2017-11-20 Standing Committee on ICANNs Budget & Operations Planning

Notes/ Action Items

2. Selection of SC Chair (pending formal formation of SC @ Dec 2017 Council meeting)
-- Target 21 Dec for adoption of the Standing Committee, so will need the charter and motion by 11 Dec

3. Review of Wiki space
https://community.icann.org/display/GCSCOIBOP[community.icann.org]
-- There is a distiction between member and observer
-- Xavier Calvez and Becky Nash listed as observers
-- Q: When would the call for SME volunteers take place?
-- A: Only after adoption of the Standing Committee by the Council, so likely early January, assuming adoption on the 21 Dec meeting.

4. Review public comment on IANA/PTI Budget – Due 26 Nov
https://www.icann.org/public-comments/draft-pti-iana-fy19-2017-10-09-en[icann.org]
-- Approval could just be about supporting the process, or supporting particular comments (RySG, BC)
-- IANA Budget, not the PTI Budget - subject to rejection by the Empowered Community. If that is to take place, it would require a public comment that did not get addressed.
-- Distinction between PTI Budget and IANA Services
ACTION ITEM: Staff can prepare a draft response on PTI budget for Committtee review. WIll distribute tomorrow. Ensure topic is on Nov Council meeting. [COMPLETE]
-- Due on 26 Nov, so any informal approval required on list, not on the meeting (4 days after)

5. Review public comment on ICANN Reserve Fund – Due 30 Nov
https://www.icann.org/public-comments/reserve-fund-2017-10-12-en[icann.org]
-- Board Finance Committee and ICANN Finance collaborated to develop these recommendations
-- Recommendation of maintaining minimum of 12 and range to 17 months for the reserve fund
-- Could have substantive comment or at least acknowledge and/or support recommendations of staff
-- Closes on 30 Nov, so will also not have formal Council adoption; will be agenda item on 30 Nov Council call
-- Q: What's the rationale for extending to 12-17 months and what are some of the methods to replenish the fund?
-- A: Only about the target level, not how to replenish it. Though ICANN Board has assigned extras from budget for instance. Governance is an explicit next step, as acknowledged in the document.
-- That said, replenishment can come from normal spaces (e.g., fees) or could lower costs. And excess budget versus spend could be applied to reserve fund.
-- ACTION ITEM: Staff to develop a draft document on reserve fund for Committee review. Start with assumption that there is general support for rationale. Will include 24 month in brackets as possible option. [COMPLETE]
-- Ayden supports 24 months given legal and regulatory risks that may arise in near future.
-- Erika does not believe risk issues shold be covered by reserve fund.
-- Q: What 's the future of the gTLD risk reserve in the budget?
-- A: Portion of application fee was dedicated to hard to predict expenditures. This portion is not considered a reserve fund but is aimed at funding risks costs (e.g., ongoing lawsuits, IRP). If and when the program is complete, then it would be determined what would be done with any excess funds remaining, if available.
-- Q: Can Xavier remind us about the amount left in the risk gtLD budget portion?
-- A: $120 million remaining, about $30 million of that allocated for processing and $90 million for risk.