001the board of trustees. This board workshop is being conducted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. Notice of this board workshop has been posted online for at least three business days prior to the meeting date. The time now is 5:32 and I will call this board workshop to order. I'll now begin the roll call and we'll go board member by board member. Mrs. Jacqueline Susita, Dr. Hime Rodriguez will be here shortly. Mr. will be here shortly. Mr. Benjamin Castillo >> uh here, >> Mr. Cerna here, >> coach and Mr. Marcos de los Santos >> here. >> And myself, Mr. Arando, vice president. that director reflect that we have a quorum but that's not necessary for board workshop. So with that being said we will now go to >> public comments. There's one Mr. >>
002[clears throat] >> State your name and your address. >> My name is Diego Calderon and my address is 637 East Mount 10 North. >> Okay. I'm going to uh recite a little uh um statement before we we we give you the um the floor. Okay. >> Yes, sir. Pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act, the board of trustees may not deliberate on any comment made by a member of the public on a subject that is not included on the agenda posted with notice of this meeting. As per the Texas Attorney General, the scope of board discussions for a subject not part of the meeting agenda is limited to only a proposal by a board member to place the subject on a future board agenda. Specific factual information or recitation of existing policy may be furnished
003in response to inquiries, but the board shall not deliberate or decide regarding any subject that is not included on the agenda posted with notice of the meeting. Audience participation at a board meeting is limited to the portion of the meeting designated for that purpose. At all other times during a board meeting, the audience shall not enter into discussion or debate on matters being considered by the board unless recognized by the presiding officer. No public comment presentation shall exceed three minutes. Any disruptive behavior by any speaker may result in the speaker's removal from participation in the meeting. Please be mindful of using names or personally identifiable information that is because there is no immunity from inflammatory comments while participating in public comments. Mr. Calderon, you have three minutes and I'll let you know when we have
004one minute left. >> Thank you. >> Start. >> Well, good evening everyone. My name is Diego Abdon and I have the honor and privilege to stand here behalf of the West Cafe chapter as another president this year and I just want to say thank you so much for keeping our a farm construction in consideration. I just have one question and one comment that I would love to bring up. Would there be possible to have a committee by any chance to have a a student or an officer, an ACT teacher or admin or a principal involved with the construction of the ACT farm? Because I feel like if we bring that perspective of a member that's been in the ACT farm, seeing firsthand what we need, it'll bring so much into the construction of it. So
005I would love to know if that's possible by any chance because it really is truly an honor to have an animal at the egg complex because like what FFA means in its model growing learning to grow I mean learning to do doing to learn earn to live and living to serve we learn that every single day through FFA projects FFA classroom and everything at the a farm complex. So it'll mean a lot if there was a community we could do something like that because it will bring our voices in while building a complex that will produce the future of generation of leaders. So that's my comments for today and thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much for this plan again and thank you for everything you've done for our chapter and
006I hope you continue to look through FFA because it truly is a great way to learn and grow. Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> I'm good. It's my first time making a comment. So >> thank you guys. Okay, we will now have uh item three, construction of a new agricultural facility project CSP number 36 0225. Dr. >> Let me call on Mr. Aar, Mr. Mer you recommend maybe maybe it's best to what you talking about. >> Good evening Dr. members of the board. Uh thank you for having us uh here this evening. Uh we are going to have a board presentation. Before we begin, you do have a folder in front of you with some more detailed information uh regarding the process for the egg farm. Uh I also want to um introduce some
007of the individuals that we have here present this evening. We have Mr. Muikov with Janek our architects is present uh for any questions that he may be able to answer. In addition, we have Mrs. and some of our CTA CTE staff here present uh with us and we also have some parents uh joining us this evening. So, thank you uh for being here this evening with us. So, uh we're going to go ahead and go over some some of the uh details regarding this project that we have in place. This is for the new Pete Aido A facility project. Uh what you have here on slide number three is just a basically we have here the facade of the rendering uh for this a facility project that's that you have before you. Uh it has
00839,340 square ft which includes a classroom welding and woodworking shop. It's it's a shop not shop. So correcting that the cost per square foot for this facility project is at $337 per square foot. Right here is where we have the location where this uh site will be constructed. This is located off of mile 10 north and 5 and a half west. What you have boxed in in in the black. That's the actual uh area. Further to the north, you'll see some opening area. Uh to the left, you see a little box, a rectangular size. That's your detention pond. But we still have some available real estate for future projects or anything else that we need to expand north there. But pretty much to the to the east of it, that's what you're going to have
009the entrance out of 5 and a half west coming in through the parking lot. It will have access control gates going into the facility. So if you can see the aerial view from there, you have Rudy Silva. To the west of it and to the south you have uh uh Justice Raul Gonzalez Elementary. [snorts] Here you pretty much have the layout design uh the full layout design of this rendering. Uh we're going to focus particularly on letter A, letter B, and letter C. and we're going to break down those images as we move through those slides. They're going to show pretty much some visuals that simulate the design of these renderings. Um, we are not looking at D because if you saw that and what was submitted for the agenda item, that was an alternate
010option that was more for the canopies. What you see here just for the A barn, this is in total we have 21,700 square ft and it's it's for 70 occupants. Okay, the next slide, slide number seven. Now, we're going to get more into the uh exploded view of what you saw in the full layout. We're going to start off here with uh letter B. You see the three that we have the classroom, we have the wood shop, and we have the welding lab. If we break down the square foot for each one, the classroom is listed as you see on the bottom, 768 square feet. The wood shop 1,45 square ft. And the welding lab is 1,726 ft for a total of 3,900 ft with 70 uh allows for 78 occupants. Next on slide number
011eight, we have the layout here. This is for the exercise arena. And you also have the bleachers. You have a 200 seat bleacher capacity uh for for for this facility. Now, we're going to get more into some of the simulated views. Um and they're kind of like AI images as you're going to be moving. You're going to have three different views of the Abor uh located here and they're going to coming up next. So slide number 10, you have a rendering of view one. So if you see that from that angle, you kind of see the cattle pin. What you see inside the cattle pins, you're going to see the that's sand on the bottom and of course the livestock um that's listed there in that image. That's view number one. View number two for
