- - - COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING - COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS. - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 1:20 p.m. - - - 050009 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the Mayor's Office of Information Services, the Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia, the District Attorney, the Register of Wills, and the City Commissioners. 050010 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 from the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions and from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions 050011 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the Special Gasoline Tax Fund, the Department of Streets. 050012 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Water Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2 050015 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the General Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. 050231 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the Department of Public Property. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO, Chair COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN JUAN F. RAMOS COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO 3 - - - P R O C E E D I N G S - - -
Committee on Appropriations will now come to order. To my right I have the lovely Councilwoman Donna Miller; the happy-go-lucky Councilman Jack O. Kelly; myself, Councilman Mariano; the studious Councilman DiCicco; and everybody's friend, Councilman Rizzo. Put a little levity into these meetings. All right? I said Wilson Goode. Oh, DiCicco. All you Italians look alike. I mean, that's what it is. Wilson Goode. I'm sorry. God. DiCicco. It's the drugs. I'm thinking about Frankie. Okay. John -- Mr. Lithgow, will you please read the first bill on the calender.
Bill 050009, an Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the 4 Mayor's Office of Information Services, the Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia, the District Attorney, the Register of Wills, and the City Commissioners.
The testimony... Diane Reed, the Budget Director, is first up. John, read all of them, and let her testify on all of them. We're going to have Mr. Lithgow read all the numbers. And Diane, you can testify for all of them at once.
Bill 050010, an Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 from the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions and from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. Bill 050011, an Ordinance 24 authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 from the Grants Revenue 5 Fund, the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the Special Gasoline Tax Fund, the Department of Streets. Bill 050012, an Ordinance 6 authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Water Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. Bill 050015, an Ordinance 12 authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the General Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. Bill 050231, an Ordinance 18 authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the Department of Public Property.
Okay. Miss Reed, go ahead. Thanks for your patience. BUDGET DIRECTOR: Thank you very 6 much. I am Diane Reed, Budget Director. Good afternoon, Councilman Mariano and members of the Appropriations Committee. I am here before you today to testify on Bills 050009, 10, 11, 12, 15. And we had planned testimony from another person on 050231, which is Fran Dougherty. So, he'll probably step forward for that one, but I can do the rest.
When he gets here we'll do him. BUDGET DIRECTOR: Okay. Right. Bill 050009 is the transfer of Fiscal Year 2005 General Fund Grants Revenue Fund transactions for the mid year transfer ordinance. 4 million from the Director of Finance provisions for other grants to the Mayor's Office of Information Services, Department of Licenses and Inspections, Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia, District Attorney, Register of Wills, and City Commissioners. 7 Much of this covers productivity bank loans and the required appropriations necessary to release the funds for this. In addition, there is a transfer of $600,000 to appropriate funding received from FEMA for the... to appropriate funding -- excuse me -- received from FEMA for the demolition and landscaping of four homes in the Eastwick section of the City. Also, the Board of Trustees of the Free Library is requesting a million and a half to allow for the reappropriation of surplus generated from state grants received later than expected and will be used for purchasing books and other reading materials. The last item of major consideration is the City Commissioners' request for a million a hundred fifty-nine thousand dollars, to allow for reimbursement under the Help America Vote Act which is part of Title III requirements for poll office training, polling place accessibility, provisional voting, and voter education. And this enables the City 8 Commissioners to comply with the Act, and also makes available to them $20 million of federal grant money. Bill 050010 is the mid year transfer ordinance in the General Fund. As shown in Exhibit A, there are a total of 31 transfers in this ordinance, including 28 which are a net change in department appropriations, and three that are between classes within a department. The largest is a $9 million increase for the First Judicial District which is a transaction that usually occurs in the year-end transfer ordinance, but the Judicial District asked us to put it in the mid year this year. The ordinance also contains an increase of three and a half million dollars for Philadelphia Prison System because of the higher than anticipated inmate census. 