Volume 1, Issue 3
2015 - Tuesday, December 15
Stinson’s Bistro
4416 Burnet Road
Meeting called to order at 6:10 pm by Roger Cauvin
Board members in attendance:
Roger Cauvin, President
Cory Brown, Secretary
Kristen Fox, Director
Natalie Gauldin, Director
Ricky Hennessy, Director
Board members not in attendance:
Alysha Haggerton, Treasurer
Frank Harren, Director
Meeting began with remarks by Roger Cauvin. All in attendance gave a brief introduction.
Link to meeting agenda
BUSINESS
Public comments and questions for the board
Question: What is the difference between FAN (Friends of Austin Neighborhoods) and ANC (Austin Neighborhoods Council)?
Answer from Roger Cauvin: FAN and ANC are complementary organizations. FAN was founded to give a voice to those people who didn’t feel they had a voice in their neighborhood affairs.
Agenda Item 3: Resolution Process
Cauvin: We have been using the online forum [http://forum.atxfriends.org/] to discuss and debate new resolutions. We now need to determine how and when FAN as an organization will bring resolutions to the membership for a vote. FAN needs to decide on what criteria must be met in order to know a resolution is ready for a vote.
Cauvin introduced an outline for a process, intended to be a starting point for opening the discussion on developing a resolution process. There isn’t a need to decide today. Some changes will require a bylaws change.
The outline:
Brendan Wittstruck: Questions the frivolous clause. He suggests that in order for any resolution to proceed to discussion and vote, at least one Board member must sponsor it and Board should vote to proceed at Board meeting or via email
Wittstruck also likes the mechanism of reporting all results, because a 51% for, 49% vote isn’t black and white. It shows that there is nuance and divided viewpoints on an issue. Reporting both sides gives a voice to the minority.
Cory Brown: Agrees with Wittstruck on the reporting requirement, and agrees with the board member sponsorship requirement. Would also like to see a mechanism where the membership can petition or bypass the Board in the event there is no sponsor. Similar to overriding a veto.
Wittstruck adds to that mechanism, and raises the idea that if majority of the membership approves, Board sponsorship is unnecessary.
Cauvin points out we may be getting into a chicken & egg scenario, but discussions will continue.
Agenda Item 4: Membership Structure
Natalie Gauldin: Suggests organizing the membership structure around 10-1 single member council districts. The goal would be to have a board member from each district. This structure would help build relationships with council staff for each district. This would include categorizing at-large members by district.
Pete Gilcrease [Membership Committee]: One issue that has come up a few times are at-large members who live in an area with a Neighborhood Association that isn’t very active, so it is hard for them to get involved with FAN directly. Connecting these at-large members by district also gives them the opportunity to provide input at the council level.
Wittstruck: Raises the idea of using districts for the entire membership.
Agenda Item 5: Membership Update
Gilcrease: Two new member Neighborhood Associations: Friends of Zilker and Southbank Neighborhood Association. Southbank formed over the issues concerning Casa de Luz.
Agenda Item 6: Neighborhood Process
Gauldin: Proposes creating a how-to-guide to help neighborhoods better understand the development process. This guide would try to answer frequently asked questions, expand upon COA’s documentation of terms like “valid petition” and give some general background on city boards and commissions, and how to engage with the city.
Agenda Item 7: Neighborhood Process
Wittstruck: It’s important to draw on the shared expertise and experience, so that we can help people become informed and engaged when it comes to a vision for the future of their neighborhood. FAN could provide support to such visions through facilitation and design professional services as well as shared experiences in similar neighborhood efforts.
Agenda Item 11: Task Force On Community Engagement
Gauldin: The Task Force on Community Engagement is meeting this week. Proposes FAN make a statement at the meeting encouraging the Task Force to adequately reach out to and include groups in Austin that are often underrepresented. For example, Austin is 55% renters, but the TFCE survey respondents were only 17% renters. Austin is 34% Hispanic or Latino, but respondents of the survey are only 8.6%. TFCE should expand the survey and outreach to get better representation.
Content of the statement:
Friends of Austin Neighborhoods believes our City should encourage participation by the full diversity of neighborhood stakeholders. Though the majority of Austin residents are renters, these stakeholders are typically underrepresented through community engagement efforts. The board of FAN believes the Task Force on Community Engagement should put significant and continuing effort to distribute the TFCE Community Survey to renters and other underrepresented populations so the results reflect the true demographic diversity of Austin.
Motion to accept made by Kristen Fox (Ricky Hennessy second).
Motion carries by unanimous show of hands. (5-0)
FAN will send the above statement to the Task Force on Community Engagement, and a FAN board member will deliver it at the next TFCE meeting.
Agenda Item 10: Workers Defense Project
Fox: Introduces Jessica Castilleja of the Workers Defense Project.
Jessica Castilleja: Workers Defense Project advocates for better working conditions for low wage workers, especially in the construction industry. This includes higher wages and improved safety standards. The work is project based. Currently, they are working on the Plaza Saltillo project. CapMetro Board is voting next month on this project. Kristen Fox has drafted a letter on the FAN forums [http://forum.atxfriends.org/t/better-builder-program-fan-partnership/291/7] and is proposing we discuss and bring to a vote in support of WDP on the Plaza Saltillo development.
Agenda Item 8: Brand & Communications Update
Brown: Kudos on the great collaboration on the December newsletter. Currently working on a NextDoor coverage map, to see where we need to bolster our communication strategies. Proposes a “phone tree” style of getting messages and announcements out to members, so that each board member knows what is expected and when, rather than waiting for volunteers. Acknowledges that sometimes NA newsletters are lacking in content, and take submissions from outside sources. Proposes that FAN keep an ear out for newsletters that need content, and write 1-2 articles a month that NAs can access if needed. These can overlap with FAN newsletter content.
Motion to adjourn made by Fox (Gauldin second).
Motion carries by unanimous show of hands. (5-0)
Meeting was adjourned at 7:08 pm