Minutes

Regular Meeting of the KPFA Local Station Board

September 19, 2004 at the Freight and Salvage Coffee House, Berkeley

Minutes were recorded by Eric Park, KPFA Morning Show Assistant Producer.

Members present constituting a quorum: Jane Jackson, Willie Ratcliff, Howard Beeman, Riva Enteen, Ted Friedman, Lisa Rothman, Michael Lubin, Max Blanchet, Mark Hernandez, Sepideh Khosrowjah, Mary Berg, Ann Hallatt, Bonnie Simmons, Steve Conley, Sarv Randhawa, Gerald Sanders, Marnie Tattersall, Willie Thompson, William Walker, LaVarn Williams

Absent: Max Pringle, Debbie Speer, Fadi Saba, Miguel Molina, Carol Spooner

Meeting commenced at 11:18am.

I. Introductions and Announcements

LSB Chair, Riva Enteen convened the meeting and the Board members introduced themselves and mentioned recent KPFA programs that they appreciated during the last week.

II. Vote to excuse members’ absences

Absences of Debbie Speer, Max Pringle, Fadi Saba, Carol Spooner are excused

III. Review/Approve Agenda

Motion by Ted Friedman to add as an item after agenda item 7: consideration of modifying the Agenda Template for future meetings to include the Program Council report .

Seconded.

Debate ensued.

7 in favor, 10 against. Motion fails.

Amendment to agenda/motion by Lisa Rothman to add after agenda item 9: a time sensitive item agreeing to make a time and date to attend a nonviolent communications conference.

Motion passes without objection.

Amendment to agenda/motion by Willie Thompson to hear the Chair’s report to the PNB.

Seconded. Debate ensued.

Motion withdrawn by Willie Thompson.

Amendment to agenda by Willie Thompson to add an item for the LSB to discuss holding a special meeting on 10/9 to approve the recommendations for GM of KPFA.

Seconded. Debate ensued.

14 in favor, 1 against, 1 abstention. Motion passes.

Amendment to agenda/motion by Michael Lubin to add ‘generic’ new business to agenda between items 10 and 11.

15 in favor, 1 against.

Motion passes.

Motion by Willie Thompson to approve the agenda as amended.

Seconded.

Motion passes without objection.

IV. Review/Approve Minutes of Meetings of 7/24 and 8/28

Motion by Willie Thompson to approve the minutes of 7/24.

Motion passes without objection.

(Jane Jackson abstains because she was not able to read the minutes).

Motion by William Walker to table the minutes of 8/28.

Seconded.

Amendment to motion by Max Blanchet to approve the minutes of public session of 8/28.

Seconded. Debate ensued.

16 in favor, 1 against.  Amendment passes.

(Jane Jackson abstains because she was not able to read the minutes).

Amendment by Mary Berg that the LSB will meet in executive session at 10:30 during the next meeting to approve the executive session minutes of 8/28.

Motion passes without objection.

V. Public Comment

Begins at 12:15

Ends at 12:39

VI. Treasurer’s Report

LaVarn Williams reports on station financial matters of the station. LSB members asked questions and voiced concerns.

Motion by Mark Hernandez to recommend to PNB members to carry out a forensic audit of WBAI’s finances.

Seconded.

Amendment by Willie Ratcliff that the PNB also carry out an operational audit of WBAI in addition to the forensic audit of WBAI.

Seconded.

Substitute motion by Jane Jackson that the LSB endorse the letter by Larry Buchalter and Jane Jackson.

No second.

Motion fails.

Substitute motion by LaVarn Williams to table the main motion.

 (Substitute motion are not debatable).

12 in favor, 5 against. Motion passes.

VII. Report from interim General Manager

Bonnie Simmons reads report written by interim General Manager, Jim Bennett. Questions, points of order and debate ensued.

Members asked that the following questions be forwarded to the iGM, who is not present:

·          Jane Jackson asks that the iGM report on what is being done concerning KPFA's ADA issues and any non compliance to ADA requirements.

·          Sepideh Khosrowjah asks, what was the purpose of the survey and why didn't the LSB get a chance to see it first?

·          Sepideh Khosrowjah asks, what is the iGM going to do about the resignation of Vini Beachem from Program Council.

·          Michael Lubin and Sepideh Khosrowjah ask the iGM to explain what is happening about the Morning Show/DN time change, and why it wasn't implemented by Sept 8th.

·          Howard Beeman asks, what is the process that went into making any decisions that have been made involving the building renovation, the new studio space that will be built, and the wireless network of community center studios.

Vice-Chair Bonnie Simmons promises to forward these questions to the iGM.

Motion by William Walker that the LSB as a whole view and approve the memo that is sent to interim Station Manager, Jim Bennett and that the word ‘insubordination’ be removed from Michael Lubin’s question in the current memo.

