AGENDA: Fishtown Neighbors Association General Membership

Meeting
Thursday, May 15, 2014, 7 8:00 PM @ Fishtown Rec

Board Members: Kate Micklow Harwan, Pete Harwan, Isaac Slepner,
John Alexander, Jordan Rushie, Audrey Morrison, Shaun Christopher

Time Item
7:00 Welcome / 2014 Dues Reminder/Refreshment thank you
7:05 26
th
Officer Intro/Crime Q&A with Officer Correa

There is a new community relations officer, neighbors can reach him at
jose.dones@phila.gov with any tips, etc.
Correa mentioned ongoing issues w/ car breakins this seems largely due to
objects left in cars in the Girard-Front-Hancock area.
There were a few burglary reports this week; one suspect was caught on tape
but is still currently unidentified; officer Correa requested us to reach out to
him if we have any tips
A neighbor asked whether police can help w/ surveillance on private homes;
Officer Correa suggested neighbors participate in safecam registration to
register any personal cameras with the 26th this will put the camera on a
database and will enable the police to reach out to you if a crime happens on
your block. Correa also reminded about the ID program bring PA license
or ID and officers will hand out 10 ID stickers for various personal items.
Correa added that if youre a victim of a burglary, dont disturb the scene
officers will come out. There have been instances where prints have been
lifted, arrests have been made on that basis.
7:15 Committee Updates:
Treasurers Report (Pete Harwan)
There is $18,842.41 in our primary checking; we recently paid ~$3100 for first
website payment, $250 for annual dues for the Crosstown Coalition, made a
$250 donation to the Portside Art Center for the Lehigh Avenue Arts Fest ival;
savings account, River City Festival account, and the Feed the Fish
Campaign accounts remain the same as last month.

Beautification/Rec Center (Kristie Landry)
This Sat (5/17) is a household hazardous waste drop-off from 9am-3pm at
4800 Parkside Ave (NW of Passyunk)
There is a scheduled cleanup on Sat. 5/24 @ Richmond and Coumbia from
10-12
Feed the Fish Updatethese are fiberglass fishheads on trash cans; artists
are being registered to paint each individually; committee will ask local
businesses to empty trash from nearby cans; a few artist applications are still
available
Annual flowerbox contest coming up - entry deadline 6/30. Feel free to
nominate, 3 prizes will be donated. Monthly meeting on 4th Thursdays @
6:30pm.

Rec Advisory Council (Kate)
AGENDA: Fishtown Neighbors Association General Membership
Meeting
Thursday, May 15, 2014, 7 8:00 PM @ Fishtown Rec

Board Members: Kate Micklow Harwan, Pete Harwan, Isaac Slepner,
John Alexander, Jordan Rushie, Audrey Morrison, Shaun Christopher
The Rec Advisory Council meets the last Tuesdays of the month at the Rec
Center at 7pm. Currently the RAC is working to get the Rec Center better
computer access, general improvements, etc.

Zoning (Matt Karp)
There were four community meetings this month on 5/6 for a new
veterinarian office at 233-35 E Girard (passed unanimously), also on 5/6 a
multifamily project at 958 Shackamaxon (supported 37-4); on 5/13 for a two-
house project at 2618 E York (unanimously approved), also on 5/13 a
proposed Mexican restaurant at 100-106 E Girard Ave, the former Penn
Treaty market (supported 16-3)

There is no meeting next week because of the election

Upcoming meetings: on 6/3, 12 homes on 1100 block of E. Hewson, also the
existing electric building at 2200 E Norris is planned to become 15 apartments
with a commercial 1st floor; on 6/17 Palm Tree is seeking outdoor seating,
also 546 Hewson - unsure of proposal as yet; on 6/24 they are planning a
remapping voting meeting ; future meetings for 1517 E Berks and outdoor
seating for Mugshots have yet to be scheduled

Cash for Gold shop set up for a few days this week - was quickly shut down.

Education/Parenting (John Alexander)
Check out the new Friends of Adaire website at friendsofadaire.org.
Friends of Adaire meet at the Rec Center on the first Wednesday of every
month at 6:00 p.m.
The Friends-of organizations in 19125 will be sharing a table at the Trenton
Avenue Arts Festival.

