At the Public Meeting held on July 1 at the Audubon Tea Room I, there was a resounding consensus that the Hyams Fountain should remain unfenced, and not be enclosed within the zoo.

Bruce Eggler, in today's Times-Picayune previewed the current Commission meeting, predicting that the Commission would vote to "approve a plan to reopen Audubon Park's long-dormant Hyams Fountain".

Which they did. Sort of.

Finance Report

The meeting got underway with the finance report on Audubon's position thru May 2002. Although this writer has no head for figures, the report was reasonably positive, recording revenues 562k over budget here and $270k over budget there and overall attendance revenue for Audubon facilities hitting $6.8m. The gift shop at the zoo and the IMAX theatre were identified as particularly strong performers.

Roger Ogden remarked that as CBD revenues generally are flat in these post September-11 recessionary times these figures which were characterized as "hanging in there" are in fact quite good.

A discussion then ensued on the most recent Arthur Andersen audit which was reported as unproblematic. Since Andersen will soon be closing its New Orleans office an RFP will be made by Audubon for new auditing services. The RFP initially was intended to go only to the "Big Four" accounting firms nationwide, but on the suggestion of Mr Ogden a motion was proposed and carried to include large local accounting firms - ones that might not be nationally ranked with Andersen et al, but which locally have as big or bigger offices than the national firms.

On the face of it, this seems like a practical and laudable initiative but one does hope that the bidding process for this accounting contract will be open and fair and that the (local) winner has not already been picked. Which is not to say that we suspect otherwise...

Executive Committee Reports

1. Holocaust Memorial

A discussion was held on the status and nature of the forthcoming Holocaust Memorial, including an enthusiastic description by Rabbi Cohen of the proposed memorial which will be a 3' by 9' aluminum sculpture. According to the proposed agreement between the Holocaust Memorial Group and the Audubon Commission, HMG will be pay for the construction and maintenance of the memorial itself, with the Audubon Commission agreeing to host the memorial in Woldenberg Park and to maintain the surroundings.

2. Hyams Fountain

Ron Forman introduced discussion of the Hyams Fountain by remarking that previous consideration of what to do with this park feature had always resulted in a "split decision" especially considering the liability issues that Audubon has often claimed arise from the operation of a wading pool in a public area of the park.

He further remarked that the issue has been quiet for 10 years , but that renewed interest triggered by Chris Rose's recent article in the Times-Picayune (This Old Fountain) has caused Audubon to reconsider the issue now.

Mr Forman briefly revisited the five options that Audubon is considering, and stated that Audubon has decided to run the fountain and wading pool unfenced (which was the consensus of public opinion not just at the most recent discussion on July 1st this year, but every time the issue has arisen in the past). While apparently a cause for celebration for Audubon Park watchers, Mr Forman explained a little further that the imminent reopening of the fountain and wading pool would be for an experimental period up to the end of August only, and that after that date it would be shut down again. Further consideration of the fountain's long-term state will be given during discussion of Audubon's forthcoming Master Plan for Audubon Park scheduled to be commenced sooner or later.

With regard to the legal liability issues that Audubon has advanced many times to explain the disrepair of the fountain, Mr Forman remarked "we have other legal liabilities in the park and we will assume this one too".

A further discussion of the legal liability issue was then held, with Audubon attorney Kinney confirming that the operation of the fountain will be covered by current insurance but that premiums might rise next time. The fountain discussion was closed with a motion to run the fountain thru August and to make a permanent recommendation in the whenever-to-be-released Park Master Plan.

3. Carousel

Discussion then turned to a proposal for a childrens Carousel in the zoo. Mr Forman passed around a photo of the old carousel which was in the park, remarking that it was closed "for whatever reason" and that the new carousel will be inside the zoo. Nothing new there.

A $1m donation has been made to Audubon for the creation of an endangered-species themed hand carved carousel which according to news reports will cost around $400,000, the balance of the donation being spent on a building to house the carousel and on restroom facilities.

Mr Forman commented that Audubon might gear "if not all our net proceeds" to the Endangered Species Program - a comment that seemed somewhat off-the-cuff to this observer and did not to appear to be officially part of the plan. On the other hand, something has to pay for all this expensive wildlife stuff and if the carousel-riding children need a $600,000 restroom the money for endangered animals has gotta come from somewhere.

A motion to accept bids for construction was then proposed and carried.

4. Phase II Education Buildings

A brief discussion was then held on the proposal to build 3 more classrooms for Audubon's educational programs. The chief reason for this proposal is that all Audubon programs are currently filled beyond capacity.

ANI Staff Reports

Mr Clyde Butler gave a brief synopsis of the current status of the golf course renovation, describing it as the "hottest thing going" in Audubon Park. Apparently, as of July 24 two holes were not grassed but were expected to be completed that week. This leaves 90 days for the grass to grow, on schedule for an October 17th opening.

Regarding the clubhouse, Mr Butler commented that the cart storage facility will be ready for the opening of the course, but that the clubhouse will not open until January. A double-wide trailer will serve as a temporary clubhouse. Since the clubhouse site will be under construction at that time, it is not clear where the trailer will be parked. Or whether it will have cable.

A member of the Commission asked Mr Butler if the birds on the course will be a problem and remarked that the new course seems to be "covered with birds". (They seem to this writer to be attracted by the new lagoons, but who could have predicted that?)

Mr Butler answered that the birds have been a concern, especially with regard to their understandable desire to deposit "fecal matter" in Audubon's new lagoons. Audubon has been talking to experts about aerating the lagoons to maintain water quality, and also about possible installation of charcoal filters. This technique would prevent the contaminated water from being recycled over the golf course through its watering system, but might in the unlikely event of heavy rain lead to run-off of said unclean water into a street near you. Well, again, who could have predicted such issues in New Orleans of all places, and who are we to say "why didn't you think of this earlier, like around the time we were asking these questions last year?"

The golf course report concluded with the announcement of a "leadership cocktail party and sneak preview" on September 25th, and a grand opening press conference on October 15th.

Other Business

Mr Forman reported that the Insectarium development was progressing, with an October 2003 opening planned. He also reported on the cranes in the endangered species program and gave a dissertation to the assembled Commissioners on the value of the Summer Camp program, recommending that they walk around Audubon's facilities some day in order to "see the value of what you are doing".

Esther Moody, from Jay Batt's office was in attendance and spoke briefly to introduce herself, declaring that she was "here to listen and stay abreast of the issues".

Commission president Willard Dumas referred to Mr Batt's recent letter to the Times Picayune "reaffirming the Commission's oversight of the park" and mentioned that he had replied to Mr Batt and Mr Gusman reaffirming, in turn, the Commission's committment to the park.

A member of Audubon's staff was then introduced who showed the assembled Commissioners various of Audubon's animals including a Sawback Turtle and a Red-shouldered Hawk. Squawker, the hawk, nests in the zoo and in the park, and the keeper remarked that the golf course renovation would be of benefit to Squawker. In passing he mentioned that owls and hawks in particular favor the oak grove for nesting, which would be the same oak grove that Audubon initially planned to build its cart shed in and a 20'-wide asphalt road - so it seems that perhaps only the public intervention that prevented these plans allowed the golf course renovation to result in a net gain for the birds. It's called "making a virtue of a necessity".

Mr Forman reported that this year's annual report will, as well as giving the usual business picture, talk more about the Institute's conservation programs, remarking that many of the species in the program will be extinct in our lifetimes. Click here for more about Audubon's conservationist credentials.

Mr Dumas closed the meeting by revealing that the Commission are negotiating with the Black Heritage Foundation to move their event back to the zoo from Armstrong Park where it is currently held.