Southwest Management District Board of Directors met April 24

Southwest Management District Board of Directors met April 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Directors of the Southwest Management District held a regular meeting on Monday, April 24, 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. Also present were Susan Hill, Josh Hawes, Annie Trinh, Alan Bernstein, Victor Beserra, and Linda Clayton, all with Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP; Alex Manautou, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, LLP; Caryn Adams, Governmental Financial Reporting; and Justin Jenkins, McCall Gibson Swedlund Barfoot PLLC. Others attending the meeting were Aimee Turney, and Carolyn Riley, both with State Rep. Gene Wu's Office; Paul Gor; Tina DeFiore; Charmaine LeBlanc; Skip Reeder; David LaFuente; and M.J. Khan. Chairman Li called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Public comments were received from M.J. Khan.

APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD MARCH 27, 2023.

Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the March 27, 2023, Board meeting, as presented.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE:

a. Approve FY2022 Financial Report and Audit from McCall Gibson Swedlund Barfoot PLLC.

Mr. Jenkins presented the FY2022 Annual Financial Report and Audit, included in the Board materials. He reviewed the Independent Auditor's Report and reported an unmodified/clean opinion. He went over pages 4-7, Management's Discussion and Analysis; page 8, Statement of Net Position and Governmental Fund Balance Sheet; page 10, Statement of Activities and Governmental Fund Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance; pages 12-20, Notes to the Financial Statements; page 22, Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance Budget and Actual, General Fund; page 24, General Fund Expenditures; page 25, Investments; pages 26-27, Assessment Levied and Receivable; and pages 28-29, Comparative Schedule of Revenues and Expenditures, General Fund, Five Years. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Baillio, the Board voted unanimously to approve the FY2022 Annual Financial Report and Audit.

b. Receive Assessment Collection Report.

Mr. Hawes presented the Assessment Collection Report, included in the Board materials. He reported a 94% collection rate on the 2022 assessments, no uncertified values and 578 unsettled accounts. No action from the Board was required.

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

Ms. Adams presented the Bookkeeper's Report and Quarterly Investment Report and went over invoices included in the Board materials. She reported the loan payment is not shown on page 5 and will be shown in the report next month. Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Bookkeeper's Report, as amended, and Quarterly Investment Report and approved payment of invoices, as presented.

DISCUSS BOARD VACANCIES, APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS:

a. Interview and consider appointment of candidate Sandra Mooney, nominated by Houston Christian University, to serve in Position 7 to replace former director John Holmes.

Mr. Hawes reported Houston Christian University has nominated Sandra Mooney to replace John Holmes. He reported Ms. Mooney was out of town and unable to attend the meeting today. Ms. Hill answered questions regarding the legal requirement to serve on the Board. The Board was in consensus, they would like to meet Ms. Mooney and requested this item be tabled until next month. This item was tabled.

b. Discuss reappointments of directors serving in Positions 1, 2, 3 and 4 and appointment of new director to vacancy in Position 5.

Ms. Hill reported she sent an email with paperwork to be completed by the directors in positions 1, 2, 3 and 4. She reported position 5 is vacant and Chairman Li requested the board members to provide information to Susan for possible candidates to fill the vacant position. She answered questions regarding the process of reappointments and new appointments. No action was taken.

RECEIVE AND CONSIDER AMENDED CODE OF ETHICS AND TRAVEL, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND MANAGEMENT POLICIES.

Ms. Hill reported the District adopted a Code of Ethics and Travel, Professional Services and Management Policies in 2006. She reported there have been a number of changes in the Statutes and the Amended document incorporates those changes. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Le, Jr., the Board voted unanimously to table this item until next month to give the Board time to review the document.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

