Minutes for February 13, 2023

Call to order

Doug called us to order at 12:30pm at Sophia's Thai Restaurant

Present: Doug Walter, Jim Frame, Steve McMahon, Matt Williams, Rob Nickerson
Absent: None!

Agenda approval

Jim asked to add a Chamber of Commerce topic.
With that addition, the agenda was approved by acclamation

Public comment

No public!

Approve minutes from June 16, 2022

Jim moved approval
Matt seconded
Unanimously approved

Election of members and officers

Jim moved renewal of terms of all the existing Board members: Doug Walter, Jim Frame, Steve McMahon, Matt Williams, Rob Nickerson
Matt seconded
Unanimously approved

Some discussion of who’s willing to continue as officers.

Nobody opted out.

Jim moved approval of the current slate of officers for 2023:

• Doug Walter, President
• Rob Nickerson, Vice President
• Matt Williams, Treasurer
• Steve McMahon, Secretary

Matt seconded

Unanimously approved

Update on finances

Matt reported that accounting fees are about the only outflow of money.

Matt has discovered that there is approximately 800 dollars in the Paypal account.
Some of this is due to someone who’s been regularly making donations; some is from Big Day of Giving.
Matt asked where to deposit? DCN or DavisGIG account?
Steve recalled that our last BDOG campaign was framed around DavisGig.
General agreement on depositing to DavisGig account.

Matt moved to do so
Jim seconded
Unanimously approved

Chamber of Commerce

Jim reported Chamber membership dues are due.

Should we remain Chamber members?
Discussion: it’s a modest amount for a community group; supporting the community is an appropriate use of funds; general agreement to renew

Jim moved we renew
Rob seconded
Unanimously approved

Shutdown of groups.dcn.org

Steve reported that groups.dcn.org, which serves free, small websites for community organizations, is technically obsolete and is becoming a maintenance and security problem. He presented a list of approximately 100 sites on the groups.dcn.org software that have not formally been shuttered. Of these, Steve’s analysis indicated that only three show evidence of current (less than a year-old) updates. Many have been unchanged for 15 years or more.

Steve suggested a timeline that would allow organizations up to six months to find alternatives. A notification letter would offer assistance identifying comparable free or inexpensive web site serving options. Archive files would also be offered for the larger sites.

Jim moved Steve’s proposal for a timed shutdown
Rob seconded
Unanimously approved

Discussion of IP lease issues

DCN has been leasing half of its IP addresses to UC Davis. The annual lease is coming up for renewal. Jim and Rob reported that we have not increased the price ($20k per annum) since the original deal was negotiated.
Should we increase the price?

We don’t have a project we need to fund at the moment, but Jim pointed out that it’s entirely possible that could develop.

Matt suggested using a market price and discounting for prompt payment. Steve noted that it’s hard to determine a market price in this circumstance, as those who might pay the most might also damage the value of the resource by allowing use for unsavory purposes.
General discussion that market price is slippery and would mean doing business with companies with very different charters. General agreement that we are willing to subsidize UCD as part of our mission.
Rob noted that UCD seems to have been a good steward of the resource; they handle complaints promptly.

Rob suggested that we could double the price (a 100% increase) and still be well below market value.
Jim said he’d be more comfortable with a 50% increase.
Steve suggested 50% increase the first year, then 50% again the second.

Rob moved that we offer to lease to UCD at $30,000 with a notice that we’ll increase to $45,000 the next year.
Steve seconded
Unanimously approved 

Jim will communicate with UCD

Next meeting location/announcements

Next meeting will be as required by business

Adjournment

adjourned by unanimous consent at 1:30pm