Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

May 28, 2009

550 Davis Street, Unit 25, San Francisco, CA 94111

 

 

The meeting began at 6:02 pm and was called to order by President Bill Sauro.

 

Board members in attendance in addition to President Sauro:  Fred Allardyce, Morton Beebe, Bill Benkavitch, Jonathan Middlebrook, Carol Parlette, Lee Radner, Felix Rodriguez, Linda Schwartz, Diana Taylor.

 

Board member who was absent:  Joe Wyman.

 

Also in attendance:  Bob Harrer.

 

1.  Quorum Call.  When the meeting was called to order, there were nine Board members in attendance.

 

2.  Approval of Minutes.  The minutes of the April 16, 2009 meeting were approved as amended, unanimously.

 

3.  Treasurer’s Report.  Carol Parlette distributed the Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Budget Summary Report as of 5/28/2009.  The current balance is $4,913.92, which is $165.00 more than April.  She thanked Maria Matson for bringing in the new members.  The Board discussed the ‘Contributions’ line item on the Budget Summary Report.  Carol stated that some members had in the past sent in additional funds beyond their membership dues, and that BCNA was not making a push for members doing this.  Based on this discussion, it was agreed to put a ‘Contribution’ line on the membership renewal form.  The Board also discussed and agreed to change the ‘Events’ line item to ‘Annual Meeting’. The Board adopted the Treasurer’s Report unanimously.

 

4.  Committee Reports.

          a. Waterfront Action Committee.  Diana Taylor stated that a Committee meeting is needed and she will schedule one shortly.  She’d like to see the BCNA make proposals and recommendations to the SF Planning Department’s Seawall Lot Planning Project.  Some examples of discussion items to be considered by WAC about the SWL Planning Project are:  1) recommendations to improve the planning process (e.g. number and type of community meetings, assure representative community participation); 2) concern that the budget is limiting an adequate planning process (e.g. Planning Department lay-offs, experience from other city planning projects).  She also stated that finding additional money for the study could be a recommendation.  The Committee had a discussion on ways to help the Seawall Lot study progress, such as inviting more people in the neighborhood (e.g. property owners, businesses as well as residents) to attend, additional funding sources, or holding the workshop at KGO for more visibility.

 

          b. SF Port Meeting Update.  Lee Radner reported on the May 26th meeting.  He said there were three items of interest to BCNA.

 

          1. AB 1176:  Bill addresses Pier 70 concerning public/private financing for development.  Lee was questioning:  a) Is this bill exclusively for Seawall Lot 70 or will it affect all Seawall Lots?; b) If so is it an effort to circumvent the Public Trust on all Seawall Lots, most importantly #351, so that the potential developer can build private housing on that Lot?; c) Will it still require State Lands approval and San Francisco Board of Supervisors approval?  Brad Benson of the Port staff is going to provide Lee with a written response.  Lee will update the Board after hearing back from Brad.

 

          2. Open Space informational briefing.  There is no recreation in the Recreation and Open Space Element (ROSE) currently being revised.  There will be a workshop on June 17th at the SPUR office.  Lee is planning to attend and will update the Board on what happens.

 

          3. Sewage Line replacement in the neighborhood.  Funds are expected in August; work scheduled to begin in September/October and take one year.  The project will temporarily take 40 parking spaces in Seawall Lot 351 for equipment staging.  There will be an open trench on Drumm Street.  The work under the Golden Gateway Tennis & Swim Club will be done without an open trench.

 

          c. Membership Committee.  The Board discussed the new experimental ‘E-Member’ approach.  An E-Member has all the benefits of regular membership except for no hardcopy mailings.  President Sauro stated that there are 6 new E-Members and plans to try this approach a little longer.

 

          d. Newsletter Committee.  President Sauro stated that the Summer newsletter is due for publication in late July.  Board members are asked to forward to him any story ideas.

