April 19, 2022

Hubbard Farms Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes

April 19, 2022, 6:30pm-8pm

1. Welcome and Introductions
   • Board: Matt Fogarty, Monte Martinez, Adriana Zuniga, Zeb Smith, Karina Odom, Myett Risker, Donovan McCarty, Mary Duran, Martha Potere
   • Residents: Tracie McMillan, Ben Ratner, Caton Arreguin, Donovan McCarty
   • Other: Emery Matthews (The Murray) Joe Rashid (Murray engagement), Brian Merlos (former resident, State Sen. Geiss running here), State Sen. Erika Geiss
2. Development Updates in HF
   • The Murray Grand Opening Event (Joe Rashid/Emery Matthews)
     • Wanted to present on the Murray.
     • Should be completely occupied by the end of the month.
     • Quite a few of residents come from elsewhere in the neighborhood or are people coming back to the neighborhood.
     • Want to host an event at the Murray celebrating not just the opening but reconnecting with neighbors.
     • Joe presenting here on community engagement for it. ED of EWarren DevCo, also have community consulting called 3C.
       • Lived in Hubbard-Richard from 2002-2012.
     • Potentially July 16. There might already be a community event though, per Caton.
     • Both a celebration of the Murray but more just a block party.
     • What kind of event? They want to know.
     • What about a farmer’s market? Or a way to highlight local entrepreneurship?
     • Something Halloween-oriented in the Fall?
     • Coordinate with Bob Anderson on music Fridays? Joe knows Bob, can do so.
   • Good meeting last week with Sam Butler of D4, but it was eye-opening on how much control you have over a development site you don’t own.
     • Monte – we should either be clear on our goals for development or be honest about what we will and won’t do as a gateway to further Southwest.
     • Myett – how do we want to view our community? Investors are buying. No one is selling right now. People took advantage of inexpensive prices in the past. She’s noticed change in the community, some good, some not.
     • Tracie – do NOT do meetings during work hours, many people couldn’t make it. (she understands the meeting time came about by different circumstances.)
       • Can Sam come back to next month’s meeting?
     • Conversation around home prices selling higher creating new price points that change our neighborhood. Some are very much against that. Others don’t want to encourage wealthy residents moving in.
     • Monte wants to slow down the pace of development. He’s seen it elsewhere. Not interested in density for density’s sake.
     • Train Station is inevitably going to drive up rents here.
     • Two ways to relieve pressure – rent control (affordable units) and more units.
     • —> Get Sam back at his next availability to a HFNA board meeting.
3. Committee Updates
   • Green Spaces Committee (Myett)
     • Had a good and fun meeting, hopefully survives the snow coming.
4. Conflict of Interest Policy (Monte)
   • Donovan McCarty drafted this. Too thorough for an organization of our size.
   • Monte doesn’t think people who work for the City or foundations should be advocating for development within our board.
   • How do we be both a membership and directorship org? Membership – anyone can be a member or a director?
     • Decided to be a directorship organization because not enough show up.
     • Our board meetings become like our membership meetings.
     • There are a lot of problems to this structure.
     • Could separate community meeting from a meeting of just the board.
   • Tracie – conflicts raised on the board make her nervous.
   • Mike pointed out conflict of interest policy is case by case. The board has to set the parameters for itself. Transparency is important.
     • Being “in development” is too broad.
   • Donovan – duality of interest is possible as well. A developer might not want another developer involved and so it’s still a conflict involved in all development.
   • Next steps – Matt and Donovan try to distill the conflict of interest policy into slides they can present to the board.
5. Summer Reception (Caton)
   • Community reception to attract potentially more nonprofits and foundations to focus on Hubbard Farms.
   • Start with a community member get-together in the garden? Summer kickoff for the community in June.
   • July is the Summer reception.
   • Maybe attract funding for advocacy work in green infrastructure? Using native plants being one example.
   • Caton’s looking for both a cohost and sign-off.
     • Board wants to see more what he proposes.
   • Mary Duran – maybe link this up with hours earned through the TimeBank?
6. Resident Issues
   • Clark Park completing by July of this year, Riverside Park ending coming soon.
   • Martha apologizing for not staying neutral on behalf of the board in regard to the Inkwell flyer. She should have said “presented by,” not “in partnership with.” Tone was biased and not representative of the role she wants to play with the board as a guide for the community.
7. Board Training – postponed