BOARD OF DIRECTORS MINUTES – Meeting of January 6, 2020

PRESENT:  Matt Ruben, President; Claire Adler, Vice-President; Steve Richman, Treasurer; Janet Finegar, Secretary; Melanie Coffman; Michael Coyne; Jacek Ghosh; Don Phillips; Amy Sweeney; Renya Wasson; Kevin Wilkins

ALSO PRESENT: Joe Brunner, Accountant 

ABSENT: Kristen Ainscoe; Avery Amaya; Joe Mikuliak; Barbara Saverino

The meeting was called to order by the President at 6:38 p.m.

Motion: By Jacek Ghosh, seconded by Steve Richman. “To approve the minutes of the December Board meeting as presented.” Passed 9-0-0

Joe Brunner reviewed the 2019 compilation report for the NLNA with some clarifications from Steve Richman. 

Motion: By Amy Sweeney, seconded by Don Phillips. “To officially note that the 2020 compilation report was presented and reviewed by the Board.” Passed 10-0-0

President’s Report: Matt Ruben: written report reviewed.

NLNA President’s Report, January 2020

1. PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND POLICY

• Construction Impacts – See Germantown Sewer Project.
• Business Improvement District (BID) – The BID is requesting NLNA support for a grant it is applying for; discussion and vote at our meeting.
• Central Delaware Waterfront Zoning Board of Adjustment Hearing – Not a Northern Liberties project, but relevant to our neighborhood; update at our meeting. 
• Germantown Sewer Project – The December 5 general membership meeting was well-attended and substantive. I will brief the board on the latest plan for the 2nd St closure and detours, and on the main outstanding question of the timing of the work.

2. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

• Updates in the Treasurer’s and Operations Committee reports.

3. EVENTS AND OUTREACH

• Early 2020 General Meeting: I believe we should have a general membership meeting before the April-May board nomination and election meetings. I would say the 4th Thursday in January or February would be the best dates. I welcome board member ideas for agenda items and thoughts on which month would be best..
• Winterfest. This is coming up on Sunday, February 16 at North Bowl. I strongly urge us to come together and have both online and physical ticketing available before the end of this month. This is always a successful event, but I think we can help make it even a little more successful if we have more lead time to sell tickets.

4. OTHER ITEMS

• Annual Appeal – Update at our meeting from some combination of Steve, Kristen, Michael, and/or me.
• Board Polls – Ratification of any online board polls since last month’s board meeting.

Motion: By Don Phillips, seconded by Kevin Wilkins. “To authorize Matt to write a letter to the PA DCED expressing the NLNA's support for the NLBID's proposed project improving sidewalk furniture and conditions on 2nd Street.  Passed 10-0-0 

Motion: By Jacek Ghosh, seconded by Steve Richman. “To ratify any and all Board polls taken in the previous month.”

Passed 10-0-0

Treasurer's Report: Steve Richman: written report distributed and reviewed.

There was a conversation about the Annual Appeal and the details of its progress. Amy Sweeney suggested that there be a table at the WinterFest to promote monthly donations and agreed to set up and staff that table. Steve asked to include NLNA swag to give away to anyone who signs up for monthly giving at that table. 

TREASURER’S REPORT – JANUARY 2020

A. 2019-20 Budget: December Financials - tables attached

• For the three months ended on December 31 st All Funds Income was $55,744; this was nearly $10,700 more than projected. All Funds Expenses totaled $38,223, which was about $6,600 less than anticipated. Current Year Net Income was $17,521. This was $17,300 more than anticipated.
• 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 three months of the fiscal year is as follows:
  • GF & LL Income (rounded): $54,800 -- $10,700 more than anticipated.
  • GF & LL Expenses (rounded): $36,300 -- $7,100 less than anticipated.
  • GF & LL Net Income: $18,500 – almost $17,800 more than anticipated.
• Significant variations from budgeted projections through December include:
  • Higher than anticipated income from grants (+$10,000). We received a second $10,000 grant from the Smart Family Fund, which was not expected when we adopted this year’s budget.
  • Lower than anticipated income from fundraising activities (-$1,500). The shortfall in this category was attributable to Fall Fest and Clean Streets. Income from the Annual Appeal ($12,100) is running close to projections.
  • Higher than anticipated income from administrative fees (+$1,697). Garden Hub, a program we co-sponsored and was funded by Penn Treaty, did not fully expend its grant. We were able to apply a portion of the unexpended funds to administrative expenses incurred by the NLNA in support of the program.
  • Refunds totaling $953 from prior year purchases. The most significant portion of this ($918) was for yard equipment that arrived damaged.
  • 5. Lower than anticipated spending for professional services (-$4,600) and program services (-$2,500). Several factors contributed the lower level of spending: staff vacations; part-time staff not yet hired; and delayed billing.
  • 6. Higher than anticipated spending for repair and maintenance (+$930), entirely due to the cost of repairing the Liberty Lands stage. Absent this unanticipated outlay, expenses for repair and maintenance would total about $600 less than expected at this point in the fiscal year. Underspending in other expense categories offset the higher expenses incurred in repair and maintenance.