 

          e. Social Committee – Annual Meeting Status.  The Board discussed preparations for the Annual Meeting.  The meeting is Thursday, June 4th and will be held at the Pier 1 Conference Room.  Time is 6pm to 8pm.  President Sauro, Ronna Sauro, Linda Schwartz and Jan Holloway have recently checked out the room and developed an arrangement plan for tables and chairs.  Wine and snacks will be served.  President Sauro stated that an email notice will be sent to the membership advising them of the meeting.  Members who do not have email will receive a hard copy meeting notice.  President Sauro further stated that 80% of BCNA members have email.  The guest speaker at the meeting is District 3 Supervisor and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu.  The Board briefly discussed inviting non-members to the meeting but decided not to as this is a membership meeting.

 

ADDENDUM:  Subsequent to the Board meeting, President Sauro notified the Board by email, that, on second thought, he thought it would be a good idea to invite the whole neighborhood to the Annual Meeting.  He stated that we [BCNA] can sign up E-Members on the spot and hopefully boost our numbers.

 

5.  Old Business

 

          a. Slate of Nominees for 13 Board Positions.  President Sauro recapped the current plan to amend the bylaws to allow the Board member number to go from 11 to 13 (no even number).  He stated that all 11 current Board members have submitted their intent to renew their participation.  Two BCNA members, Mr. Joseph Blue & Mr. Tony Gantner have submitted their intent to run for election to the Board.  With the bylaws amendment, all 13 candidates would be voted in by acclamation at the Annual Meeting.

 

          b. Challenge of One Nominee Regarding Live/Work Status.  Diana Taylor presented the Board with her belief that Tony Gantner is ineligible for the Board due to BCNA bylaws definitions of membership eligibility.  She cited two sections of the June 8, 2006 bylaws which refer to BCNA member eligibility and BCNA Board qualification.  She presented them in a handout:

 

          Article III, Section 1 provides for the “Qualifications of Membership” in the BCNA:  Any adult person who is a resident or who owns property, or any business owner or employee of a business within the Neighborhood may become a member of the BCNA.”

 

          Article V, Section 1 defines “Board Qualification”:  A member of the Board of Directors shall be a dues paying member of the BCNA at the time of the election.”

 

The Board discussed the interpretation of membership under current bylaws and realized that the definition of neighborhood boundaries is not clear.  President Sauro motioned to take a vote to accept Tony Gantner as a Board nominee, as he does substantial business in the neighborhood and that the bylaws are somewhat nebulous regarding eligibility.  The Board voted 7 in favor, 2 against, 1 abstention – and accepted Mr. Gantner.

 

          c. Bylaw Changes for 13 Board members.  President Sauro stated that as there are now 13 nominees, the bylaws will be amended to accommodate the increase from 11 to 13 Board members.  At the Annual meeting, there now can be a vote by acclamation to seat all 13 Board nominees.  Further, an Executive Committee, as proposed by Lee Radner – either ad hoc or permanent – to refresh the bylaws will be established.

 

At the end of this discussion, the question was raised concerning meeting attendance by Board members, and whether a Board member who misses consecutive meetings should stay on the Board.  It is expected that the review and update of the bylaws will include a provision regarding Board meeting attendance.

 

6.  New Business.

          a. Sue Bierman Park.

          i. President Sauro stated that SF Recreation & Parks Department has received $1.8 million for refurbishing the park.  Included in the refurbishment is the removal of the bridge from the park that goes across Davis Street to Maritime Plaza.

 

          b. Jackson Square Block Party.  President Sauro led a discussion about the party to be held on Friday, June 26, 2009.  The Board agreed to support this event and help with it.

 

          c. Board Member Bios at the Annual Meeting.  The Board briefly discussed having Board member bios available for the meeting.  It was agreed to do so.  President Sauro offered to edit the write-ups submitted to make them consistent in their length.  The edited bios will be forwarded to the Board for review.

 

7.  Next Meeting.  The next BCNA Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2009.  Meeting location and starting time is to be determined.

 

8.  Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Bill Benkavitch

Secretary