COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING and PUBLIC MEETING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thur., 5/28/98, 10:12 a.m. - - - BILL 980238 - Approving planned estimated cost and proposed method of charges of Old City Special Services District of Philadelphia. . . BILL 980301 - Creating Cecil B. Moore Avenue Tax Increment Financing District. . . BILL 980304 - Amending ordinance approved July 5, 1997, Bill No. 970239, which created the City Hall Tax Increment Financing District. . . BILL 980305 - Amending ordinance approved July 5, 1997, Bill No. 960791, which created the PSFS Tax Increment Financing District. . . BILL 980306 - Creating Penn's Landing Tax Increment Financing District. . . BILL 980307 - Amending ordinance approved July 5, 1997, Bill No. 970240, which created the Reading Terminal Head House Tax Increment Financing District. . . PRESENT: PRESIDENT JOHN F. STREET, Chairman COUNCILWOMAN ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 PUBLIC HEARING - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. If I could have your attention. We appreciate your being here with us this morning. And I'd just like to announce that the Council Committee on Finance scheduled for 9:00 will be delayed. We also have a Council Committee of the Whole, which was recessed from yesterday. Those people who here for those public hearings, we appreciate your patience. We are now in the Council caucus room finishing up a briefing on a very important project to the City of Philadelphia, which will provide for the expansion of the Philadelphia International Airport. It's very important. As soon as we can complete it, we'll have our Council Committee of the Whole as well as our Finance Committee meeting. So we appreciate your patience. Those committees stand in recess and we will be here shortly. - - -
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. This is a recessed hearing of the Council Committee of the Whole. A quorum of 3 PUBLIC HEARING - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Councilmembers is present. Is there anyone here to testify on any of the bills currently in front of the Council Committee of the Whole? That's Bill No. 980238, 980301, 980304, 980305, 980306, 980307. Is there anyone in the chamber who wishes to testify on any of these bills? (No response.)
Seeing none, this brings us to the end of our public hearing. - - - (Public meeting begins.)
We will now go into our public meeting. It is my understanding that there has been a request that the rules of Council be suspended so that these bills can receive first reading today. But I also understanding that they cannot actually be voted on until the 18th. What I think I'd like to do is give them the suspension and then hold them next week and then do them on the 18th. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 25 980238. 4 COMMITTEE OF WHOLE - Bill No. 980238, 980301
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Bill No. 980238 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 980301.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Bill No. 980301 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered. 5 COMMITTEE OF WHOLE - Bill No. 980304 The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Is that the bill on TIF financing? What was the bill being voted on 'cause I was walking in.
I think you want to be heard on the Penn's Landing project.
I shall recognize you at that time. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 980304.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 980304 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) 6 COMMITTEE OF WHOLE - Bill No. 980305, 980306
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 980305.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 980305 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion on Bill No. 980306.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 980306 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) 7 COMMITTEE OF WHOLE - Bill No. 980305, 980306
Properly moved and seconded. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Cohen.
Mr. President, as I wish to be reported as abstaining on this bill, and that, in line with questions I raised at the hearing concerning elements of pay for workers that are going to being involved in the development, I hope that during the three-week hearing before the bill can be heard that sufficient attention can be paid to that so that anyone of the advantages given to folks doing business with the City in a form of a TIF can be evenly spread over all areas of the population. I'm hoping that that will be a matter addressed.
Thank you very much, Councilman. All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The. Chair would like to reflect Councilman Cohen's abstention from this vote. It is so 8 COMMITTEE OF WHOLE - Bill No. 980307 ordered. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna 980307.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 980307 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. Also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. It is so ordered. This bring touts ends of our public meeting. Councilmembers are thanked for being here this morning. We now have, I believe, a meeting of the Council Finance Committee. Those people who are on that committee are asked not to leave the chambers but to immediately come, and Councilwoman Verna would like to get that hearing started right away. (Adjourned at 10:19 a.m.) - - - 9 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, May 28, 1998, were reported and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BILL NO.'S 980238, 980301, 980304, 980305, 980306, 980307 __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO Registered Professional Reporter