B. Other Items

• Accountant’s 2018-19 Financial Report and Tax Preparation – Our accountant completed work in December on our Annual Compilation Report and Tax Return.

Motion: By Renya Wasson, seconded by Amy Sweeney. “To accept the Treasurer's report as presented.” Passed 10-0-0 

Fundraising Committee Report: Michael Coyne:

Michael reported that Winterfest will be on 2/16/2019; he is seeking two sources of sponsorship for the event and should know soon about them both. The team will be meeting about the event this Thursday and tickets should be ready to go shortly thereafter. He noted that the Fest has had very good support from community businesses in past years and while getting those donations is a lot of work for the committee it is a great benefit for the Association. The sponsorship request to PTSSD includes a request for money that can be used for local businesses to “match” their donations (making, for instance, a $50 gift card from a restaurant into a $100 gift card). 

Liberty Lands Committee Report: Janet Finegar: written report attached and reviewed.

Janet noted to the Board that Joan Reilly has agreed to work with the committee to facilitate the process of developing a management structure for the park and immediately suggested starting with several smaller meetings to clarify ideas before holding a larger public meeting. Joan will return with an estimated fee for the process and Janet will discuss with Steve whether it's possible to get a PTSSD sponsorship for that fee. The January 25 meeting will still occur and Janet encouraged all the Board members to attend. 

Liberty Lands Report   January 2020

• The biggest issue is that the underpinning of the stage has rotted away. Rob reported a broken board which was caused by/revealed the problem. Seth did an emergency repair before Parade of Spirits and discovered the extent of the problem – the whole understructure is rotted out. We will need to do a major re-construction of it and also will need to find funding for that (probably a PTSSD proposal). Seth will work on an estimate for rebuilding with metal so that the problem doesn't occur again and Janet will look into if there were problems in the original construction that allowed it to get this bad. The emergency repairs have it safe for use through the winter, but we will need to have it fixed before the June music festival or do something else for that event.
• GIVEN THAT THE STAGE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED – this is the moment for any and everyone that interacts with the stage to think about if there are elements of its design that we would like to change! Please mull it over and send any thoughts to Janet/Seth a.s.a.p.
• The Parade of Spirits in mid-December went off very nicely – there were about 150 people there, the parade was fun, and the cleanup went easily. (Linda and Jen did a ton of light hanging and removal – thank you!). The water main and electric  to the stage were both shut off at the end, and so should both be off  for the winter now.
• At the December meeting we further discussed plans for the “organization charrette” meeting in January. Liz is working on finding a mediator for the meeting and so there may need to be a date change based on  that person's availability, but for now we are still assuming 1/25 for the date. 
• The February  Liberty Lands meeting will again be a mandatory meeting for community gardeners, and the March workday is, as always, a good day for gardeners to get started for the year.
• Christmas tree collection is ongoing at the park, with a scheduled chipping of the trees and professional pruning by Schectman on January 13 or 14. The large birch on 3rd Street needs significant work, as do the curly willows at the south end. This is a good time to remind us of any other trees that need professional work!
• Justine and Al, who are instituting the community compost program, met with Janet in December and they jointly agreed that the best location for the community compost bins would be against the bakery wall at the southern end of the park – in the current “compost pile from heck” area. Seth will be working with digging machinery at Orianna Hill in mid-February and we hope that he will be able to take a few hours during one of those days to level that area for the bins. We scheduled a March workday to install the bins and set up the program. We'll also move the “Razzi” storage container over near the bins to hold the specialty tools for the compost bins.
• Dan and Kerry are working on developing a tree labeling project for the whole park (funding for this came through the Smart family gift). 
• We could really use a volunteer to take on the process of establishing a 30-minute-parking loading zone on 3rd Street. This should be done in conjunction with the management at Kaplan's, since it's something that they seem to also need.
• We still need to make some design decisions about the new playpanel so that we can order parts and install this in the spring. 
• The energetic Volunteering Untapped PHL group is scheduled to come back to Northern Liberties for another all-parks workday on April 18. We should begin planning what we want to get done with this large and hard-working team!
• Feb. 8 Public Space Summit – This is an event bringing together representatives from parks, libraries, and rec centers from around the city to discuss the kinds of marketing, fundraising, and management issues that affect us all. Last year's event was inspiring and informative. We are eligible to send two people to the meeting (it's 2/8 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.): if anyone's interested in being a park representative, please let us know. 
• UPCOMING DATES:
  • January 14, 7 p.m.         Steering committee meeting
  • January 25, 10 a.m.       Organization charrette meeting (date subject to change)
  • February 8, 8 a.m.         Public Space Summit (contact Janet/Liz if interested in attending)
  • February 11, 7 p.m.       Mandatory Gardeners meeting
  • March 10, 7 p.m.  Steering Committee meeting
  • March 14, 10 a.m.         Hard-Core Workday (compost set up, gardeners, tough people!)
  • April 18, 9 a.m.    All Parks Workday
  • May 2, 9 a.m.       Plant Sale at Community Center Yard
  • May 9 or 16          Love Your Park workday (TBA)
• The NLNA asked for a list of volunteer opportunities throughout the year at Liberty Lands. If you can think of corrections or additions to this, please let Janet know!  Volunteer opportunities at Liberty Lands:

