Minutes: July 11, 2023

Attendance

Board Members: Emina Darakjy, Bob Blum, Sarah Gaskin, Mona Fleming, Gordon Matassa, Laura Burnett, Emily Spillett, Magen Shaw, Asha Jordan.

Staff: Nancy Hughes, Deb Etheredge, Dorothy Abeyta.

Summary

12.02 PM Call to order – Emina

12:06 PM – Review and Approve Agenda – Emina

12:07 PM – Approve Consent Calendar – Emina

12:17 PM – Old Business

CAL FIRE issues update – Nancy H.
No updates from CalFire to date. Nancy reached out to Walter Passmore (WP) regarding the unpaid invoices submitted in March. He indicated he has yet to process/review. Nancy reached out to CUFAC members to add an agenda item for the next meeting to discuss/inquire as to the CalFire process and protocol for managing the grants and payments.

The budget has been difficult due to outstanding invoices. Nancy is currently working on the budget and hopes to have it wrapped up by Friday (7/14).

WP wants to meet with the Board to discuss the future the Board envisions for CaUFC after Nancy retires. The suggested timeline is October, when Board has completed the recruitment process. The board should also meet with Miranda and/or share plans with USFS. USFS funding is provided to CalFire to share with CaUFC< California ReLeaf, and WCISA. Walter wants to manage how each organization spends that money. For example, he wants any written material/collateral funded by this source to be preapproved by CalFire. He wants CaUFC to work together with ReLeaf on his “No net canopy loss” campaign.

The board should invite WP to the in-person Board meeting in October in Sacramento.

Cindy Blaine (ReLeaf) said WP wants to meet with her and Nancy to strategize which group manages and delivers tasks for the No net loss campaign.

Nancy, Sarah Gaskin, Rob (with A+), Julia Gowin, Walter, and Dorothy met via Zoom to discuss the $1.5 million grant awarded to CaUFC in 2020 that was placed on hold. WCA is no longer interested in working on this grant. (WCA was a CalFire-approved partner.) A+ is considering taking on that role if CalFire approves and only after the other CalFire grants awarded to CaUFC/WCA are closed out. If A+ decides to move forward with this grant, the deliverables need to be rewritten and the budget modified, but no additional funds are allowed. Grants of this type (where specific tree-related work is done) are SOLE SOURCED with CalFire-approved partners. This is protocol. Bids are taken only for work that is not specific to the grant deliverables promised in the application. The application requires a set price to be considered by CalFire.

Strategic Plan Review Comm – Sarah, Emily, Meha
Emily proposed to move this item to the next BoD meeting.

Board’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Statement Subcommittee –Emily, Mona & Sarah
Emily proposed to move this item to the next BoD meeting.

Webinars/Workshop planning with Regional Councils – Deb
Deb has been working with the Regional Councils to deliver the proposed webinars. San Joaquin Valley held a successful webinar/in-person meeting. Sacramento is hosting the Harvest Festival next month with UCCE. The San Diego webinar is this week. LA/OC is planning for an end-of-the-year event in addition to the meeting on 7/27. Bay Area has been working on the Annual Conference (inviting and sponsoring speakers). No plans from Inland as yet.

“Mind the Divide” – Emily
A workshop was held in Riverside for policy discussion. Davey needs to finalize a close-out report to complete this USFS grant.

Executive Director Transition Comm. – Gordon Mann
Gordon is absent. Emily said she would send out the executive director succession planning survey to the Board. The plan is to post the position by September 1st.

Conference at TreeTopia – Sarah and Nancy
Speakers and agenda have been completed and will post online and on the CaUFC website this week.

Fundraising planning
The board needs to share the fundraising plan with WP. Nancy sent out a grant opportunity to the Board for consideration. Asha volunteered to work on the grant proposal.

Financials – Nancy H.
Nancy sent the Board the preliminary documents to change banks from Wells Fargo to Beneficial Bank. Mona stated that Beneficial is the bank used by Tree Fresno. They appear to be aligned with a vision/messaging embraced by CaUFC.

1:01 PM – Meeting Adjourned – Emina