Board Minutes July 9, 2007

UKIAH NATURAL FOODS
(A.K.A. THE HOMESTEAD EXCHANGE)
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The regular meeting of the Ukiah Natural Foods Board of Directors was convened on Monday, July 9, 2007, 6 PM, at the NCO Meeting Room, 481 South State St, Ukiah CA.

Call to Order Vice President Dan Hamburg called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm.

Board Members Ross Beck, Secretary
Adam Gaska, (absent)
George Gibbs, Treasurer
Dan Hamburg, Vice President
Jacquie Lee
MaryLou Leonard
Terry Nieves, President, (absent)
Don Sanderson
Joe Wildman, (absent)

Staff Lori Rosenberg.

Member-owners Michael Goven, Marcela Ries.

INTRODUCTIONS
None.

MEMBER COMMENTS
None.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES

Agenda Approval M/S/C (Sanderson, Gibbs) to approve the 7/9/07 agenda.

Approval of 6/11/07
Minutes M/S/C (Beck, Gibbs) to approve the minutes from the June 11, 2007 board meeting.

SECRETARY’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

None.

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT
Lori sent out her report electronically. She discussed the following topics:
• Lori brought in a copy of the new handout available at the store, “10 Ways to Save at the Co-op”. The handout, designed in-house, is available in English and Spanish.
• Lori has been meeting with the city planning commission to discuss the parking requirements the store must meet in order to expand. Ideally, the store could be remodeled and expanded without having to add a specified amount of new parking spots per square foot of retail space. Two employees from Sutti and Associates went with Lori to the last meeting with planning commissioner Charlie Stump to discuss this issue and other issues related to store expansion.

Expansion/Relocation
See Manager’s Report. There will not be a closed session at tonight’s meeting.

ACTION ITEMS
None.

BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

Board Education/Outreach
& Membership See attached minutes.

Donations & Grants None.

Elections & Nominations
None.

Finance See attached minutes. George reported on the following:
• Sales growth has slowed this year; the budget predicted a 13% sales growth but it is running closer to 9% or 10%. Budgeted expenditures should not be affected by this slowdown in growth. The committee will be looking at the June quarterly financial statement at its next meeting and should have a clearer picture of the overall financial picture this year. It is too early to change budgeted expenditures at this point
• This year’s annual financial review will be done by Robertson, Cahill & Associates. The store alternates between one of three firms each year when choosing a company to carry out the review. The review looks at the overall financial systems and procedures in place at the store. The firm will also review the sales tax procedure currently employed at the Co-op.

Governance None.

Human Resources None.

Local Food Security None.

NEW BUSINESS

Discussion of Member
Gathering The Member Gathering will take place on July 17, at 5:30-8 p.m., at the Grace Hudson Meeting Room. The following topics were discussed:
• Jacquie will be preparing salads, including a meat and a vegetarian option. She will start setting up at 4:30. Lori will bring the utensils and plates. There will be enough food for about 50 people.
• Lori will bring copies of her newsletter article about pricing, as well as Don’s newsletter article. She will also bring a blowup of the pie chart that appeared with her article. The floor will be opened up to the members for questions; Terry will moderate. Most of the board will be attending the meeting.
• Ross will take notes from the minutes. Dan will use the notes to write an article for the next newsletter about the gathering.

DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS

None.

MEMBER COMMENTS

Member Michael Goven is interested in joining the Board Education/Outreach and Membership Committee. Jacquie informed him of the next committee meeting and asked for his contact information.

Member Marcela Ries expressed her appreciation for all of the good things the Co-op does in the community; she feels fortunate to have access to a great quality store in such a small town.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be August 13, 2007 at 6 p.m. at the NCO meeting room.

 

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