Seconded. Debate ensued.

Motion to call to question.

12 in favor, 6 against. Motion passes.

Motion to roll call.

9 in favor, 8 against. Motion passes.

Roll call vote:

Howard Beeman - yes

Mary Berg - yes

Max Blanchet - no

Steve Conley - no

Ted Friedman - no

Ann Hallatt – yes

Mark Hernandez – abstains

Jane Jackson - no

Sepideh Khosrowjah - no

Michael Lubin - no

Sarv Randhawa - yes

Willie Ratcliff – yes

Lisa Rothman - yes

Gerald Sanders - no

Bonnie Simmons - yes

Marnie Tattersall - yes

Willie Thompson - yes

William Walker - yes

LaVarn Williams - no

10 in favor, 8 against, 1 abstention. Main motion passes.

VIII. Programming Committee

Motion by Max Blanchet that the LSB elect the community representatives to the Program Council from the nine names submitted using STV.

Seconded. Debate ensued.

Motion to call the question.

Roll call vote:

Howard Beeman - yes

Mary Berg - no

Max Blanchet - yes

Steve Conley - yes

Ted Friedman - yes

Ann Hallatt – no

Mark Hernandez – yes

Jane Jackson - abstains

Sepideh Khosrowjah - yes

Michael Lubin – yes

Sarv Randhawa - yes

Willie Ratcliff – no

Lisa Rothman - yes

Gerald Sanders - yes

Bonnie Simmons - yes

Marnie Tattersall - yes

Willie Thompson - no

William Walker - abstains

LaVarn Williams - yes

12 in favor, 4 against, 2 abstentions. Motion passes.

Substitute motion by Anne Hallatt to approve the four listener representative candidates recommended by the subcommittee.

Seconded. Debate ensued.

Amendment to substitute motion by Lisa Rothman to approve Brian and Tracy as PC representatives and to use IRV to choose the third Program Council representative from Attila Nagy and Younes Mourchid and that the candidate who comes in fourth be chosen as alternate.

Seconded.

12 in favor, 7 against. Motion passes.

Motion by Gerald Sanders to call the question of Lisa Rothman’s amendment

15 in favor, 2 against. Motion passes.

Motion to call to the question on Annie Hallatt’s substitute motion.

14 in favor, 4 against. Motion passes.

Motion to replace Max Blanchet’s main motion with Annie Hallatt’s substitute motion as amended by Lisa Rothman.

Michael Lubin requests a roll call vote.

Roll call vote:

Howard Beeman - no

Mary Berg - yes

Max Blanchet - no

Steve Conley - no

Ted Friedman - no

Ann Hallatt – yes

Mark Hernandez – yes

Jane Jackson - no

Sepideh Khosrowjah - no

Michael Lubin - no

Sarv Randhawa - yes

Willie Ratcliff – yes

Lisa Rothman - yes

Gerald Sanders - no

Bonnie Simmons - yes

Marnie Tattersall - yes

Willie Thompson - yes

William Walker - yes

LaVarn Williams - no

Following roll call, the chair (Riva Enteen) votes no and ties the vote.

10 in favor, 10 against. Motion fails.

Debate continues.

Motion by Jane Jackson to call to question on Max Blanchet’s main motion.

Seconded.

12 in favor, 5 against. Motion passes.

Motion by William Walker that ballots be given to Sally Sommer from the Election Committee and that they be delivered to the Election Supervisors.

Seconded.

Motion by Jane Jackson to table to election until a month from now in order for her to obtain information on the candidates.

Seconded.

11 in favor, 7 against. Motion fails.

Motion by Marnie Tattersall to invite the nine listener representative candidates to the next LSB meeting to make two minute presentations.

Seconded.

15 in favor, 2 opposed. Motion passes.

IX. Reconsideration of meeting dates for November and December

Motion by Bonnie Simmons combine the meeting dates for November and December as amended (namely, 11/6 and 12/4).

14 in favor, 6 against. Motion passes.

Amendment to motion by William Walker for the LSB to call a special meeting on Saturday, 12/18 should LSB officers not be elected by the 12/4 meeting.

Seconded.

19 in favor, 0 against. Motion passes.

Amendment to amended motion by Michael Lubin to hold an additional meeting on Saturday, 11/6.

10 in favor, 8 against. Motion passes.

Vote on Main Motion as amended

14 in favor, 6 against. Motion passes.

Motion by Lisa Rothman to see whether LSB can meet on 10/23 and, if not, whether it can meet on Friday, 10/15, at any time or Tuesday, 10/19, in the morning, to participate in a non-violent communications seminar.

Seconded.

15 in favor, 3 against. Motion passes.

Motion to see when LSB members can participate in non-violent communications seminar.

