Agenda

6:00 Doors open-pizza available for $5 per person
6:30 ECDC Announcements
6:35 Business Meeting
- Approval of Minutes of April 2018 Meeting
- Treasurer’s Report
- Ratification of President Janet Abelson’s Appointment of Hari Lamba as VP of Publications
6:45 Aissia Ashoori, Affordable Housing Analyst, City of El Cerrito
7:15 Janet Cox, Board Member of Fossil Free California

Minutes

6:45 started taking minutes

There is no conflict with too many EC Council board members because only Janet and Paul are present. Greg is absent at this meeting.

Motions

Abelson motion to continue Climate Change discussion after election year

Motion unanimously passed

Vice President of Publications

The club confirmed Hari Lamba as Vice President of Publications.

Club discussion on Climate Change

Club members had discussion on climate change. Member statements are as follows:

“Institute for food and nutrition is a broader issue.” – Betty
“Support partnering with other organizations. Understand that this is hard to do with political organizations, because there is not too much interest in partnering political organizations.” – Al
“Sierra involved in education in energy and ecological issues. How about we partner with the Sierra club.” – Hari
“Invite Sierra Club to speak at our club. This is a good thing to know”
“We need a club volunteer to take this topic on.”- Paul

Club Announcements

Next meeting is June 26^th at 6:30 pm
- Kim Alexander is with the California Voter Foundation and will report on new voting issues and legislation.
- One agenda topic is “How to present results of the primary”.
Proposition 13 reform measure moved from 2018 to 2020. It currently has 585 thousand of the 630 thousand signatures needed to be placed on the ballot. With two months left to go it has collected $2.5 million of the $3.6 million needed to go forward.
Support El Cerrito’s Green Teams and the Rotary Club. Attend the Saturday, May 26, 2018 clean up. Meet at the city’s northern gateways at the Knott Avenue Parking Lot east of San Pablo Avenue. Time is from 10 am to 12:30 pm. Contact green@ci.El-cerrito.ca.us or 510-215-4350 or el-cerrito.org/EQC.
- MAY 26 – NORTHERN ENTRYWAYS
- Join El Cerrito’s Green Teams and the Rotary Club for a cleanup of the city’s northern entryways from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Help keep trash from polluting our creeks and the bay, and present visitors with a positive first impression of our city. Wear a hat and bring water. All ages welcome (under 18 with guardian). Meet on Knott Avenue at the Parking Lot East of San Pablo Avenue.
BBQ July 1^st at 3223 Carlson Blvd from 2-4 pm.
“Backpack full of Cash” movie at the San Pablo Community Center, Saturday May 26, 2018 starting at 6 pm. It is a movie about Charter Schools.
Club member is sharing newsletters from single payer health care articles written by doctors for doctors. See flyer about Physicians for National Health Program (PNHP).
El Cerrito’s first free Treasure Hunt occurs Saturday, June 9^th from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Community Center. Prizes awarded to best costume, team, or most correct answers. See http://www.el-cerrito.org/calendar.aspx?eid=4434 for more information.
Volunteer for Diana Becton’s phone bank at Hilary’s house from 2:30 pm to 8 pm. The phone is conveniently scheduled on Hilary’s birthday of June 1^st. Happy future Birthday Hilary.
Volunteer for the 4^th of July Independence Day city festival. Help the club recruit members or help people register to vote. See Champagne Brown for a time slot and more information.

Affordable Housing in El Cerrito, Aissia Ashoori, Analyst

She reviewed the 2017 Affordable Housing Strategy. She referenced the New York Times article that there are 80 people bidding per unit. The first step is to educate others on public housing. Affordable means that housing is kept to one third of household income (this includes all housing costs). Today some people pay 50% of their income on housing. In El Cerrito, everyone gets the same access to the schools. The Inclusionary Ordinance encourages private funding to build in El Cerrito. Builders either pay a fee or allocate units for affordable rents. The state density bonus allows developers to go bigger or higher to allow for more density.
There are no community block grants available to El Cerrito. There is no public housing in El Cerrito. The first-time buyer program is funded as part of County of Contra Costa. Check out http://www.el-cerrito.org/spasp for more city plan specifically the El Cerrito San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan.
Aissia shared maps of El Cerrito development projects. This map is available at the website. The current list of projects shows that 1,075 market rate units have been approved, and 214 affordable units have been approved.