Time of year / Number of slots /  Job /  Specific date TBD

Always / up to 8 / trash pickup and general cleanup around park / self-scheduled

Always / 1-2 focused people / help with specific computer/organization tasks / self-scheduled

mid-January /  1-2 / Help with treecycling / yes

MLK Day / no one / Not a good day for volunteer work at the park.

Mid-February / 1-2 / Help with City Harvest seed sorting / yes        

mid-March / any number / “Hard core” Workday with a variety of jobs / yes

March-April / up to 6 / City Harvest plot tending / self-scheduled

mid-April / any number / “All Parks” workday; jobs throughout neighborhood / yes

May-October / up to 8 / City Harvest plot tending and harvesting / self-scheduled

mid-May /  any number / “Love Your Park” workday / yes

May-October / 2-4 / Tree watering: ideally done weekly / self-scheduled

May-October / any number /  Weeder's Club / yes, 1-2 a month

May-October / any number / Directed weeding tasks throughout park / self-scheduled

April-May / 1 / organize Flea Market / self-scheduled

late June /  8-10 /  Music Festival (setup, run, cleanup) / yes

Sept-Oct /  1-2 / help organize Fall Festival / self-scheduled

late October / 8-10 / Fall Festival (setup, run, cleanup) / yes

mid-Nov / any number / “Love Your Park” workday / yes

Nov-Dec / 3-4 / help organize Parade of Spirits / self-scheduled

mid-Dec /  4-6 / Parade of Spirits (setup, safeties, cleanup) /  yes

Operations Committee Report: Barbara Saverino: written report attached.

Operations Committee 

• Leases: NLARTS has renewed their lease for 2020. Andre Collares (tenant) is also renewing for 2020.  Big thank you to Steve and Monika for their assistance.
• NLNA use of center: All board and committee members are requested to make sure that the center/space is rental-ready after use. If there are questions or concerns, please let me or Lara know.
• Tree Sale in Yard: Committee discussion on the process.  Moving forward committee would like to review agreement. 
  • Neighborhood Tree Company. . . November 22 through December 24 (or earlier if sold out). . . Hours: Wednesday-Friday between 2-9 PM and Saturday-Sunday between 9 AM and 9 PM. . . .Fee: Waived in recognition of User's donation of a portion of sale revenue going to Prevention Point. . .  Must remove all items at the end of agreement. The staff were at the yard on Sunday, January 5 to remove everything. . . .Barbara has asked Goda (our contact) for feedback on their experience. Also asked for information regarding the donation to Prevention Point. 
• Old Business
  • Signage - Kristen shared that she is working to get all the signs for NLNA (including the parks) ordered and printed. Barbara and Kristen are going to do a walk around and decide placement on December 14. We will then get them hung. (Need to reschedule) 
  • List of tradespeople - to do maintenance. Monika will take lead on collecting as part of Operations Manual. 
  • Website - Kristen shared that NLNA has not yet moved forward on this. Barbara is going to follow up. Kristen also shared that some of the proposed work might be done by part-time office position as well.
• New Business
  • Lightbulb replacement - Barbara is going to follow up with Don to request this be done.
  • Air filter replacement - Barbara is going to follow up with Don to request this be done.
  • Looking at more motion lighting for outside - very dark at night for those closing up. 
  • Yard is going on hiatus in winter and will reopen on March 1.
  • Next meeting is scheduled for January 15. We are going to work in the basement to review/organize the space. We are doing this jointly with representatives from NLARTS. All are welcome.

