May 2026 Community Meeting Recap
Note: Any changes to the minutes should be directed to secretary@upperfellspoint.org.
Hybrid Meeting
Welcome
Leadership introductions
Membership dues
Reminder: if you pay your dues via the PayPal giving fund, please email a copy of your receipt to treasurer@upperfellspoint.org.
Guest Speakers
1) Katie Long, Executive Director, Friends of Patterson Park
Has been with the organization for 17 years and partnered with the UFPIA for a long time.
The FPP is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to ensure vitality as a green space and encourage use and appreciation.
All programs and events in the Park are free unless they are a fundraiser.
The FPP was formed after the observatory experienced years of deferred maintenance and decay.
There are four full time and two part-time staff.
They handle monthly/weekly volunteer teams and programming, and raise money for special projects like trash cans, observatory and fountain repair, and are advocates for park users’ interests with City Recreation & Parks - over 8,000 volunteers every year!
A new event this year was the Earth Day 5k fundraiser in April and they support partner events like flea markets, kinetic sculpture race, etc.
Stewardship efforts: Monthly volunteer teams - tree maintenance/ planting, cleaning observatory and boat lake and weekly teams working on gardens
Cedar House in Patterson Park was built behind the white house and opened in 2025. It is an open public space for partner meetings/events, FPP free programs, community meetings/events. Paid events (birthdays, weddings, rehearsal dinners, baby showers) help subsidize free programming
Membership: starts at $25 per year - Consider giving as “Evergreen Friends” - monthly through automated payments - pattersonpark.com/donate
Baltimore City Recreation & Parks - 3 year MOU outlining our roles each year
Facilities in the park - Virginia S. Baker Center, Ice Rink, Catalyst Center/ Utz Field, Patterson Park Pool, Maintenance Yard - those are BCRP-run that FPP helps support
FPP Capital Projects
White House & Cedar House
Montford Staircase
Basketball court - repainted/ resurfaced with BCRP
Trash Cans - replaced with BCRP
Marble Fountain
Ice Rink
Upcoming: restoration and stabilization of the Observatory – it will not be open to the public this year. An assessment was done and will go into a more significant restoration phase so can open to the public.
Questions:
Plan for the boat lake? Algae is a problem for the wildlife and visitors. BCRP - for several years, we’ve been waiting for restoration project. Latest is that they’ve broken the project into two different bids to not slow it down. One will be re-doing boardwalk and landscaping. Other is ‘hydro-raking’: least impactful to the environment to take care of algae overgrowth.
Anyone who can pressure to do it? Email us to show continued interest. City Council and 311 can be helpful too.
Ice Rink: closed after 2025-2026 season permanently. In March, Sen. Ferguson’s office got $500,000 to repair and restore the current facility for several years while a long-term plan is developed. Plan is still developing.
Pool? Should open as-is Memorial Day and close on Labor Day. They’re looking to re-do the pool house and kiddie pool area, should have updates on timing and if/ how it affects the season. Main pool shouldn’t be affected; the kiddie pool might be.
Water and restroom access year-round?
There is a working water fountain outside the white house that was put in during the renovation because there was an easement and could connect it to the house. It’s not winterized so it does go off in the winter; was broken for a bit and just got replaced last year. There are water pumps at the dog park. Finding water sources - old water fountains in the park - talked to Director Moore about it; would be all for it but you need to find the source and tap into it. We are focused on it, especially regarding climate resiliency and health. If there will be development, pushing for fountains while there’s an opportunity.
Restrooms: when there are public restrooms built there has to be funding for frequent maintenance. Solution is currently portable restrooms. Cedar House is open during events and has restrooms. Catalyst Center has outward-facing restrooms at Utz Field (bright yellow) that should be open when people are there. Hope BCRP will staff it.
Catalyst Center: nature pre-school in the morning, STEM programming for teens after school. That’s the plan for now.
Bike racks in the park? There are none right now.