Key Notes on slide presentation

Affordable Housing definition: housing costs are 30% or less of household income (rents/mortgage).
How do we provide affordable housing for households that cannot afford market rate housing?
- Subsidized affordable housing receives funding from federal and state funding sources to cover the gap.
  - Many subsidies are only available for certain income categories.
- Private sector contributes (inclusionary zoning, density bonuses, etc.)
Local governments can provide funding or create requirements for private sector to contribute towards affordable housing.
Affordable housing toolbox. Affordable Housing Programs:
- 100% affordable housing – Available in El Cerrito.
- Inclusionary housing – Available in El Cerrito.
- State density bonus – Available in El Cerrito.
- Housing authority – not much available in El Cerrito.
- First Time Homebuyer Programs – not much available in El Cerrito (But can go through County).
- Community Land Trust Co-op Housing – not available in El Cerrito.
El Cerrito Housing Policies
- 2014 San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan
  - Form based code for infrastructure improvements for cars, and pedestrians. Keep in mind that El Cerrito is “transit rich”.
- 2015-2022 Housing Element
- 2017 Affordable Housing strategy
  - El Cerrito got grant for hiring and developing strategic economics – see website for document.
- Affordable Housing Goals
  - Goal 1: Conserve and improve El Cerrito’s existing housing
  - Goal 2: Facilitate and encourage the development of new housing
  - Goal 3: Expand housing opportunities for the elderly, the disabled, households with very low to moderate income, and for persons with special housing needs.
Definition of AMI categories
- AMI = Area Median Income
- 2018 income limits

Household Size	Very Low Income (up to 50% AMI)	Low Income (up to 80% AMI)	Median Income (100% AMI)	Moderate Income (up to 120% AMI)
1 person	$40,700	$62,750	$73,100	$87,700
4 persons	$58,100	$89,600	$104,400	$125,300

Around 1,700 people applied for the low and moderate-income family Creekside units (128 market rate, 19 affordable).
Four Policy Pillars
- A: Leverage Private Development to Contribute towards affordable housing needs.
  - The Inclusionary zoning ordinance just passed the council.
  - There are more applications for development coming to El Cerrito.
- B: Explore and Implement Policy options to reduce risk displacement
  - Tenant protection policies such as just cause eviction.
  - See study session coming this summer.
- C: Encourage development of “missing middle” housing Types
  - Eliminating parking requirements for additions.
  - Co-housing/co-living arrangements like “Home Match”.
  - Home match pairs up people that benefit each other for living arrangements.
  - Janet recommends Home Match services.
- D: Increase Local Funding to continue support for low income and special needs housing development
  - Outreach to homeless.
  - Increase low income match money in housing trust fund
  - County wide ballot measure.
  - Local revenue sources to fund affordable housing. See NPH.
  - BART transit-oriented development like McArthur…
- Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance effective 6/14/18.
- Tenant Protection Policies study summer 2018.
- Develop Residential Demolition Ordinance.
- Proceed with Other High Priority, Short Term & Ongoing tasks.
- You can subscribe to Community Development E-News!

Questions and Comments: Aissia Ashoori, City of El Cerrito, Affordable Housing Analyst

Questions on Affordable Housing

How are people selected for the few affordable units?
- Housing Authority has criteria with preference for the disabled, blind, or residents of the area. In addition, each unit or project has its own criteria.
- There is no specific preference specified by the city of El Cerrito. The criteria also depend on financing. For example, Ohlone Gardens units set aside units for mental health.
Did Hana have a lottery?
- Yes, there is no first come, first served system. There is a cutoff deadline, then selection based on lottery, and those selected are vetted. Then a wait list is established.
Is selection matched against demographics of existing El Cerrito?
- Randomness in fair housing is based on federal requirements.

