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Southwest Management District Board of Directors met Jan. 22.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Directors of the Southwest Management District held a regular meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024, 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 - Vacant
Position 3 - David Peters
Position 4 - Harry Shani, Secretary
Position 5- Dawn Lin
Position 6- Peter F. Acquaro, Jr., Vice-Chair
Position 7 Sandra Mooney
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, Gillian Thomas, Victor Beserra, and Alan Bernstein, all with Hawes Hill & Associates, LLP. Others attending the meeting were Samuel Hsu, Berzin Bhandara, Justin Lee, Chein Chen, Sandra Huang, Yvonne Chen and Sakina Lang. Chairman Li called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.
RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Public comments were received from Chein Chen, Samuel Hsu, Sandra Huang, Justin Lee, Sakina Lang, Berzon Bhandara, and Yvonne Chen.
APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 27, 2023 & DECEMBER 5, 2023.
Upon a motion duly made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of November 27, 2023 & December 5, 2023, as presented.
RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE.
a. Receive Assessment Collection Report.
Mr. Hawes presented the Assessment Collection Report, a copy is included in the board materials. He reported a 16% collection rate on the 2023 assessments, $7.5 million uncertified values and 561 unsettled accounts. No action from the Board was required.
b. Receive monthly financial report and approve payment of invoices.
Director Shani reported the Finance Committee reviewed the report and invoices, and recommended approval. Mr. Hawes reviewed the monthly financial report, a copy is included in the board materials. Upon a motion duly made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Acquaro, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Bookkeeper's Report and approved payment of invoices, as presented.
c. Discuss Policy and Procedures for bank card use by District Officers and Directors.
The committee did not recommend approval of this item.
d. Discuss procedures for authorizing minor expenditures by board members prior to board meetings, including meal expenses.
The committee did not recommend approval of this item.
e. Receive and approve the 2024 budget.
Director Shani reported that the Finance Committee reviewed the budget and recommended approval of the budget. A copy is attached hereto as Exhibit A. Upon a motion made by Director Le and seconded by Director Mooney, the Board voted to approve the 2024 budget.
CONSIDER RENEWAL OF OFFICE LEASE AGREEMENT
Upon a motion duly made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted to approve the renewal of the office lease agreement as presented. Director Le abstained. The motion passed.
RECEIVE AND CONSIDER RESPONSES TO REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES; AND AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF TRANSFER OF FILES LETTER.
Upon a motion made by Director Mooney, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted to table this item until the next Board meeting following the completion of legal firm interviews. Chairman Li abstained. The motion passed.
RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELIPMENT COMMITTEE.
Director Peters reported the Committee met on January 8; a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials.
a. Consider a sponsorship request from the Rise Market Collective for its Lunar New Year Festival.
Director Peters presented the sponsorship request Rise Market Collective for its Lunar New Year Festival included in the Board materials. He answered questions from the Board. Upon a motion made by Director Le, and seconded by Director Adnani, the Board voted unanimously to approve the sponsorship request Rise Market Collective for its Lunar New Year Festival in the amount of $2,500.
b. Consider a sponsorship request from the Asian American Real Estate Association for its 20th Annual Spring Gala.
Director Peters presented the sponsorship request from the Asian American Real Estate Association for its 20th Annual Spring Gala included in the Board materials. He answered questions from the Board. Upon a motion made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Acquaro, the Board voted unanimously to approve the sponsorship request from the Asian American Real Estate Association for its 20th Annual Spring Gala in the amount of $2,000.
c. Consider a sponsorship request from the Chinese Community Center for its Annual Lunar New Year Festival.
Director Peters presented the sponsorship request from the Chinese Community Center for its Annual Lunar New Year Festival included in the Board materials. He answered questions from the Board. Upon a motion made by Director Le, and seconded by Director Peters, the Board voted to approve the sponsorship request from the Chinese Community Center for its Annual Lunar New Year Festival in the amount of $5,000. Director Shani abstained. Directors Mooney, Donnelly, Adnani and Acquaro opposed. The motion passed.
d. Consider a sponsorship request from the Houston AsiaTown Non-Profit Group for its tours to underserved schools in the district.
Director Peters presented the sponsorship request from the Houston AsiaTown Non-Profit Group for its tours to underserved schools in the District, included in the Board materials. He answered questions from the Board. Upon a motion made by Director Le, and seconded by Director Shani, the Board voted unanimously to approve the sponsorship request from the Houston AsiaTown Non- Profit Group for its tours to underserved schools in the District in the amount of $5,000.
e. Consider a sponsorship request from the Chinese Civic Center for its Embrace 2024 Show.
Director Peters presented the sponsorship request from the Chinese Civic Center for its Embrace 2024 Show, included in the Board materials. He answered questions from the Board. Upon a motion made by Director Shani, and seconded by Director Peters, the Board voted to approve the sponsorship request from the Chinese Civic Center for its Embrace 2024 Show in the amount of $1,000. Directors Le and Li abstained. The motion passed.
f. Consider 2024 marketing proposal from the Houston AsiaTown Tours.
Director Peters presented the 2024 marketing proposal from the Houston AsiaTown Tours, included in the Board materials. Upon a motion duly made by Director Adnani, and seconded by Director Donnelly, the Board voted unanimously to approve the quote for 2024 marketing proposal from the Houston Asia Town Tours in the amount of $10,000.
g. Consider quotes for 2024 marketing materials.
Upon a motion duly made by Director Acquaro, and seconded by Director Le, the Board voted unanimously to approve the quote for 2024 marketing materials as presented.
RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
Director Acquaro reported the Committee met on January 10; a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He answered questions from the Board. No action from the Board was required.
RECEIVE UPDATE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE.
Mr. Hawes reported the Committee met on January 10; a copy of the Committee Minutes is included in the Board materials. He answered questions from the Board.
a. Consider proposal from SMC Landscaping Services for plant replacement.
Upon a motion duly made by Director Donnelly, and seconded by Director Acquaro, the Board voted to approve the proposal from SMC Landscaping Services for plant replacement as presented in the amount of $31,755.00.
RECEIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
Mr. Hawes reviewed the Executive Director's Report, included in the Board materials for review.
ADJOURN.
There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Li adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.
https://southwestmanagementdistrict.org/the-district/more-information/board-agendas-meeting-minutes-and-board-packets/