North Fork CDC Regular Board Meeting Minutes

DRAFT September 25, 2006

North Fork Mill Site, North Fork, Ca.

6:30 pm

Last Month's Minutes

1. Roll Call:

Meeting called to order at 6:30 pm by the President, Maryann McGovran.
Present: Kathy Ellis, Tammy Armstrong for Mary Proper, Joann Freemire for Paul Abram, Richard Hancock, Sandy Chaille, Stuart Pincus, Steve Christianson, Volney Dunavan, Bob Buckles and Dan Morris
Absent: Tom Wheeler, Mary Proper & Paul Abram
Quorum present? Yes

Others Present:
Sharon Carter, Administrator, Alice Higman, Administrative Asst., Jean Hancock, Keith and Pat Sauer, Clayton Dike, Chris Stanley and Tom Burdette.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Led by President Maryann McGovran

3. Approval of Meeting Agenda:

Maryann McGovran asked that Pacific Cascade be added to the agenda under “Old Business”
Motion by Volney Dunavan to approve meeting agenda with the addition. Seconded by Tammy Armstrong.
Vote: Motion carried 10-0. Yes: Unanimous

4. Presidents Remarks
Maryann McGovran asked the board to remember we are a professional organization and try to keep the side bars to a minimum. All members are entitled to their personal feelings and we must respect that. A public apology was made by Vice-President Bob Buckles for an e-mail that had been sent out to the Board last week.

5. Public Comment

None.

6. Approval of Minutes:

Motion by Kathy Ellis to approve the CDC August minutes. Motion seconded by Sandy Chaille.
Vote: Motion carried 10-0. Yes: Unanimous

7. Acceptance of Treasurer’s report:

Mary Proper was not at the meeting and asked Tammy Armstrong to relay that the CDC is running out of administration monies and asked that a finance meeting be held as soon as possible.

8. Reports:
A. Administrator’s report

· Funds are at an all time low so the following has been implemented:

1. Work time for Alice cut back to 32 hours a week – she will work from Tuesday – Friday, off on Monday.

2. Jeff‘s time 3 hours per day, 5 days a week.

3. Curtis’ time is 5 hours a day, 5 days a week.

I am off on Fridays, to offset Alice’s time off on Monday. If funds get even tighter, then I will go off salary, go on hourly and work part-time only. The only other alternative is to lay off Jeff and Curtis for the time being and keep on Alice and myself. The cost savings by putting Alice on 32 hours a week (she agreed) and Curtis on 5 hours a day (he agreed), is that the funds saved will almost pay both their salaries for the next month.

· The #250 grant ($248,000) is still awaiting the NEPA documentation. I have a call into Joel Moses as follow up on the status of this document. Should we receive the release of funds for this grant, everything can return back to normal for employees.

· Jeff and Curtis are working at Town Hall to clear weeds from the booth sites and use the tractor to clear the parking area of weeds and smooth out the site for parking. This is for the Fall Festival on October 7.

· Most of my time has been preparing the Pitcher Creek Grant which is 90% complete and should be sent out ahead of the due date.

· The CDBG Conference I attended in Monterey at the end of August was very interesting. I didn’t realize there were so many different components to the CDBG program. There are components for: housing, building micro enterprise programs, business revolving loan fund program development and operation, homeless programs, green building and universal design and more. I attended the Basics of CDBG, Grant Implementation, Beyond the Basics of CDBG, Building MicroEnterprise Programs Using CDBG Dollars, Does This Economic Development Project Make Sense? and Leveraging Your Economic Development.

· What I learned is this: The NFCDC could most definitely use various components that are offered by the CDBG, but we lack personnel to implement these programs. There is a huge amount of paperwork involved. Small businesses can benefit from this program such as Jennifer Ruskin, Program Manager, who I met, who operates the Women’s Economic Ventures-a small business loan fund. This is an all women owned business and they assist other women in starting businesses. This is a very successful enterprise in Santa Barbara...

· Integrated Engineers is in the process of obtaining their permits through the county for the water system.

B. CDC Committee Reports
1. Finance Committee
· No report
2. Fund Raising, Membership & Marketing Committee
· Kathy Ellis stated there was a “WANTED” ad placed in the newsletter for the mill site reunion.
3. Governance Committee
· No report
4. Planning Committee
· Steve Christianson reported there was a meeting held regarding Pacific Cascade. There is no recommendation from the committee as they would like to wait until a real proposal is received from Pacific Cascade rather than the Letter of Interest received by Madera County.
5. Executive Committee
· Maryann McGovran reported they also had discussion about Pacific Cascade and no recommendation is being given at this time.
· Volney Dunavan spoke with Integrated Engineers to inquire if they are still interested in moving onto the mill site. Dave Wensloff is out of town until next week, but it was confirmed from the office they are absolutely still interested.
· Maryann McGovran took a show of hands to see if the Board would like Ray Beach to come to a meeting and make a presentation regarding Pacific Cascade and it was unanimous to try to get him to a meeting.

