Minutes of the Texas Water Resources Finance Authority August 15, 2001

Chairman Jack Hunt called to order the meeting of the Texas Water Resources Finance Authority at 8:48 a.m. in Room 118 of the Stephen F. Austin Bldg. Austin, Texas. The following Board members were present, constituting a quorum:

  • Jack Hunt, Chairman
  • Kathleen White, Vice Chairman
  • Wales H. Madden, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer
  • William B. Madden, Member
  • Bill Meadows, Member

Member Noe Fernandez was absent.

Persons attending were among those present at the Texas Water Development Board meeting of the same date.

The Authority then considered items on the formal agenda in the following order.

1. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE Minutes of the JULY 18, 2001 MEETING.

Mr. William Madden moved to approve the staff recommendation; Mr. Meadows seconded the motion; it passed unanimously 5-0.

2. CONSIDER SELECTION OF FIRMS TO NEGOTIATE FOR BOND COUNSEL SERVICES AND AUTHORIZING EXTENSION OF EXISTING BOND COUNSEL CONTRACTS.

Mr. Meadows recused himself from participation on the item due to a possible conflict of interest.

General Counsel Suzanne Schwartz discussed the process for selection of bond counsel. She said nine proposals were received in response to the request for proposals. She reported the staff recommendation for selection of McCall Parkhurst & Horton to serve the Board and Authority on Development Funds and TWRFA, Vinson & Elkins for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Andrews & Kurth for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and Delgado, Acosta, Braden, & Jones for Agricultural Water Conservation Bonds and as a co-counsel on Development Fund issuances and as directed by the Board on other issues. Ms. Schwartz recommended that staff be authorized to negotiate contracts with those firms to be approved by the Board in September. State law requires the two-step process for selection of counsel and fee negotiation.

Ms. Schwartz also recommended extension of existing contracts with McCall Parkhurst & Horton and Vinson & Elkins pending final execution of the new bond counsel contracts. Mr. Wales Madden requested information on bond counsel fees for the past five years.

Mr. William Madden moved to approve the staff recommendation; Mr. Wales Madden seconded the motion; it passed unanimously 4-0 with Mr. Meadows recused from participation.

The meeting adjourned at 8:58 a.m.

APPROVED and ordered of record this the 17th day of October, 2001.

Texas Water Resources Finance Authority

_______________________________________
Jack Hunt, Chairman
ATTEST:

___________________________________
Wales H. Madden, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer

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