Had written it into the grant with the Cedar House and it ended up being dropped. Hope is to install racks near the Cedar House/ Observatory. While new development is happening, reminding the City to advocate for it is helpful. Can also be an email to FPP to show interest. Shawn Becker - one of the rec leads in the City - pop-up bike rentals in the park. This week is Bike to Work week - would be a good week to email. Mark Parker is also someone to email about bike racks.
Transportation Committee wrote a formal letter to FPP as an organization? Send to Council and FPP.
What’s happening at the Casino?
The past several years - responding to three different floods, pipes breaking in the winter. Under Dept of General Services - working on it. Eventually will go back to BCRP, plan is to go back to being a Senior Center. How could it be more multi-use space? Interest in it. Councilman Parker has been working with DGS for a timeline on renovation.
2) Sheriff Sam Cogen, Baltimore City Sheriff
Elected Sheriff of Baltimore City
Former president of South Baltimore neighborhood association; was encouraged to see our active community association
Deliberate in how the Sheriff’s office reaches out: learn what priorities are and what the community wants. Priorities tend to be similar - clean streets, crime, package theft, abandoned vehicles, everyone’s trying to make their community better. There are many talented and creative people who want to make a difference.
Activating the Sheriff’s office to help the community: same authority as BPD for criminal items. Parking tickets, arrests, etc. Also have civil authority: can take a court order or lawsuit judgment, can take property (evictions are most common).
He moved up through the office - disliked the process of eviction as it didn’t focus on people. Very mechanical and too fast. People should have due process and be treated with dignity and respect.
Now: serving people in time to get notice and due process. Met with Judiciary - no longer issuing summons for people to be in court within a couple of days so that notice wasn’t last-minute.
Sheriff testifies - Delegate Clippinger helped pass Renter’s Bill of Rights for enhanced protections which are important. As a result: we’re putting out a position paper on this. Evictions are down by more than 38% since the start 3.5 years ago. There are a lot of evictions that didn’t have to happen and can now be prevented. Families were being displaced for a couple hundred dollars - housing and stability is a huge part of crime and delinquency.
Getting even better on trends
Not evicting people on code red heat days, snowstorms, etc. - codified protection now.
Social worker embedded within the eviction unit for bridging services - do you have a housing plan, how can we help you? The amount of people we come in contact with who haven’t moved - many are already moving. Reduces conflict, provides knowledge ahead of time. Deputies have options to help people at the door.
Interpersonal violence work: serve domestic violence protection orders/ restraining orders. That’s a civil process - people don’t want their partner to be arrested/ call 911, but they do want protection. After they get a protective order - domestic violence advocate meets with them to get the order served, bridge services. Petitioners usually say “it’s the first time someone talked to me rather than at me”. BPD used to do it, Sheriff does it now.
Sheriff’s office is 230 people - mid-size policing agency.
Fugitive apprehension: violent crime, convicted by jury, violates probation in some way - warrants come to the Sheriff's office to serve. Fugitive Apprehension Unit (Deputy Bell in attendance) goes out to arrest repeat violent offenders. Focusing resources for arrests on repeat violent offenders who keep committing crimes to get the remainder of their sentence. Usually there are also shooters/ victims of gun violence - that’s where the Sheriff’s office is helping to reduce violent crime.
City Delegation passed a bill unanimously - Sheriff’s office has a neighborhood services unit. Talking to community associations - problem bar/ liquor store not behaving in a way the community is causing problems - All of them said yes. Liquor inspectors are not law enforcement. Neighborhood services unit started in October.
Assists liquor board with their mission - do underage tests and enforcement. Most underage violations come from that unit.
NSU - anything the Sheriff assigns them to do they can do. Looking at the smoke shop issue. Marketing tobacco to kids - we don’t want that. Selling cannabis - if it’s done legally it’s fine, but no selling to kids. Marketing it like chips and candy to kids.
Events at Patterson Park and around the city
Corner of Gough & Broadway issues: public drunkenness, death, ambulances often - huge use of city resources. UFPIA made our case to the liquor board for one of the establishments but we were told we needed to gather evidence ourselves. Anything your office can do?
Yes - we can cite these stores, give Sheriff’s office the addresses. (He said he wasn’t aware of the issue.)