10 in favor of 10/15, 6 in favor of 10/19.

Motion to excuse Miguel Molina’s absence.

13 in favor, 2 against. Motion passes.

Move to call the vote on Lisa Rothman resolution.

18 in favor, 1 against. Motion passes.

LSB will meet on 10/15 to participate in a non-violent communications seminar.

Motion by Willie Thompson to hold a special meeting on 10/10 to candidates for GM as recommended by the GM hiring committee.

18 in favor, 1 against. Motion passes.

Amendment to motion by Steve Conley to add COI approval to the GM hiring committee decisions.

Roll call vote:

Howard Beeman - yes

Mary Berg - yes

Max Blanchet - yes

Steve Conley - yes

Ted Friedman - yes

Ann Hallatt – yes

Mark Hernandez – yes

Jane Jackson - yes

Sepideh Khosrowjah - yes

Michael Lubin – yes

Sarv Randhawa - yes

Willie Ratcliff – abstains

Lisa Rothman - yes

Gerald Sanders - yes

Bonnie Simmons - yes

Marnie Tattersall - yes

Willie Thompson - yes

William Walker - yes

LaVarn Williams - yes

18 in favor, 0 against, 1 abstention. Amended motion passes.

 Meeting adjourns at 4:15pm

 Submitted by Ted Friedman, LSB Secretary

Approved by KPFA LSB on October 23, 2004

_____________________________________________________________________

LSB Finance Committee Report

Sunday, September 19, 2004

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    • Total revenue of $3.8 million dollars and total expenses of $3.2 million including central services of $0.6 million
    • Total excess income over expenses for the first ten months is  $615 thousand dollars

• KPFA Income Statement for the Ten Months Ending July 30, 2004

m       Surplus must carry KPFA over the final two months of fiscal 2004; the station enjoyed a successful mini fund drive in August with pledges exceeding $285 thousand dollars

m       KPFA must maintain one month of operating reserves of approximately $300K

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    • Total revenues are better than budget by approximately $31 thousand dollars due to successful fund drives
    • Total expenses are worse than budget by $(60) thousand dollars due to:

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      •  Salaries and related expenses are approximately $(36) thousand dollars worse than budget; offset by year-to-date unacrrued pension plan and 403B matching contributions of $54 thousand dollars
      • Administrative Expenses: Expenses are worse than budget due primarily to Conferences and travel that are over budget by $(21.0)K thousand due to travel for Sacramento news correspondent and other travel; positive offsets are in professional legal services of $4.0K and telephone expenses of $8.0K; LSB elections are over budget by $(9.0)K due to failure to adequately outlook costs for listener elections
      • Programming Expenses: Satellite fees over budget due to NPR satellite fees $(4.2)K.
      • Development Expenses: Premium costs and shipping over budget due to increase in listener support (some may be premiums from last fiscal year)
      • Community Events Expenses: January 18 (Franken) and April 15 (Goodman) events were not in budget - both income and expenses are over budget
      • Central Services expenses directly related to Listener Support (20%)

o       KPFA FY 2005 Budget

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    • KPFA Budget approved by the Local Station Board in a vote of 16 YES to 0 NO with one abstaining; budget opportunities to be addressed as part of the motion follow.
    • Total income is revised upward to $4.6 million dollars that is approximately $0.1 million higher due to additional CSG funding.  KPFA is now designated a minority station by the CPB. Total CPG/CSG funding is now approximately $0.5 million and total approximately 10% of total income. Total income is budgeted at 10% higher than Fiscal Year 2004 Forecast and 15% higher than FY 2004 Budget.  Net excess income over expenses total $0.7 million dollars and include one month of operating expenses of approximately $0.3 million dollars.

o       KPFA FY 2005 Budget Opportunities to be Addressed

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    • The funding of sustaining programs  – the need to fund relatively new programs that are currently not funded in this year’s budget but have a successful format established
    • Cash flow projections for FY2004 and FY2005 for KPFA and the network
    • Preliminary legal debt retirement plan does not address missing periods during FY2002 and needs additional information
    • The need for Title 24 and ADA upgrades, improvements and requirements to pass an ADA audit and Title 24 audit
    • The total cost of building improvements for the station and the former restaurant property
    • National policy on additional assessments to stations during funding shortages to be provided by CFO to determine future exposures in budget and in the network central services
    • Prior year inter-station transfers to be provided by CFO to determine possible opportunities in budget
    • Pacifica National revenue forecast methodology to be provided by CFO for review to determine possible opportunities/exposures
    • Headcount and consultant detail for 2004 and 2005 to be provided by KPFA interim General Manager
    • Marketing Plan for station and promotional activities 
    • Race and Nationality Committee policies implementation

Respectfully submitted,

LaVarn Williams, LSB Treasurer and Chair Finance Committee