012the a barn, you see the same angle. You see more of an aerial view aerial view coming in at all the the the cattle pins coming in. And of course that brown uh that's broken up in the bottom. That's the simulated sand that you see there. And then the third image, you kind of see more of the ceiling with the the fans that you have there, but you also see the cattle pins as well. So it tries to give you multiple views of the renderings. [snorts] I know they did have some uh uh the planning committee uh on multiple dates there for this project. These were the sign-in sheets that uh on the individuals that took place. Uh mainly you had Miss Gomez, her staff, and of course you had the architects and we had
013our um maintenance and operation staff as well as Mr. Gara. We also followed up the staff, Miss uh Mrs. Gomez did follow up with a parent meeting that she did have scheduled on February 26. We do have some parents that joined and they did provide some some comments regarding uh what was what is being presented uh this evening. Also, what we wanted to add, this is going to be something very important moving forward with this. We're going to have the they're going to roll out the 2526 standard operating procedures to make sure that they have everything in place because I know in the meeting uh there was also some comments that did come up and this is something that's going to be communicated uh to all students, all parents, all staff to make sure that
014we do have operating procedures in place uh especially when we are going to be operating in this new facility moving forward. At this time, if we have any questions, we're available for some questions. Mr. Rostos. >> Well, I think uh thank you for uh sending the information today. I didn't look over the specs cuz they came in pretty late and and uh they came in after the midday for me. I I didn't check my email anymore because I was at work, but I'll be able I'll be make sure to look at those prior to our next board meeting. I guess I have a few questions. One first, of course, is is looking at cost, right? $337 a square foot. And I know when this first came up back in 20 late 23 24 I'm not
015too sure when this even first became a topic but I know that uh like Dr. Vetta we just talked about before the meeting that we were looking at a range of that we were seeing other school districts building like around 5 to6 million range right same thing 30,000 foot uh like barn facility versus cuz the barn facility is not going to be AC correct where the where the pins are at. No, that that's just that's just a warehouse, right? Correct. Non non non-cooled, non-heated. >> Juan Mika with Architects. Uh to your question, sir, so the egg barn where the plants are, right? You're right. It is not air conditioned. What we have, we have some high big fans. We have barn doors that are open. We are do have chain link fencing to keep >>
016pests from coming in and from if animal get gets out, so they don't get exit. So the point there is to try and just cross ventilate that stuff, pull it off. And I saw it has bay doors as well too on the sides for ventilation and >> whatnot. >> And so we insulated the the roof as well and we put a panel underneath it to keep any pests from getting up there as well. >> Okay. >> But the point is to that is just ventilated cross ventilated. The the restrooms do have some exhaust for that just so we can exhaust the heat out of there as well. Uh we have storage facilities there. Each pen has an associated storage space for for that particular p uh pen. Excuse me. Uh the one place that is
017there's an office within that building. That one does have air conditioning. Okay. >> And then the classroom itself and is a separate building. That building only the classroom is AC. The two restrooms are exhausted. The shops are not air conditioned because of the function of the space. >> I hope that answers your question. >> Yes. No, it does. It gives yeah it gives me more insight because I was that's what I was looking as far as what areas actually have AC or cooled and heated you know for the price because I'm saying it's 14 14.5 million uh is significantly higher than >> oh 13.5 million I'm sorry 13.5 was is a little bit higher than we had discussed years back so that's why I'm looking at what features does it come with and things of
018that nature. No, absolutely. And and and as you mentioned earlier, uh originally we when we started the project, the budget was lower, but it's been several years and construction costs are >> right. >> It's incredible. Uh on the on the floor plan right there that you see, the two yellow smaller restrooms, those are restrooms that are to be used by either students when if the pavilion gets built. When the kids show their their animals, they'll access for people to come in and use those restrooms. And that's that's the master planning for that. at the bottom side. What is the the two yellow ones? Those are those are also restrooms that for for boys and girls to be used by by actually the students there. So those are mechanically exhausted, meaning you turn on a light
019switch and a fan turns on. You turn it off. >> Is that is that typical with most uh construction of AC farms, they don't put a heated or cooled. >> There's heaters here for the event that it does get cold. And so the barn doors are specifically designed for that. So when it does get cold and it's oriented in a way that the breezes come from, if you look at the plan from bottom right to top left, that's the prevailing winds that we have here. In the winter, when you do have the cold winds, you simply close the barn doors and you stop that wind from coming in. Again, that's the design of the intent of the design to kind of be a little more thermally controlled too. The other reason why we did the
020the ceiling, the roof as such, it's not a cheap, but one of the issues that we've had over the time with with this kind of facility is the heat that comes in. And because it's not thermally controlled, you have a lot of heat. And so our intent here was to kind of have the best insulation on your roof to kind of keep that heat from coming in. There's going to be a lot of blockage, a lot of revert back into the sky with with all that that the sun rays that come in with the heat. We know how how it is here in the summer. It's 100 plus degrees. It was 100° a couple of days ago. So, >> and these and these are uh this facility will have fans because I know right now
021I see I just barely got associated with that that that uh organization. >> Yes, sir. But I see that like a lot of parents are investing in fans. Yes, sir. >> They're investing investing in out of their own pocket, right? In in that type of equipment, heating lamps and things of that nature, all these other things to keep animals either cool or or warm. >> We do have some large fans, and if you saw some of those renderings, we do have some uh it's a it's a company with a donkey and I know I know. Yeah. >> Uh you >> Yeah, I don't want to say the word, but yes, >> you don't have to say that. >> Those fans are large and and and they oscillate and and but they do just move the
022air around. Uh there are heaters. You don't really see the heaters because there's this is MEP heavy, mechanical, electrical, plumbing heavy cuz that's really what you have there, >> right? >> But there are heaters there when it does get cold, those two weeks out of the year, but it does get cold. So, there are heaters that will help maintain some thermal comfort there uh during those times of the year. >> Um, the other question I had was pretty much as far as I was [clears throat] looking at the 3D slides. I don't know what the proper dimensions are, but I was thinking about student safety, right? because I've seen some of the kids out there um like as far as the pen sizes like I know you had what about 22 I'm assuming that there's
023like 22 that are for cattle or or larger animals. >> I don't remember those numbers. Uh >> I counted I think 10 on one side, 12 on the other. >> For cattle, 48 for hogs, 96 for goat, lamb. Those are the smaller ones, >> right? >> So I was just thinking about pen sizes like thinking about student safety. You know, I've seen sometimes the kids out there and when those animals take off, they take off, right? And so, so I'm just um worried like if they're in those pins, do they have sufficient space where the the the animals won't been irritated or or get upset and then they're in there and then they don't really have much room to maneuver? >> Yeah, >> these are pretty standard size pens for that type of animal. >>
024What size are they? Do you know? Because because we >> I believe they're 4x6. I think the cattle I think they're 8 by 12. I don't recall exactly, but I think [clears throat] >> 8 by 12. I I believe >> compared to what we have right now, are they similar? >> I actually don't know what you have right now, sir. >> Would would anyone know? >> Well, they got the teachers here. >> For the cattle, what do they have right now, Mr. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. The petition. >> Mr. Abdo, can you come up here so that way they can hear you for the >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> The record reflect that Mr. Dr. Hime Rodriguez arrived here at 5:39 and uh our board president, Mr. was here at 5:46 and he now
025has >> so Mr. So I'm going to go compared to what we have right now. How does it compare with >> with the specs the specs now? >> The cattle pins are are going to be 12 by 12. >> So that that's plenty of space. I think ours now are 10 x 12s. Uh and then the the sheep and goat pins are 4x10s, right? And the uh pig pins are the same also. They're all the same size. >> Okay. So they're they're a little bit uh larger than the original ones >> uh with the lamb and goat pins. Yes. >> Okay. The lemon goats. The lamin goats are bigger than what we have now. >> Yes. That's what he was you just said. >> The original sizes, but but I know now that we had
026put some together to make them a little bit longer or a little bit wider. But >> uh like the ones at the stock show are 4x4s >> and they stick they're not in there all the time, but they'll stick four animals in there. >> So yeah, we we made sure that the pins would be adequate enough space for them. >> Okay. >> Another question or question. >> No, just >> Yeah. Oh, it was just that making sure that um like the numbers the numbers were sufficient for like the kids that we have participating now from Eastn High and then also the u the the sizes of the pens. The other one was just I know everybody keeps talking about drainage. Uh I don't so I'm assuming drainage from when animals are being washed or having
027to wash out pens or like um >> Yes. Can you show the plant? Well, here in this plant if you see that darker line in between the pens >> those are drains on the ground. And so these are designed so that every kid with their animal can take care of the pets and drain drain to this little it's it's tiny but it does work. So every pen has access to a drain on the north side on the top. You see that larger square back there that that's a cattle shoot. There's also a wall that's going to have water. It's it's energized with power. So that can be sheared there as well that can be maintained but there's also drainage. And so then from this there's also drainage that goes out. And so we have to
028we have a grease trap because you have uh there's wash areas as well on the on the left where you see those doors going out and then back here uh to the front right in front by the front door >> those are wash areas and so there's a grabber on the wall so they can actually tie their their animal there wash them care for it and there's also a drain in there as well >> but yes sir all the drainage is considered that's a big as I mentioned these facilities they're very utilitarian but they're me heavy that's really the bulk of it they're not the prettiest of buildings but they do work. Yes sir. >> Yeah. yet. You mentioned uh [clears throat] are y'all going to install a netting so that birds don't get in
029there cuz they love that area and it causes a lot of problems going forward cuz I know [clears throat] some of our elementaryaries are having problem with that. Yes, sir. >> Right now and and that's talk about student safety. That's important. >> So if you look at this image right now, you see a solid surface. We do not have a net for that very reason. There's a above this there's insulation and above that you have your roof structure and then you have your roof panel and so the point of these solid they're metal panels is to keep anything from getting up there so nothing will rest up there nothing will will burge up there and start dropping >> they have to eat through the metal if they're going to do that but there's no place
030for them to go >> that's correct no that's we've we've learned from the past >> you mentioned that that one of the structures was going to have some sort of a netting underneath >> that was old style that's old school stuff done with a regular pre-engineered structure roof. You put your structure, you put insulation, you put your net in so that the insulation doesn't fall. But those nets that have like holes like this and it's [snorts] perfect for mice to get in there, for any sort of vermin to get in there. They borrow, they nest there, they >> medical, you know what I'm talking about, right? That open area. >> That's great. We do not have that. There's no way that they can get up. >> But is there any other structures that are like
031that? >> Not here. No. the the the pavilion. >> That's what I'm referring to cuz that's what we're having trouble with in the pavilion. >> We do not have that there. We will try and do it here, but we can certainly go to something like this. >> I don't know. >> Yeah, we can look at the netting option for the pavilion. That's certainly >> because you know what I'm talking about, right? >> Yeah. Okay. >> And what about the height? Like your picture I see. What are we looking at as far as height of the roof? I know cuz the one we currently have right now, it's fully netted all the way around and it I don't know what the what the what the height is there, but it is very high and yet it
032still gets very hot. >> What we have on on the end is probably about 14 or 15 ft >> where before the roof starts going up >> and it's a low pitch is about a 312 probably at the center. You're probably looking at about 22 23 ft the height of it [snorts] which gives that room for those fans to actually work and really oscillate and get that that air moving up there. And again, this is pretty standard, too. So, you know, we're trying to raise it a little bit so that the heat gets up there and it's able to kind of separate from from the animals as well, allow that breeze to go through as well. So, yeah, we we do this often. So, yeah. >> All right. Thank you. What What district has a
033similar facility compared to us here in the in the valley? >> PSJA has something very similar to this that we did uh maybe like six or eight years ago. >> 10 years ago, 10 years ago. Sorry. >> But um the size is uh it's this size larger than the one that PSJ proposed or >> I I told you those numbers. It's smaller than this. Yeah, I think it's smaller than this. Yeah, I I shared the numbers with I can't remember. >> But it's a very similar concept. It's almost the concept the same where the way with the barn doors are that way. There we did not have the metal seating and that's what we learned from that as well in conversations with the with the Abor folks. >> That that was 2016 when it was
034constructed at PSJ. The cost >> that one was $78 a square foot based on the information >> 2019. Well, I looked it up and it said 2019 completion. I know cuz they did the ribbon cutting. That's why we were asking earlier. >> Yes. But but it was bid in 2016. That's when the dollar amount came in and >> when they locked in the contract rate. >> Yeah. And it was also before CO as well. Four years before that. It's a significant difference. Right. >> I did that deal. [snorts] >> Say it again. You did that deal. >> The big deal. >> Oh, you did. That's right. I did. >> It was $5 million. >> Yeah. It was it was around No, I think it was less. I think it was under four and a half.
