[Approved]
KPFA Local Station Board
Regular in-person meeting
August 9, 2014 11am-4pm
SEIU 1021, 155 Myrtle St., Oakland, CA map
Present: Craig Alderson, Mal Burnstein, Brian Edwards-Tiekert, Paula Erkkila, José Luis Fuentes, David Gans, Kate Gowen, Janet Kobren, Jack Kurzweil, Joy Moore, Andrea Prichett, Lewis Sawyer, Franklin Sterling, Ramsés Teón-Nichols*, Carole Travis, David Welsh, Barbara Whipperman, Burton White, Margy Wilkinson.
*Arrived after roll call.
Absent: Donald Goldmacher, Mark Hernandez, Cynthia Johnson, David Landau, Samsarah Morgan, Mel Sanders.
1. Call to order
Meeting called to order by chair at 11:00 am.
2. Roll call and excusing of members
Moved (B. Edwards-Tiekert) to excuse M. Hernandez, S. Morgan. Approved without objection. Moved (J. Kurzweil) to excuse D. Goldmacher, C. Johnson. Approved without objection.
3. Approve agenda
Treasurer B. Whipperman reported that the special order of business (approval of 2014-15 budget) would not happen as audits and station reports were still in progress. KPFA and other stations are not ready but reports will be ready for September meeting and board will still be within fiscal year.
Moved (J. Kurzweil) to adopt agenda as drafted. Approved as amended (striking special order of business).
4. Minutes
Moved (B. Edwards-Tiekert) to approve July 12, 2014, minutes as drafted. Approved unanimously by voice vote.
5. Announcements
J. Kobren: Gaza. Today is Day of Rage called by national divestment coalition. March in New York today. Aug. 10, 1-4 pm is unveiling of Oakland-Palestine solidarity wall, 401 26th St. at Telegraph. Aug. 16 community picket of port of Oakland to shut down unloading of Israeli ship. Gather 5am at West Oakland BART.
D. Gans: Tonight at Ashkenaz, 8:30pm, is tribute to Jerry Garcia.
F. Sterling: Sept. 6 Apprenticeship Program parking lot sale. Used items needed.
R. Téon-Nichols: SEIU organizing adjunct professors in Bay Area. Calif. College of Arts faculty has filed for union recognition; petition circulating to ask CCA not to oppose effort. Election in one month.
M. Wilkinson: Today at Aquatic Park is Hiroshima/Nagasaki remembrance. One week from Sunday is fundraising dinner to raise money for Gaza for which she will be cooking.
6. Public comments
Public comments begin at 16:33 of audio file part 1. Ms. M, Virginia Browning, Sara.
7. General manager’s report (Quincy McCoy)
Incoming general manager Quincy McCoy introduced himself to the board and gave State of the Station report (attached), followed by questions and answers. GM report begins at part 1, 26:33 of audio file.
8. Break.
9. Treasurer’s report (B. Whipperman)
TR1 are fund drive totals as of Thursday. Friday figures not included, so this is interim report. Total pledged excludes money raised for KPFK. KFCF money is included and is about 6% of total. Average pledge of $132.03 is same as last year.
TR2 compares various pledges raised during various programs. Previous fundraising goals have always included KPFK but this time we were able to separate and track KPFA’s fundraising goal, which was $342k. We met our goal and $353k had been raised as of day before.
10. PNB report (M. Wilkinson)
Since Bernard Duncan left at beginning of July, she has been going to national office every day. Small staff but work well collectively. Many records are missing, not just financial records but all kinds. For example, no record of contract with copy machine company. Primary focus has been financial. We are being sued by former general counsel, who filed claim in October 2013 but PNB was never informed. Because Pacifica never responded, he got court judgment in April and was on verge of going to court to collect. She has been negotiating with him. This past week she discovered that Pacifica is also being sued by temp agency. We owe them and never responded to their demands for payment. Elections committee is working on elections schedule. Few applications for supervisor so job reposted, but budget is main question.
CFO got budget documents out by deadline promised. We’ve dramatically cut expenses in national office. She’s trying to cut costs by getting on top of obligations. For example, we’ve paid $21k in late fees for health coverage over past two years; similarly with bank accounts. Bank of America has been charging $9k in service fees for accounts Pacifica set up but never used. We received large donation from big donor but no records in national office showing donor’s history. CFO is taking cut in pay. She is working on ideas for improvement, e.g. legacy donor program. PNO needs volunteers to help get membership database in order.
J. Kobren reported that she had asked J.L. Fuentes about audit status and schedules.
J.L. Fuentes reported that there is no chair of audit committee and that it looks like the audit won’t be finished until September or October.
Chair Travis moved to suspend rules and deal with Pacifica by-laws amendment. Approved without objection. Chair noted that KFCF rep was not present and that all members present were delegates.
Moved (M. Wilkinson) to adopt proposed by-laws amendment #1 (Frequency of Bylaws Amendment Periods). Approved: 16Y (C. Alderson, M. Burnstein, B. Edwards-Tiekert, P. Erkkila, D. Gans, K. Gowen, J. Kobren, J. Moore, A. Prichett, L. Sawyer, F. Sterling, R. Teón-Nichols, C. Travis, B. Whipperman, B. White, M. Wilkinson); 0N; 1A (J.L. Fuentes)
M. Wilkinson added that lawsuit by PDGG was postponed and that three directors have withdrawn from suit. Free Speech Radio News has filed suit, due in court Sept. 4, but may be able to resolve before then.
11. Community Advisory Board
No report as no representative was present.
12. KFCF report
No report as KFCF rep was not present.
13. Old business
B. KPFA policy regarding calling police (A. Prichett)
Moved (A. Prichett) attached.
Moved amendment (B. Whipperman) to strike all but last paragraph.
Moved as substitute motion (J. Moore):
KPFA policy regarding calling police
We call upon staff and management to use alternatives to police, avoid caling police to settle disagreements between those working in the station, and work with management and other staff to peacefully resolve conflicts. Management shall create clear procedures to assist staff in addressing interpersonal conflicts and provide a method for documenting behavior which violates personnel policies and/or degrades the workplace.
Moved (J. Kobren) to close debate. Approved by show of hands.
Substitute motion approved as amendment: 16Y, 2N, 2A. Main motion (as amended by substitute motion) approved: 16Y, 2N.
A. Resolution on sale of Pacifica licenses (D. Welsh)
Moved (D. Welsh) resolution_on_sale_of_broadcast_licenses (attached).
Moved (M. Wilkinson) substitute motion: “The KPFA LSB recommends that the Pacifica National Board adopt financial and programming policies that will avoid the necessity of contemplating the sale of any of the assets of Pacifica.”
Moved (J. Kobren) substitute motion: “Resolution that the KPFA LSB strongly recommends that the Pacifica National Board explicitly adopt the following written policy: That all possible options for maintaining the financial viability of Pacifica be spelled out and prioritized, including that of liquidating any of Pacifica’s assets, and that the selling of any of the broadcast licenses of Pacifica’s five stations be taken as an absolute last resort.” Substitute motion approved as amendment: 14Y, 0N, 4A.
Moved (B. Edwards-Tiekert) to amend last sentence to replace “selling … resort” with “PNB will work to avoid proposing the sale of any of the broadcast licenses Pacifica owns.” Approved: 12Y, 0N, 4A.
Main motion as amended, approved: 15Y, 0N, 3A.
Adjourned 4:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Craig Alderson
LSB Secretary