Board Of Directors Minutes – Meeting of December 3, 2018

PRESENT:  Matt Ruben, President;  Steve Richman, Treasurer; Janet Finegar, Secretary; Claire Adler; Kristen Ainscoe; Avery Amaya; Melanie Coffman (by telephone); Michael Coyne; Monika Kreidie; Ben Mann; Joe Mikuliak; Don Phillips.ABSENT: Barbara Mulckhuyse, Vice-President; Barbara SaverinoThe meeting was called to order by the President at 7:06 p.m.Motion: By Don Phillips, seconded by Claire Adler. “To approve the minutes of the November Board meeting as presented.”  Passed 9-0-1President’s Report: Matt Ruben: written report attached and reviewed.NLNA President’s Report, December 2018

1. PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND POLICY

• Construction Impacts – No major new issues or updates from last month.
• Waterfront Issues – I will brief the board on the current status of the Central Delaware Overlay amendment process.
• Business Improvement District (BID) – The BID’s marketing and branding consultant is hosting listening sessions with residents, business owners, and developers/property owners this week. There’s also a kiosk program up where people can write about what they want Northern Liberties to be. I’ll also brief the board on upcoming initiatives by the BID.
• Developer Relations – No update.

2. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

• NLNA Board Membership – The election is at Thursday’s general meeting. I strongly encourage Board members to make a point of attending.
• Annual Appeal – The emails have begun and the letters have gone out.
• Office Management/Oversight – Updates in the Operations Committee report.

3. EVENTS AND OUTREACH

• NLNA December General Meeting. As noted above, we have the board vacancy election, plus a “Neighborhood Treasure” award presentation for Mary Dankanis, and a Q&A with Kevin Moran, Exec Director of the BID.

4. COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICITY

• The NL Facebook group is now independent of the NLNA, and I am completing the transition out of a moderator role.

5. OTHER ITEMS

• Board Polls – Ratification of any online or online board polls since last month’s board meeting.

 Treasurer's Report: Steve Richman: written report distributed and reviewed.TREASURER’S REPORT – DECEMBER 2018A. 2018-19 Budget: November Financials - tables attached

• For the two months ended on November 30^thAll Funds Income was $30,400; this was $1,125 more than projected. All Funds Expenses totaled $36,400, which was about $2,600 more than anticipated. Current Year Net Income was

• $6,000. This was $1,500 more than projected.

• If we limit the calculation to income and expenses from the General Fund and Liberty Lands accounts, our two major operating funds, our financial position after the first two months of the fiscal year is as follows:

1 - GF & LL Income (rounded): $30,400 -- $1,125 more than anticipated.

2 - GF & LL Expenses (rounded): $33,000 -- $3,000 more than anticipated.

3 - GF & LL Net Income: -$2,600 -- $1,900 more than anticipated.

Significant variations from budgeted projections through November include:

1. Lower than anticipated income from fundraising (Clean Streets) and individual donations (- $800). Shortfalls in these categories were partially offset by the Fall Fest, which raised $650 more than anticipated.
2. Higher than anticipated income from rentals (+$900), although some of this was from prepayments for community center rentals.
3. Higher than anticipated expenses for Liberty Lands improvements, repair and maintenance expenses (+$2,000), although much of this will be reimbursed by the State under the DCED grant we were awarded for a new fence.
4. Higher than anticipated spending for professional services, taxes, supplies and equipment (+$2,600). Some of this was attributable to payment of prior year expenses and a portion ($543) was for payment of a BID assessment, which was unanticipated.
5. Lower than anticipated expenses for community center maintenance expenses and expenses for Clean Streets (-$2,200). Most of this was due to slow billing and seasonality.

B. Other Items

• Grants from PTSSD – As anticipated, grants totaling $9,500 for the Fall Fest, Operation Santa, Parade of Spirits and recycle bins have been received from the Penn Treaty Special Services District.
• 2017-8 Financial Report – Our accountant has nearly completed our tax return and annual compilation report for 2017-18. These should be available to us for review shortly.

Motion: By Joe Mikuliak, seconded by Janet Finegar. “To accept the Treasurer's report as presented.”  Passed 10-0-0-Election, Quality of Life, and Urban Design Committees: No reports. Fundraising Committee Report: Michael Coyne: written report attached and reviewed.There was some conversation about making specific approaches to some specific businesses for the Annual Appeal.Fundraising Committee: December ReportAnnual Appeal:

1. 500 hard copy appeal letters were mailed last Wednesday, the 28^th.
2. Strong emphasis was made to encourage people to donate online on a regular monthly basis.
3. Special thanks to Kristen Ainscoe for all her help and expertise in developing to the letter and redesigning the NLNA information brochure.
4. Thank you also to Paula Gansky, Shelley Marcus, Sasi Judd, Mary Galgon, Michele Brown and Maria Bell for their help in folding and stuffing and labelling the 500 letters. No small feat.