035Yeah. >> But was it a complete uh new building or or was it a renovation at that time? >> It was a new building on a new site, but it only had the egg facility and the pavilion. We didn't have a classroom wing. We didn't have canopies. It was just an entry. We had a loop around because we had to for a fire code. But you do you were able to get through drive through the the facility just like you do here. >> I've been practicing a long time. I didn't realize it was 10 years ago. >> Yeah, it's been it's been a while. That's right. >> Wow. >> And what was the input from parents on this particular or somebody already asked that question? What's that input from parents? >> No, no, not yet.
036We haven't opened it up to them yet. >> Okay. Okay. >> So, >> but um well, we can do that and then I just have one more question, but it's like finance finances. I don't know anybody else wants to have any structural questions or >> you can you can ask a question right now. >> Well, no, just for the as far as the financing, I know we have on our next board meeting, this is coming up to look at, correct? But for the financing um with the current situation we have and like I said this is now years later right? So we weren't in the the financial situation we are now right as what we're looking at. So I would like to have a presentation from the board as far as exactly where the funding
037sources cuz technically we're supposed to put the I mean our procurement process right we're supposed to identify funding put the funding to the side then we go through multiple steps. This this project has been a little bit different. Um, I don't ever remember doing a board action and correct me if I'm wrong anyone, but I don't remember doing board action on the funding and things like that and identifying that and and and even with the like after [clears throat] the plans were done, like I said, seeing them and then go and then approving them and approving costs and then moving out to put it out for uh for the for the bids pro process. So, >> in order for me, I don't know how what the law requires, right? I would like need to as
038a trustee and especially with this current situation is have a presentation if it's going to be like if there's a surplus in bond funds I'd love bond council to present and re and and tell us yes you know that funding is available and it is it it is because I know we heard we had a surplus I know we have interest money is around 13 million uh from the bond interest so I'd love for bond counsel to be at that meeting right you don't have to answer now but but for bond council to be there and say yes sir this this money has been identified it is aail present. Right. So, >> and and and Dr. Eva can follow up on that and present it to us on on where the money is going to
039be uh funded from. >> Right. With council, right? Yeah. If it involves bond the bond, then bond council. Yeah. To be there because they're the ones that that are responsible here Monday. >> See? >> Okay. Initially, initially we had earmarked 9 million for it. Okay. It was until we were unsure what the bids were going to be coming in. But a lot of the projects that we have already taken on with our bond uh they were already earmarked for certain amount and we've had savings with that. So right now we're not even looking at the interest or any other amounts that are available with uh with Proposition A. We're just looking at savings from there to make up the difference where it needs to be there. >> Yeah. No, no. And I remember Dr. presented
040on that as well too. I just want bond council right for for myself just to be there on the next meeting just to mify. You said that 9 million was earmarked for for this project >> originally cuz we were going pretty much everything that has been requested for this project is there. Uh we went ahead we took that input uh we had earmarked that 9 million of course until the bids came in and we knew based on cost as Mr. Mo mentioned that they we anticipated them coming out a little higher because of where the market is at right now. But uh we feel comfortable with the projects that we've already had and we have some savings with projects that were already earmarked at a certain amount and we've come under bid with those projects.
