Present: Aaron, Mikayla, ilya, Frog, Nynke, Ivy, Jennifer, Diana, Toast, Serenity (facilitator), Don, Jeb (minutes)

No one present.

4/12/26 Minutes reviewed and approved.

(Frog) Co-op birthday is this Wednesday 4/22. Put out a bunch of emails for set-up tasks. I might be closing at work. I'm not sure when I'll be there. Forms are available for people to sign up for tasks. Got 3 responses so far. Everyone got a QR code on their door and on the commons door. We're having a meeting tonight (4/19) after house meeting if you're interested in setting up for birthday or generally staying in the know. I can add you to the group chat. The QR code goes to 2 links - can also sign up for the chili cook-off. Signups for chili cook-offs closes tomorrow (Monday 4/20). If you do not sign up, you cannot win! The musician starts her set at 5:30/6:00 and goes for an hour. If anyone has a nice quality microphone, please let us know.

(Serenity) I meant to put an agenda item to discuss what we're doing for the labor holiday, but didn't get to it, so I'm tabling it for next week.

(standing) rat updates

(Ivy) There are high-priority spots to have holes filled. A couple in 103, including one behind an oven that needs to be replaced because the oven part doesn't work.

(Serenity) Also, there's a rat somewhere in the garage and the maintenance closet.

(Diana) Tiny rat droppings in the commons kitchen.

(Don) Haven't heard anything since the hole closed up in my place.

(Serenity) Continue to do what we can to limit the flow of rats, since new ones are likely being born. Keep them in bins in the pantry, do not leave food out in your units.

(Ivy) Please eat your food outside and throw food and drink trash away outside. Wash, rinse, and remove food debris before placing dishes in the commons sink. If you hear rats, report them to maintenance. If you find a rat hole, report it to maintenance via email.

(Diana) I appreciate you being proactive, but I don't think the people present are the ones leaving items in the commons kitchen.

(Frog) Please remind guests of our rat policy and why it exists.

(Nynke) Perhaps we can post more signs and send emails about our rat responsibility.

(Serenity) I know we lapsed a bit during the wedding, but we need to stay vigilant.

(Diana) I told several people that we couldn't have food in the common area and I saw them going back in with food. I don't want to be rude.

(Nynke) For one night of partying, I think it's ok to have lax rules and then clean up afterward.

(Frog) In the past, we have had eyes on food in the commons at all times, and once the event is concluded, we clean up and put everything away.

(Jeb) It's my understanding that food never goes in the commons.

(Nynke) It was raining, and so food went inside.

(Ilya) Food was set up outside, and then it rained, so food was brought inside to eat.

(Jeb) Maybe then if it rains we put food in our own units instead of the commons.

(Serenity) As the rules are posted, we do not put food in the commons. If that happens we clean up as soon as possible.

(Ivy) It was a situation where it was frequently raining on and off, and so people would come outside to start eating, and then it was raining. As the evening went on, people brought it inside to eat. In a perfect world, if there's food being left around, after 5 minutes or so, ask people to put it away or if they're still eating. For the future, posted commons rules in more places, so if food is brought in the commons where we literally can't eat anywhere else. If you're not eating something, can you put it in one of the fridges .If there's trash, clean it up right away.

(Jeb) Toast, Serenity, and I have cleaned up a lot of horrible stuff, and would like to not to do that anymore.

(Nynke) I have a stronger stomach, and if anyone wants to call on me to clean up anything, please do.

(Ilya) Have the food under the awnings, and if you want to eat and chat, have the food under the awnings, but don't bring the food insise.

(Reyna) This problem has been very serious, and we have lost multiple members over it. We have had this happen over several events, and we have invented this exception of events in the commons, but it does not exist. Diana brought up that she found droppings in the commons.

(Mikayla) The frustration is not that it was a one-time thing, but a repeated occurence. Be respoonsible for your guests and remind them of the expectations.

(Nynke) Be socially respoonsible for your own trash. Put up signage for that, nudge your friends, and encourage them to clean up.

(Don) Put a sign on the door: No Food Allowed At All. Make it bigger if needed.

(Serenity) We must follow the letter of the rule, in order to make sure the rats, which have dwindled thus far, will stay away as long as we can keep them away.

(Diana) Once we seal access and do not allow re-entry, that will do it.

(Nynke) There's also a roach prioblem. Will that be included in the pest removal process?

(Serenity) The large ones are coming in from outside - they're native water bugs from Texas.

(Lorenzo) The top drawers in the commons kitchen look like they had some kind of pest.

(Serenity) We're going to re-evaluate the poest situation in the commons and come back with a report.

(corey) CHEA Budget updates

CHEA Budget Updates

Present: Ivy, Serenity (facilitator), Diana, Corey, Aaron, Mikayla, Jennifer, Toast, Jeb (minutes)

CHEA Board meets Thursday 4/23 to vote on a final budget.

