Minutes, November 19, 2019
Minutes from the November 19, 2019 Clarksville CDC Monthly Meeting
Board members present: Aly Byatt, BJ Freidman, Malcolm Greenstein, Paula Hern, Kim O’Brien, Mary Reed, and Gregory Tran.
Others Present: Rose Gabriel
1. On a motion by Aly, seconded by Paula, the minutes from the October 15, 2019 monthly board meeting were approved as amended. Approved corrections have been made to the official recorded minutes.
2. BJ and Rose presented the financial report. We showed a net loss of $2,303 in October. Checking balance as of October 31, 2019 was $7,260, savings balance $117,612. Rose has altered the format of the monthly report to include a column with explanatory information for line items. The October financials included a few audit adjustment items: $333.00 in “miscellaneous income” to write off some leftover tenant deposits; $50 in “bad debt” for past rent not paid. Insurance expense was high because 2 payments cleared in 1 month. Rose’s salary expenses were higher than usual because of her heavy work load during the past month. Repair expenses included a late bill for the make ready at 1720A W. 11th and a plumbing leak at 1011A Charlotte.
Minutes from the November 12, 2019 Finance Committee meeting follow these minutes.
3. Rose presented the property management report. All tenants but one are current on rent. That tenant will pay this week. The tenant at the Neighborhood Center will be renewing, now with a commercial lease.
4. The City has approved funding for the construction of a new CCDC property to be located at 1611 W. 10th Street. The funding will come from federal dollars rather than the affordable housing bond funds. Funds are expected in early 2020. In the meantime, we will continue to work on the project, paying incurred expenses from CCDC savings /HomeBase forgivable loan.(e.g.: the October financial report includes a $1,000 expense for “architecture.”) When the City funds become available, incurred expenses will be submitted for reimbursement.
Mary has met with City staff in charge of the Heritage Tourism Grant program regarding funding awarded for repairs to the Haskell House, and we have begun the process to receive the funding. Our project should be considered at December Historic Landmark Commission meeting.
5. Mary gave the board an update on where things stand with the new Land Development Code.
· The Planning Commission hearing has taken place, with lots of testimony regarding specific concerns and lots of people expressing a desire to slow the process down.
· A concern has arisen regarding the preservation incentive included in the LDC. As written, preservationists feel it will hollow out the preservation process. At the November 18, 2019 Historic Landmark meeting, there was a push to get the HLC to hold a hearing, but they have been told that “there is no time for a hearing.” Word from the Mayor’s staff is that they “assumed” that the preservation incentive would protect historic structures.
· Local Historic District design standards will supersede the code. This is not true for NRHDs.
· The LDC is being fast-tracked. Approval on First reading is scheduled for December 9. This timetable will not allow for concerns raised by neighborhoods or individuals regarding map changes to be included, although the City has touted this to be part of the process. Council will hold a work session on December 4, a hearing on December 7, and the first reading vote on December 9. Approval on first reading requires only a simple council majority . The second reading vote will probably be in February. Second and third could happen at the same time.
· Lawsuits are expected.
6. The CCDC board retreat will take place at 9 a.m. on Sunday, December 15. The meeting will be at BJ’s house.
7. Paula reported that the community holiday gathering will take place on Saturday, December 21 at the Haskell House. Santa will be there and there will be caroling and food. Night Cap has agreed to provide treats, and we will look for a tamale source. A flyer will be delivered door-to-door, as well as publicity via the OWANA and Mathews’ listservs.
8. Board members will be decorating the Haskell House this year. BJ will distribute a calendar so that decorating times can be decided.
9. Under Other Business, Paula announced that she soon will be meeting with City staff to discuss her property and the W. 6th Street transition zone as they related to the proposed land development code. City staff to discuss her property and the W. 6th street transition zone.
10. The board did not meet in Executive Session.
Minutes from Finance Committee on November 12, 2019
Attending: BJ Friedman, Rose Gabriel, Mary Reed
BJ, Rose and Mary reviewed a new format for the CCDC’s monthly P&Ls. It will allow Rose to provide explanatory explanations next to various line items. BJ and Mary both agreed that the new format will provide the CCDC board with more information and make the organization’s finances more transparent.
They asked Rose to use the same format for the CCDC’s balance sheets, which she will.
BJ and Mary asked Rose to clarify the nature of the Alley Flat loan and the Home Base forgivable loan, both of which are listed on the October balance sheet under “Current Liabilities” and the Home Base loan which is listed on that same doc under “Long Term liabilities.” Specifically, they wanted to know where each loan came from and what the loan proceeds were being used for.
Rose will add this information to the balance sheet the board will review next week at its November board meeting.
After reviewing October’s financials, BJ reconciled the October bank statement, comparing cancelled checks and debit card purchases to the information on the statement. Rose answered BJ’s questions and said that she would contact the CCDC’s insurance company in order to clear up a discrepancy that she had no answer for.
Rose told Mary that she has finally gotten the CCDC’s COA utility accounts set up on Budget Billing. This means that the CCDC will pay on average the same amount each month to Austin Energy.