October 2023 Board Meeting Minutes

Attendees

7:04 – Sonia Call to order –

• Introduction & Attendance
  • Kurt Sommer is the new representative on the board for Lifebridge
  • Meeting ground rules

Minutes Approval

• Motion to approve minutes (Laura), Charisse 2nd

None opposed – None Abstain – All in favor –

Acting Executive Director Report (Elizabeth):

• Soon hiring a Commercial Development Manager – 

Housing Action Plan Update, Presentation, and Discussion (Patrick)

• Link to the Presentation here
• Patrick shared the housing plan, feedback received so far and how it’s been incorporated into the plan – for example: Poppleton needs to be added to the plan – the consultant team is meeting with Poppleton residents and the association to incorporate their desires into the final housing plan 
  • Plan Themes:
    • Address vacancy
    • Increase Homeownership
    • Support current residents
  • Pilot Strategy areas
    • Franklin Square
    • Hollins Roundhouse
    • Mount Clare (&Union Square)
    • add Poppleton
  • 513 homes in the initial phase of the plan
  • Abigail: How have we been getting the word out – besides meetings and speaking to the people we already know.
    • Meghan has been knocking on doors, with support from the Housing Committee
  • Cecilia: the Housing Committee also organized a panel in October with representatives from community organizations implementing similar plans to help us understand what we should be considering as we move forward. The panel emphasized the need for community-led plans, partnerships, and looking at it holistically (have comprehensive plans). Mrs. Sonia has also been working with staff towards organizing a townhall meeting.
  • We need to ask ourselves, is addressing vacant housing core to our work?
  • Kris: What is our role? Are we an advocacy organization? or an implementer?
• Options for SWP to consider (ways to implement the plan)
  • 1. Expand capacity of SWP to take lead on implementation
  • 2. Work in partnership with existing groups, but as coordinator rather than lead implementer
  • 3. Establish a new entity or affiliate with a focus on implementing plan, in coordination with partners
  • Laura – who can we partner with
    • no one is doing this in our area at scale
  • Scott: prefers not to create a new organization but likes the idea of combining 1 and 2. Perhaps work with partners where possible and when not possible handle the implementation ourselves.
    • Can the consultants give us some guidance – budget documents that will help us understand what changes we would need to make (staff we need to hire) in order to implement the plan ourselves?
  • Cecilia: a deeper conversation about implementation and what strategy we want to take should happen with enough time.
  • Elizabeth: that is important, but should not delay adoption of the plan too long to honor the work of the team.
  • When do we need to decide? Early 2024
• Next Steps
  • Add Poppleton to the plan
  • finalize a document and share with:
    • neighborhoods and housing committee
    • Final approval and adoption by the board

Board Committee Reports and Updates (Elizabeth and Scott)

• Governance
  • Chuck is not here but there is an outstanding item on the table for Governance – We discussed in September an amendment to the bylaws – Changing the terms of the at large director to 2 years. since this won’t have any effect on us until next year’s election. We are going to skip that for tonight and bring it back in November for a final vote.

Committee Updates

• Education: – (Abigail)
  • planning 2nd internship program
  • Lou Packett fund is open – please donate to support small projects at schools.
  • Steuart Hill – appeal is in court 10/31
  • working on a survey for the community
• Commercial (Laura)
  • Grocery store update at the next meeting
• Housing (Cecilia)
  • Inclusionary housing hearing at city council coming up
• Safety (Howard)
  • Do not start your car without being in it.
  • The next meeting will be in person at the SWP office – 
  • String lights grant is available

Presidents Report – (Sonia)

• Divine Light
  • Zoning hearing postponed
  • They want to increase their residential treatment program to 16 residents
  • This would require them to provide parking spots
  • The neighborhood met with the owners last month and are still in opposition to it.

Anchor Updates

• B&O: – (Kris)
  • fun event coming for halloween
  • raising funds to relocate the entrance to Arlington.
• Factory: – (Kurt)
  • Temporary Water line has been installed on Calhoun Street
    • a few weeks

8:45pm – Meeting Adjourned

Motion (Sonia) to adjourn.

All in favor – Move to executive session