November Board Meeting Summary
The Board of Directors of the San Bruno Community Foundation held its regular monthly meeting on November 2, 2016, at the San Bruno Senior Center. Highlights of the meeting included:
Approval of FY2015-16 Audited Financial Statements: For the second year, Novogradac & Company conducted the annual independent audit of the Foundation's financial statements. Novogradac's Lance Smith presented the audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2016, reporting that the firm was pleased to issue an "unqualified or clean" opinion of the Foundation's financial statements. He praised the Foundation staff's attention to ensuring that the Foundation's financial internal controls are properly followed. The Board approved the audited financial statements, which can be downloaded here.
Creation of Committee to Develop Music Education Strategic Initiative Proposal: The Board enthusiastically approved the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Music Education Strategic Initiative, with Secretary Emily Roberts serving as chair and Board Member Pat Bohm serving as a committee member. The Committee is charged with developing a proposal to create a strategic initiative for the Foundation that would solidify and bolster music education programs in a meaningful, significant, and sustainable way in San Bruno's public schools. The Board discussed the importance of music education in San Bruno's public schools, the demand for music programs in the schools, the current lack of funding from both the high school and elementary/middle school districts to adequately support such programs, and the broad community benefits of strong music education in the schools. The Committee will work with the San Bruno Park School District, the San Bruno Education Foundation, Capuchino High School, and the Capuchino High School Alumni Association to develop a proposal, which it aims to bring to the Board for consideration in the spring of 2017.
Report on Community Grants Fund and Crestmoor Scholarship: On behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee on Foundation Program Development, Chair Patricia Bohm reported that a review panel is in the process of evaluating the 23 Community Grants Fund applications the Foundation received and that the Board will consider the panel's recommendations at the December Board meeting. She also reported that the Crestmoor Neighborhood Memorial Scholarship application will be available in December, with a March 15, 2017, deadline. She reported that the Committee is making minor adjustments to the program in 2017 and that staff will conduct workshops for prospective applicants at Capuchino High School in January.
Report on Grant Projects with the City: On behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee on Program Strategy Development, President Nancy Kraus provided a brief update on the status of three of the projects the Foundation has proposed to the City of San Bruno:
- Community Facilities Vision Plan: Supported by a Foundation grant, the City has engaged with Anderson Brule Architects (ABA) to lead a community facilities vision planning process that will be completed in early 2017. On October 26, the City held the first of of two community forums to solicit community input on the goals and vision for future community facilities (in partiicular, a library, recreation center, community, and pool). From October 29-November 6, the City launched a survey on this topic to allow for greater community participation. A second community forum will take place on Wednesday, November 30, 6:30-9 p.m. at the San Bruno Senior Center. At this gathering, ABA will present key project features and cost information, and community members will have the opportunity to voice their thoughts on prioritizing the facilities. Another online survey will follow that forum.
- Florida Avenue Park Development: Vice President Frank Hedley represented the Committee at a recent Parks and Recreation Commission meeting at which the draft master plan for the new park was approved. President Kraus represented the Committee at the October 25 San Bruno City Council meeting, at which the Council expressed some concerns about design elements and the timeline for park completion in late 2017 but ultimately approved the park master plan.
- Community Day 2017: At the request of the City Council, which allocated up to $10,000 in City funds for Community Day based on an event budget of nearly $59,000, the Board approved strategic grant funding of $30,000 to sponsor the City's 2017 Community Day. The event will again be held in conjunction with the San Bruno Lions Club's Posy Parade. The Board also authorized staff to accept restricted donations earmarked for Community Day, which the Foundation will in turn grant to the City for that purpose. President Kraus reported that the Committee had already secured $5,000 event sponsorship commitments from Google and Skyline College.
Election of 2017 Officers: The Board elected the following officers for 2017: President Nancy Kraus, Vice President Frank Hedley, Secretary John McGlothlin, and Treasurer Tim Ross. Per the Foundation's Bylaws, the City Council will consider approving the slate of officers at its November 22 meeting.
