Minutes for September 23, 2024

Minutes of the Davis Community Network Board of Directors

Doug called us to order at 1:08pm at Maya’s, 237 D St. Davis

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

Agenda approval

Approved by acclamation

Public comment

No public!

Approve minutes from February 13, 2023

(Minutes were also confirmed by email on Feb 14, 2023 with minor revisions.)
Matt moved formal approval; Rob seconded
Unanimously approved

Election of members and offices

Membership

Doug opened the floor to new director nominations; none were offered.
Steve pointed out that all current members still have 6 months left on their terms, so there was no need for renewing any current board members

Officers

Jim moved continuation of existing officers, Matt seconded
Current Officers: Doug, President; Rob, Vice President; Steve, Secretary; Matt, Treasurer
Unanimously approved

Update on finances

Matt reported that accounting fees are climbing in excess of inflation, but he’s OK with service level (currently $325 a month)
Jim noted that we’ve received complaints of non-filing from IRS (accountant is supposed to file) and the accountant has not responded.
Matt believes we are up-to-date on 990s; he recalls signing all the appropriate 990s to date.
Jim will copy emails to Matt, who will check on this; Doug and Matt noted that the IRS is behind on handling filings.
Rob noted that if we want to save money, there are some software packages that will do non-profit bookkeeping and fill out the 990.
Matt will research.

Update on groups.dcn.org

Steve reminded the board that it had last year approved a phasing out of the groups.dcn.org SimpleSite service. That did not occur in 2023, but Steve said he has renewed the effort and that outreach has been made to the approximately 100 site administrators indicating an end to service in January, 2025. Most sites are moribund and there have been only a few replies, but those received were grateful for having received the service for so long and have begun transitioning to other facilities. 

Discussion of IP leases and future projects or expenditures

IP Lease

Background: DCN has been leasing half of its class B IP address block to UC Davis on annual leases that have been renegotiated and renewed annually.

This was last renegotiated in February, when the board made a 2/15 email decision to approve $40k for the coming renewal with a notification to expect annual increases.
Steve asked the board to formally read this decision into the minutes, and it was reaffirmed by acclamation.
Jim agreed to send the board a copy of the letter to UCD for future minutes.

Future Projects

Background: This now-regular income has caused the board to periodically discuss possible projects that might make use of this revenue stream in ways compatible with our charter.

Jim had raised the possibility by email of using some of these ongoing funds to subsidize DJUSD’s provision of wifi access points to needy (Title 1) students.
Advantages and disadvantages of such a project were discussed.

Jim, Doug and Matt all noted that it might be appropriate to investigate what digital divide needs the district has, telling them that we potentially have funds regularly available. Matt said funds should be limited to what we’re regularly earning
Doug and Matt noted that discussion with the district should include ideas about what reporting would be possible. They wouldn’t be just getting and cashing a check.

Jim volunteered to initiate conversation with the district to set up a meeting. Matt volunteered to attend.
Rob suggested that if we’re talking about beginning to spend built-up funds, we should see what other possibilities are available.

Matt replied that investigating this does not preclude other possibilities. Jim noted that we wouldn’t be doing this with anything more than expected inflow.

Jim moved we start exploring contacts with DJUSD to see if it’s possible to use some of our cash inflow to tackle digital divide issues in education. This would not preclude developing other possibilities.
Matt seconded

Approved by consensus.

Next meeting location/announcements

Announcements

Steve reported that the Yolo Elections Office and Clerk-Recorder (parts of the county's ACE office) have shifted to their own web sites. This ends a successful 25-year cooperation between DCN and that office to provide election information. The old sites will remain available to the ACE offices as backups until they are comfortable they’ve successfully transferred everything needed.

Next meeting

Doug noted that our next meeting should be sooner as we have business to take up. No date was set.

Adjournment

Matt moved adjournment; Rob seconded
Approved at 1:58 by acclamation