041>> Yeah. Cuz I think it was April 24. It was already Yeah. time. >> Yes sir. >> Gone by. >> Thank you. >> So a question on my end on the rankings uh justification why we didn't go with the lowest bid. So um in part of the ranking is as you're aware uh trusty Castillo uh we go through the CSP method construction which includes criteria approved by the board and based on that criteria uh the low bid uh contractor submitted had very uh uh little experience. So we asked for similar projects on on the as part of the criteria and that's where they lost a lot of points as well. >> And Summit Building had more >> I'm sorry >> Summit Building had more experience. >> Yes. Yeah. So >> right here it says zero
042in >> Mhm. >> and the Arzer area five >> that there's a place right here for count of similar projects and the one that's being recommended has zero and the lowest bid has five projects. >> It should be um so we asked for 10 projects similar projects. Let me look at that right now. I think the portfolio as well too. So that's just my concern, right? Uh uh that the one that we're recommending according to this that you gave us says count a similar project summit zero and then the lowest bid has five. I mean they're not the most experience but according to this they have more experience >> than the one that's being recommended and is $2 million cheaper. >> Yeah. and and then if you look >> the portfolio available too. It has
043nothing to it's not majority projects that are similar to this area. >> Yeah, I I am not sure what document you're looking at. Uh but I I we can provide that information we looked at as far as what they submitted. So we we do ask for similar projects. >> Yeah, it's the third header line number three count of similar projects. There's area general construction five summit building and design zero. >> Oh, I see it. >> Dan, you have two with 10. >> Yeah, this is coming from the uh electronic bidding system. We have other forms that come in with a bid package and we ask them to list their references and and to write down the similar projects and that's what we go off with to as a as a ranking criteria. We count whatever
044is similar. So if say for example they they built uh you know similar canopy size structure large size with a lot of concrete and so forth we may count that a similar project. But if they built a couple of office uh uh buildings that are small we may say well that's not big enough. you know, depending what they sometimes they submit projects where they they do parks or they do bleachers or they do that's not something similar. And so this is again this is uh generated by the ion wave system, but we part of the packet is a lot of other documents and forms that are included and we go off of that. So we count we ask them for 10 projects that are similar and sometimes they submit 10, but not all of them
045necessarily may qualify as similar projects. And so in this case >> these guys submitted zero. >> What's that? >> Well, these guys submitted zero, >> right? And again, this is the entry that that that might be part of the ion wave system, but the other forms um that they provided is what tells us the projects because they list the project, they list the the the location where they did the project and they list the cost of the projects, too. So, that's not necessarily represented here in these numbers. >> And again, I'm just a little bit concerned about it because then it says right here, 10 similar projects. They list zero and these guys list five. And then note, you may include additional completed projects. However, they will not be considered for ranking purposes and then
046they have it. And so I just, you know, just wanted to make sure that these projects based on our ranking system are not were not included as the ranking, >> right? >> If they submitted zero for this, but then they submitted, you know, Harmony School of Science or whatever, but we specifically said we're not counting it as the in the ranking and then we are counting it in the ranking, then we have a we have a ranking problem >> and $2 million that's not nothing to shrug at, >> right? And I understand. So what we can do is we can provide that information if you like. Uh >> so yeah so in and you know it's kind of hard for me to have to present it but there's other forms uh that we include where
047they list the cost of the project, the size of the project in and square feet, uh the year that the project was done and all of that is not necessarily captured in here because this is input that is uh submitted electronically via the uh the electronic system. These are the forms are attached to in addition to this information that you're looking at right now. So, it's a whole packet where we have a lot of other required forms that we include on there for them to fill out. >> Yeah, if you could share that with us because Yeah. I mean, generally we we should be going with the lowest bid, right? And I I understand the CSP process allows us to be a little bit more flexible, but with the documentation that you provided the board
048says zero and the other one has five, you're asking us to go on blind trust, you know. >> No, absolutely. We can provide that information. So, so one of the things that we do is we're careful to to make sure we evaluate all the criteria and with the information provided because we do are taking a risk if we just go solely on on low bid and they don't have the experience. It could be that the contractor may be transitioning from a a light or small commercial type of construction to a a large commercial construction type projects and we we are taking a risk if we do that. >> Well, unfortunately, I know all of these people. I've done contracts for all of them and so I know that they're not they're not inexperienced. Uh I've
049never heard of Summit Building though. I can tell you that. I've never done an agreement with them before. But everybody else on the list I have. >> Uh and you uh with ARISA, you've done uh business before. >> Yeah. >> The low bid >> STC. Yeah. STC has a contract with them. I actually worked on a contract for them this week. >> And you have other ones as well too on here. I mean you have Merit. you have like you have not only just the lowest bid, but you even have another one that's lower that has more years of experience and has more similar projects. So, >> is the time of completion a factor in this or not? Because I know >> Yeah, that's another that's another criteria. So, they they may have lost points
050there as well. So, if they submitted more days to complete the project than than Summit Construction, then that's where uh Summit picked up points. Yeah. So again, there's there's uh several criteria that that we look at. >> You you have a whole bunch of folks on your committee, but there's only three voting members. >> Mhm. >> Yes. So we have monitors and we have the architect involved. Um uh business office staff that is involved. >> Have you heard of summit, Mr. Moa? You've done Have you done business with them? >> We have. We've had very good relationship summit. They're a very wellorganized firm out of Ledo. Uh they have done they started doing nothing but strip centers all over from LZ to San Antonio. They've done a lot of work for us in the Corpus
051Christi area because they're >> government work or >> say it again >> government work or private work? >> Uh both actually. They started on on the private sector just strip malls that sort of stuff but they've they've as far as I know my first project with them was in 2018 and it was a project in Laredo for region one. >> Yeah. because I noticed you're part of the the committee but a non- voting member. >> Yes, I'm solely there to answer questions when I'm asked just as I am here tonight. >> Okay, those are my only questions. >> Any other questions or concerns, Mr. Los Santos? >> No, that was just it. I mean, um, I was going to bring it up in a different like in a different time, but but he did and
052I'm glad he did that you do have companies on there that are highly experienced, have a lot of years of service, but and even had, like I said, lower prices, too. You know, in fact, the one that Trusty Casio was talking about, and there's another one on there as well, too. So, I was just curious and was going to ask that later for before we go to the next meeting >> and and if we need to go low bid, you know, then the next board meeting when we when we uh make the motion or we we can as long as they provide low bit that I don't want to get that confusion but highly qualified >> correct >> more similar projects like you said >> that's what I saw in the portfolio I'm not trying
