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 Isadore A. Shrager
Commissioner Robert N. C. Nix III
Commissioner Ernesta D. Ballard
Commissioner John K. Binswanger
Commissioner James J. Bloom
Commissioner Karen Lloyd Borski
Commissioner Kumar Kishinchand
Commissioner Robert P. Levy
Commissioner Mary Mason
Commissioner Rosanne Pauciello
Commissioner Victor Richard III
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
Mrs. Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of the Mayor
ABSENT: Commissioner F. Eugene Dixon, Jr
The Honorable Darrell Clarke, Designated Representative of Council President
Anna C. Verna
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
ALSO William E. Mifflin, Executive Director
Barry A. Bessler, Chief of Staff
PRESENT: Lawrence K. Copeland, Counsel to the Commission
Angelica L. Vidro, Secretary
Paul Nice, Deputy Director of Administration
Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director of Development & Planning
Observers
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY OF MEETING HELD MARCH 13, 2002
The Commission voted to approve the summary of the meeting held March 13, 2002.
REPORT OF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
(A) Fairmount Park Conservancy Report
Commissioner Ballard asked Commissioner Binswanger to give a detailed report on
the of $1.5 million grant given to the Fairmount Park Conservancy by the William
Penn Foundation. The Conservancy and Commission staff are currently working on a
proposed plan to outline roles and responsibilities of each agency and will
report back to the Commission at the May 8, 2002 meeting.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Finance Committee:
(A) JFK Plaza Project
The Commission received an updated report on the JFK Plaza project. The
Commission authorized the Finance Committee to move forward with the project
provided the Committee receives new information before the May 8, 2002
Commission meeting.
The motion carried.
(B) 33rd Street Driving Range
The Commission authorized the Finance Committee to set up the RFP after meeting
with Councilman Clarke to correct certain language in the RFP.
The motion carried.
REPORT OF THE PARK USE AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Park Use and Review
Committee:
(A) Rittenhouse Square Flower Market
The Commission voted to approve the Rittenhouse Flower Market Association to
host their 88th Annual Flower Market on Wednesday May 15th May 16th , 2002 from
7:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.
The motion carried.
(B) Friends of Ryerss Mansion Flea Market
The Commission voted to approve the request of the Friends of Ryerss Mansion to
hold a flea market in Burholme Park on Saturday, May 18, 2002.
The motion carried.
(C) Tabor Rams Youth Organization
The Commission voted to approve the request of Tabor Rams Youth Organization to
hold two carnivals at Whittaker and Loudon Streets. The first carnival is
scheduled for June 17 June 22, 2002. The second carnival is scheduled for July
14 July 21, 2002.
The motion carried.
(D) Stotesbury Cup Regatta
The Commission voted to approve the request of the Schuylkill Navy of
Philadelphia to hold its annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta from May 18 19, 2002 on
the Schuylkill River.
The motion carried.
REPORT OF PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Planning Committee:
(A) Rodin Museum Signage
The Commission granted approval for the Philadelphia Museum of Art to replace
the main and rear entrance signs and to relocate the rear entrance sign on all
the grounds of the museum.
The motion carried.
(B) Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Commission granted approval for the Philadelphia Museum of Art to hang a
banner between the columns of the Museum spelling out the artists name NEWMAN.
The banner will be in place until July 7, 2002.
The motion carried.
(C) Calder Sculptures
The Commission granted approval for the Planning Committee to make the final
decision, based on Staff recommendations, about the placement of the Calder
sculptures.
REPORT OF PROPERTY COMMITTEE
There were no Commission items to report.
REPORT OF THE LOUDON MANSION
The Commission received the report of Commissioner Nix.
REPORT OF THE DESIGNEE TO MANN MUSIC CENTER
The Commission received the report of Commissioner Nix.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF FAIRMOUNT PARK
The Commission received the report of William E. Mifflin, Executive Director of
Fairmount Park.
REPORT OF THE SOLICITORS OPINION
The Commission received the report of Lawrence Copeland, Senior Solicitor, Law
Department, City of Philadelphia. Mr. Copeland provided the FPC staff with a
compilation of every City Solicitors Opinion published about Fairmount Park
since the enactment of the Home Rule Charter.
OLD BUSINESS
May 8, 2002 Program and Commissioners Dinner
Commissioner Borski announced that on May 8, 2002 immediately following the
Commission Meeting, there will be a short program to honor and recognize the
long standing careers of commission President Dixon and Commissioner Ballard.
There will also be a dinner hosted by the zoo for the Commissioners.
NEW BUSINESS
Korean War Memorial
Mr. William Mifflin, Executive Director, Fairmount Park Commission, announced
that the dedication ceremony for the Korean War Memorial will be held on
Saturday, June 22, 2002 at 11:00a.m
Friends of Pennypack Park Presentation
Mrs. Linda Lauff, President, along with Mr. Stan and Sheila Grossman from the
Friends of Pennypack Park, presented the Fairmount Park Commission with a check
for $10,000 for four groves of trees and six additional recycled plastic park
benches to be placed at the mouth of the Pennypack.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Wednesday, May 8,
2002, 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 April 10, 2002 is on file in the
office of the Secretary and is available