Fossil Free California, Janet Cox, Board Member

Janet Cox spoke about SB 964, authored by Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) which is a groundbreaking bill that would define “climate-related financial risk” in law and require CalPERS and CalSTRS to take that risk into account when evaluating investment decisions. The bill would require a report to the public and the legislature on climate risk and progress toward the goals of the Paris climate accords. Fossil Free California, along with Environment California, are asking supporters to sign a petition that will be used to demonstrate support to legislators. SB 964 has been endorsed by the California Teachers’ Association, SEIU California, and the Sierra Club, among others. Fossil Free California is an all-volunteer, statewide group that works to address climate change by reducing the financial support and social legitimacy of the fossil fuel industry. It is the only group focusing on fossil fuel divestment by CalPERS and CalSTRS, the two largest public pension funds in the nation. Projects include Move Your Money, Individual Divestment, and support for lawsuits being brought against oil companies. www.Fossilfreeca.org

The goal is to move CalPERS and CalSTRS money out of fossil companies.
San Francisco and Oakland have a lawsuit against fossil companies for damages of climate change and for the companies failing to disclose those damages.

Questions on Fossil Free California

What is fiduciary duty to investors?
- Climate risk. Data shows that fossil fuel have asset risk, regulation risk and that fiduciary should consider working towards a living future.
Just oil companies? Any other?
- Divestments movement is based on California Senate Bill 350 as bill aims to divest for companies based on carbon reserves. Senate Bill 350 sets goal for moving towards renewable energy. Currently holding ground to keep environment below two degrees in temperature rise. Goal is to just focus on carbon control.
What about 100% renewable energy?
- Senate Bill 100 supports 100% renewable clean energy for California. Fossil free movement tries to tie to finance to business, like no coal in Oakland.
Question on Carbon Tax, is there a tax on products based on the BTU?
- BTU (British Thermal Unit). The Cap and Trade program has oil severance tax. It is hard to have a global carbon tax because there is no global fair playing field. See Citizen’s Climate Lobby who have taken this on. Janet cannot see a carbon tax in California. The Oil Severance tax is a tax on oil that is drilled in the ground. (side note: California is the second largest oil producer in the nation).
- Nancy Skinner is known as the “Climate Bulldog”. Follow her for more information on this topic.
- Welcome to join group that will lobby California to pass Senate Bill 100 on June 13^th on pushing California to go 100% renewable energy. See Clean Energy for California.

For more information see the website: http://fossilfreeca.org

Meeting adjourned around 9 pm.

Meeting Started at 7pm

Pre Meeting Discussion (Hari, Greg not present)

Vacant Publications Position
1. President Janet Abelson appointed Hari Lamba to Vice President of Publications
2. Hari Lamba can begin working on the newsletter and other duties
3. Scott Lyons will assist Hari in the transition
4. Background on Hari: Democratic Engineer that works on environmental issues on free time and has extensive experience with working for various non-profit organizations.
Web Consultant Question

