MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE DEL MAR COLLEGE DISTRICT
June 6, 2000
Mr. Ralph Diaz, president of the Board, presided and with a quorum present, called the meeting to order.
Dr. Dicianna began the meeting with a moment of silence in remembrance of Dorsey (Mike) Farley, Professor of Business Administration, and Ralph Brown, husband of Dorothy Benson Brown, Assistant Professor of Reading.
Under Awards and Recognition, Dr. Lee Sloan, Dean of Occupational Education & Technology, provided a brief history of the Physical Therapy program and announced that the program had recently been accredited. Dr. Sloan informed the Board that the first class of students had graduated. He recognized Pat Paris, Russell Stowers, and Sheila McNulty for putting together a successful program.
Dr. Sloan then announced the College's participation in a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for Web-based design. He explained the partnership with the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and the collaboration with other institutions who would be working together on the grant. The grant process and the impact on the budget were reviewed.
Mr. Buck Sosa, president of Tejano Democrats, addressed the Board under Public Comments. Mr. Sosa extended his appreciation to Dr. Rosie Garcia, Professor Gerald Sansing, and Regent Dorothy Spann for their support during his daughter's tenure at Del Mar College. He then questioned the Board on the expected shortfall in appropriations for the year.
No one else signed up or requested to address the Board.
Mrs. Spann had several items to comment on under Regents' Reports. She (1) passed on comments made to her concerning the proposed campus bookstore; (2) deferred the enrollment issue until Dr. Dicianna's report; (3) commented on an article in the newspaper regarding televised meetings; and (4) announced that she would be attending a meeting in San Antonio and would provide the Board with a report upon her return.
Ms. Winters briefed the Board on the schedule for the dedication of the Solomon Coles Building.
Dr. Dicianna presented the Board with an update on summer enrollment. He pointed out that the headcount and contact hours had increased from base year 1998.
Dr. Dicianna announced that a $1,000,000 donation had been received for the Center for Early Learning, and two additional $10,000 gifts had been given shortly thereafter. He also announced that the South Texas Business Informer would be awarding four $250 scholarships for students on the College Foghorn and Siren newspapers. Dr. Dicianna expressed his appreciation to Ms. Winters for her support.
Mr. Diaz informed the Board that he had received several letters from students receiving the Board of Regents scholarship thanking the Board for their support.
The first action item on the agenda was approval of minutes. Mrs. Spann requested that a correction be made to her comments regarding the dental program. She pointed out that "the State dental association took a survey," not a local dentist.
Mrs. Adler made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Gonzales, to accept the minutes of the Student and Academic Issues Committee, May 9, 2000, as presented, and the minutes of the Regular Meeting, May 9, 2000, as corrected. The motion carried.
The Del Mar College Foundation recently received a $1,000,000 donation from the Morris L. Lichtenstein, Jr. Foundation, to be distributed in $200,000 annual installments, for the Center for Early Learning. An agreement between the DMC Foundation and the Lichtenstein Foundation had been prepared with provisions stipulating that the building be named after Mr. Lichtenstein, and that construction begin within two years. Dr. Dicianna requested that the Board approve the collaboration and coordination with the DMC Foundation related to the grant.
Mrs. Adler made a motion, seconded by Rev. Davila, to accept the recommendation by College President Dicianna to collaborate and coordinate with the DMC Foundation relating to the charitable grant from The Morris L. Lichtenstein, Jr., Foundation to the DMC Foundation.
Several Board members expressed concern over some of the provisions in the agreement.
After further discussion, the motion carried with Adler, Diaz, Davila, Gonzales, Saenz, Whittle, and Winters voting in favor; Spann opposing.
On the next agenda item related to the contract for consulting architect services, Dr. Dicianna informed the Board that there were no recommendations at the present time, and asked that the Board allow him to enter into a month-to-month contract for architectural consulting services, and to extend the present contract by 30 days.
Mr. Whittle made a motion, seconded by Ms. Winters, to authorize College President Dicianna to enter into a month-to-month contract for architectural consulting services, and to extend the current contract with Bennett, Martin, Solka & Torno Architects by 30 days.