053to talk about anybody's company in the open >> but u but you you explained exactly the type of work that they do and I saw some of that on their web page and it looks amazing right um but this is an act farm you know with drainage and whatnot I had other questions too as far as did we get with the city we talk that all those things have been looked at and talked about as far as the drainage [clears throat] capacity within the area, how it's going to impact the neighbors. Like those are things that I was really curious about meetings that were held with the city between us and the architect and then the architect by themselves as well with [clears throat] the city as well to coordinate all this and and if
054I may to your point coach Neto uh during the next uh or the board meeting where the agenda is is voted on if uh the board should uh uh reject the the administration's ranking CR or ranking recommendation. >> Correct. Then the board must rank themselves. Uh >> correct because we discussed that at at the last meeting I believe if I remember correctly. >> Yeah. At the last meeting, you know, I had I had openly asked Dr. Ia that I'd like to see less. I I agree with the engineers having an input, right? And being there to answer questions or whatnot or companies presenting um but not so much to be a voting power within that committee, right? and to have two three engineers from the company voting because that can not that I'm calling anybody
055into question but it puts a lot of pressure that's unneeded on the engineers right because they also have >> yeah they have a lot of companies they got to work with right and so >> and that's standard practice yeah we don't we we get them involved for input and information and >> right but but years of uh those are things that we look at right not so not only you have a lot of years of like I said again not trying to beat the dead horse a lot of years within the business a lot of projects similar projects way more 10 etc and yet an even better price and yet they weren't they weren't even up >> and and as long as we meet the needs of the students and the parents, you know, because
056the students are the ones that going to benefit from this >> big time and then them to have input too, right? >> Right. >> Yeah. Can we follow up on that public comment? Uh it looks like we had parent uh input, but >> but the student input >> because they're there on the daily. That's really who's there. It's not like within the barn. I know I've been there. I've seen them. But parents are there too, right? Uh they are doing a lot of work. I run into some of them in the mornings, but but uh but the kids are working it. Like you see the kids, they're they're they're out there. They're they're working with the animals, they're working with the conditions, they're working with the equipment, they're making it happen and and um like
057they're the ones that are going to be using this facility the most classrooms, etc. understand the staff and the the a teachers and whatnot and their workshops as well too. Right. That was my other question. We're going to build a welding shop in there, but are they getting brand new welding equipment? Are we retrofitting it with new gear or are they using the older gear? Are we investing in new equipment construction as well? >> Um, but those are questions I was going to ask in private, send them into Dr. Ria and and Presidentto. But >> yes, >> um, I'd like to really have the kids partake in that and also some of the parents have them just kind of say this is what I've seen and what I felt. I know people have had issues
058with electrical problems. I remember the water the Waco there was water on one side which was they're broken down Wesico and east and that's when I kind of put in the request and said hey on the east side they have to walk all the way over and get that water >> and do those things. So can we run lines to the other side cuz they need water too and then the power. So I've seen that from the minimal time I've been there and people coming up and telling me but I'd love for them to say this is the what I've been dealing with and my child's been dealing with as well so that we can take that into account >> and we can do that. We can have Miss Gomez and her staff facilitate with
059the students as well uh to go ahead and get some feedback on that >> and current layout. You want me? >> Sure. >> With the current layout that we have, every pan has access to water and electricity. >> Right. >> Okay. >> And Mr. Mr. Ao have every year or both from FFA sponsors. Every year we have more students that are involved in FFA. >> Right. >> You over the last uh couple of years more students have been involved, more parents have been involved. Uh so uh yeah as long as we can provide the facility that that is provided and of course uh the cost like Mr. Castillo said very important you know uh 11 million versus 9 million is is quite a quite a a bid there. So >> well 9 million to 13.5
06013 >> uh so yeah that's just that's just my biggest concern too. the [snorts] lowest bids $2 million lower and uh and then just on the information that was provided to us. I mean on its face it says that these guys have zero experience doing similar projects. So >> okay any other questions? >> Uh Dr. >> He if I may yeah if I may provide a clarification on the count of zero. Uh so the question is count the similar projects currently uh that your company's currently working on for districts and that's where that zero comes in. Then after that we have another item that's asked uh similar projects and that's where they list >> colleges and >> yeah so it's for district colleges and universities so it's the current projects that they're working on where
061they listed zero uh and then similar projects that's where they list the 10 similar projects they that they've done >> so they're not working with any governmental entities right now >> not currently according to what they listed and then uh you know another comment that I'd like to make and just to make sure that that it's clarified uh the ranking or the rankings uh resulted in the second lowest bidder uh being the the highest ranked bidder. >> Okay, Dr. Question >> was off by a few hundred. >> The second one was the one that was >> top ranked. >> Topanked. >> Okay. Second the second bid was >> the second lowest. Yes. >> Was it top ranked? >> Oh, yes. You're [snorts] right. >> So, no questions, but just a comment. you know, I know
062this facility is long overdue and and you know, thank you for the presentation and and for all that had the input. You know, I'm um you know, thank you for for that cuz this it looks like it's going to be uh a great project and and uh you know, much needed. Much needed and and I'm sure it'll it'll take care of all the issues we've had, you know, uh with our current situation right now. So, thank you. Thank you once again, >> Coach Gray. Any other? I just I just wanted to bring up the thing on on on the bidding. >> Yes. >> Cuz um I know that some things are low. You know, some bids are low, some are not. But what I would go back and refer to are are the specifications that
063are that that are being presented going to be met with a proposal? Because sometimes when you get a lower bid and don't get what you're asking for, it's going to cost you longer in the in the long run because now you have to go back and redo things and with time things get more and more expensive. So >> yes, sir, >> we want to do this thing right the first time. Correct. >> So we don't have to go back and redo things and we know what we should have and we didn't. >> So now's the time to do it right. And uh with all due respect, you know, I I I understand low bending, but I also understand meeting the specifications that that we're looking for. number one. >> Yes, sir. >> And number two,
064with the investment that's being made, issues that with bats and pigeons and and stray dogs and all that, is that going to be under control? >> I mean, is that being addressed so that we don't have those issues anymore? >> So, again, uh first to your first point, uh Mr. Quer, uh so and Mr. Castillo can attest to this. Our project manual, everybody bits the same thing and that's the whole purpose of everybody submitting at the same time and all that stuff. And so it is our role as your design team to ensure that whomever you guys award this project to follows exactly what you just said that they are on the contractual responsibility to provide to you what is in our documents. And so those documents reflect what we've generated based on conversations and