7:25 NKCDC Announcements (Michaela Allwine)
Rain barrell workshop from 11-12 this Sunday, 5/18
E-cycling event @ Schissler on 6/13 from 12-4pm, look on website for
sustainable 19125 for accepted items
Rent & property tax rebates applications are due 6/30
2 volunteer positions are open for the food pantry at Visitation
Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby is this weekend, the sustainable 19125
table will be there recycling old shoes (no holes, desiring nicely worn
donations)


AGENDA: Fishtown Neighbors Association General Membership
Meeting
Thursday, May 15, 2014, 7 8:00 PM @ Fishtown Rec

Board Members: Kate Micklow Harwan, Pete Harwan, Isaac Slepner,
John Alexander, Jordan Rushie, Audrey Morrison, Shaun Christopher

7:30 SPEAKER: Darrell L. Clarke Formerly a longtime aide to former Councilman &
Mayor John Street, Mr. Clarke was elected to Council in 1999. Councilman Clarke
has been President of City Council since 2011 and represents the 5
th
Council District,
which includes parts of Fishtown.

Councilman Clarke mentioned that he is fully committed to funding the playground at
Adaire Elementary in Fishtown. They are currently awaiting the design process.

Clarke mentioned that today legislation was introduced related to school funding it
would direct all funds from the 1% sales tax increase to go to schools in the first year,
and in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year funds would be split between pensions and schools.

(Background) Over the past three years, City Council has worked with a team from
the state to discuss what to do with the extra 1% sales tax, and Clarke emphasized
the significant needs in the pension fund. $120 million was previously dedicated to
the pension crisis for this reason, but then came the education crisis. The state
decided to take the money dedicated to the pension fund and put it into the schools
without putting any state money in the deal. This is why the pension fund needs to be
addressed as well as schools. In the longer run, Clarke hopes that the new cigarette
tax will be approved by the state, which could generate as much as $85-90 million for
schools. All these things working together would provide a balanced approach to both
schools and pension funds.

Clarke elaborated that City Council has increased funding for schools every year, but
recently the state has not increased funding except for a one-time grant that came
last year through the state from the federal government, but this grant is not annual.

Q & A
In response to thanks from one neighbor regarding the Councilmans commitment to
the playground at Adaire Elementary, Clarke went on to say that City Council is going
to begin asking significant-sized non-profits in the city to adopt local schools in a
meaningful way, similar to the relationship between UPenn and Penn Alexander
Elementary in West Philadelphia.

Another Neighbor asked if it is possible for residents to see the books for the school
district. Clarke replied that once a year City Council authorizes the school tax, but
when City Council asks to see the books, the School District replies that they dont
have to do that only the state Attorney General can demand to see the books.
Relatedly, Clarke stated that the School Reform Commission is a failure after 14
years and Philadelphia schools should go back to local control; Clarke qualified that
City Council doesnt want the district back until state money is included.

On the topic of charter schools, Clarke mentioned that while he is not against
AGENDA: Fishtown Neighbors Association General Membership
Meeting
Thursday, May 15, 2014, 7 8:00 PM @ Fishtown Rec

Board Members: Kate Micklow Harwan, Pete Harwan, Isaac Slepner,
John Alexander, Jordan Rushie, Audrey Morrison, Shaun Christopher
charters, there are some gaps that lead to financial disadvantages for the local public
schools. One neighbor countered that charters receive 70% of the per-student funds
that a public school gets in Philadelphia, and that the charters need to then make that
up on their own. Principal Oddo of Adaire Elementary replied that she has had 63
students transfer to her school from charters but has not yet received any additional
funds.

Another neighbor asked what a long-term solution to the school crisis looks like;
Clarke replied that something needs to happen on the federal and state levels.
Locally, City Council needs to stabilize conditions, i.e. selling some school buildings,
but state or federal funding is necessary. Clarke acknowledged the complexity of the
situation, said there is not just one solution.

Kate Micklow Harwan asked about real estate tax as a funding source for the
education and pension fund needs local real estate taxes went up in many
neighborhoods including Fishtown. Kate asked how exactly the city will go after
people who dont pay their taxes. Clarke mentioned that in the past year they went
after the low-hanging fruit of popular businesses that had not paid taxes, but others
like absentee landlords are more difficult. City Council also started an enhanced lien
program that now impacts owners own homes and active businesses in addition to
ignored properties. Finally, City Council is working to begin lien sales, finding
organizations that will buy debt and then go and collect.

A former naval yard worker was displaced by workers for Alabama, asked if Clarke
would call a state agency about why this happened. Clarke said he would.

8:15 Misc Announcements:
Trenton Avenue Arts Festival, Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby this
Saturday
RFP for website Pinnacle Performance Partners were selected
Thanks to FNA Vice President Thomas Mosher who is moving to Oregon,
welcome to new board member Shaun Christopher; current board member
Jordan Rushie is our new Vice President
8:20 Adjournment