2019 Winterfest

1. Applied for a $2,500 grant from the PTSSD
2. No date has been set yet.

-Liberty Lands Committee Report: Janet Finegar: written report attached and reviewed.In addition to the written report, Janet reported that Liberty Lands has just received a significant grant from the Smart Family Fund for general operations and planning for some new educational outreach projects at the park. Also, there was some concern in the neighborhood about the menorah at the park missing an arm: it was determined that it was just being repaired.Liberty Lands Report   December 2018

• We're starting work on the sidewalk on Tuesday!!!! If all goes well (hah hah hah choke) we should be able to put the fence in after the sidewalk and have it all back to good condition before the spring. Anyone who'd like to help out with this project, by the way, is very very very welcome. A few details:
  • the part of the sidewalk that will go in this winter is JUST along the garden. We will need to deal with the northern (up to Wildey) and southern (along American) ends at a later date, and that's an issue for more discussion at upcoming meetings. For the northern section, the question is whether to move the triangle garden and run a straight sidewalk the rest of the way up to Wildey, or to curve up into the park and create “sidewalk” out of the existing path between the triangle garden and rain garden. For discussion.
  • For the southern section of sidewalk, it seems like the permit parking on American has made the decision for us: whenever signs go in, PPA will enforce parallel parking there that takes the cars off the sidewalk. At that point, we're going to have to fix/replace that sidewalk, because it's broken into pieces. I am hoping that the DCED funds that were meant for artistic fence panels (the section of the project we abandoned) can be used for that purpose instead.
  • There was some support before about installing lit bollards along the new sidewalk – and if we wanted to do that along the Bodine section, we'd need to put them in now. However, they are pretty expensive and I'm hoping that they won't be needed: that the 6” curb along the sidewalk will do the job of keeping people from pulling up onto it to park. At the advice of the Streets Department, we'll make the “parking” area 7' wide (not 6) so that there's plenty of room to park there without feeling cramped. There was also a suggestion to run conduit under the sidewalk in case we needed/wanted to put lights in along there at some point, but since there's open soil on the western side of the sidewalk, it doesn't seem necessary.
• Laura's been working on the community garden list for 2019, since filling in the sunken garden plot and a few other changes open up some slots for our waiting list of 18 people (yikes). We agreed that there should be a mandatory gardener's meeting in the late winter (probably February) to discuss the changes to the garden, go over protocol and rules, and talk about governance of this area of the park. Among the other issues we'll discuss at that meeting is a plan for re-building (or not) the garden beds edging that was removed for the fence project, composting, and fruit trees in the garden.
• New trash person, Cier, is working out well, hurrah hurrah.
• Sara Hirschler has raised the question of whether we could establish the playground areas as “dog free zones” (something that's been done at various Philadelphia parks). It's a discussion we should have at the next LL meeting – Sara will do some research on how it's worked at other parks.
• The November Love Your Park workday was great because a group of young adults showed up who used to be neighbors but came back out of affection for the park, which was heartwarming. They did a cleanup and pruning of the pergola area on 3^rdStreet and a lot of weeding in the rain gardens. We also removed a bunch of weed trees from the north end of the park, did some more prepping along the community garden fence line, and planted a bunch of crocus bulbs.
• December 15 is the Parade of Spirits. Founder Amber is not participating this year because of health issues, and the Lux Arati fire dancers are also taking the year off, but Linda Conley and Janet, plus another regular participant from the Philadelphia Pagan Pride community, are going ahead with a more low-key Parade. It will kick off at 4 p.m. at the park, and Linda and Janet are doing a small craft workshop with Rodriguez Library on Monday the 2^ndin conjunction with the Parade.
• For no obvious reason, the water fountain was putting out BROWN water last weekend. By Monday it had cleared, but it's shut off for the season now anyway. We need to flush all the pipes in the spring.
• Finally, an area where I would be delighted to have some help: creating parking restrictions along the park's boundaries. This is a matter of taking the addresses on 3^rdStreet (which I have) and the draft letter (which I have) and making them deliverable. . . and then delivering them. I won't get to it until January at the earliest, and the sooner we start the process the better, so if someone were willing to take on this computer/organizational task, that would be amazing.

-Marketing & Communications Committee Report: Kristen Ainscoe: written report attached & reviewed.Claire asked that people make a point of getting information to her to have posted on Facebook a.s.a.p.; it was suggested that she create a specific form for submitting items.Marketing and Communications Committee Report  12/3/18

• Annual Appeal – Emails have been designed. Two have already been sent. Each week a new email and campaign will be sent. I am using this to measure how much engagement and return we get from each email. This will help set the tone for further email campaigns.
• Assets and collateral – I am working to organize all assets and collateral to use on digital and print marketing.
• Weekly NLNA email – Working to get a process in place for receiving information for the newsletter and redesign of the weekly based on the results of the annual appeal campaign.
• BID – Tonight is my first meeting with the BID to see initial passes on the logo and marketing.
• Calendar – Working on building a calendar of events for the year.