Zoning Committee Report: Claire Adler; written report attached and reviewed.

Motion: By Janet Finegar, seconded by Renya Wasson. “To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 814-26 North 2^ndStreet, i.e.: 'We require a redesign of this project that would include the following elements before any support for it can be considered: 1) The facade above the first floor is all metal and windows. It should have other opaque elements in addition to metal. 2) The 140 feet wide 2^nd  Street facade has no relief. At a minimum, the balconies should be set back into the facade. This would also minimize the negative effect on 2^ndstreet of residents storing garbage on the balconies 3) To minimize loss of parking, a back in loading zone should be created. 4) Of the 78 apartments, 35 bedrooms have no windows to the outside for direct light and air. New construction on a lot of this size could easily have a window in every bedroom. In addition to these elements, we strongly protest the granting of bonuses for a food market and affordable housing. These bonuses grant additional height and an increased number of apartments for this building. There are already two major supermarkets and three small food markets on 2^ndSt. all within three blocks this building. The supermarket bonus will leave an empty space on the first floor. If the developer is serious about this floor being a food market, the use as such should be a deed restriction. The affordable housing credit comes from a contribution by the developer to the housing fund of money that would build less than 2 units. And they would be built somewhere else. If the developer is serious about affordable housing, it should be included in this project. The NLNA and our neighbors want more affordable housing in the neighborhood.'” Passed 10-0-0

Motion: By Steve Richman, seconded by Jacek Ghosh.“To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 445-447 Fairmount Avenue, i.e.: 'We ask for a continuance so we can have more information on this project before making a decision. We need to see plans for the proposed apartments, the location of trash storage, and documentation that you will provide to the ZBA about your search for commercial tenants.'” Passed: 10-0-0 

Motion: By Janet Finegar, seconded by Amy Sweeney.“To ratify the recommendations of the Zoning Committee in the matter of 100 Spring Garden Street, i.e.: 'Please return with information regarding the operation of this bus loading and unloading area near 2^ndand Spring Garden, including signage for the queue, and the maximum number of riders and buses per day in the future. We will consider sending a letter of support to City Councilman Squilla and the Streets Department if Flixbus agrees, in writing, to the following: 1) A 3 month trial period to see if it operates as agreed to; 2) The loading/unloading area is on the north side of Spring Garden Street closer to 2^ndStreet; and 3) Flixbus commits to daily clean-up of the sidewalk within 25 feet of the queue and Doughboy Park in partnership with the BID.'” Passed 10-0-0

Old Business

None.

New Business

Matt noted to the Board that Scribe Video Center is sponsoring a program that helps neighborhoods create short documentaries about precious places. Don and Jacek will look into applying for the grant to do a project on Liberty Lands. 

The meeting was adjourned by acclaim at 8:24 p.m.

Addenda:

ZC Meeting Minutes, December 30, 2019

Members present: Larry Freedman chair Joe Mikuliak recording secretary Kenny Grono, Charlie Abdo, Jonathan Sher, Sharon Richmond, Ira Upin, and Christine Furman. Members absent: Chris Isaacson, Scott Sperri, Melissa Magness, Abby Specter. 

The resignation of Jared Foreman from the zoning committee was received this month.

#1 814 - 26 North 2nd Streetcmx 2.5 a multi-family project presented to the community for a Civic Design Review (CDR) No variances are necessary - this is a by right project. Presentation by Rustin Ohler, architect working for Harman Deutsch. PRDC (a private corporation) is the developer. Plans and digital projection were provided however, they did not include materials or views of the project with surrounding buildings. The dimensions of the project were incomplete. Plan shown to the committee and neighbors were for a 78 unit apartment building with a first-floor commercial space and mostly metal facade, 70 feet high. The developer is taking advantage of bonuses for a green roof, affordable housing, and a fresh food tenant on the first floor. Without those bonuses, the building could only be 55 feet high and have approximately 60 Apartments. No parking is presently planned for the building or required. The green roof was not shown to the committee; the affordable housing will not be in that building but just a donation from the developer to the affordable housing fund; there is no fresh food tenant signed to occupy the first floor. The plans showed on-street parking spaces where actually, they plan a loading zone for the food store. Of the 78 apartments, 35 of them have a bedroom with no window to the outside for direct air or daylight. They are labeled Junior bedrooms in the plans. Currently, PRDC has an agreement of sale for the lot. If all permits are granted, they will buy the lot and build the building starting this summer. Committee members and a few neighbors present questioned the developer and architect about the plans. No one spoke in favor of them as presented. It was decided to present a strong case at the Civic design review asking for changes to the design and opposition to bonuses given to the developer.