UFPIA Citizens on Patrol Walk - we have a police officer coming this week; will invite the Sheriff's office in the future (Cogen passed on the May one).
Evictions: change to policy on moving personal property?
Baltimore City - lock & leave - tenant advised in writing on multiple notices (notice has to be checked before eviction can continue) - property left considered abandoned. Doesn’t go on street but locked in property. Landlord disposes of it through lawful means. Advocates are currently discussing alternatives.
Package theft: heard tracking packages to find people stealing them.
Put in place and continue to do that. Did it significantly around the Christmas holiday. Neighborhood Services Unit does; citation first, if they don’t have additional warrants. Substance use disorder drives a lot of it, try to get them into assistance.
Determine how/when to deploy? Try to be equitable - when we look at Patterson Park we also look at other parks. Robberies around Patterson are higher than in other areas - is also evidence-based, tracking incidents, talking to residents. Will put cadet exercise, walk K9s, drive off-road vehicles, etc. in the park. Somewhat seasonal and reactive. Assisted rangers and did some exercises in the park. Community advocates and community association presidents call and ask to supplement BPD.
3) Delegate Luke Clippinger, District 46
He is one of three delegates - lives in Riverside neighborhood, delegate for 16 years, probably the 16th time here at UFPIA
Is Speaker Pro Tem of House of Delegates, was Chair of House Judiciary - opportunity to engage in wider issues
Legislation summary (End of session letter handed out)
ICE
Sheriff stood firmly against ICE
Immigration is a federal issue
If they set up detention centers: have to have water, sewers, beds, food, doctors, ability to see lawyers
Budget: $1.5B short, managed to close that gap without raising taxes or substantial increase in fees
Had to make cuts
Cut to spending on developmentally disabled: $1.3B increased to $3.3B over last five years. Had begun to construct a program that resulted in people taking a lot out of the system who were undercutting people who needed more help. Tightened some rules to ensure funding those programs adequately over the long term is the hope.
At least $3B structural deficit as we look at public education system in the next fiscal year.
Enabled City to determine how many vape/ smoke shops should be in a particular area - licensing requirements, increase those who can enforce laws around smoke shops to abide by the law.
Very happy to provide short-term help for the ice rink in Patterson Park.
Gough & Broadway: Sen. Ferguson’s office has been working on pressuring the liquor board. You are not responsible for documenting breaking liquor laws. That may be a larger issue to deal with in the next session.
Issues of vacant properties and absentee landlords - including BGE who has not been taking care of their vacant property on Gough.
Position on redistricting? Members of the House voted to redistrict but Senator Ferguson feels differently. If you look at what happened in Supreme Court of VA - they are majority Republican appointed. Looking at MD, Supreme Court of MD is 5-2 appointed by Larry Hogan.
Health care angle/ layer apart from liquor license challenge - public health approach to helping those at Gough & Broadway, especially if it’s a city-wide challenge to address.
Clearly haven’t done a good job of providing services; but the space is attracting them and it goes back to the liquor board.
Rising cost of BGE bills - Utility RELIEF Act? Bill as passed will result in at least $150 a year on savings of electricity, will see significant change to gas. Got rid of EMPOWER program on the gas side - allowed utilities to charge more for efficiency, ratepayers shouldn’t pay for that. If they wanted to pay themselves bonuses - need to pay those bonuses out of their profits and not rate-based funds. Legislation allows you to plug in a solar panel to your outlet and generate small amounts of solar on your own property. Supported more in community solar to make it permanent and expand it. Need to generate more - on a grid with a lot of electricity-thirsty customers, need to get more online to help those costs. Look at ways to streamline the permitting process even more for solar and wind; continue to lower reliance on especially Midwestern coal.
Officer Reports
Treasurer’s summary report was given.
Committee Reports
Beautification
Mallory Kuehn - beautification@upperfellspoint.org
Plant Swap event on 4/26 went well - thanks to everyone who attended.
Next monthly evening clean up on 5/19 at 6pm at 1931 E Pratt (corner of Pratt & Washington by red garage doors on S Washington side). Come join us!