3 million to cover expenses of increased fuels in the Office of Fleet Management of the Managing Director's Office. 9 And there is a request in appropriations for the indemnities portion of the Director of Finance budget for $2 million to cover increased indemnities cost. There's also a $650 million appropriation request for the Department of Public Property, to cover a number of categories. And these all pertain to space rental. The bill also covers about $600,000 for the Department of Human Services Office of Emergency Shelters for class 100. A lot of this has to do with the increase in the labor negotiation -- labor agreements this year. And there is a over $400,000 increase for the Mayor's Office of Information Services, partly from the recent labor awards, and some for cost of the Federal probe, and also the HIPAA mandated requirements for the IG system. The City Planning Commission request is $300,000. Relates to the labor contracts. Procurement also has an increase, a 10 rate of about $50,000, relating to labor contracts. And also 137 for legally mandated advertising. The Board of Trustees of the Library is asking for 152,000, approximately, to cover the purchase of books, et cetera, and $300,000 for the Director of Finance to fund the City's commuter benefit program. And one other of note is a Class 300, 400 appropriation of about $120,000 for the Fire Department, which restores funding for the Initiative for City Warehousing Project which did not go forward. The remaining departments increases all relate to Class 100 costs due to the labor negotiations. Bill 050011 is the transfer ordinance for fiscal 2005 special gasoline fund. And it requests one transfer of 790,000 between the Grants Revenue Fund in the Director of Finance's budget, to the Department of Streets.
The increase is for $300,000 in Class 200 money which will be used for street 11 lighting, lamp repair and maintenance costs. Bill 050012 is the fiscal 2005 water fund mid year transfer ordinance request which is a request for 116,000, really just a hair under 117,000 for items within the water fund. And this also will go toward paying the cost of the labor contracts. 6 million in appropriations from fiscal 2005 Class 200 purchase of service accounts to the Civil Service Commission Class 100 personal services in the General Fund. The administration does not support these transfers. Ten departments included in the bill are receiving additional Class 200 funding in the bill, the mid year transfer ordinance bill, 050010. For example, the prison system's request for three and a half million dollars in bill 10, ending in 10, covers the census costs, higher inmate census costs and. 1 million request for Class 200 in Bill 10 covers 12 additional costs associated with increased sanitation tonnage. The transfer of these Class 200 funds would have an immediate impact on service delivery, in the City's ability to provide high quality City services. While all the departments in the bill are present to discuss in detail the service impact, we have a few other examples we wanted to mention. 3 million transfer from Human Services would eliminate the prison's ability to prevent overcrowding. Currently overflow inmates are housed in Delaware County. Without this funding, the City would be required to hold three inmates in a cell or house inmates in gyms or day rooms. These actions would completely compromise the City's ability to provide safety to inmates for prison employees. , and Trigen for power. And lastly, the proposed transfer of over a million dollars from the Department of Public Health would impact the City's ability to continue operations at the Philadelphia Nursing Home, and will threaten the availability of contracted medical care and pharmacy services. We have forwarded testimony from affected departments. 7 percent is being taken out at a gross level for the whole year, it's having a much more dramatic effect at the end of the year, where in some cases all of the money has already been spent or it will have, you know, a huge impact just in the last couple months. So, we think that this is not in the best financial interest of administering these various departments, and we ask that this bill not be approved. 14
Excuse me for not paying attention. What one was that you were talking about? BUDGET DIRECTOR: This was 050015.
All right. We're going to hold that at the request of the sponsor. Okay? BUDGET DIRECTOR: Okay.
The sponsor is not here today. He's out of the country. We're going to hold it. BUDGET DIRECTOR: Okay. Well, I've pretty much completed my testimony on that. I don't know if Fran Dougherty is here to do 050231. I don't see him. Oh, here is.
Good afternoon. Francis Dougherty, Special Assistant to the Managing Director.
Fran, were you fixing the air conditioning? That's why you were late?
