A stated meeting of the Fairmount Park Commission was held in the Commission
Conference Room, Memorial Hall, at 3:25 P.M.
The President in the Chair
PRESENT: Commissioner F. Eugene Dixon, Jr.
Commissioner James J. Bloom
Commissioner Karen Lloyd Borski
Commissioner Robert P. Levy
Commissioner Mary Mason
Commissioner Robert N. C. Nix III
Commissioner Rosanne Pauciello
Edward Grusheski representing Commissioner Richard E. Roy
Commissioner Isadore A. Shrager
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
William Carapucci, Deputy Commissioner, Recreation Commission, representing
Commissioner Victor N, Richard
Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of the Mayor
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
ABSENT: The Honorable Darrell Clarke, Designated Representative of Council
President Anna C. Verna
ALSO
PRESENT: William E. Mifflin, Executive Director, Fairmount Park
Barry A. Bessler, Chief of Staff, Fairmount Park
Lawrence K. Copeland, Counsel to the Commission
Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director for Planning
Valerie Robinson, Counsel to the Commission
Dennis Waller, Deputy Director of Business Administration
Dr. Dominic De Bias, President, Fairmount Park Commission Advisory Council
Jamie Hazelton, Ranger Operations Manager, Fairmount Park Ranger Corps
Observers
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY OF MEETING HELD APRIL 11, 2001
The Commission voted to approve the summary of the meeting held April 11, 2001.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Chair reported to Commission that Committee received an update from Lawrence
K. Copeland, Counsel to
the Commission, on the status of the lease for the restaurant operation at the
WaterWorks Restaurant.
REPORT OF NATURAL LANDS PROGRAM 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.
REPORT OF PARK USE REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Park Use Review
Committee:
(A) Request of the Fisher Park Community Alliance
To grant the request of the Fisher Park Community Alliance approval to establish
curfew hours in the park from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on a year-round basis. The
motion was unanimously carried.
(B) Request of the Boy Scouts of America
To grant the request of the Boy Scouts of America to waive the regulation
regarding camping on park ground in order to hold a weekend scout jamboree at
Pennypack on the Delaware on June 1 through June 3, 2001. The motion was
unanimously carried.
(C) Request of Historic Rittenhouse Town
To grant the request from the Friends of RittenhouseTown for approval to install
a historic marker in RittenhouseTown at 206 Lincoln Drive to commemorate the
Providence General Hospital. The motion was unanimously carried.
(D) Request of the East Falls Community Council
To grant the request of the East Falls Community Council to hold its flea market
in McMichael Park on June 9, 2001. The motion was unanimously carried.
(F) Request of Las Americas Festival Group, Inc.
To grant the request of Las Americas Festival Group, Inc. approval to hold its
Festival De Las Americas on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday, August 5,
2001 from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.. The motion was unanimously carried.
(G) Request of Park Staff
To grant the request of Park staff to institute a trail user permit program for
Pennypack Park modeled after the permit program presently in place in
Wissahickon Park. The motion unanimously carried.
REPORT OF PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Planning Committee:
To grant to the Zoological Society of Philadelphia approval for design
improvements for better security and control of the Zoos parking lots (see
attached resolution). The motion was carried. Commissioner Bloom opposed.
REPORT OF PROPERTY COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Property Committee:
(A) Request of La Salle University
To grant La Salle University concept approval to enter into an arrangement with
the Fairmount Park Commission to assume responsibility for seven and a half
acres which is adjacent to their property. The motion was unanimously carried.
(B) Request of United Cerebral Palsy Association
To grant the United Cerebral Palsy Association concept approval for
reconstruction at their Chestnut Hill location to make access easier for
handicapped folks. The motion was unanimously carried.
CHARGE TO THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The President recommended that the nominating committee be chaired by
Commissioner Borski. She would be joined by Commissioners Syrnick and Bloom. The
motion was unanimously carried.
APPROVAL OF NOMINEES TO THE FAIRMOUNT PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL
Chairman Dixon presented the list of nominees to the Fairmount Park Advisory
Council. The motion for approval was unanimously carried.
REPORT OF THE DESIGNEE TO THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART
Commissioner Bloom , Designee to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, will present
his report at the June meeting.
REPORT OF THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO BOARD OF DIRECTOR
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of Commissioner Borski,
representative from the Philadelphia Zoo.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF FAIRMOUNT PARK
The Fairmount Park Commission received the report of William E. Mifflin,
Executive Director.
REPORT OF THE FAIRMOUNT PARK RANGER CORPS
The Commission received the report of Jamie Hazelton, Ranger Operations Manager,
Fairmount Park Ranger Corps.
REPORT OF THE FAIRMOUNT PARK COMMISSION ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Commission received the report of Dr. Dominic De Bias, President, Fairmount
Park Advisory Council.
NEW BUSINESS
(A) Report on Meadowbrook Golf Capital Improvement Plan
The Fairmount Park Commission received the Golf Committee report from
Commissioner Syrnick. The report was approved and ratified unanimously.
(B) Request of Friends of Memorial Hall for Centennial Model Donation
To grant to the Friends of Memorial Hall its request for a donation from
visitors to the centennial model display. The motion unanimously carried.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Monday, June 4,
2001, 3:00 p.m. in the Commission Conference Room, Memorial Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
The verbatim transcript of the meeting held May 9, 2001 is on file in the office
of the Secretary and is available to any Commissioner who wishes to review it.