Mr. Whittle had several questions, and Mr. Diaz requested that they be addressed during a Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting.
After a brief discussion, the motion carried.
Mr. Alaniz reported that an agreement with the City of Corpus Christi for the Central Kitchen Project had been prepared and reviewed by legal counsel as directed by the Buildings and Grounds Committee at its May 2, 2000, meeting. He pointed out that the City had requested a change in Section 13, to lease 2,000 sq. ft. instead of 800 sq. ft., and in Section 14, change 60 days to 180 days. Mr. Alaniz reported that administration had no objections to the requested changes.
Mrs. Gonzales made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Spann, to accept the agreement with the City of Corpus Christi, with the changes requested, for the Central Kitchen Project.
Discussion ensued concerning some of the specifics of the agreement. Mr. Hilmy reminded the Board that the City would be providing an Exhibit B, proposed location, to be approved by the College, and the motion to approve the agreement should include "subject to an Exhibit B acceptable to the College."
Mrs. Gonzales agreed to the addition of "subject to the City providing an Exhibit B acceptable to the College" in her motion. With no further discussion, the motion carried.
A Letter of Intent concerning the right-of-way access easement for Southwestern Bell was prepared by legal counsel. Aztec Services had requested the letter in order to move forward with a survey of the area. The Board discussed the legal aspects of several items in the Letter of Intent. Mr. Richard Smith of Aztec Services addressed some of the issues. Mr. Hilmy reminded the Board that the final contract with Southwestern Bell would be presented to the Board for approval.
With no further discussion, Mrs. Spann made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Gonzales, to accept the Letter of Intent with Southwestern Bell and Aztec Services, Inc., as presented, and the motion carried. (Mrs. Adler was not present during the vote.)
Mr. Alaniz announced that Informed Decisions would be providing the College with the CASHNet ACH/EFT Module in exchange for the CASHNet Electronic Departmental Deposits Module at no change in contract price and had submitted a letter to that effect. Legal counsel had reviewed the letter of exchange. Mr. Alaniz explained that the module was being used in the automation of the cashiering process.
After a brief explanation of the services provided by the module, Mrs. Gonzales made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Spann, to approve the exchange of modules by Informed Decisions as specified in their letter, and the motion carried.
Mr. James Ealy, Director of Physical Facilities, notified the Board that the Facilities Committee had evaluated the two proposals submitted for the Demolition of Skills Enrichment Center Project, and recommended awarding the contract to A & R Demolition, Inc., with a project budget of $168,000.
After a brief discussion, Mrs. Adler made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Gonzales, to award the Demolition of Skills Enrichment Center Project to A & R Demolition, Inc., with a project budget of $168,000, and the motion carried.
Mr. Marvin Leary, tax attorney with Linebarger & Heard, reported that their firm had received 13 offers for delinquent tax properties. Mr. Leary explained the process used for delinquent tax properties and how offers are made and accepted. It was the consensus of the Board to move to a closed session to discuss the offers.
Mr. Diaz announced that the Board would enter into a closed session in accordance with Section 551.072 of the Government Code beginning at 2:40 p.m.
The Board ended the closed session at approximately 2:55 p.m.
Mr. Saenz made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Gonzales, to accept the offers as presented by Linebarger & Heard without adjustments, and the motion carried.
The next item on the agenda was a request by the County's tax attorney for approval of the sale of struck off properties at a public auction. Mr. Whittle and Mrs. Adler announced that they would not be voting on the issue because of a possible conflict of interest.
Mrs. Spann made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Gonzales, to authorize the sale of properties, presented by the tax attorney, at a public auction, and the motion carried with Mr. Whittle and Mrs. Adler abstaining.
The financial statement for April 2000 and the investments for May 2000 were the next two items on the agenda for discussion.
Mrs. Winters made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Adler, to approve Item #10, acceptance of the financial statement for April 2000, and Item #11, acceptance of investments for May 2000, in their entirety, and the motion carried. (The investment report will be recorded in the Official Minutes Book of the Board.)Under Calendaring, Rev. Davila requested a June 27 meeting for the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Mr. Alaniz reported that preliminary budget information would be available in July. Arrangements would be made with Ms. Winters for budget workshop dates.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
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