Meeting Notes: General Membership – October 23, 2023

Call to order: 7:02 PM

Andrew Epps welcomed and called the meeting to order. This is the last general meeting for 2023, but there are plenty of happenings for the rest of the year – keep up on Facebook, Instagram, and FNA newsletters (physical and email).

Officer Updates:

• NPO: Officer Bell
  • In the holidays, there is an uptick in activity. Reminder to lock your doors and hide your valuables. 
  • Homelessness is on the rise. Councilwoman Beck is working to address this on Magnolia and elsewhere. Exercise caution when encountering anyone. You can not know the current mental health state of anyone. 
  • Reminder that 911 and non-emergency calls go to the same place.
  • Continue to call events in and make reports as events happen because they all add up.
  • Recent events:
    • Cameras stolen, etc. by an individual who has had multiple situations recently in the neighborhood.
    • Supposed gunshots 10/23 were called in third-party but gave an incorrect address. The situation did not even happen in Fort Worth. 
    • Group of kids in Ryan’s Place recently stole tires from cars. 
  • Barbara suggests Officer Bell to include an article in the upcoming printed Fairmount newsletter. 
• Code Compliance: Christopher Bryan
  • New code compliance officer for Fairmount
  • 50 violations in the last 30 days:
    • Trash carts out too early (any time before 6PM on Wednesday is “too early”)
    • Incorrect trash cart storage – when being stored, cans should not be able to be seen from the street when looking head-on at the house. 
    • Property maintenance (outside storage, BBQ sets)
    • There was a situation on Washington where someone was putting cans out consistently too early. Code compliance got a translator and was able to discuss with the sister of the resident who is disabled, and the situation should be resolved. 
  • Stray rodent situation nearby, but not in Fairmount. Neighbors were feeding cats, so cats were not taking care of rodent situations because they were well fed.
  • Information on priority repair program provided via handouts.

Finance – 2024 Budget Audit:

• The increase in the historic preservation budget is due to an idea that the board had for Michael McDermott to sign and sell books on the FNA website. FNA will need to buy these books first, hence the increase in budget, but expects to make money from them. 
• Historic marker purchases are assumed to increase as well. FNA buys the neighborhood plaques before selling them. 
• Office supply category consolidated rather than spread out among various categories. 
• One big item being proposed to add to the budget is the sign on the green space. Kristen working on getting 3 bids to follow the bylaws.
  • Dead tree at the corner of the green space? This is on the adjacent house’s property.
• TNR (trapping and neutering cats) request sent to the president. This is not specifically included in the budget but could be under Neighborhood Services. Additionally, the budget is not fixed and can be amended further in the year if necessary.
• 2024 FNA budget vote:
  • Motion to approve the 2024 FNA budget as sent and presented: Fred Harper
  • Motion seconded: Susan Harper 
  • The motion passes unanimously.

Guest Speaker:

• A previous Fairmount resident Jeanette promoting her late husband’s book, sharing the story of the neighborhood about her late husband Art, a landlord in the neighborhood, who took on the City of Fort Worth planners who were planning on demolishing a large portion of Southside. 
• Audio, e-books, and physical books are available on Amazon.

Voting Reminder:

• Texas constitutional proposition voting is happening now.
• Early voting is open now from October 23 – November 2

Promotions: Kelsie

• Arts Goggle went great. New neighbors were able to volunteer. FNA made money from helping to sell shirts. There will be new FNA swag for sale online that we ordered ahead of the event.
• Fall Fest will be from 5 – 7 PM on the Sunday coming up.
  • There will be 2 food trucks. 50/50 and Benit Bus. 
  • Costume contest (adults, kids, and pets), games for kids, popcorn and drinks, trunk or treat (need vehicles still – contact Kelsie). 
  • Garden will also be open. 
• Festivus is coming up on December 9^th.
• Winter Social is coming up on December 3^rd at Arts Fifth.  

Misc:

• The neighborhood garden will be on the farm to table tour this weekend per Suzanne. 

Adjourn: 8:02 PM