Monthly Meeting minutes, June 20, 2023
Minutes from the June 20, 2023 Clarksville CDC Monthly Meeting
The meeting was held outside the Haskell House, upon adjournment of the Special Meeting
Board members present: Aubrey Carter, BJ Friedman, Paula Hern, Malcolm Greenstein, Kim O’Brien, Mary Reed, Thomas Schiefer, and Gregory Tran.
Others Present: Brad Prak, Katie Van Dyk, and Michael Willard.
1. Approval of minutes from the May 16, 2023 monthly meeting.
On a motion by Malcolm, seconded by Paula, the minutes from the May 16, 2023 monthly meeting were approved with corrections. Corrections are noted in the official copy of the minutes.
2. Presentation of monthly financial reports. Brad Prak, Prak Property Management.
The CCDC money market balance as of May 31, 2023 was $106,918; tenant security deposits, $12,799; checking, $70,441.
May expenses expenses were nothing out of the ordinary. They included the purchase of a new gas range, some flooring replacement, a new front door, and some siding replacement. He warned that expenses would be higher than usual in June. It is 3 pay period month, and there have been a/c calls. Look for these in next month’s reports. Rents are current. A separate account will likely be set up as we move forward on repairs to 1817A W. 10th.
Minutes from the June 15, 2023, Finance & Operations Committee meeting appear at the end of this agenda.
3. Monthly property reports:
a. CCDC properties managed by Prak Property Management. Brad Prak.
All units are occupied. They are keeping an eye on a/c units, and have temporary units if necessary. A notice was distributed to tenants reminding them that a/c only cool units to about 20 degrees under outside temperature, and to not push the systems.
Rene, PPM, met with American YouthWorks (AYW) to do a walk-through of 1817A W. 10th Street. The tenants were there and provided input. The house needs a kitchen re-do and new floors, and there are concerns about the back porch. AYW will prepare a scope of work and provide a bid, along with giving ancillary estimates on painting and ADA adds. Aubrey offered to do any needed drawings free of charge.
b. New construction at 1611 W. 10th Street. Kim O’Brien.
Kim reported that very little has changed since her last monthly report regarding completion of construction at 1611 W. 10th. The approach permit remains in limbo. A “letter of transfer” has been submitted by either the subcontractor or AYW. Melissa Beeler in D9 Councilmember Qadri’s office has been told that once the permit folks receive what is needed they can issue the permit in 5 business days. Candles are lit. It’s unclear whether the fault is the City’s, the new subcontractor, or some of both. When the permit is issued, American YouthWorks anticipates that work can be completed in 3 weeks. Malcolm has sent a demand letter to the previous cement sub-contractor for money he took without finishing the job. If he does not respond, he will pursue legal action.
4. Consideration of rent proposal. Brad Prak, PPM.
This item was postponed until the July meeting.
5. Discussion of tenant eligibility and income requirements. Brad Prak.
This item was postponed until the July meeting.
6. Update regarding CCDC’s new website. Mary Reed.
Mary reported that the new website is close to completion. Should be up in early July.
7. Reminder of upcoming “Clarksville Conversations: Sundays at the Haskell House” event: Rep. Gina Hinojosa, “Legislative Wrap-Up,” June 25, 2023, 2-3 p.m.
8. Report on fundraising. Kim O’Brien.
Myte: We were contacted by Katie Maude at Myte, a new donation mobile app, asking if we’d like to have an organization profile on the app. Myte is planning on launching this summer. They will be a one-stop platform for donors to find non-profit organizations. Their marketing demographic is Millennials to older Gen Zs (appx. 20-40.) I Zoom met with Katie this morning. Myte sounds like a painless way for us to potentially raise money with little to no effort on our part. It costs nothing to join, and there is a “free” option which is all we will need, so there will be no additional costs. Myte keeps $0.50 of each donation. Donors have the option of covering credit card fees; if they don’t, we pay these/they are deducted from the donation.
TSAHC: application submitted in May. Notification in August. Estimated award $10-15K. Specifically for 1817A W. 10th repairs.
BJ reported that our Venmo account is frozen. She is communicating with them, but hasn’t gotten any help. We will likely have to do a business account.
9. Discussion of plans for Austin Museum Day at the Haskell House, September 17, 2023. Mary Reed.
The board agreed to work with Vanessa Lively—musician, CCDC tenant, and founder of Home Street Music, an Austin non-profit that works with people who have experienced chronic homelessness, to provide live music throughout the event. We will serve lemonade and cookies. Board members will provide the cookies.
10. No Other Business was discussed.
11. The board did not meet in Executive Session.
Minutes From F & O Committee Meeting on June 15th, 2023
1. BJ Friedman reported that she had not had time to review the May financials because Prak had not provided them in time for her to do so although she has a question about the amount of the management fee. Mary said that she did not remember if the amount of that fee is a flat fee or is based on rent collected. Mary noted that the May balance sheet reflected a balance in the OWANA fund when in fact all of that money has been spent. Linda Parsons with Prak is aware of the error and will correct.
2. Mary reported that the concrete driveway front steps 1611 West 10th have still not been poured because the new contractor is waiting for a permit from the City. She also said that Malcolm has written a demand letter that will be sent to the previous cement contractor who took our money and then disappeared. If after receiving the letter, the contractor does not reimburse the CCDC for the money and also pay us for three months of lost rent, we will sue him.
3. Mary asked the committee members if they had any questions or thoughts about the upcoming special meeting. Gregory asked if CCDC members had a vote. Mary responded that only Board members have votes.
4. Mary reported that we have finally used up all of the OWANA money. The last dollars were used to help pay for work at 1720B Waterston – repair of the front door and exterior power washing, caulking and painting.
5. The City refused to approve the work done at 1011 Charlotte – the two new back doors, landings and stairs – because they claimed the work did not comply with code. However, it turns out that the City employee who came out to check the work looked at the front staircases, not the back. A new inspector came out and we now have our CO!
6. The CCDC’s new website is 99.9% finished. Should go live next week.
7. Mary reported that Kim wrote a grant to the Texas Affordable Housing Corporation to help fund some of the work at 1817A West 10th. We won’t know if we will get any $ until August. Meanwhile, Paula has generously offered to pay for some of the work. Also, Kim reached out to the VP with BAC in Austin, who is our contact for the BAC Foundation to ask if we could apply for more $ from the Foundation if we could not provide firm budget amounts. The $ would be used at 1817A as well. The VP responded and said he would get back to her. So, there is hope.