FNA General Membership Meeting
10/23/2017 7:00 pm
Board Members in attendance: Geri Gotton – Public Safety, Melanie Dotzour – Finance, Deanna Stuart – Membership, Sean Ford – Promotions, Susan Harper – Historic Preservation, Sara Karashin – President, Betty Spitzburg – Communications, and Leah Suasnovar – Administration.
7:02 Call to order
New members welcomed
No update from NPO Sergio Guadarrama – who was not in attendance.
Code Compliance office, Eric Mohammed update: Several hearing notices have been issued for 2 vehicles located in the back yard of 1725 S. Adams. Occupants appear to be bringing more items to residence, but City is attempting to resolve. Mr. Mohammed walked the neighborhood with Breinn Richter, our director of infrastructure, and gave some guidance on how to identify household items stored outside as well as a detailed account of his prioritization levels. Mr. Mohammed stated the area he is responsible for is bordered at I-35 to 8th Ave, and from Rosedale to Berry Streets. He stated notices will be sent to residences identified as non-code compliant, and those residents have 10 days from receipt of notice to visit the compliance office to protest the notice if needed. He has a 92% compliance rate currently. A member in attendance inquired as to what was the best method to reach Mr. Mohammed, and he inferred that calling the Service Center was the most efficient way. Code Telephone: 817-392-1234; email: codecares@fortworthtexas.gov; or submit complaint online here: http://apps.fortworthtexas.gov/codecompliance/codeOps_Citizen/newcomplaint.asp
Other News:
Fairmount won an award from the City for the Festivus Event, and won an award from Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) for this event as well.
The City of Fort Worth is looking for nominees for awards for 2017, for projects completed from 11/01/2016 – 11/09/2017, and the deadline for applications is 11/9/2017. You can nominate any projects that Fairmount has completed, and even nominate our NPO, Sergio Guadarrama for the services he provides us with. Info can be found at: http://fortworthtexas.gov/engagement/2017-awards-application.pdf
Reminder that Festivus 2017 is coming up on 12/12.
Pete Smith from Cowboy Compost spoke to the group about their composting program. Visit http://cowboycompost.com/index.php/home/ for more information about their home composting program.
Director Updates:
Melanie, Director of Finance: Checking account balance: $13,734.69, $17,857 in savings, $15,286.97 in CD, Community Garden balance: $2,347.95. In addition, a recent audit was conducted of FNA’s finances, and there were no findings. (email Melanie at finance@historicfairmount.com with questions)
Betty, Director of Communications: The deadline for submission of information to be featured in the Festivus Newsletter is 11/22. The Festivus newsletter goes to the entire neighborhood, each household will receive one, so it is a great opportunity for advertising your business. You can email Betty at communications@historicfairmount.com for more information. We will also be looking for volunteers to help deliver newsletters. It is a great way to get some exercise and contribute to the neighborhood as well.
Susan, Director of Preservation: October HCLC update – There were three tax cases, and all were approved. Plans were approved for 2225 Fairmount for restoration, interesting feature to this home – “fire proof” walls. The proposed plans for 2012 Fairmount’s garage were withdrawn, and the garage plans for 1415 S Henderson were approved, with the guarantee that no precedent will be set with this new build. 1916 Hurley, garage with pool house, approved. Special note – there were historic eaves removed from the house at 1804 5th Ave. These eaves will now need to be replaced at significant cost by the homeowner. If you see construction or demolition that seems out of place, contact Susan asap at preservation@historicfairmount.com
Geri, Director of Safety, advises neighbors to get the flu shot! J Also, FWPD is sponsoring a Trunk or Treat event 10/28, 11 – 2pm at the Bob Bolen Safety Complex, 505 W Felix Street. http://fortworthtexas.gov/news/2017/10/PD-trunk-or-treat/. The next Citizens On Patrol class will be a night class at the North Sector on NMain on 11/8. Please contact Geri for details on this class at publicsafety@historicfairmount.com. The Citizens on Patrol application can be found at https://www.fortworthpd.com/docmgmt/Code_Blue_Application.pdf. When you register and train for this program you get training on what to look for in illegal activity in your neighborhood, meet the with captain once a month and receive more information regarding crime in your area than a normal citizen would. Please be aware crime may start increasing, as we get closer to the holidays, and … LEAVE YOUR PORCH LIGHT ON!
