Federal Hill Neighborhood Association (FHNA)

General MembershipMeeting

DraftMeeting Minutes for February 17, 2015

Date:February 17, 2015 / Start Time:7:04 pm / Chair:Beth Whitmer
Location:Christ Lutheran Church / End Time: 8:35 / Secretary:Jessica Damen
Board Members Present:Jessica Damen, Walt Ettinger, Bob Merbler,Aimee Sanfilippo, Brooke McDonald, , Beth Whitmer, Nancy Gordon, Deb Nelson
Board Members Not Present:
Members / Guests in Attendance: members
Itemized Agenda:
AdoptionofJanuary 20, 2015 MeetingMinutes–JessicaDamen. Aimee Sanfillippo and Walt Ettinger moved to accept minutes as written. Seconded Bert Lane. Accepted
Treasurer’sReport-­‐BethWhitmer presented. No questions regarding the treasurer’s report. Moved to approve by Walt Ettinger and Seconded by Susan Ettinger
South Harbor Renaissannce: Walt Ettinger, Ann Apgar and Rufus Lusk: Presented the background information for Federal Hill park, the gateway to the neighborhood. Goals for the future include:
1.Improve maintenance – more cleaning, snow removal, pruning, and turf improvement.
2. Discussion for a partnership with the City. Maybe development of a MOU with the City.
3. Security and Safety
4. Outreach to the Neighborhood – to raise awareness created this account: @fedhillpark_hsr (twitter)
Fundraising- selling pavers to be installed in March. Approximately 150 + or – are now sold
Question from the membership regarding the doggie bags for the Park. A new neighbor in Federal Hill who will put out the bags henceforth. Noteworthy information is that the City used to have 100 personnel in Parks and Recreation and now there are only ten.
Digital Tech Presentation- Andrew Coy presented. Digital Harbor Foundation. After school and summer school enrichment programs relevant to digital printing, 3Dprinters, screen based programming, development of applications. They now have about 2500 students. Payment is based upon ability and therefore the Foundation depends upon contributions. Background for need - in Baltimore alone there are about 20 unfilled jobs in BaltimoreCity that pay approximately 85K. This Foundations’ mission is to educate students for future digital related careers.
Questions from the membership regarding who upkeeps the building, (lease with the City), who is eligible, (first – 12th grade and all over the metropolitan area.)
Digitalharbor.org Look for their family events.
FHP Update and Area 9 RPP pickup. Pickup time is between 10-12pm. He has about 15 volunteers.
  1. Federal Hill Prep. Cannot park there now because of risk of being towed. There were people who had confrontations with school and therefore the Principal pulled the permission for the neighborhood. Bob is working with the school to develop a more expedited method of towing so that the school does not get involved.
  2. Member asked about angle parking question. Bob provided the background information but the issue remains unresolved. Who makes the decision? DOT does make the decision and there is a traffic study in progress now and after the study the neighborhood still has input.

Cross Street Market RFP: Brooke McDonald The city put out RFP which is due March 5
Ash Memorandand Scott Plant, of the group Running Warhorse have submitted.Eric hopes to have an answer to the amount of community involvement with decisions by the Thursday. Question from community if we can see the evaluation criteria. Eric Costello will check on that. Public Market Corporation is a quasi governmental. There will not be any State input with this Market.
Brooke suggests that the neighborhood associations work together to identify the neighborhood goals for the Cross Street Market
A bill was introduced by Eric Costello at the request of the Federal Hill NA. The language of the Bill is boiler plate except for the one provision related to 1201 Olive. The Chair of the Parking Committee has the plan.
FHNA Posiiton on Crossbar, Diana Sugg reported regarding the transfer of the license from “Joey B” liquor license to CrossBar. The Cross Bar Hearing has been postponed. Discussion ensued. Will Runnebaum moved that the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association oppose any creation or transfer of any liquor license that would cause any net increase in the capacity for that license. Seconded by Vince MettleApproval # 26, Oppose # 1, Abstain 5. Motion carried
Discussion ensued regarding the motion. Noted in the discussion is there have been 17 expansions in 15 years.
Will Runnebaummoved that the FHNA specificallyoppose the transfer of “Joey B’s” license to Cross Bar.
Approval 27_ Oppose 1_ Abstain 4. Motion carried.
New Business–Beth Whitmer –Betsy Horner to compile more information about The Complete Street Study.
Meeting Adjourned
There being no new business the meeting was adjourned at 8:35pm.
Minutes Approved On:2/17/14
Minutes Approved By:
Adjourned

FHNA GM / BoD Meeting Minutes for January 08, 2014-- DRAFT