Director Peters reported the Committee met on April 10, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider sponsorship request from Asian Chamber of Commerce for its Asian Restaurant Month event in May.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the sponsorship request from Asian Chamber of Commerce for its Asan Restaurant event. He reported the original request was for $15,000 for three events in the year; however, the Committee is recommending approval to sponsor the AAPI Luncheon scheduled on May 11 in the amount of $5,000.00, which includes 2 tables at the luncheon, a marketing table and marketing materials with the District's logo. Mr. Gor provided information on all three events being held this year (1) Business Conference and Expo, (2) AAPI Luncheon-Asian Restaurant Month, and (3) Trade Forum. Director Acquaro recommended sponsoring the AAPI Luncheon at the $3,500 level. Mr. Gor answered questions regarding the event. The Board requested a list of the restaurants that have signed up for the event. After full discussion by the Board, and upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Baillio, Directors Li, Bhandara, Peters, Shani, Le, Jr., Adnani, Baillio and Donnelly voted to approve sponsoring the AAPI Luncheon, Asian Restaurant Month, at the Platinum level in the amount of $5,000.00. Director Acquaro opposed. The motion passed.

b. Consider sponsorship request from IFest USA for its Festival on May 20, 2023.

Mr. Hawes reported the IFest USA event is not being held in the District and recommended tabling until next year for review. This item was tabled.

c. Consider sponsorship request from C.H.A.T. for its health conference event on May 02, 2023.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the request from C.H.A.T. to sponsor its health conference and has requested additional information from C.H.A.T. Mr. Hawes reported C.H.A.T. has not sent the revised sponsorship request and does not have information on what the District receives for the sponsorship. This item was tabled.

d. Consider sponsoring a table at the Houston Christian University Dunham College of Business 2023 Awards & Brown Distinguished Lecture on April 27, 2023.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the request from Houston Christian University Dunham College of Business and is recommending approval to sponsor its 2023 Awards & Brown Distinguished Lecture event being held April 27, 2023, in an amount up to $2,000.00. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from HCU Dunham College of Business to sponsor its 2023 Awards event in the amount of $1,000.00 which includes a table for 10 at the event.

e. Consider purchasing a marketing program with Telemundo to promote the Liberty Fest.

Director Peters reported the Committee reviewed the media/marketing program to promote the Liberty Fest with Telemundo Houston and is recommending approval. Mr. Hawes reported the details and added value are included in the Board materials and is in the amount of $25,045.00 which includes a 15% discount. Mr. LaFuente reviewed the television schedule which includes 60 spots and reported the cost for this schedule is normally $30,000. He answered questions and reported a team will be on site during the event. Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to approve purchasing a marketing program with Telemundo to promote the Liberty Fest in the amount of $25,045.00.

f. Consider purchasing a step and repeat banner for the District.

Mr. Hawes reviewed the proposal from EV1 for an 8'x12" "Step and Repeat" banner and stand in the amount of $790.00, included in the Board materials. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Shani, the Board voted unanimously to approve the purchase of the 8x12 ft. banner and stand in the amount of $790.00.

1:18 p.m. Director Adnani left meeting: a quorum of the Board was still present.

CONSIDER SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FROM FOUNDATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER APPRECIATION FOR ITS GREATER HOUSTON AREA ASIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER APPRECIATION GALA ON MAY 19, 2023.

Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Peters, the Board voted to approve sponsoring the Greater Houston Area Asian Law Enforcement Officers Appreciate Gala 2023 in the amount of $2,000.00. Chairman Li abstained. The motion passed.

RECEIVE UPDATE FROM COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE.

Mr. Hawes reported the Committee met on April 10, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials for review. The Board requested a list of all stakeholders. A list of core stakeholders is included in the summary meeting notes. No action from the Board was required.

RECEIVE UPDATE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

Director Acquaro reported the Committee met on April 12, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He reported the Committee decided on March 13, 2024, for the March on Crime Luncheon for next year. No action from the Board was required.

1:31 p.m. Chairman Li left meeting: a quorum of the Board was still present.

RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE.

Director Le, Jr. reported the Committee met on April 12, a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.

a. Consider Price Wagener task order for irrigation repairs in the District.

Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve Price Wagener Work Order #3162 in the amount of $1,795.00 for irrigation repairs, as presented.

b. Accept request from Regency Square for esplanade maintenance.

Mr Hawes reviewed the request from Regency Square, included in the Board materials. He reported the request specifically states the maintenance does not include maintenance for the fountain area. Upon a motion made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Bhandara, the Board voted unanimously to approve the request from Regency Square to provide esplanade maintenance.

c. Consider Williams Architectural Signage & Consulting task order to fabricate panels for the ID Markers to promote Liberty Fest.

This item was tabled.

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, the meeting was adjourned at 1:42 p.m.

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