February 21, 2006

Davis Community Network (DCN)
DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED

A duly called regular meeting of the
Board of the Davis Community Network was held
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
at the City of Davis Training Room
600 A Street.

10 members present: Tsui Chang, Jim Frame, Rick Guidara, Anne Hance, John Jones, Steve McMahon, Robert Nickerson, Kimball Sargeant, Vicki Suter, Richard Yamagata, also Exec. Dir. Richard Lowenberg.
Absent: Tony Bernhard, Jan Meizel, Tom Stanionis,
Visitor: Brian Gegan

1. Called to order at 5:17:00 pm by President Kimball Sargeant
2. Agenda approved as distributed
3. No public comment
4. Minutes of January 17 2006 Board Meeting approved by consensus
5. We welcomed back new Board Member Vicki Suter who was a member of the board in DCN's earlier years.

6. Review, Ratification of Yolo Elections Office MOU
Richard Lowenberg reviewed the contents of the MOU which had been sent out to the Board for members' review. The 2004-05 MOU ended in June 2005 and was not immediately renewed for 2005-06 because there were some details to adjust. These were finalized at the end of 2005 and the document signed and put into force in January 2006. It covers the period July 1, 2005 through June 30 2006 and specifically includes $8,000 for systems and network infrastructure. Steve suggested that anything that adds to the amount of time required of DCN's Systems Administrator (Jack Crowell) will need to be reflected in an increase in his contracted time. Richard L. agreed. Richard commented that both the Elections Office and the Yolo Clerk and Recorders Office are looking to DCN to be able to provide extra capacity in its off-site systems services in the case of an emergency.
Steve suggested that we might pay someone to collect election information from the various City Offices throughout the county as we do for Davis.
Steve moved and Anne seconded ratification of the Yolo County Elections Office MOU for 2005-06.
Rick commented that we should carefully evaluate the services and other requirements as the period ends to ensure that the expenses and work done for the MOU are appropriate for the $$ available.
The motion passed by consensus.

7. Review of New DCN Plone site.
We adjourned to the other side of the room for a few minutes while Steve demonstrated, and Richard L. commented, on the new "About-DCN" web site. being built in Plone that should be ready to go live at the end of this month. Several suggestions were offered for ways to improve and update the main DCN website home page without changing its basic character. Steve agreed that this would be a good next project for the Web Team.

8. Preliminary Plans for DCN Strategic Planning
Richard Lowenberg explained that DCN's strategic plans developed over the past few years focused on media convergence and depended upon other organizations in ways that are not currently possible. DCTV and KDRT are going through some re-organization and the County Library is not building its hoped-for South Davis facility. Therefore DCN needs to re-think its direction in service of its mission. Ideas and opportunities abound and Steve proposed a half-day strategic retreat in late March or early April. Anne seconded the motion. Richard L. suggested early April with pre-circulated materials to help members prepare. The proposal passed by consensus. The Executive Committee will work on details and bring them to the March meeting.

9. Consideration of Pay Pal Account for payment of donations etc.
Richard has signed up for a 'standard business' Pay Pal account and Steve will integrate this method of accepting donations into the DCN website.

10. Information about planned classes and workshops.
Richard reported the following:
a. Mailman Class Thur. Feb. 23 (Instructor is Steve; 8 sign-ups already)
b. New Internet Applications workshop Thur. Mar. 2
c. Accessibility Workshop Thur. Mar. 9 (Facilitator is Seth Duffy)

11. Committee, Director Reports
Director: DCN Office Macs have been upgraded to OS X.
Volunteer Don Hartman is working there on handouts.
We need to follow up on the Yolo Clerk/Recorders Office
MOU
RAC: Anne reported on two projects approved at the Jan RAC
meeting one of which, as often happens, provided the
Web Team with some interesting work to do for the
applicant.
Web Team: Steve explained how the Web team had set up a
Simple Site 1.0 for the project (The Davis Cemetery
Project) and integrated the existing database of
grave sites to make it possible for updating to be done.
Steve mentioned that the Simple Site 2.0 (in Plone)
is now ready for Beta Testing and the RAC can award
one or two to applicants who appear able to deal
with a new system.

12. Announcements: Anne, in her capacity as Secretary reported on the number of Board meetings held in 2005 noting that two of them failed to achieve a quorum.

13. Adjourned at 6:33 p.m.

Submitted by Anne Hance, Secretary