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 Robert N. C. Nix III
Commissioner E. Harris Baum
Commissioner John K. Binswanger
Commissioner James J. Bloom
Commissioner Debra Wolf Goldstein
Commissioner Kumar Kishinchand
Commissioner Rosanne Pauciello
Commissioner Philip Price, Jr.
Commissioner Doris A. Smith
Commissioner Joseph R. Syrnick
Marcia Makadon, Designated Representative of the Mayor
Mary Mason, Designated Representative of Council President Anna C. Verna
Deputy Commissioner John Herzins representing Commissioner Andres Perez
Deputy Commissioner William Carapucci representing Commissioner Victor Richard,
III
ABSENT: Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis
ALSO William E. Mifflin, Executive Director
Barry A. Bessler, Chief of Staff
Nelson Diaz, City Solicitor
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
Dennis Waller, Deputy Director of Business Administration
Observers
Commissioner Binswanger acknowledged the presence of Nancy Longstreth at the
meeting.
REPORT OF THE FRIENDS OF PHILADELPHIA PARKS
Beth Ounsworth, President, reported to the Commission on the progress of the
Friends of Philadelphia Parks, their campaign for a new Park strategic plan and
their annual fundraiser. Lauren Bornfriend, Director, explained how their slate
of potential Commission candidates was established.
SWEARING IN OF ELECTED COMMISSIONERS
Nelson Diaz, City Solicitor, swore in all elected Commissioners.
REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Commissioner Syrnick, Chair, reported that the Committee recommended Robert N.C.
Nix, III for the office of the president. The motion was unanimously carried.
The Commission voted to table the election of vice president and treasurer to
the July meeting. President Nix charged a new nominating committee chaired by
Rosanne Pauciello. Commissioners Mason, Baum and Tucker also agreed to sit on
the committee.
SWEARING IN OF PRESIDENT
Nelson Diaz, City Solicitor, swore in Robert N.C. Nix, III as President of the
Commission.
APPROVAL OF MAY MINUTES
A motion was made to table the approval of the May Commission minutes to the
July meeting for further discussion. The motion carried.
REPORT OF THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE
(A) Golf Course Report
Commissioner Syrnick reported on Fairmount Park golf courses and driving range
issues.
(B) Termination of Courtesy Stable Lease
The Committee received a request from staff to terminate the lease at Courtesy
Stable and voted to table this issue until the July meeting when Jackie Simon
will be invited to make a presentation before the Commission.
The motion carried.
(C) Crowley Foods Request
The Commission received a request from Crowley Foods for permission to amend the
existing lease agreement and permit the construction of three above-ground diary
tanks adjacent to the building.
The motion carried.
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
(A) Water Works RFP
The Water Works RFP was tabled until the July Commission meeting. No action was
taken.
(B) Loan of Works of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has requested the Commissions approval to loan
Seurat and the Making of La Grande Jatte, and Claude Monets French Customhouse,
Varengeville to the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois, Arts of the Goryeo
Dynasty to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, California and
Pierre-Etienne-Theodore Rousseaus Landscape with Cattle and The House and
Factory of Monsieur Henry from the Wilstach Collection to the Musee des
Beaux-Arts in Lyon, France.
The motion carried.
(C) Trust Fund Audit Report
No action was taken.
(D) Portfolio Report
A motion was made to sell a matured $25,000 U.S. Treasury note and purchase a
$25,000 Treasury note that will mature in November 2005.
The motion carried.
A motion was made to sell 200 shares of Baxter International, 200 shares of Home
Depot and 400 shares of J.P. Morgan Chase and purchase 600 shares of Baker
Hughes, Inc., 200 shares of Raytheon Company and 200 shares of Wyeth.
The motion carried.
(E) JFK Plaza Update
The Commission requested that the progress of the skateboard plaza be further
outlined by the administration.
No action was taken.
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
(A) North Penn Chamber of Commerce New Years Eve Farewell 5K Race
The Commission voted to approve the North Penn Chamber of Commerce New Years Eve
Farewell 5K Race on West River Drive on Tuesday, December 31st at 7:00pm with
the conditions that the race may be held on the side walk depending upon the
number of people and fundraising from this event would include scholarships to
Philadelphia students.
The motion carried.
(B) African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) Cultural Festival
No one from ACANA appeared before the Commission. No action was taken.
REPORT OF PLANNING COMMITTEE
(A) Historic Presentation Signage of the Fairmount Park Historic Properties
Trust Sites
The Commission voted to approve new historic presentation signage for the sheep
barn.
The motion carried.
(B) Signage for the Calders on the Parkway
The Commission granted approval for the signage for the Calders on the Parkway
subject to the license agreement being entered into with the City Solicitors
Office.
The motion carried.
(C) Residences at Rodin
The Commission tabled this issue until the July Commission meeting.
(D) Restoration and Repair to 100 Steps to Wissahickon
The Commission granted design approval for restoration and repair of 100 Steps
to Wissahickon.
The motion carried.
(E) Mayfair Community Development Corporation
The Commission granted approval to the Mayfair Community Development Corporation
to hang banners from Levick to Rhawn Streets on Roosevelt Boulevard.
The motion carried.
(F) St. Josephs Boathouse
The Commission granted approval to St. Josephs University to erect a fence
around the boathouse.
The motion carried with three Commissioners being opposed.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
(A) Commissioning of Portrait
President Nix stated his wish to honor former President Dixon with a portrait.
Solicitor Diaz requested that Mayor Street be included in honoring both Mr.
Dixon and former Commissioner Ballard. The issue will be revisited in future
Commission meetings.
NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
The next scheduled meeting of the Commission will be held on Wednesday, July 10,
2002, at 1:30 p.m. in the Commission Conference Room, Memorial Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT
The verbatim transcript of the meeting held June 3, 2002 is on file in the
office of the Secretary and is available to any Commissioner who wishes to
review it.