065meetings with staff with with your uh egg barn folks and they had comments from parents. We heard about all those. We incorporated as many of those comments from the city as well. It's already been through the permanent process. We got comments from them. We've incorporated just about everybody's comments to the best of our knowledge to date so that ensure that you guys get the facility you guys want to have right and so consequently the price a little higher for that but to the second thing the as I mentioned earlier those barn doors when you do open them so the wind comes through there is chain link fencing that goes all the way to the top and those is a one by one it's typically a chain chaining fence you just have a resonance it's a
0662x two maybe like this this one's going to be one by one so roaches obviously can pass through. Snakes can, you know, there there's some animals that are going to get through. They can slither through, but the intent is to do what we can to allow breezes to go through, but to keep larger vermin to come in. That's the intent. I hope I answered your question. >> No, I you I understand that about rodents and stuff, but they they get in our houses. Yes, sir. >> I'm talking about stray dogs that uh have have damaged and and and I mean really did some serious damage to some animals, right? nets can be used to keep and control, you know, birds and maybe bats, things like that. Yes, sir. >> That's what I'm referring to. >>
067I see. I see. We again, we're opening as much as we can, but we're enclosing as much as we can. I don't know if that's contradict, but we're allowing breezes to come through, but we're trying to minimize anything that no bigger than one by one can get in. So, that's the intent that that's what we've designed here. And and we believe that that's going to take care of a lot of issues. Mhm. >> The the one thing I would tell you though is you open the doors, those roll down doors so that a vehicle can come in there. At that point, you can have something to come in and out. But it's just it's a matter of having those enclosed. And it's just functionality, day-to-day stuff. You know, you forget something and something can happen.
068But it's as long as those are closed, there's really I don't see any straight out coming in here. I don't see I don't see a tawatcha can actually get in a one by one thing opening. Um but tagas are they're they're pretty they're pretty good. I have them in my house. >> They're pretty resourceful. very resourceful. That's the word. Thank you. Yeah. But but we have designed this to the point that we believe we we're keeping that from happening. >> That's that's the point. Yes, sir. We we've worked at this. This is not the first rodeo. We've done this up and down the valley and in Corpus Christi. So, we we understand we learn from every project that we do and we're trying to incorporate those changes and those improvements onto the next one. >>
069Is the price in the ballpark? >> Say it again. >> Is the price in the ballpark? >> Yes, sir. It's uh my estimate was was actually pretty close. >> Oh, yeah. That's crazy. >> Yeah. And and it is that's and I feel silly giving those estimates because it's it's insane. >> What was your estimate? >> Uh when I gave the a medical at 50% I think I was at 7.5 for just the egg born >> to do it all. I think I was at 11 million. >> 11 million. >> Yes sir. >> 12. I was 12. >> Any other questions? Mr. Castillo. Uh coa >> and Mr. Los Santos. Any final question? No, I think I said everything, Jeff. And I've already asked for the information for the next >> and we had parent input,
070correct? Also parent input from the parents of the FFA members and so forth. >> Yes. Comments. >> Come on up before she starts. Can I let me see? >> Yes, sir. To get some direction from the board. Yes, sir. Okay. What I'd like to see, we'll look at all these proposals, Steph and I, okay, with with Janak tomorrow. So, we'll we'll study all of this. So, then on Monday, Monday we have an insurance workshop which I can go ahead and reduce and then have a workshop on on this on the act building. have have a workshop and then then present information and then I'm I'm thinking since since you all did the you all you all did the um >> the rankings can we have the board do the ranking on Monday? >> I don't
071necessarily want to rank them. I just want to make sure that it's justified the the the difference in $2 million. And I understand what coach Huyat is saying, but uh like the architect said, they submitted their price fully to spec and it's just a difference of $2 million. And I I just want to know what the justification is. I if if the best ranked summit, then I'm all for it, right? But I just want to >> I got it. >> Or even just um like in the past, we've asked for the sheets cuz sometimes there's discrepancies. So it's just logical, right? Looking at it from a construction standpoint, not like in this size, right? But even just res, you're looking at basic facts here. You know, you have companies here that have excessive experience and
072whatnot. And not only that, they're coming in with pricing for taxpayers, right? That also saves money um for improvements and whatnot or whatever the case may be. So, that's kind of the question as a trustee. How does that happen? Like h how does those scores work out? Because it's just to me not logical. So, but that was something like I said that we can address at the next point. >> Good points. Yeah, good good points all of you. Good points. So, I'm I think thinking again from Monday. So, if the board doesn't rank them, doesn't want to rank them, we'll sit down tomorrow and look at all the rankings and and then see if the rankings are still the way you have them. >> If if you feel comfortable with it, Dr. Detta, I'll feel
073comfortable with it. But, yeah, you just get your eyes on it. >> I I want to get my eyes on it because again, there's the the rankings. We're not going we're not looking at at all the ones that's made a proposal. If one of the you mentioned right now at the one being recommended had zero. I want to look at them again. >> I want to look at all the the proposals >> and then maybe maybe get the board maybe get the committee to rank them again possibly. If not we'll give you the recommendation. So I'm thinking for the agenda item after the workshop on Monday. I'm thinking maybe an agenda item to have the board approve the recommendation or you're not happy. If we're not happy with it, we can go ahead and just
074decide to go ahead and reject them and rebid >> like a BFO, like a best and final offer. >> Well, just rebid again. >> Yeah, >> it'll take us about two months. If we if the board decides to rebid us about two months. >> Yes. >> I would be again I'm okay if you going to look at it and you're good. You're good with the recommendation. I'm I'm fine with that. I just want I just want your eyes on you. >> I'm going to get my eyes. But again, I feel uncomfortable. Not well. Yeah. Uncomfortable. Really? That's the word. >> Mhm. >> On the the difference the difference from the other proposals, who was lower, who was higher. So, I won't take a look at it tomorrow with Janette. >> And one thing just clarification
075too because there was some confusion. We have some parents here in representatives. the city is the the the students regardless because you know the size of the construction and the the the length of time of construction it's going to take is not going to be within a year. You're not going to approve this right now and then have it done by the next season. So just so confir confir confirmation that the city is going to still allow regardless of sell or no sale. They're still the kids are still going to have an act farm till the new one is built. I know I had reached out to the city and they told me that they were not going to do anything >> to the act farm until the kids walk their animals to the new
076facility. Okay. Okay. That's awesome. >> That was discussed. That was the main thing that we we got across was >> the mayor and the uh >> was we were not going to displace our students or the operations of our program. >> So So I still want to have the workshop. >> We have two workshops on Monday. >> Okay. >> The insurance and then the the workshop on the egg and then we'll present more information. >> Ma'am, you can introduce yourself and then you you you had some comments. You're >> parent briefly. I'm Lisa Gomez. I'm the director for CTE. >> Oh yeah. And um my hair is straight. Maybe you didn't recognize me, sir. [clears throat] >> The new and improved look. Um so I just want to take just a moment to thank you.