2 options that Corey drafted. Main difference is how much of an hourly rate increase Ops Manager is going to get. $0.75 vs $1.00 per hour increase. Taking into account inflation, they are the nearest quarter options. Lower option will not likely keep pace, higher option is above inflation.

Other expenses basically the same for drafted budgets.

Last year, changed accountant over, and the budget this year reflects accountant pay adjustments (same amount of labor, different dollar amount – this is because we changed accountants mid-year).

Other things talked about cutting at Board level: NASCO Ed (scholarship money to send to NASCO Institute – people haven’t been going from CHEA but we’d like people to go – 2 day seminar in Michigan); ACBA dues (business association of co-ops in town; do a lot of advocacy work and co-op connecting and networking).

Most other items we don’t have a lot of control over (bank fees, subscriptions like website and QuickBooks).

For La Re, tentative changes include: $16.57 per room per month increase vs $16.95.

NP Budget is about a 3.5% increase over the prior year. These two options are 3.44% or 3.52%, respectively. Increase starts in September so it’s on a different schedule.

(Mikayla) When is the decision made?

(Corey) At the Thursday CHEA Board meeting.

July 1^st (following NP May budget meeting) is when budget increases will go into effect. This is another layer in addition to our budget. If we cut a bunch of stuff, our burden decreases. If we add stuff, our budget burden increases.

Rent amounts will be finalized when we pass the house budget next month in May.

Re: David (Ops Manager)’s pay, Corey is planning to ask the board to automate the cost-of-living increase amount in order to adjust for inflation, rather than the Ops Manager individually requesting increases each year.

(Jeb) What do you want us to bring up that we haven’t brought up?

(Corey) Do we give David a cost-of-living increase? Our accountant is a price adjustment, but our financial officers really like our accountant. Others: Do we want to keep being ACBA members and sending people to NASCO institute?

(Serenity) I think it’s worth being ACBA members and sending people to NASCO.

(Ivy) Not fully cognizant of what our benefits are.

(Corey) Way back when the city did bond proposal efforts, and voters shut that down, ACBA is trying to figure out what they can and can’t do.

(Jeb) Are we funding a program that supports us, or that is floundering?

(Corey) Or, are we funding a program that helps other programs?

(Ivy) What I remember, is that we attended the Co-opportunity Fair and not much else.

(Mikayla) Are there other networking events available?

(Ivy) We have tabled at these events and pretty regularly recruited people from those meetings.

(Corey) They do put on a lot of workshops that none of us go to, but could if we wanted to!

(Ivy) I tried to keep track of all of the events, but had trouble finding them.

(Jeb) It’s important to support ACBA, to attend workshops, and to help them help other co-ops.

(Corey) If we are active in ACBA, we can ask them for workshops about certain topics and otherwise guide their offerings.

(Serenity and Ivy) Regarding NASCO Ed – there were rumblings of sending people there, but then things happened.

(Nynke) What happens when the money isn’t used?

(Corey) It just sits there.

(Mikayla) Is that a volunteer, or Board-designated person who attends NASCO Ed?

(Corey) That is a very good question! No structure is in place that requires attendance procedures or report-back policies, but NASCO Institute isn’t until the fall.

(Mikayla) I would like to talk to someone about this!

(Diana) How would we get to Michigan?

(Corey) It depends. Usually, there are charter buses, and sometimes we might be able to do a group-buy with other co-ops in town going there. We can pay for more people with less money per seat. College Houses tends to go. You might be on a bus with 21^st Streeters.

The other thing- GMM and Events. Once a year, both Sasona and La Reunion tend to meet together, and sometimes we vote on things as an entire org, but usually it’s a way to meet with our other house, and if we do need to address things org-wide, or actions of the Board, we can talk about it. Generally happens in the summer. Budget provides food and supplies for GMM if needed.

(Lorenzo) Throughout the week I've been working quite a lot, but have been falling behind on grounds. Wondering if I can switch to cook (cooking outside commons).

(Aaron) We can talk about it.

(Ivy) Thank you everyone for coming to my wedding! I was trying not to cry the whole time (and failed a lot <3). I appreciate how I was able to only worry about getting dressed and attend my wedding. Thank you for helping with everything and celebrating with me.

(Serenity) I know it's a little cliche, but that was the happiest day of my life. <3333333

(Nynke) With my job schedule, I'm wondering if the meeting can happen a little earlier.

(Jill) This has come up before, and people have suggested calling in to the meeting, bringing their food.

(Frog) I can be an information conduit to you.

(Nynke) I know, but with everything going on with my job, I have been feeling disconnected.

(Frog) Please stay after this meeting to discuss the co-op birthday, and to put the courtyard back in order.