A stated meeting of the Fairmount Park Commission was held in the Commission
Conference Room, Memorial Hall, at 3:15 P.M.
The President in the Chair.
PRESENT: Commissioner F. Eugene Dixon, Jr
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
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
The Honorable Darrell Clarke, Designated Representative of Council President
Anna C. Verna
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
Mrs. Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of the Mayor
ABSENT: Commissioner Isadore A. Shrager
ALSO William E. Mifflin, Executive Director
Barry A. Bessler, Chief of Staff
PRESENT: Lawrence K. Copeland, Counsel to the Commission
Carol Roache, Acting Secretary
Paul Nice, Deputy Director of Administration
Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director of Development & Planning
Observers
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY OF MEETING HELD APRIL 10, 2002
The Commission voted to approve the summary of the meeting held April 10, 2002.
Minutes of the April 10th meeting will be changed to reflect that Vice President
Shrager was in the chair in President Dixons absence.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Finance Committee:
(A) JFK Plaza RFP
The Commission voted to approve the JFK Plaza RFP, subject to any changes to the
building or operators (for the building) being selected, the issue must return
to the Fairmount Park Commission for approval.
The motion carried.
(B) Park Trolley RFP
The Commission received an update on the Park Trolley RFP. It had not changed
from the previous RFP and was approved.
The motion carried.
(C) Water Works Restaurant RFP
The Commission received a report from the selected operator, Catellis. The
Finance Committee required the proposed operator to acquire a
lease/sublicense/sub-concession agreement to the concessionaire within ten days.
If the document is acquired in the ten day period, the Commission voted to move
forward with the Water Works RFP. If this is not achieved, an RFP will be let by
the June 3, 2002 Commission meeting.
The motion carried.
(D) 33rd Street Driving Range
The Commission received a report from the Finance Committee that all language in
the 33rd Street Driving Range RFP had been agreed upon and reviewed by the
District Councilman. The Commission voted to approve the RFP.
The motion carried.
REPORT OF THE NATURAL LANDS RESTORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
COMMITTEE
The Commission heard the report of Program Administrator, Mark Focht. Mr. Focht
provided the Commission with a detailed update of the ongoing accomplishments of
the program.
REPORT OF THE PARK USE AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Park Use and Review
Committee:
(A) 3rd College Festival Concert at Eakins Oval
The Commission voted to approve the 3rd College Festival Concert on Saturday,
September 21, 2002.
The motion carried.
(B) Sunoco Welcome America Event
The Commission voted to approve two new events on Fairmount Park property. Opera
on the Square will be held at Rittenhouse Square on Tuesday, July 2, 2002 from
6p.m. to 9p.m.. Baseball, Hotdogs, and Apple Pie will be held in FDR Park on
Friday, July 5, 2002 in advance of a Phillies game.
The motion carried.
(C) Philadelphia Dragon Boat Festival
The Commission voted to approve the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Festival on the
Schuylkill River, Kelly Drive side on Saturday, October 5, 2002 from 9a.m. to
5p.m.
The motion carried.
(D) Water Works Events
The Commission voted to approve the Fairmount Managements request to hold
several events at the Water Works Pavilion. The Commission voted to approve the
seven events that were discussed at the meeting plus allow Fairmount Park staff
to review and approve any other events that arise which may be time sensitive.
The motion carried.
REPORT OF PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Commission voted to adopt the recommendations of the Planning Committee:
(A) Schuylkill River Development Council
The Commission granted concept approval for the SRDC proposed public artwork by
Mierle Ukeles. The proposed piece of art is to be placed at Cherry Street where
it intersects Schuylkill River Park.
The motion carried.
(B) American Revolution Patriots Fund Signage
The Commission granted approval for the signage program for Washington Square.
The motion carried.
(C) Moore College of Art & Design Sculpture Symposium
The Commission granted approval for Moore College of Art & Design to host a
Sculpture Symposium in October on the grassy area in front of the college.
The motion carried.
(D) Verizon Communications
The Commission granted approval for Verizon Communications Inc. to remove an
existing 1950s addition of the Locust Central Office Generator Penthouse and
replace it with a new penthouse.
The motion carried.
(E) Philadelphia Zoo Ibis Exhibit
The Commission granted approval to the Philadelphia Zoo for their design plan of
a new Ibis Exhibit. The project is an upgrade of a water fowl pond.
The motion carried.
REPORT OF PROPERTY COMMITTEE
There were no Commission items to report.
REPORT OF THE DESIGNEE TO THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART
The Commission received the report of Commissioner Bloom.
REPORT OF THE DESIGNEE TO THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO
The Commission received the report of Commissioner Borski.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF FAIRMOUNT PARK
The Commission received the report of William E. Mifflin, Executive Director.
REPORT OF THE FAIRMOUNT PARK RANGER PROGRAM
The Commission received the report of Jamie Hazelton, Operations Manager,
Fairmount Park Ranger Program.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
(A) Resolution of Intent
Commission Borski asked to go on record before the Commission to request a
Resolution of Intent to have appropriate recognition of Commissioner Ballards
efforts during her tenure as Park Commissioner with signage in the Water Works
area. The issue will be revisited in future Commission meetings.
(B) Resignation
President Dixon tendered his resignation for the final month of his term as
President of the Fairmount Park Commission. It was unanimously decided that Vice
President Isadore Shrager would become President de facto and will serve the
remainder of the term.
The motion carried.
(C) Nominating Committee
President Dixon charged the Nominating Committee and named Commissioner Robert
P. Levy to chair the committee with the assistance of Commissioners Joseph
Syrnick and John Binswanger.
The motion was unanimously carried.
(D) Fairmount Conservancy and William Penn Foundation Grant
Commissioner Binswanger circulated a plan for the matching restoration funds
that include the Boxers Trail ($300,000), the Wissahickon Valley Stormwater
Repair Project ($100,000) and Grants for Neighborhood Parks ($100,000).
The motion was carried.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Monday, June 3,
2002, 3:00 p.m. in the Commission Conference Room, Memorial Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
The verbatim transcript of the meeting held May 8, 2002 is on file in the office
of the Secretary and is available