Deanna, Director of membership – The Fairmount Social will be Friday, 10/27, from 6:30-8:30, at Great Harvest Bread Company, located at 1305 W Magnolia. Holiday Party will be 12/8 at Southside Preservation Hall, catered by Magdalena’s. We will be conducting a membership drive for 2018, the cost to join the neighborhood Association is $20/individual and $25/family. If you join, you will be entered in a raffle to win one of several prizes, which include gift cards to some of our favorite places on Magnolia. (email Deanna at membership@historicfairmount.com)
Sean, Director of Promotions – THANK YOU to all the Arts Goggle Volunteers. Hoping to have more neighbors join as volunteers for our many upcoming holiday events. Holiday Party 12/8 at Southside Preservation Hall. Festivus 12/12 at The Space. Santa in the Park 12/9. We will be holding a raffle for two full year subscriptions to shows at Amphibian Theatre. Sean is looking to form two committees for Promotions, one to be a Business Liaison and one for events.
Breinn, Director of Infrastructure – not in attendance but sent in an update given by Sara Karashin, president of FNA. She was attending the City of Fort Worth Bond Meeting hoping to encourage funding for Fire station Community Center. It is not too late to email the mayor and city council regarding your support for funds being provided to Fire station Community Center. Breinn spent some time with our new Code officer today for a better understanding of his policies and procedures. We have had a great response to our Block Captain program; she will be disseminating more information about this program soon. Early voting starts on 10/23 and runs through 11/3, voting on several constitutional amendments. Questions about the 7 proposed constitutional amendments? The League of Women Voters offers a non-partisan guide weighing the pros and cons of each: http://www.lwvtexas.org/Voters_Guide.html. The closest early voting site for Fairmount is at the Southside Community Center, 959 E. Rosedale. Breinn is currently working on obtaining quotes for the green space on Allen, which houses our Historical Marker sign and possible grants to cover that expense.
Nancy Strickland, school liaison, She is now on the Site Based Management team for all our neighborhood schools, and has visited with all the neighborhood schools. She confirmed that Daggett Elementary does have a PTA this year.
Veronica Delgado, principal of Daggett Montessori wants everyone to know that Dr. Scribner (superintendent of FWISD) will be hosting a town hall on 11/01 at 6:00 pm at Daggett Montessori to discuss the possibility of a Montessori or Applied Learning High School.
Budget Review:
Question posed from member wanting clarification on educational outreach initiatives. FNA response: these are opportunities to educate the public, contractors, and real estate agents on the historical guidelines in place in Fairmount, such as the Palavers hosted by Martin Dahl at the Fairmount Community Library.
Question from member regarding increase in storage expense. FNA response: We need to move our stored items out of the Bastion. The Bastion has been storing these items for free and we do not wish to continue to inconvenience them with our stored items, not to mention needing the Bastion owners to let us in to the facility every time we need to retrieve something from storage. We are evaluating our current storage unit and the needs for a larger one with 24 hour access and the costs that might be associated with that.
Motion to accept budget, approved and 2nd. Vote taken by membership, 21-1, approved.
Open Discussion:
Martin Dahl will be hosting a Preservation Palaver at Fairmount Community Library 10/25 at 7:00 PM. Residents, contractors and real estate agents are encouraged to attend. If his schedule allows, Justin Newhart, Senior Planner with the City of Forth Worth, may drop by to discuss changes to the historical overlay ordinance, if his schedule allows as he is hosting a meeting at Thistle Hill 10/25 at 6:00 pm to discuss public comment and receive more input on the ordinance. There will also be a joint meeting with Ryan Place on 11/09 at 6:30 at St. Johns to discuss the preservation ordinance.
Festivus is 12/12 at The Space. Santa’s Village will be at the Rosen House Inn again. It is currently undecided where the proceeds from this event will go, but, residents, please be on the lookout for notification that you are on the Festivus Bus Route so you can decorate for the event. There will be prizes for best decorated houses and a block party for the block that decorates the best.
Member, Sue McLean wants you to know that the KITTEN TENT for GNAR will be at the upcoming Capps Park Fall Festival, 10/28 from 11am to 4pm. Capps Park is located at 907 W Berry. In addition to the KITTEN TENT, there will be live music, art, handmade items, pumpkin patch, farmers market and more TBA, brought to you by the South Hemphill Heights Neighborhood Association.
Meeting adjourned 8:00 PM.
Minutes submitted 10/25, by Leah Suasnovar.