Meeting Notes: General Membership – July 22, 2024

Call to order: 7:01 PM

Andrew Epps welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.

Officer Updates:

• Neighborhood Police Officer (NPO):
  • Officer Bell and Sergeant Shiv with the City of Fort Worth real time crime center
  • Community Garden concerns –
    • Sargent Shiv at the real time crime center, works with the community camera program in the city
    • Community Camera Program – an individual can register their cameras online with the city so that officers can know where pre-existing cameras are (registration)
    • Also have an integration system for businesses only, so that the police have access to the cameras in real time. Potential for the garden?
    • City-owned cameras are an option but must meet certain criteria – high crime areas. Violent personal crime is of main concern to the city.
    • These are also available for a short-term (30 day) solution. Requires power to install.
    • https://refer.flocksafety.com/fort-worth-community-camera-program/
    • Best solution could be for the Community Garden to purchase cameras (need to figure out logistics with mounting and Wi-Fi) and integrate with the city’s system.
    • If Wi-Fi is an issue, then would need to consult with a security consultant, likely.
  • Recent incident in the neighborhood – there was a lot of discussion on the neighborhood Facebook page, but that info was not getting communicated to Officer Bell or the real-time crime center. This information is helpful but would be more helpful if it is shared with the NPO.
• Code Compliance:
  • Not in attendance
• Deputy Constable:
  • Not in attendance
• Fort Worth City Council District 9 Representative:
  • Anthony Rojas from Councilwoman Beck’s office is in attendance.
  • Back to School event at Fire Station community center coming up – Aug 10 at 10AM
  • Budget meetings upcoming. ConnectFW.com for citizens to share info.
  • Railroad crossing has temporary fix, but the final
  • Victoria – Health Specialist with the City of Fort Worth:
    • Since July 18, there have been 20 more positive samples of mosquitos, only 2 human cases in Fort Worth
    • 1130 Fournier St – this is a mosquito trapping site
    • Targeted spray mission happened this past weekend
    • Check the city website for spraying notices – also will be posted with signs
    • Spraying protocol – stay indoors if possible, bring pets inside during night (9PM – 3AM), cover ornamental ponds, bring bowls inside, AC can remain on but can set to recirculate only, bring toys inside, wash anything exposed
    • Pesticide spray is considered safe and is EPA approved
  • High Impact Pilot Program – new program, see the flyer for more information
  • Plan on working with Tarrant County and the city regarding the Center located in Fairmount.

Community Garden Update: Brandon Wilson

• Plots are 100% rented out
• Going on hiatus for volunteer days for the summer but will work on a social meeting for next month (August) – may coordinate with the August FNA Social

Community Library Update:

• No one in attendance

Board Updates:

• Home Tour Audit: Lauren Wu/ Andrew Epps
  • Audit happened yesterday as spelled out in the by-laws
• Fairmount Board Nominating Committee Vote: Andrew Epps
  • Susan Harper, Brandon Wilson, and Glenn Conner have signed up as volunteers
  • Andrew Epps moves for these people be part of the nominating committee. Frances Looks seconded. The motion passes unanimously with a voice vote.
• Public Safety: Glen
  • Code Blue plug
  • CERT program – for emergency situations

Fairmount Board Election August 26^th:

• Board positions to fill: All are 2-year positions, unless noted otherwise
  • Communication
  • Finance
  • Historic Preservation
  • Public Safety
  • Promotions (1 year)
• Bolded positions do not have strong potential board members yet, so will require some more research on behalf of the nominating committee.
• If you want to vote at the next meeting for board members, make sure that you are a member for 10 days before the vote.

Fireworks

• Seems to have been worse this year than in the past
• Proposal that there needs to be better communication ahead of the Fourth of July that fireworks are illegal and have a $2,000 fine.
• Lauren to get Frances Look the info on our other FNA yard signs for pricing info.
• Frances could get a committee together of the most dedicated individuals who want to be in charge of getting signs coordinated and putting signs up June through August.
• If there is enough put together, this could be brought up to the city council.
• We could standardize the signage and allow people to purchase these to place on their own property, as a way to offset the costs.
• Glen was a volunteer for the fireworks phone number and said that the phones were not ringing off the hook, even on July 4^th. 817 392 4444 (4222 – non-emergency number)
• The most effective thing to do is to continue to report, because the city does track all these metrics before they decide to act on something.

Adjourn: 7:55 PM