support funding for bottled water for District officers and is recommending approval in the amount of $3,500.00. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the support funding request from Houston Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association for District HPD "Hydrate the Officers" in the amount of $3,500.00.

c. Consider sponsorship request from Houston Asia Town Tours.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the request from Houston Asia Town Tours in the amount of $10,000.00 to sponsor its tours in the District. He reported the Committee is recommending approval in the amount of $5,000.00 for the first half of the year, and then review the performance report to consider sponsorship for the second half of the year. Upon a motion made by Director Baillio, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Houston Asia Town Tours to sponsor its District's tours in the amount of $5,000.00 for the first-half of the 2023 year.

d. Consider request from Houston One Voice for a letter of support regarding an Environmental Justice Brownfields grant application to EPA for landfill redevelopment planning.

Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to provide a non-financial support letter to Houston One Voice regarding its grant application to EPA for landfill redevelopment planning.

RECEIVE UPDATE FROM COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee met on March 13, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He reported the Committee discussed the vision of the District. He reported the Quick Facts 2022 baseline in the board materials is under-reported for population and SWA is evaluating. He reported the next Committee meeting is scheduled for April 10. No action from the Board was required.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee met on March 8, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He reported the March on Crime luncheon was held March 15 at Houston Christian University and was well attended.

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

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee reviewed the request to purchase kitchen supplies for the S. Gessner Command Station and is recommending approval in the amount of $1,243.57.

b. Consider support funding for the Harris County DA Gun Safe Program.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee reviewed the support funding request for Harris County DA Gun Safe Program in the amount of $17,000.00 ($10,000 for 1,000 safes and $7,000 for branding, storage, and delivery) and the Committee is recommending for approval.

Upon a motion made by Director Bhandara, and seconded by Director Baillio, the Board voted unanimously to (a) approve the request to purchase kitchen supplies for the S. Gessner command station in the amount of $1,243.57, as presented; and (b) approve the support funding request for the Harris County DA Gun Safe Program in the amount of $17,000.00 for gun safes, as presented.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee met on March 8, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He reported the Request for Proposals for landscape maintenance has been released by the Committee and he reported the Committee will review submitted proposals at its next meeting for consideration and recommendation to the Board.

a. Consider work order to repair the damaged backflow.

b. Consider work order to repaint the mast arms.

c. Consider work order to remove roses affected by rose rosette.

Upon a motion made by Director Donnelly, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to (a) approve Price Wagener work order # 3151 repairs to the backflow at Fondren and Bellaire in the amount of $1,075.00; (b) approve SMC Landscape Services work order to power wash and paint black railings on light monuments along Bellaire Blvd in the amount of $7,000.00; and (c) approve SMC Landscape Services work order to remove diseased roses at the 9900 block of Bellaire in the amount of $300.00.

RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

Mr. Hawes reported the Executive Director's Report is included in the board materials for review. He reported there is a BBQ benefit event for Sgt. Juarez on Friday, March 31, 2023, a flyer is included in the ED Report. He reported a copy of the Liberty Fest flyer is included in the report 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 1:02 p.m.

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