Quorum reached at 7:25 pm

Call to order & Roll Call
1. Members Present: Quorum present consisting of President Janet Abelson President, Executive Vice President Mister Phillips, Membership Vice President Champagne Brown, Treasurer Greg Lyman, and Records Vice President Rosa Esquivel, and Acting Vice President Hari Lamba.
2. Members Not Present: Programs Vice President Paul Fadelli.
3. Visitors: Past Presidents Scott Lyons and Peter Chau (joins at 7:36 pm via phone and later in person)
El Cerrito City Council Conflict Discussion
1. Greg will refrain from participating in program discussion in order to avoid conflict of interest.
2. Potential council conflict areas can include: Prop 13 and/or Charter City.
3. Programs will be moved to end of meeting so that Greg can leave and not be present during discussion.
4. Loving Day discussion will only be on logistics so there is no conflict.
Minutes of last executive board meeting were approved
1. Mister Phillips and Scott abstained
Treasurer’s Report
1. Fourth of July booth applied
2. Paid bill for Harding Elementary School event on 2/27/18
3. Four new memberships
4. Around $11,000 balance in account
5. There have been no payments from the ECDC club to Jeff in the past
6. Rent is paid on a monthly basis for regular club meeting location
Web Consultant
1. Jeff Koertzen, is excited to help us and Greg will reach out to Jeff as the Web Manager, Jeff will post items to website
2. We prefer to hire Jeff as a consultant, it will depend on his status
3. Greg will negotiate contract with Jeff
4. Greg will share contract scope with board
5. Working on negotiating a $2,000 contract with Jeff
6. If there is no LLC, then we issue a 1099 as an employee
7. Action: Greg will negotiate contract and determine IRS status
Election of open positions
1. Champagne pointed out that bylaws say that majority of voting club members can elect any member at any of the next meetings
2. Another section of Presidential duties includes assigning and appointing members to any vacant positions
Membership Report
1. Champagne wants a database
2. Champagne recommends Wild Apricot for tracking membership, website events and other activities, customer size 1000+, $70 month, free trial; However, Champagne is willing to see if Jeff can do something better
3. Only issue with only online membership is that membership still likes personal membership and some still like to write checks
4. We are still using Mail Chimp,
5. Jeff needs current membership list, and expired membership list.
6. We just need to be able to generate active membership list for each meeting so that we can check membership
7. $40 per month for Wild Apricot software exceeds budget
8. We have around 100 paid members right now and expecting 200 by August because of the endorsements
9. Club membership fluctuates between 100-300 depending on elections
10. Motion to ask club to approve bigger budget for membership software – on hold till next meeting – Cost is based on percentage of membership
11. Champagne will continue to do research and work with Mail Chimp, Wild Apricot seems to be too expensive for the club
Newsletter
1. Scott might still be the website administrator
2. Board voted on Newsletter items
3. Next Deadline is March 12 (to Hari – Hari requested items by March 10th)
  1. Greg will alert Paul to get program items to Hari by March 10th
4. Hari needs to print and mail items by March 17^th to meet next deadline
5. Paul has provided Program information for the next newsletter.
6. Hari has received Paul’s content from candidate profiles?
7. 15 members still want newsletter mailed to their house.
8. Item 1: Preview upcoming Meeting: Janet and Paul will provide content information to Hari
9. Item 2: E-board report: report back to club on board item discussions (from Rosa)
10. Item 3: review of previous club meeting (see Rosa’s Notes)
11. Item 4: club member submissions (i.e. Hari’s article, Resolution on the same, Peter Chau’s submission).
12. Hari will send newsletter to Scott, who will figure out how to get it into the club website
Website
1. We should maintain historical link of previous club resolutions
ECDC Platform
1. ECDC platform activity is an off year activity
2. Mister Phillips is part of platform activities; he advises working on these in 2019 to prepare for the next election
The ECDC IRS status discussion
1. We are a 501(C)4 organization as per IRS rules. We are a political organization. As a club should we have an EIN?
2. We have to exceed $25,000 a year in funding before we have to register
3. We do not have employees, and the answer was no to all IRS questions, as to whether we need an EIN
4. We are a nonprofit, and we might need to get an EIN?
5. 990EZ annual filing for IRS
6. Action Item: Greg to find out if we need EIN and what an Employee is.
Awards Storage
1. Rosa is keeper of all club historical items
2. She keeps for a year and donates to historical society
3. She has to keep awards in a safe place for the club
4. Dinner plates and club items
Events
1. El Cerrito High Cafeteria, we have not yet booked it, but Mister Phillips should request it for Saturday August 25^th from 9am to 4pm for the endorsement forum –
  1. Confirm that our meeting has been calendared in the central database
2. Paul is working on speaker forums for County offices for June timeframe.
3. Next meeting in March, we will hear from county superintendents
4. Loving Day – do we want a booth at the event?
  1. We need volunteers to be at the booth
  2. Event is around a Saturday around June 12^th

Volunteer article to get volunteers

County offices forum will be the 6^th or 8^th of March (we are invited to come to the West County Dems club)
September Meeting
1. Mister Phillips has to contact Superintendent
We might need a walk campaign for June
Greg to do volunteer article for all activities (walk, Loving Day, Fourth of July), respond to Janet Abelson

Web Consultant
1. Mister will work with Greg on Jeff’s contract
Next General Meeting is 3/27 any other items?
1. Hari’s Position
2. Volunteers
Next Board meeting is 4/2

Greg Lyman leaves meeting as planned as of 9:10pm.

Program Discussion
1. Affordable Housing
  1. David Chu’s proposal for zone change around BART stations
2. October 20^th looks good for October dinner.
3. We still need a better venue; St. Jerome’s or St. John’s social hall are accessible, if not Kensington

Meeting Adjourned at 9:22 pm.