Following is an amendex draft of the the Sin Fronteras Cafe proposal
Hi everyone,
Here is the updated cafe proposal. Some things
have been modified based upon the feedback received so far, most
of which has been positive.
If you have any feedback from your collectives,
friendly amendments, questions, etc. it would be really helpful
to have them before the meeting on Thursday.
This will be the 3rd meeting at which the Cafe
has been discussed, and the second since the proposal was
submitted. Collectives all should have discussed it, and I hope
we can consense on some version of it on Thursday so we can sign
a lease beginning January 1st. If you are going to be the
delegate on Thursday, please come prepared with your
collective's response.
Laura
Updated proposal to build and open a coffee
bar, Cooperative Cafe Sin Fronteras, at Omni Commons
Dear Omni Commons,
Sin Fronteras Coffee is a worker-owned co-op created by Rocio Cervantes, and Jose Rodriguez from Akat Cafe, a community space and sustainable cafe, and Michelle Gutierrez and Abad Leyva. Michelle is a therapist/photographer working for people of color in East Oakland. Abad is an independent filmmaker and founder of Encinal Oakland, a community organization fighting stigma and discrimination through multimedia projects. We propose to become an Omni Commons member collective and open a coffee/limited food location which will serve the North Oakland community and Omni Commons.
Sin Fronteras Coffee will offer fair trade Zapatista coffee from Chiapas, and work directly with the farmers. We also see the need in our communities, where people struggle balancing a busy and poor life, for the cafe to be a model of dignified work at a living wage. Once established, Sin Fronteras Coffee will give to members of disenfranchised communities the opportunity to learn to run a sustainable, autonomous cooperative business. Our commitment to horizontal growth means that we will support and promote others to open similar small, worker-owned co-ops.
Our proposal for Omni Commons:
Collective Structure. Worker owned co-op, new owners by invitation only.
Community Benefit. Cultural and political education and social events; support for events at the Omni with Cafe service; once we are established, youth internships. In the future, financial and business training to co-op members and employees.
Schedule. Proposed hours of operation (subject to change) 7:30am-5:30pm Mon-Fri and cafe service for events at Omni collectives with anticipation. We will establish a system to request cafe service during events.
Security. Conversation needed re. protection of equipment and safety after cafe hours. We will position equipment with safety in mind. We will consider increased security and protection of equipment, if needed, in a way that decoratively and artistically contributes to the space.
Source of Goods. We aim to serve organic and just trade coffee from Zapatista cooperatives in Chiapas, Mexico. All produce, pastries and dairy will be sourced through local suppliers
Community Market. Opportunities for Omni Commons collectives and other POC, Women Owned, Queer Owned businesses to showcase their products.
Lease details.
1. Parties: The Omni Commons (“Lessor”)
2. Premises: Omni Commons
3. Term:
4. Commencement: January 1, 2018
5. Use:
6. Base Rent: $800 a month plus approximately $250 utilities (garbage, PG&E, internet, water based on what other collectives pay). This rate gives 24/7 access to the building for cafe operations; and the ability to hold events in the Entrance Hall at the time the lease is signed. Free use of the Ballroom for occasional large events will be available at the end of the rental abatement period (see below). Lessee will pay property taxes levied on the Lessor by Alameda County due to its non-charitable status. Rent will increase by 3% annually.
7. Insurance: Lessee shall obtain general commercial liability insurance with liability limits not less than $1,000,000/$2,000,000 aggregate, a Waiver of Subrogation, and naming Lessor (Omni Commons) as an additionally insured.
8. Start-up Costs & Build Out: We estimate the build-out and improvement costs at approx $8,000. Omni Commons will abate our monthly rent for 6 months to help Sin Fronteras manage this initial investment. Sin Fronteras will begin paying for utilities from the time of lease signing.
9. Improvements: Lessee shall provide the following improvements, using building standard finishes, subject to a mutually acceptable space plan, and all applicable permits:
Coffee Bar
Plumbing and Electrical upgrades
Appropriate tile and floor finishing
Painting
10. Storage: Extra storage will be included, approximately 10 sq ft in basement .
11. Parking: Only street parking.
13. Security Deposit: Upon lease execution, Lessee shall provide Lessor with a security deposit equivalent to the last month’s rent.
14. Financials: Lessee will be responsible for funding of leasehold improvements.
Some useful links:
Akat Cafe Video: https://vimeo.com/139681504
Encinal Oakland work: https://www.encinaloakland.
For questions please email: