A stated meeting of the Fairmount Park Commission was held in the Commission
Conference Room, Memorial Hall, at 3:00 P.M.
The President in the Chair
PRESENT: Commissioner F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.
Commissioner Ernesta D. Ballard
Commissioner James J. Bloom
Commissioner Karen Lloyd Borski
Commissioner Robert P. Levy
Commissioner Mary Mason
Commissioner Robert N. C. Nix III
Commissioner Rosanne Pauciello
Commissioner Victor N. Richard III
Commissioner Richard E. Roy
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
Commissioner Isadore A. Shrager
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
EXCUSED: Commissioner John K. Binswanger
Mrs. Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of Mayor John F. Street
The Honorable Darrell Clarke, Designated Representative of Council President
Anna C. Verna.
ALSO William E. Mifflin, Executive Director, Fairmount Park
PRESENT: Barry A. Bessler, Chief of Staff, Fairmount Park
Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director for Planning
Jamie Hazelton, Manager, Fairmount Park Ranger Corps
Robert J. Hunter, Secretary, Fairmount Park Commission
Lawrence K. Copeland, Counsel to the Commission
Paul Nice, Deputy Director of Administration
Dennis Waller, Deputy Director of Business Administration
Beth Ounsworth, President Friends of Philadelphia Parks
Dominic De Bias, President, Fairmount Park Advisory Council
Observers
approval of summary of meeting held January 10, 2001
The Commission unanimously voted to approve the summary of meeting held January
10, 2001.
report of the development committee
The Fairmount Water Works
The Chair reported to Commission that the planned June opening of the Water
Works would be delayed until September, 2001.
President Dixon asked for a resolution recognizing Commissioner Ballards efforts
in the development of funds for the restoration of the Water Works. The motion
was made and seconded.
report of Finance Committee
The Chair reported there were three matters discussed by the Finance Committee:
(A) The Benjamin Franklin Parkway Special Events Policy
Committee has delayed until March its recommendation to Commission for a Special
Events Policy for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway including the East Terrace of
the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
No Commission action was required.
(B) FY 2002 Operating Budget
The Chair reported to Commission that Committee received the report of Mr. Paul
Nice, Deputy Director of Administration, who presented the FY 2002 operating
budget.
Formal Commission action was not required.
(C) FY 2002 Capital Budget
The Chair reported to Commission that Committee received the report of Mr. Paul
Nice, Deputy Director of Administration, who presented the FY 2002 Capital
Budget.
Formal Commission action was not required.
report of Natural Lands Programs Committee
The Chair reported to Commission that Committee received the report of Mark
Focht, Project Administrator of the Fairmount Park Natural Lands Restoration and
Environmental Education Program.
The Chair reported there were no action items for Commission.
REPORT OF Planning Committee
the Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Planning Committee:
(A) The Korean War Memorial of Philadelphia and Vicinity
To grant the final approval for the construction of the Korean War Memorial of
Philadelphia and Vicinity at Dock Street and 38th Parallel Place.
The motion unanimously carried.
(B) Request of the Philadelphia Zoo
To grant to the Philadelphia Zoo approval for a walkthrough wallaby exhibit
which includes the construction of a fence enclosure and entrance vestibules and
animal shelter for keeping the wallabies.
The motion unanimously carried.
The Chair reported to Commission on the proceedings of a public hearing on deer
population control in Pennypack Park which took place at Memorial Hall on
January 12, 2001, 6:30 p.m.
The Commission voted to approve the recommendation of Committee to adopt a
resolution for deer control in Fairmount Park:
1. The Fairmount Park Commission hereby authorizes staff to apply for the
necessary permits and use professional sharpshooters to (a) conduct deer control
activities in Pennypack Park, (b) to continue deer control activities in the
Wissahickon Valley Park, and (c) to conduct deer control activities as staff
deem necessary and appropriate in other woodland areas of the Fairmount Park
system.
2. The authorization granted to Fairmount Park Staff by this resolution shall
remain effective unless and until rescinded by the Commission.
3. Fairmount Park staff shall submit to the Commission annual reports about deer
control activities conducted pursuant to this resolution.
The motion carried. Commissioners Bloom, Pauciello, Mason, and Shrager opposed.
report of park use review committee
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Park Use Review
Committee:
(A) Request of the Friends of Hunting Park
To grant at the request of the Friends of Hunting Park approval to host its
annual community carnival in Hunting Park from April 26 through May 6, 2001.
The motion unanimously carried.
(B) Request of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee
To grant the request of the Dad Vail organizing committee approval to stage the
Year 2001 Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River May 10 through May 12, 2001.
The motion unanimously carried.
(C) Request of the Philadelphia Museum of Art 125-Year Anniversary Event
To grant the Philadelphia Museum of Art approval to hold its 125-year
anniversary event on the East Terrace of the Art Museum and at Memorial Hall
with the proviso that the tent be removed immediately after the event and the
planned fireworks display at the Art Museum be no longer than 15 minutes and be
over prior to 10:00 p.m.
The motion unanimously carried.
REPORT OF PROPERTY COMMITTEE
The Chair reported to Commission the proceedings of a public meeting held
January 24, 2001, 6:30 p.m. at the Gustine Recreation Center concerning the
proposed Arthur Ashe Tennis Center at that site.
Formal Commission action was not required.
report of the designee to the BArtrams Garden Board of Directors.
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Commissioner Ernesta D.
Ballard, Designee to the Bartrams Garden Board of Directors.
REPORT OF THE DESIGNEE TO GLEN FOERD BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Commissioner Karen Lloyd Borski requested she give her report at the March 14,
2001 meeting of the Commission.
REPORT OF THE DESIGNEE TO PEGASUS RIDNIG ACADEMY
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Mr. Dennis Waller, Designee
to the Pegasus Riding Academy Board of Directors.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF FAIRMOUNT PARK
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Executive Director William
E. Mifflin.
report of the Fairmount Park Ranger Corps.
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Jamie Hazelton, Manager,
Fairmount Park Ranger Board.
NEW BUSINESS
Do to the delay in the opening of the Water Works, Commission President Dixon
asked if all Commissioners would be agreeable to postponing the Annual
Commission Dinner until the September meeting. All were in agreement.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Wednesday, March
14, 2001, 3:00 p.m. in the Commission Conference Room, Memorial Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
The verbatim transcript of the meeting held February 14, 2001 is on file in the
office of the Secretary and is available to any Commissioner who wishes to
review it.