Minutes
Campus Facilities Planning Committee
December 7, 2007

Present: Nancy Nusbaum, Maria Canabal, Richard Cheatham, Carol Dochen, Ann Marie Ellis, Patrick Cassidy, Robert Patton, Barbara Sanders, Glenn Hanley, Michael Petty for Coyle Buhler, Kim Porterfield, Rosanne Proite, Chance Sparks, Pat Fogarty, Stephen Marlow, Ralph Meyer, John Root, Chris Reynolds, Donna Selcer

Absent: Robert Olney, Edna Rehbein, Micky Autrey, Rick Bishop, Mark Hughes, Terry Dowdy, Derek Grice, Frank Gonzalez, Ted Hindson, Joe Meyer, Sandra Moody-West, Tina Schultz, Bill Stone, Reagan Pugh, Alexis Dabney, Bogan Durr

Guests: Tina Cade from the Department of Agriculture and Michael Abbott from the Texas Rivers System Institute.

Request for Composting Research Project to be located at Centerpoint Farm
Dr. Tina Cade and Dr. Michael Abbott attended this month’s meeting to discuss the composting research project and answer any questions from Committee Members. This project will test composting systems as a means of control for water hyacinth and seed eradication. The project will involve harvesting water hyacinth from Spring Lake and the San Marcos River, and combining with poultry litter, food waste from the dining halls, and cardboard waste to determine the most effective combination of compost feedstock to eradicate the hyacinth seed. TCEQ is interested in controlling and disposing the invasive water plants and seeds without chemicals for numerous areas around the state of Texas. Poultry litter, a common waste product found in east Texas, is being tested for possible use in invasive water plant eradication in the east Texas area. Any usable composted materials will be used for landscaping projects around campus and will not be sold to the public. Previously, the Horticulture Center out on Hwy 21 was considered as the location for the compost research project. This site was ruled out due to the proximity to the San Marcos Airport. The Freeman Ranch was considered but eliminated because of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. TCEQ requirements would make it too costly to site the research project at Freeman Ranch. The Centerpoint Farm (aka Muller Farm) was the next site location to be considered. The project would use 5 acres for the compost site. The site will be fenced to prevent cattle from contaminating the composting materials. Dr. Abbott said that the closest neighboring landowner has been contacted and has no objection to the proposed location. GBRA is currently building a road on an easement they recently purchased from the university and is willing to build a road to the livestock pens and compost area with the excavations from their road project. Ms. Nusbaum noted that TCEQ grant funds were identified for 2008-2011 and asked where future funds would be obtained to continue the project. Dr. Abbott thought that TCEQ was very interested in the project and would likely grant the project future funds. The composting project has the support of the Provost and Dean Chahin. The Campus Facilities Committee had no objections to locating the compost research project at the Centerpoint/Muller Farm.

Request from Network Operations to renovate space in front area of Sterry Hall
The department has the funds available for the $3,300 estimated renovation which results in the relocation of the switchboard operators in Sterry Hall. The Facilities Committee recommended that the project should go forward.

Request from Residence Life-Facilities Operations Administration for a records retention area that is climate controlled
The current archive room used by Residence Life-Facilities Operations is completely full and there is no space to put documents that are scheduled to be archived this year. An office is also needed for a supervisor who currently shares office space with an Administrative Assistant. The supervisor has no privacy in which she can have confidential discussions. Request is to allocate Commons 217 and 218 to Residence Life. The current holder of the space (English) has been contacted and supports the request. The space for the office needs to be painted and Residence Life has the funds to cover the costs.
Dr. Cheatham mentioned funding was approved by the Cabinet to hire additional faculty and advisors. Many departments no longer have space for the new faculty. Dr. Cheatham needs to find three offices for new Mass Communication faculty positions to be hired for fall 2008. The committee asked if any classrooms that are not being fully utilized could be converted into office space. Ms. Nusbaum reported classroom utilization is pretty good and that departments should evaluate use of their seminar meeting rooms. Ms. Nusbaum pointed out that other than completing a manual inventory of “used” vs. “reserved for use” office space, there were no easy solutions to the problem. It was suggested that the Deans discuss the problem at their next Dean’s Council meeting, Ms. Nusbaum suggested space efficiency studies could be conducted to determine if departments were fully utilizing their assigned space. The College of Health Professions recently completed a space efficiency study and Chris Reynolds is also working on a space efficiency study for the College of Education. Ms. Nusbaum reiterated that space will be a problem until spring 2011 when the Undergraduate Academic Center is expected to be completed. Members suggested the use of “temporary or portable” buildings for the time being. Ms. Nusbaum pointed out that the TSUS office has been against this in the past.
After this lengthy discussion, Dr. Proite decided to re-evaluate the records retention situation and possible other options and will bring back a request to the January meeting.

Construction Update

• Major renovations of the first floor of JCK will begin the week of December 10th. The project will include renovation of the registrar’s area, creation of new office space in the lobby, modifications to the exterior doors and window-wall, painting, and upgrades to the corridor lighting. The project will be phased to maintain access through the lobby at all times although routing will vary resulting from the exterior door modifications. Completion of the project is scheduled for March 31, 2008.
• Work is underway on the foundation and structure for the Speck Street Garage. The project is scheduled to be completed summer 2008.
• Harris Plant renovation involves a complete replacement of the boilers, chillers and cooling towers to provide air conditioning for west campus buildings. Completion of the renovation project is scheduled for April 2008.
• Excavation for the Student Recreation Center addition is complete. Work on utilities, foundation and basic structural elements is under way and occupancy is scheduled fall 2008.
• Work is progressing on the Mitte 5th floor for the Ingram School of Engineering. Construction will be completed March 2008. Installation of unique specialized equipment will be completed summer 2008.
• Jowers Center is getting an interior facelift and work will be completed by summer 2008.
• Site and utility work is under way on the Co-Gen Expansion which is scheduled to be completed early 2009. The project involves expansion of the existing Co-Gen utility facility and the addition of 2000 tons of chilled water capacity to support future Campus Master Plan projects.
• Construction of the Concho Street Redevelopment project is scheduled to begin during the upcoming holiday break, pending contract negotiations with the General Contractor. Completion is scheduled for December 2008.
• Construction of the North LBJ Bus Loop is scheduled to begin during the holiday break, pending contract negotiations with the General Contractor. Completion is scheduled for December 2008.

Projects in the Planning and Design Stage:

• The architect has been selected for the Undergraduate Academic Center; however, the System Office is in the process of negotiating the contract. Meetings should start in January 2008. The occupancy date is still scheduled for spring 2011.
• A meeting with the architect for the Family Consumer Science two-story addition is scheduled for today. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2010.
• Two meetings have been held with the architect for the Nursing building in Round Rock. Occupancy is scheduled for fall 2010.
• The relocation of Tomas Rivera Drive/realignment of Student Center Drive and Matthews Street Garage are in the design stage.
• Programming continues on the new residence hall.

City of San Marcos
Chance Sparks had no new City business to relay to the Committee Members.

The next Campus Facilities Planning Committee Meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2008 and will be held in the Reed Parr Room located on the 11th floor of JCK.