A stated meeting of the Fairmount Park Commission was held in the Meeting Room,
Fairmount Park Horticultural Center, at 4:15 P.M.
The President in the Chair.
PRESENT: Commissioner F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.
Commissioner Ernesta D. Ballard
Commissioner John K. Binswanger
Commissioner James J. Bloom
Commissioner Karen Lloyd Borski
Commissioner Robert P. Levy
Commissioner Robert N. C. Nix III
Commissioner Mary Mason
Commissioner Isadore A. Shrager
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
Mrs. Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of the Mayor
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
Deputy Commissioner William Carapucci representing Commissioner Richard N.
Richards III
Deputy Commissioner Edward Grusheski representing Commissioner Richard E. Roy
ABSENT: Commissioner Rosanne Pauciello
The Honorable Darrell Clarke, Designated Representative of Council President
Anna C. Verna
ALSO William E. Mifflin, Executive Director, Fairmount Park
PRESENT: Lawrence K. Copeland, Counsel to the Commission
Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director for Planning
Valerie Robinson, Counsel to the Commission
Robert J. Hunter, Secretary, Fairmount Park Commission
Paul Nice, Deputy Director of Administration
Dennis Waller, Deputy Director of Business Administration
Observers
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY OF MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 13, 2000
The Commission voted to approve the summary of the meeting held September 13,
2000.
REPORT OF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
The Chair reported for there were no action items for Commission.
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendation of the Finance Committee:
(A) Fairmount Management
(1) To accept the recommendation of Fairmount Management for Catelli Group as
operator of the Fairmount Water Works Restaurant. Commissioner Binswanger
abstained, Commissioner Mason opposed.
(2) To authorize the Finance Committee to act on behalf of the Commission to
review the final contract between the Catelli Group and Fairmount Management
and, on behalf of the Commission, approve the contract if it is acceptable.
(B) John G, Johnson Collection
To endorse the substance of the "Addendum to Agreement" proposed by the
Philadelphia Museum of Art regarding the display of the John G. Johnson
Collection.
The Chair reported for information that Committee has continued working to
develop a Special Events Policy for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, including
Eakins Oval, and determine donations that will be commensurate with those sites.
The Chair will return in December with a draft of the policy for Commission
approval.
REPORT OF PARK USE AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendation of the Park Use and Review
Committee:
(A) Request of the International Dragon Boat World Championship Organizing
Committee
To grant the request of the World Dragon Boat Championships approval to hold its
event on the Schuylkill River August 1 through August 5, 2001.
(B) Request of the Delaware Valley Volvo Retailers
To grant the request of the Delaware Valley Volvo Retailers to use the East
Terrace of the Philadelphia Museum of Art for their event on Saturday, November
11, 2000 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. subject to a $5,000 donation to the Fairmount
Park Commission. Commissioner Bloom opposed.
(C) Request of the American Association of Financial Professionals
To grant the request of the American Association of Financial Professionals to
hold its event on Sunday, November 12, 2000 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the
East Terrace of the Philadelphia Museum of Art subject to a $5000 donation to
the Fairmount Park Commission. Commissioner Bloom opposed.
(D) Request of the American Diabetes Association
To grant at the request of the American Diabetes Association the use of Eakins
Oval for an event to be held on Friday, June 22, 2001 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30
p.m. subject to a donation tot the Fairmount Park Commission to be determined at
the December meeting of the Commission.
(E) EarthFest 2001
To grant permission to staff to host EarthFest 2001, a celebration of Earth Day,
to be held April 21, 2001.
REPORT OF PLANNING COMMITTEE
Request of the Japan American Society of Greater Philadelphia
To grant to the Japan American Society approval for their fourth annual planting
of 100 cherry trees in Fairmount Park.
The Chair reported for information Committee had received a status report from
Lawrence Copeland, Esq., Council to the Fairmount Park Commission, on the issues
regarding the lease agreement with Philadelphia Youth Tennis for the new Arthur
Ashe Tennis Center at Gustine Lake.
REPORT OF PROPERTY COMMITTEE
Request of the Northwestern Equestrian Center
To grant the request of the Northwestern Equestrian Center to increase the
monthly boarding fee to $400.00.
REPORT OF THE DESIGNEE TO THE RECREATION COORDINATION BOARD
The Commission received the report of Commissioner Robert P. Levy, Designee to
the Recreation Coordination Board.
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Syrnick thanked Todd Bernstein for setting up the event with
President Clinton. Mr. Dixon asked that the thank you be extended to Park staff
who promptly notified everyone and organized the change of venue from Memorial
Hall to the Horticultural Center.
President Dixon reminded Commissioners of the need to arrive early for the
December Commission meeting to have lunch with members of the Fairmount Park
Advisory Council.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Wednesday, November
8, 2000, 3:00 p.m. in the Commission Conference Room, Memorial Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
The verbatim transcript of the meeting held October 11, 2000 is on file in the
office of the Secretary and is available to any Commissioner who wishes to
review it.