Motion by the group. Vote 6-0:   We require a redesign of this project that would include the following elements before any support for it can be considered.  1. The facade above the first floor is all metal and windows. It should have other opaque elements in addition to metal.  2. The 140 feet wide 2nd Street facade has no relief. At a minimum, the balconies should be set back into the facade. This would also minimize the negative effect on 2^ndStreet of residents storing garbage on the balconies  3. To minimize loss of parking, a back in loading zone should be created.  4. Of the 78 apartments, 35 bedrooms have no windows to the outside for direct light and air. New construction on a lot of this size could easily have a window in every bedroom. In addition, we strongly protest the granting of bonuses for a food market and affordable housing. These bonuses grant additional height and an increased number of apartments for this building. There are already two major supermarkets and three small food markets on 2nd Street all within three blocks this building. The supermarket bonus will leave an empty space on the first floor. If the developer is serious about this floor being a food market, the use as such should be a deed restriction. The affordable housing credit comes from a contribution by the developer to the housing fund of money that would build less than 2 units. And they would be built somewhere else. If the developer is serious about affordable housing, it should be included in this project. The NLNA and our neighbors want more affordable housing in the neighborhood.

#2 445-447 Fairmount Avenuersa5 a proposal for a 6 family dwelling. Already approved for 4 with first-floor commercial. 443 Fairmount also has a zoning notice posted for two new apartments on the same date as 445-447. The attorney said the application for 443 has been withdrawn and the first floor at 443 Fairmount will stay commercial, Presentation by Jared Klein, attorney for the owners-who were present but did not speak. The refusal and material we're handed out. They lacked any floor plan for the apartments and other significant information. For trash storage, the attorney referenced the alleyway behind the building. This appears to be a common easement which cannot be used for trash storage.Owners claim their hardship is being unable to rent this out as a commercial space. They said at the ZBA hearing, they will have letters from multiple realtors to prove how hard they have tried. Neighbors noted there has been no "available" sign on the building and that the empty space is dirty and uncared for. The block has several first floor commercial tenants. The executive director of the BID, Khristine Kennedy, was present and said there is a demand for office space in Northern Liberties that cannot be met at the present time. The attorney and owners agreed to a continuance to return to the committee.

Motion by Joe Mikuliak Second by Ira Upin Vote 7-0: We ask for a continuance so we can have more information on this project before making a decision. We need to see plans for the proposed apartments, the location of trash storage, and documentation that you will provide to the ZBA about your search for commercial tenants.

#3 100 Spring Garden Street.A proposal to have a 45-foot space for a bus to park for 10 or 15 minutes while loading and unloading. Presentation by Francesca La Brecque and Judd Krasher of Flixbus, an international private intercity bus travel company operating in the United States since 2018. They are searching for an additional location to operate besides 30th Street Station. The semi-protected area under I-95 at Spring Garden Street (SE - close to Delilah's) is where they want to pick up and discharge passengers. At present, there would be two buses a day. When new construction begins at their current location near 30th Street Station, there would be more buses. Bolt Bus and other bus companies will also be looking for Space then. Flixbus had no plans to deal with trash created by people waiting, no plans for bathrooms, and no place for cars to park while people waited for buses or waited to pick-up bus passengers. (“We’ll talk to the city about that.”)There was much discussion by people present about these problems. Kristine Kennedy, executive director of the BID, suggested Flixbus have a partnership with the BID to extend cleaning by the BID to the area where bus passengers would wait. Francesca tentatively accepted that offer. Larry proposed a switch of the location of the bus loading unloading area from the southeast to the northwest. This would be away from Delilah's parking lot, closer to amenities in the neighborhood, closer to a crosswalk, and next to the Doughboy Park. Francesca tentatively accepted that offer as well.

Motion by Joe Mikuliak Second by Christine Furman Vote 7-0:  Please return with information regarding the operation of this bus loading and unloading area near 2nd and Spring Garden, including signage for the queue, and the maximum number of riders and buses per day in the future. We will consider sending a letter of support to City Councilman Squilla and the Streets Department if Flixbus agrees, in writing, to the following: 1. A 3 month trial period to see if it operates as agreed to.  2. The loading unloading area is on the north side of Spring Garden Street closer to 2nd Street  3. Flixbus commits to daily clean-up of the sidewalk within 25 feet of the queue and Doughboy Park in partnership with the BID.