Event:2014/08/19 Legal / Governance

7:00pm @ the Omni (ballroom)

Present: Margit, Anthony, Steven, Sarah, & Kevin

Agenda:

• Populating working groups
• Modified consensus process
• Process for adding new member groups
• Emji's proposal for a six-month trial period (not discussed)
• Establishing a standard ratio of tenants to member collectives (not discussed)
• Defining membership of the Omni Oakland Commons (not discussed)
• Accountability for member groups who aren't fulfilling their responsibilities to the collective (not discussed)
• Clarifying the role of the Board of Directors (not discussed)
• Delegating undesirable tasks (not discussed)

1. Modified consensus

• We discussed the proposal that David Brazil presented to modify the delegates' consensus process so that any decision that cannot be resolved with consensus could be moved to a 2/3 majority vote. Given the reservations voiced by members of Sudo Room and Food Not Bombs, we decided to propose the following alternate solution:
  • All proposals to the delegate meeting should be made 5 days in advance of the Thursday meeting by posting on the riseup pad and sending via email.
  • If it's not possible to propose items 5 days in advance, exceptions can be made for urgent items.
  • Blocking is only to be considered in the case that a delegate believes that the proposal violates the mission of the Omni Oakland Commons.
  • In the case that a delegate does not want to consent nor block a proposal, abstentions are allowed. Delegates can also request that the facilitator allow more time for discussion in order to reach consensus on any given item.
  • Governance will work with Sarah Larsen to incorporate general information on building consensus into the facilitation trainings in Sept.

2. Populating working groups

• We discussed the need for member collectives to participate in the daily work of the Omni by populating working groups. This will activate member collectives, build goodwill and trust in each other, and help alleviate those who are currently over-worked.
• We will forward the following proposals to the delegate meeting:
  • There are 6 primary committees (working groups) of the OOC. They include: Communications, Governance, Fundraising, Finances, Facilities, and CDC.
  • Each committee needs one person who is the bottom-liner. Bottom-liners are responsible for making sure meeting times are announced publicly, that notes are distributed, and they are the contact person for their respective committees.
  • One person cannot bottom-line more than one committee (i.e., each committee should have a different bottom-liner). Bottom-liners are encouraged to rotate quarterly.
  • Each member group of the Omni will be required to populate at least 3 seats in at least 3 committees. Collectives with more than 10 members will be required to populate at least 5 seats in at least 3 committees.

3. Process for new member groups

• The process for adding new member groups has been a bit confusing lately. We believe that the process the delegates voted on has gotten lost in translation.
• At the meeting on Thursday, we will remind delegates that the process for adding new collectives is as follows:
  • The new group presents at a delegate meeting and answers any questions.
  • After their presentation, the new group leaves the room so there is time for delegates to discuss in-person any concerns they have about the group.
  • Delegates vote on the new collective at the following week's meeting.

4. Delegating tasks

• There is a clear need to delegate tasks that are currently being done by Niki and David (among others) to committees.
• Once all committees have been populated, we propose that Niki and David schedule time to delegate/knowledge-dump tasks that should be done by committees to representatives of those committees.

5. Next meeting

• Tuesday, August 26 at 7 pm at the Omni
• Agenda items for that meeting include:
  • Emji's proposal for a six-month trial period
  • Establishing a standard ratio of tenants to member collectives
  • Defining membership of the Omni Oakland Commons
  • Accountability for member groups who aren't fulfilling their responsibilities to the collective
  • Clarifying the role of the Board of Directors
  • Delegating undesirable tasks