Sidewalk planters project: have one shrub left.
Cleanup contest: two teams signed up - Pratt St. Pickers (Pratt between Washington-Broadway), and By the Wayside (S Washington). Opportunity to get yourself and neighbors to pick up the litter on your street.
Submit your team photos to Jan to put in the newsletter and you’re in the competition.
Winner this past month is By the Wayside - receiving a $30 gift certificate to Brunch Supply.
Grab your neighbors to join in! Additional trash picker tools are available at Mallory’s garage, will buy more if we have more teams.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Jan Mooney - communitygarden@upperfellspoint.org
Growing season is underway!
Consider planting something for bees - flowers are their food!
Honey Happy Hour on 8/15 at the garden. Will have a beekeeper (Mallory’s mom!) and will discuss her experience
Oktoberfest on 9/19 at the garden
EDUCATION
Eliza Poffenberger - education@upperfellspoint.org
Wolfe St Academy’s Wolfest was postponed until 7/3 - need volunteers for the UFPIA table for arts & crafts, especially bilingual volunteers
Can’t show up in person? Have sources of books for elementary school? Are taking book donations
Tutor opportunities: starting a pilot program for the fall
Food security fundraiser: Donate at https://gofund.me/b06603aea
Next committee meeting on 5/28, email education@upperfellspoint.org for the location
Beautifying around the school - details to come!
Parents are hesitant to have people they don’t know walking kids to school which is why there’s nothing formal. Encourage attendance as much as possible, foster attendance with incentives. Committee has been very helpful, would like to start a walking school bus but hesitation of families.
FUND-RAISING
Amy Zemanick and Wendy Bozel - fundraising@upperfellspoint.org
Thanks to everyone who came to support UFPIA at BINGO and to everyone who helped organize and host the event!
If you'd like to get involved in the committee our next meeting will be at Ministry of Brewing on May 25th (note this is a location change).
Stoop event party on 6/8 before the UFPIA monthly meeting
Need block captains, organize a casual stoop gathering at 6pm
Walk together as a group to the UFPIA meeting at Wolfe St. Academy for a pizza party
Aim: to gather new neighbors and new participants in the UFPIA
Sign up members: most members signed up will get a $100 gift card to Little Donna’s
LADY DAY WAY
Beth Russo - ladydayway@upperfellspoint.org
Two solar lights hung over the new mural, working great! Not intended to be permanent lighting but could stay for a while.
Pavement art: full-length of the 200 block of S. Durham will be painted to honor Billie Holiday - two speed bumps and crossings. To begin work the week of June 22nd, or the following week if there are weather delays. There will be some road closures.
Working on a welcome sign/signage 2x4 ft banner-style sign on the NE corner of the block (Durham & Pratt) - MOU signed by homeowner to mount the sign. Looking to see what the sign will look like. Contact us with any creative ideas!
LAND-USE
Mark Hoffmann - landuse@upperfellspoint.org
Next meeting on 6/1 at the Julie Community Center
Tim Durkin from Washington Hill: putting together a group to work on the Broadway Corridor
Challenges - fragmented responsibility of the corridor, lack of community association on the west side
Group interested in forming a 501(c)(3) to apply for grant money to hope to have a full-time person to coordinate activities on Broadway and run this effort
Reaching out to business owners willing to help out
Mobile health care clinic contact for those who are experiencing homelessness - making contact with those at Gough & Broadway
Safety (sub-committee)
Dan Harrison - safety@upperfellspoint.org
COP walk on May 16th
MEDIA
Jan Mooney - newsletter@upperfellspoint.org
Deadline for the June newsletter is May 24th at 5pm.
STREETS
Stephen Porter - trafficparking@upperfellspoint.org
RPP meeting - effective and efficient
Colleen Doyle: well-thought out fact sheet under review
Little Donna’s: didn’t think a two-hour limit
Auto repair shop: would need some passes for the evenings
School: won’t be a problem - no enforcement during the day
New Business
None as we ran out of time
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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.