Good afternoon. I'm here today to testify on Bill Number 050231, which transfers approximately $624,662 from Finance, unanticipated grants, to the Department of Public Property. This represents the transfer of monies for the Housing Mitigation Grant Program from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Organization for the buy-out of homes in the Eastwick section of Philadelphia. In the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, through their local agency PEMA, offered residents of the Eastwick section of Philadelphia an opportunity to participate in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The grant program is FEMA's most effective form of mitigation. It makes FEMA's funds available to purchase property in flood-prone areas, and dedicates these properties for use as open space for all 16 time. The program enables the municipalities to remove people from harm's way forever. In that way, it reduces future emotional and financial costs associated with the City's disaster's response recovery and repair. After five years of working with community and elected officials, 4 homes out of an original 72 have been chosen to participate in this completely voluntary program. These homes are twins and are located at 7313, 7915 Lindbergh Boulevard and 7917 and 7919 Lindbergh Boulevard. The ordinance before you authorizes the Department of Public Property to spend federal and state dollars to acquire these four homes and return the land to green space. The Department of Public Property will retain title to these properties. This concludes my testimony. I am open for questions. 17 BUDGET DIRECTOR: I would like to add that we do ask for the suspension of the rules for 09, 10, 11, and 050231. 5
We hear you. We'll 6 do that. 7 Any questions for either of these 8 witnesses from the committee? 9 (No response.) 10
And let me say that 11 Councilman Clarke and Councilman Ramos... 12 They're still here. Clarke's still here. They just got here a couple minutes ago. So they joined us. Go ahead. Questions? (No response.) Nobody? Listen: You guys are lucky.
...Commissioner. 18 Thank you. Seeing no questions, that closes the public hearing. (Public hearing concluded at 1:34 p.m.) 19 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the public hearing of The Philadelphia City Council, taken on April 20, 2005, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. _____________________________ DAVID A. DEIK, RPR and Commissioner of Deeds (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.) 20 - - - COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING - COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS. - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 1:34 p.m. - - - 050009 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the Mayor's Office of Information Services, the Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia, the District Attorney, the Register of Wills, and the City Commissioners. 050010 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 from the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions and from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions 050011 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the Special Gasoline Tax Fund, the Department of Streets. 050012 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Water Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 21 050015 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the General Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. 050231 - An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the Department of Public Property. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO, Chair COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN JUAN F. RAMOS COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO 22 - - - P R O C E E D I N G S - - -
We will now move into the public meeting. And by the way, everybody that wanted to testify, we have your written statements. We'll put that in the record, because of the air conditioning shortage today. We're moving to the public hearing. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode for a bill motion 050009.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill Number 050009 --
We're going to have to have quiet so the stenographer can hear what we have to say. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. So, talk outside.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill 050009 be reported out of committee with a favorable 23 recommendation, that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL PERSON: Second.
It has been moved and seconded. All those in favor? (Chorus of "ayes.")
It passes. The Chair recognizes a motion for Bill Number 050010.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill 050010 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL PERSON: Second. 24
It has been moved and seconded that Bill Number 050010 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and further recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. All in favor say aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
Seeing none, that passes. Councilman Goode. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode for a motion on 11.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 050011 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and a suspension of rules so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL PERSON: Second.
It has been moved and 25 seconded that Bill Number 050011 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and a further recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. All in favor say aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it. The bill passes with a suspension of the rules. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode for 12.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill 050012 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and a suspension of rules so as to permit first reading at our next Council session.
It has been moved and seconded that Bill Number 050012 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and further recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. All those in favor say aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
Seeing none, it passes with a suspension of the rules. Councilman Goode, for 050231.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Bill 050231 be reported of committee with a favorable recommendation and suspension of the rules so as to permit first reading at our next Council session.
It has been moved and seconded that Bill Number 050231 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and a further recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended so as 27 to permit first reading at our next Council session. All in favor say aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
Seeing none, it passes, with a suspension of the rules. And this concludes the public meeting of the Appropriations Committee. Thank you very much. (Public meeting concluded at 1:38 p.m.) 28 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the public meeting of The Philadelphia City Council, taken on April 20, 2005, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. _____________________________ DAVID A. DEIK, RPR and Commissioner of Deeds (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)