C. Organizational reports:
1. N.F. Arts Council
· They will be having an art show at the Fall Festival. It was reported that at the last Arts Council meeting it was decided that the “Old Town” was too big a project for them alone and they will be asking other community organizations for assistance.
2. Squirrel Cage Theatre Company
· Gina DeMasters is holding choir rehearsal at 6:30 on Wednesdays at the North Fork School.
3. N.F. Mono Rancheria
· No report
4. N.F. Chamber of Commerce
· Elections were held and Pat Beihn was elected President. He immediately resigned and Steve Christianson was appointed.
5. N. F. Boosters
· Candidate Night is next Monday October 2, 2006 starting at 6 pm. There will be candidates for the School Board, Congressional District 19, Madera County Supervisor District 5 and Measure “T”, the transportation tax.
6. N.F. Women’s Club
· They will have a booth at the Fall Festival
· They will be entering into the “Chili Cook-off.”
7. Chawanakee Unified School District
· The Fall Carnival will be held on October 31, 2006
8. North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Aux.
· October 14, 2006 Chili Cook-off from 11 am – 4 pm at the North Fork School.
9. Old Business

· The date for Strategic Panning Meeting has been set on November 18, 2006 from 9 am to 3 pm. Richard Hancock asked Steve Christianson, Chairman of the Planning Committee, to prepare and send a packet of information regarding “Strategic Planning” to all Board members prior to the meeting.

· Discussion was held regarding the transfer of “Lot 10”. Sandy Chaille and Dan Morris will check with Don Vasconsellos as he has had a meeting with Madera County. Maryann McGovran will check with Gary Gilbert regarding the same. Dave Prentiss, Madera County Council, is working on amending the MOU. There was discussion of advising Dave Linn to stop all work on the transfer of Lot 10.

· Sharon Carter was asked by the board if she had talked to the caretakers about vacating the property. She replied she had not been directed to speak with them. Steve Christianson interjected that that was correct. It had been discussed at a planning committee meeting to be put on the agenda for this month. He also stated that he thinks the CDC board should present the caretakers with an official ninety day notice immediately and then continue to extend it until the Fire Department is ready to break ground. Sharon Carter questioned the security issues of the site if the caretakers have to move. There were several opinions given as to other ways to have security, such as a private company or C.O.P.S. patrolling the site.
Motion by Volney Dunavan to communicate in writing to Jeff and Jodee McKinney, the CDC caretakers, that within the next six months they will be receiving a 90 day notice to vacate the property. Seconded by Steve Christianson
Vote: 11-0-1 Yes: Unanimous Absent from vote: Tom Wheeler

· Bob Buckles asked what changes had been made in the Pitcher Creek Grant from last year. He was advised by Sharon Carter the environmental issues had to be completely redone along with the budget and timeline. We have received all new support letters from the appropriate entities. The wording had to be changed as we now own the property and we have to include copies of the transfer papers and Deed of Trust. Also the end of the creek will be modified to use the natural contour of the land. The grant package is due on October 17, 2006.

· There was discussion regarding the recent “Letter of Interest” received from Pacific Cascade for the development of the mill site. Comments were made regarding the housing issues. Bob Buckles stated we cannot shut out Pacific Cascade if they are willing to develop the site. Maryann McGovran asked for a show of hands from the Board to see who wants to continue discussions with Pacific Cascade. Those raising their hand for continuing included Sandy Chaille, Kathy Ellis, Steve Christianson, Volney Dunavan, Bob Buckles and Stuart Pincus. There weren’t any votes of “Abstention” or “Noes” voiced at the meeting. Maryann McGovran appointed Volney Dunavan and Steve Christianson to draft a letter to Pacific Cascade immediately and forward to all Board members for comments. There was a comment from Tom Burdette in the audience advising the Board they may want to use terms such as “multi-use buildings” in their letter.

· There was discussion regarding the pending $200,000 EPA Grant and the $900,000 revolving loan fund. Due to extensive cross conversation by the Board, it was too difficult to understand the individuals reporting.

10. New Business

· There will be a finance meeting on October 9, 2006. All Board members are encouraged to attend.

Motion by Tammy Armstrong at 8:18 pm to adjourn to Executive Session. Seconded By Kathy Ellis.
Motion: 10-0
Vote: Unanimous

The Executive Session adjourned to regular session in a timely fashion. There being no actions to be voted on by the Board, upon proper motion, second and vote, the meeting was adjourned.

Minutes submitted by Alice Higman
Reviewed & edited by Volney Dunavan