February 2023 Community Meeting Recap
Note: Any changes to the minutes should be directed to Lynnie at secretary@upperfellspoint.org.
Hybrid Meeting
Welcome/Introductions - President - Bill
Everyone was welcomed; no new attendees.
50-50 raffle reminder
Everyone was reminded to pay their 2023 dues (You cannot vote if you have not paid your 2023 dues.)
Can pay via PayPal Charity (there are no online fees at all - Donate with PayPal Giving
There is a notification delay to UFPIA of a few weeks so be sure to forward your email confirmation to Marla at treasurer@upperfellspoint.org.
You can still pay via cash, check, regular PayPal or through Stripe via our website - Membership — Upper Fell's Point Improvement Association (upperfellspoint.org)
Guest Speakers
Wendy Bozel, UFPIA Vice President and George Croom, UFPIA Education Chair.
Wendy shared some inspirational quotes by Frederick Douglass and some history of his time in Fell’s Point.
George created a YouTube Education Channel focusing on Upper Fells Point. For future videos, he would like to show the lives of UFP residents or other UFP events (i.e., promotion at work; kids received good grades or any other wonderful life news) and hopes to post a video on a regular basis to celebrate Upper Fell’s Point.
George’s first video was presented at the meeting and is about Frederick Douglass to celebrate Black History Month - to view it - Upper Fells Point Improvement Association - YouTube
Officer Reports
Treasurer:
Marla presented the proposed budget.
We don’t spend as much as what is budgeted as it’s a guideline, so we don’t have to come back to the membership for a vote every time money is needed for a project (if not budgeted, would need to vote if over $100).
$8,000 of the bank balance is for the ROWArt traffic calming project (from Hopkins grant).
Proposed budget was approved (See Motion 1 under Votes below.)
Vice President:
Wendy discussed the $80,000 safety grant that the UFPIA is to receive later this year. Volunteers are needed to work on subcommittees for the grant projects. Contact Wendy if you are interested (vicepresident@upperfellspoint.org):
Café lights ($19,000)
Subcommittee volunteers so far: Tyla, Beth, Dan, Suzanne, Shirley, Nancy and Lisa (maybe)
Street calming/artwork ($8,000)
Can’t be installed until BGE has completed their gas work but the UFPIA Traffic & Parking Committee has begun the initial stages of work; contact Kurt at trafficparking@upperfellspoint.org.
Lights on S Durham/Billie Holiday Artwork ($1,000)
Note: Does not have to be café lights.
Security cameras ($52,000)
Four cameras are to be installed on poles at four intersections and not on homes.
UFPIA is working with the police dept. regarding liability and usage.
There is no audio so no audio will be recorded.
There is no solar (UFPIA has not been able to get a response from BGE or the City on power access).
Subcommittee volunteers so far: Josh, Ben, Shirley, Mark, Amy
Votes:
Motion 1: To approve the proposed budget; motion passed. (For the approved budget - Budget+2023+approved+2.20.2023.pdf (squarespace.com)).
Motion 2: To provide a letter of support on the development of 260 S Durham; motion passed (Y-16; N-2; A-3). There was discussion afterwards as to what would be stated in the letter (i.e., it would follow the new Land-Use Guidelines). It was suggested that a form letter be created going forward.
Motion 3: UFPIA membership to review the letter of support for 260 S Durham before the Land-Use Committee submits it to the developer; motion did not pass so letter will be sent (Y-7; No-11; A-3).
Motion 4: To approve the BGE letter that was presented by the Land-Use Committee. There was no second so motion did not pass and letter will not be sent.
Motion 5: To elect John Becher as Election Judge for the May Officers Election; motion passed unanimously.
Committee Reports
Beautification
Mallory Kuehn—beautification@upperfellspoint.org
We have been pruning trees and will finish on March 4th.
New trees will be coming, but no details as to when.
Community Garden
Jan Mooney - communitygarden@upperfellspoint.org
No news
Education
George Croom — education@upperfellspoint.org
See Guest Speakers section above regarding the new UFPIA Education Channel on YouTube.
Land-Use
Mark Hoffmann - landuse@upperfellspoint.org
The developer of 260 S Durham presented their proposed plans to the Land-Use Committee (LUC) last week; LUC is asking UFPIA to send a letter of support. (See Motions 2 and 3 above under Votes.)
There have been some concerns about the BGE gas work. The gas regulators follow the Flower Branch Act which requires gas companies to relocate gas regulators so they are outside multifamily residences; it was suggested to rework the Act. A letter was prepared to address a possible alternative that may or may not be available for Upper Fell’s Point. Concerns were expressed about pausing the work now (see Motion 4 under Votes above).
Safety (sub-committee)
Chris Moad safety@upperfellspoint.org
Please sign-up for one of the subcommittees regarding the grant (as noted above).
Media
Jan Mooney - newsletter@upperfellspoint.org
If you are having packages delivered to Pratt Liquors, please pick them up within 1-2 days after delivery as there are hundreds of packages overflowing in the back of the store and some have been there since December. Also, be sure to buy something from the store occasionally too as the package service is a great asset for the community.
Deadline for March newsletter - March 5th
Traffic & Parking
Kurt Schiller - trafficparking@upperfellspoint.org
No news
To vote on issues at a meeting, you must have paid your current dues (based on calendar year beginning in January), attended 2 of the preceding 11 meetings, live in our boundaries and be age 18 and/or attended UFPIA sponsored events/activities per our Meeting & Voting Regulations.