 Operations Committee Report: Monika Kreidie: written report attached and reviewed.NLNA Operations  Committee Report    12/3/2018

• The newly formed NLNA Board Operations Committee met on November 12th which included Monika, Barbara S. and Kristen. We discussed revamping the NLNA Operations Manual which is currently outdated and incomplete. Kristen is also going to spearhead an effort have special “yard” events in the spring and summer. The group will be meeting with Lara on Dec. 14th.
• The date for the NLArts/NLNA meeting to discuss a new renter’s agreement is set for Tues. Dec. 11th. More on that at the next NLNA Board meeting.
• The 3rd Floor apartment tenants moved out on November 30th and no new tenant has been identified. Former NLNA Board member Chris Sommer and his Re/MAX team have taken over the task of finding a tenant. The apartment will be painted and cleaned in the next 2 weeks. PGW and PECO have been turned off.
• Yard furniture as been put away for the winter which makes me sad because it means it is winter. Don H. expects to have a draft of the new reservation system by the end of the month. We are getting an estimate from the painter to repaint the main room of the Community Center. Lara is also very keen to have a chair rail installed.
• Lara has told me that 20-25 recycling cans have been purchased in the last few weeks. We have about 200 left in the yard.

 Public Safety Committee Report: Melanie Coffman: written report attached and reviewed.Public Safety Committee

• Package theft prevention: 1^st Safety Committee meeting was November 14^th, discussed package theft prevention campaign. Developed an educational resource –posted to the NLNA website, Northern Liberties FB page (under files), and was emailed to the listserv.  Created 2 posters- Sgt Massi printed a bunch for free. Mike from NL Mailbox Store is laminating some so they can be posted outside. I’ve also asked some local stores to put in the window. We are still in process of putting up posters
• PDAC: Went to Police 26^thDistrict PDAC meeting. I met Venise Whitaker who works in Darrell Clarke’s office, they are working with local groups to revitalize that area. Front & Girard Stakeholder Meeting, Weds December 5^th  5:30pm @ The Saint 102 W. Girard Ave.

 Zoning Committee Report: Joe Mikuliak; written report attached and reviewed.Motion: By Monika Kreidie, seconded by Don Phillips. “To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 962 N. American Street, i.e.: 'We support the application to adjust and legalize new lot lines for two existing dwellings.'”  Passed 10-0-0Motion: By Steve Richman, seconded by Avery Amaya. “To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 1151 N. 3^rdStreet, i.e.: '1. We cannot support the conversion of non-residential space into two studio apartments. There is no hardship to not maintain non-residential space. The addition of the studio apartments exacerbates the current problem with parking in that area. 2. Regarding the conversion of the 3-two bedroom apartments into 6 individual apartments, please return to the Zoning Committee with the following information: a) full plans that include the floor dimensions (in a legible size) of all proposed interior changes as well as the square footage of each room; b) plans that show the “amenity space” with dimensions in relation to the proposed units and changes; c) exterior building elevations that include the addition of the street entrance to each of the proposed studio apartments as well as any other changes that will be made to the exterior to accommodate the proposed changes.'”  Passed 11-0-0 Old BusinessJanet reported that the Operation Santa program is underway: at this moment, it looks like we'll have about 40 families involved. The 14 “Hanukah children” have already received their items. Donations are being collected at the office; wrapping will be on the 20^thand deliveries on the 22^nd. New Business The meeting was adjourned by acclaim at 7:55 p.m.Addenda:ZONING COMMITTEE – Monday 11/26/18Members present: Larry Freedman (chair), Kenny Grono, Jared Forman, Christine Furman, Melissa Magness, Joe Mikuliak, Sharon Richman, Jonathan Sher, (Abbey Spector)  Members absent: Charlie Abdo, Chris Isaacson, Ira Upin962 N. American Street – RSA5 – Adam Laver: A proposal to adjust lot lines to create two lots for 2 existing single family dwellings to document the proper location of the two homes.Motion (Melissa) – 2^nd(Jonathan): Vote 7-0-0 We support the application to adjust and legalize new lot lines for two existing dwellings. 1151 N. 3^rdStreet – IRMX – Adam Laver: A proposal to change the existing first floor retail space to residential. They also want to change 3-two bedroom apartments on the first floor into 6-one bedroom apartments. The number of provided parking spaces (31) for the entire building remains the same. Discussion: They did not provide a supportable rationale for eliminating non-residential space. They did not provide room dimensions or square footage of existing or proposed apartments. They did not provide façade drawings with proposed doorway changes.Group Motion: Vote 7-0-1 1. We cannot support the conversion of non-residential space into two studio apartments. There is no hardship to not maintain non-residential space. The addition of the studio apartments exacerbates the current problem with parking in that area. 2. Regarding the conversion of the 3-two bedroom apartments into 6 individual apartments, please return to the Zoning Committee with the following information: a. full plans that include the floor dimensions (in a legible size) of all proposed interior changes as well as the square footage of each room; b. plans that show the “amenity space” with dimensions in relation to the proposed units and changes; c. exterior building elevations that include the addition of the street entrance to each of the proposed studio apartments as well as any other changes that will be made to the exterior to accommodate the proposed changes.—