MINUTES for the Community Benefits Committee
October 18, 2023
AGENDA
1. Introductions
2. Request vote to accept Center Court’s $750k gift. Membership must officially vote to accept. COMMITTEE VOTED TO ACCEPT THE 4750K GIFT. NEED TO HAVE CSHCA MEMBERSHIP TO APPROVE.
3. Update on IRS 501C 4 status and discussions on new CSHCA By Law changes to manage the $750k DES ROHAN HAS FINISHED PREPARING THE IRS 1024A FORM AND WILL FORWARD IT TO OUR ATTORNEY BEFORE FILING IT. OUR 501C4 COMMITTEE IS UPDATING OUR PROCEDURES FOR BUDGETING, MANAGING AND SPENDING MONEY. WE WILL NEED TO AMEND OUR BY-LAWS
4. Second review/recommendations for allocating the $750k (First draft prepared at our 9/20/23 meeting.)
Specific items proposed were:
GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT OUR SPENDING SHOULD FOCUS ON EFFORTS THAT STRENGTHEN THE CSHCA COMMUNITY
a. allocate $750k over 3 years RECOGNITION THAT EFFORTS WITHIN THE 3 YEARS WILL INCLUDE SEEKING NEW FUNDS TO CONTINUE CSHCA OPERATIONS
b. hire a consultant to be CSHCA staff
-one staff at $100k/y or $50k/y
– hire 2 (or 3) with each having separate responsibilities
AGREEMENT THAT BEFORE WE DETERMINE HOW MANY STAFF AND WITH WHAT SKILLS WE NEED TO BETTER DEFINE THE ACTIVITIES DESIRED WE SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER HIRING AN EXISTING CONSULTING FIRM TO SOME, OR ALL, OF WHAT WE WANT
c. general areas of work for staff THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES (CHAMPION, ADVOCATE, COMMUNICATE, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT) NEED TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC EFFORTS, SIMILAR T0 WHAT FOLLOWS THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS ACTIVITY WE ASK EVERYONE TO OFFER US THEIR PRIORITIES FOR STAFF WORK
-champion CSHCA Priorities for all Community Benefits from area
(Comprehensive Planning, Infrastructure, Beautification, Pedestrian
Ways, Public Spaces)
-advocate for CSHCA positions with government officials
-communicate CSHCA positions
-develop and implement strategies as directed
-focus on business districts (Dot Ave, SH Ave, Columbia Rd)
–problem properties
–seek funding for property improvements
–organize retail events
–pursue tree plantings, traffic and parking “fixes”
–ensure safety policies
d. hire consultant to develop our Vision for Freeport St/Dot Ave/Bay St WE ALSO DISCUSSED NEED FOR A VISION FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS A RELATED MISSION STATEMENT FOR CSHCA ( WITH STAFF)
e. fund 4 CSHCA committees annually
f. fund necessary administrative expenses
g. what else ??
5. Next steps
(Next CB meeting, Wednesday, November 15, 2023)
NEXT MEETING ON NOVEMBER 15 BUT YOUR COMMENTS WELCOME IF YOU CAN’T JOIN US