077Okay. We I know that uh we're very excited about this um a farm, right? Um, when I first started with Wesley, I went up to the older pavilion looking section which was the equin area and you could see through the the braces and I thought, "Oh goodness, I hope somebody doesn't or me forget and lean up against that and cause the whole thing to come down." Um, but I do want to recognize the experience that we have from our instructors, okay? because what we're looking at when we build the a farm and all of this has been a learning curve for me as well. Okay, but this is an extension of the classroom instruction. Okay. So, if I were a science teacher and I'm building a lab, okay, then that lab hopefully my experience and
078my expertise in that field >> would be the guiding factor in how that's going to be created because the instruction is going to come from me, right? So, um I think I'm probably the oldest one in that group, but probably these guys have well over 300 years of educational experience. They have worked in Houston, PSJA, Flugerville, what am I leaving out? Plenty of uh districts in which they were also members of the building of a farms. And it wasn't something that we took um flippantly. We met repeatedly and there was very little room for aesthetics. We looked at plumbing. We looked at the architecture of it, the practical side of it. There's a drive-thru in the middle, pardon me, there is a drive-thru in the middle that allows for the unloading of of things, right?
079And so, um, because of the number of years [clears throat] that they have spent in a farms, right? I think they do carry the best interests of the students because they are also parents of students um in in FFA and they have animals that they show as well. But um I I'm very fond of this young man. I think he is um an exceptional leader and um from two different facets from FFA and also he's in FCCLA. He's a very diplomatic person and very respectful and the input. You know, I think he'll be very pleased to see all of the considerations, but I w really want to underscore that you have a vast amount of experience and a number. It would probably bore him to death to have attended all the meetings that we attended
080and to look at the electrical and everything that we looked at. and we tried to be so responsible and ask questions about things that we didn't know from the architects. Um, and so I just wanted to to mention that that it was done very responsibly um and very uh conscientiously. And so I think we do have a beautiful product and and some of the feedback um that we received was this is a no-brainer. This is a beautiful a farm. I haven't seen anything um that was built with uh this much consideration. uh and and those things I I did provide in a report. Um we we didn't have any negative uh comments and uh I think that reflects the wisdom of the collective groups of people um the architects and and our own Wesico ISD.
081But we're very grateful that you all are are um considering all this and we know that it's uh due diligence. uh we're happy to have the input, but like I said, I I didn't want to miss an opportunity to underscore the efforts that were put forward in in creating uh and designing this because there were many farms that were looked at um to try to find the best from from all of them that we could with the budget that we had. Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Please thank everybody who participated in those meetings for us. >> Definitely. Any other Dr. Va any other final comments? Yes, we we'll have the the workshop Monday. >> Okay. We'll have the workshop Monday before >> more information. >> All right. >> Final comments. We're good. >>
082Thank you. >> Yes, sir. Come on up. Yes, sir. >> Are you one of our one of our students? >> Yes. I'm actually the board of advisory for >> Oh, yes. Well, good evening. Good evening everyone again. My name is Dioon. I had a public comment and I just want to go back to that public comment. I really do hope that you just keep consideration just have what like one of the kids officers on that committee because I didn't know about the meetings they had. That's something that I'm really kind of like wo I didn't know about that. And that's cuz like I I'm at the farm. I've been showing for 6 years now. So I feel like having like insights from people like that with experience especially at the farm goes a long way
083because after all it's money that's going to investment. And I'm leaving. I'm the senior this year. I'm going to go to College Station hopefully if everything looks right. gigum as but um I think it's just very very important to get people very like students and and families involved especially the ones at the farm because I didn't get to see real quick but when they had it up I didn't see a lot of families that I knew that I see at the barn frequently so having families that are very involved at the farm kids that are very involved in the farm goes a long way because we see firsthand what works like the electrician sometimes they're asking me like hey how should we do this they're putting getting too close to animals. I'm like, "Sir, the
084animal could bite the wire and make something bad happen." Like little things like that. Having like a yes or like a little committee goes a long way cuz after all, we're here for the people. We're here for the FA members. Something that goes that would make a big difference in making decision that's very big and that can impact so many people. So again, thank you so much for consideration. And please, if we could, a community could go a long way because you can never have enough consideration to make a good decision. So, thank you guys. >> Thank you. And >> we'll make sure that we invite you when the final product is done so that way you can be there present. All right. >> Thank you. Any other final? All right. It's uh 6:30 uh
085German. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you for everybody that