Event:2024/07/25 Delegates

Omni Delegates' Meeting - July 26 2024 7pm-9pm

Foreclosure deadline is August 7 - X weeks from now!

Meeting Details

• Talk at https://omnicommons.org/meet or 515-428-1108 (PIN: 465814905)
• Type at https://omnicommons.org/notes
• Send proposals to consensus@lists.omnicommons.org prior to the meeting
• Someone should go check incoming mail RIGHT NOW.

Roles

• Facilitator/s:
• Stacktaker:
• Timekeeper:
• Notetaker/s: Paige
• Next meeting's facilitator(s):

Delegates

• CCL: Patrik
• FNB: Toan
• LL: inactive
• SMAC: Ruby
• SM: inactive?
• SR: William
• Quorum (2/3 of active groups):

intros

BRIEF INTROS MAY INCLUDE: name, pronouns, groups you're in, land you're on, if you're a delegate, unmet access needs, meeting roles you'd like to help with, discussion topics or proposals to add to agenda, announcements/updates/report-backs from your groups, safe space issues or updates PROMPT people to share contact info in the chat, so we can stay in touch

Check for mail for Omni

Who volunteers to go check if there's mail for Omni right now? This agenda item is part of the meeting notes template.

Example Discussion/Proposal

• Phillip - one loan option I am working towards has a higher interest rate than now. each collective will have to look at how much it is spending, and add 30-50%. Would be a 3 or 5 year or 10 year loan. $10-12k (monthly?). Any group interested in being a tenant, please send an LOI saying we will occupy or utilize as a tenant or event renter. I will then take all those to a spreadsheet. LOIs are nonbinding, but shows we are serious about being able to pay the bills. right now the 10 year history does not show we can pay the loan. Though rent will be higher, with renovations new stewardship, collectives could grow. Assume that when putting how much you can rent for. And compare rents to other places you see as you are looking for new spaces on the market now.
• Philip - One option to secure things to lenders is to put up other buildings as collateral. Starbuck may volunteer to do that. As much as everyone is saying that we will sell for 3-4million, auction bid starts at 870k+ and some change. bid starts low so who knows how much it will go for. Though told we can't talk directly to mulberry, I believe mulberry is legally required to talk to anyone wanting to know how much the property costs.
• Toan - Question for Phillip: when do you need the LOI signed, and letters from collectives?
  • Philip - need those ASAP to show lender
  • Toan - do potential groups need nonprofit status?
  • Philip - no. There is no rule against 501c3s using space to generate revenue, it is just the percentage of the events that is evaluated. Not a big deal if we have one birthday party if we are utilizing space every day for nonprofit work.
• Patrik - we should take into account that moving to a new space would require us to be paying more. CCL has been looking at places to rent, and spaces that are closer to $1sq/ft are very hard to find.
• Hoping Mulberry will allow a 30-60 extension
• Philip - talk before about applying to become a resilency hub, that would pay to get building earthquake proof
  • Patrik - did serve that function over covid, have that track record
• Patrik - email from Christina, thinks it is still worth contacting northern ca land trust, and oakland CLT. I would think this is way too late.
  • Philip - good to be in contact still with them, because even if this loan I am working with works out, we will need to refinance
  • Patrik - who would best know whether or not we have contacted them?
  • Philip - CAST and Jesse
  • SL: Oak CLT doesn't want to deal with a commercial mix like Omni; NCLT has its hands full (this from a couple months ago)
• Phillip - a lot of lenders I am talking to have requirement that CiM take over, but I do not have LLC. Looking if other non-profits could come in willing to partner in holding the equity, but easier if stays current nonprofit of Omni Commons. If we do this though, we may have to do a turn over of delegates.
• Phillip - Ruby, would SMAC want to stay even if we keep the building?
  • Ruby - sounds like everyone is intent on leaving at this point. I am a little disappointed personally, but majority decision
  • Philip - yes, understand some collectives may want to leave. Also option of coming back later, might be different as fresh joining, different environment,
• Phillip - hopefully something will come through, but everyone plan to have stuff out by August 25th. Worst case aim for Aug 10, but recommend asking both attorneys what actual date is
• Toan - Philip, if you know CiM can't make the loan, will you tell us promptly?
  • Phillip - yes, I am planning that by Aug 1, if no leads then not a possibility. Still hoping Mulberry could extend 30-60 days.
  • Phillip - might need to call an emergency vote. Would require trust from you all. Will clarify later.
• Phillip - if stewardship and ownership changes, how amenable is Omni to new expectations, roles and accountability? Since I've been here, I've been hearing theres been a lack of that, and history of collectives not paying. If more people in building, less of a concern, within reason. My question, is if collectives have discussed internally, if ownership and stewardship of the building changes, how do collectives feel about that, and in terms of things like not paying rent not being allowed,
  • William - SR people understand there will be a lot of changes. I dont think people want a similar governance structure. Concerns I hear about more is people worried about stricter building access. But building manager sounds like an improvement
  • Philip - 24/7 access matters less when we have a log, but would have more designated areas. Expanding in bocce room would be a priority, building a catwalk for more people to use the sunlit room

potential other locations to move to

• Patrik - have other collectives discussed this? Would any want to move with CCL? Number of interesting spaces that need a site visit.
• Phillip - Also you should all be talking about who gets what when you leave. I.e. the Projectors, sound equipment, free store stuff. If comes august 10, no sign of whatever, can make plans of how to vacant building for anything we dont want to leave behind for landfill
• Patrik - urge collectives who want to move, to discuss what cities/locations willing to move
• William - SR currently doesnt have anyone interested in pursuing this, but I would say walkable to BART would be necessary
• Ruby - SMAC feeling ready to move out (not with other collectives), and we have a place to temporarily station our stuff. Time to save money and not have a real space we are operating. If we are still operating, it would be at a different location that is already established. We have been doing outreach at other spaces that might host us.
• Toan - FNB update, we are reaching out to our prior kitchen connections. I think we found a spot, at a prior cookhouse. In meantime we are in support of CiM proposal. Support of CiM managing the building, and keeping building in ownership of community is better than allowing it to go to foreclosure. Just we have a backup in case it doesnt go through.

End of Meeting

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