COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON STREETS AND SERVICES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, October 29, 2008 10:25 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO, CHAIR COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN BILLS 080545, 080549, 080587, 080640, 080655, 080722, 080651, 080648, 080638, 080639, 080574, 080654, 080544, 080625, 080628, 080629, 080630, 080631, 080633, 080635, 080637, 080641, 080643, 080644, 080652, 080653, 080725 - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Good morning, everyone. This is the Committee on Streets and Services. Thank you for your patience. I'll ask the Clerk, Mr. Abernathy, to first read off the bills that are being held and/or withdrawn.
Bill Nos. 080545, 080549, 080587, 080640, 080722 are being held at the request of their sponsors. Bill No. 080655 will be withdrawn at the request of their sponsor. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. We'll proceed with the first bill. Mr. Abernathy?
Bill No. 080651, an ordinance amending Section 12-918 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Parking for Car Sharing Organizations," by adding locations, all under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Anyone here to testify? 3 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. (Witnesses approached witness table.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Is anyone from the Parking Authority here? Will you be testifying?
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Please come to the witness table. (Witness approached witness table.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. I think the Parking Authority should be testifying first.
Good morning, Councilmembers. My name is Dionne Bracley from the Parking Authority, and I'm testifying that all five spaces, No. 19 O through S, have been installed for six months with no opposition. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Excuse me one minute. Thank you. Sorry about that. Okay. And the other folks, you can identify yourself for the record and give 4 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. us your testimony. Before you do that, I just want to recognize we do have a quorum. To my immediate right is Councilman Jones. To my immediate left is Councilman Greenlee and to his immediate left is Councilman Green. Thank you and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. My name is Eli Massar and I'm a Founder and the current Co-Chair of the PhillyCarShare Board. On behalf of the Board and the thousands of Philadelphia businesses and residents who share the cost savings and convenience of our vehicles, I would like to thank you for your considerable support and for giving us the opportunity to testify today in support of Bill No. 080651. My testimony will be brief and will focus on two issues. Number one will be why supporting today's amendment is good for your constituents, and number 5 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. two, why to continue supporting the current preference given to non-profit car-sharing organizations seeking on-street spaces in Philadelphia. First, regarding the current amendment, the current amendment represents the continuation of the existing Parking Authority and Council process for creating new car-sharing spaces in Philadelphia. Sixty-seven spaces have already been approved as part of this process in the past few years, and approving these five is consistent with that administrative and legislative process. Second, the five spaces in the amendment are already serving hundreds of Philadelphians as probationary spaces. At this time, they have reached the end of the probation, as the Parking Authority has testified and, because of their success, are ready for certification. Failing to approve these spaces would reduce PhillyCarShare's 6 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. service in the neighborhoods of South Philadelphia. And on the second topic regarding continued support for non-profit car sharing in Philadelphia, I'd like to bring up a couple points. Maintaining preference for non-profit on-street spaces is a way to continue supporting the proven superior economic impacts of non-profit car sharing in Philadelphia. With today's still elevated fuel costs and tricky economy, PhillyCarShare's ability to provide vehicle access in economically diverse neighborhoods makes it a critical part of the City's plan for supporting its citizens during these tough times. Also, non-profit car sharing is more effective at reaching more people in more neighborhoods with more favorable pricing. And, finally, non-profit car sharing is more effective at reducing parking congestion and pollution. For 7 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. instance, surveys of our members reveal that approximately cars are removed 4 from the road for each car that we put on 5 the street. These numbers are consistent 6 with those found by independent 7 university researchers, and also 8 consistent with that research, our 9 impacts are superior to those of 10 for-profit car sharing. 11 In a few brief additional 12 comments, I'll try to describe the 13 differences between the non-profit and 14 the for-profit models of car sharing as 15 practiced here in Philadelphia, and I 16 will also explain why those differences 17 suggest that a policy-making body such as 18 Council that is allocating public space 19 would be better serving its constituents 20 now and particularly in the long run by giving preferences to the non-profit provider. Serving Philadelphia's neighborhoods is and will always be in our name and in our mission. 8 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Thank you for your time and attention, and PhillyCarShare looks forward to continuing to work with you to serve your constituents and our neighbors. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Are you testifying, ma'am? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: No. 10 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Mr. Massar, the 67 spaces that you have, do they include spaces that are on parking lots, surface parking lots, and/or garages or are they just on-street?
No. The 67 that we spoke about and the 72 hopefully by the end of the day are only on-street spaces. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: How many do you have in either public or private parking lots and garages; do you know?
I'll give you that number and I'll also be able to point out in our handout here -- 9 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I'm sorry. I just realized you did submit the testimony.
It is in here. In paid parking places, we have 326 spaces, as you can see in the first table on the second page. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Got it.
If I may, I'd like to point out a couple other differences between non-profit and for-profit car sharing. I first want to say actually that both our competition, Zip Car, and PhillyCarShare are both providing desirable car-sharing services for Philadelphia. There's no doubt about that. But we're not providing identical services, and that's why I'm here today to testify. We have different business models, and those business models have different impacts on Philadelphia. Those impacts generally fall into three areas. One is geographic scope. Non-profit car 10 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. sharing is able to serve a broader geography in Philadelphia. Socioeconomic scope. We serve far more communities of lower income than for-profit car sharing will. And environmental scope. As I mentioned in the earlier testimony, we have a stronger impact on removing cars from the street and, therefore, reducing congestion and reducing pollution from vehicles. I'll point you to in your handout some of the geographic and socioeconomic points. One is on the first page, you can see a map, and the blue represents PhillyCarShare -- the blue stars represent the PhillyCarShare locations and the red stars represent Zip Car locations. You'll see that PhillyCarShare and Zip Car are both strong in Center City, although PhillyCarShare is stronger, but PhillyCarShare is far stronger as it's moved deeper into South Philadelphia, up 11 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. into the lower Northeast, even to some degree in the far Northeast, certainly into the Northwest, and even tried to bridge the gap between city and suburb by moving into some of the near suburbs as well. Looking at some of the other information on the second and third here, you'll see that one of the reasons that we particularly support the on-street spaces is that we are a neighborhood-based organization. We park on the streets because we exist in neighborhoods. In Center City, where there are lots of parking lots and parking garages, both Zip Car and PhillyCarShare can easily get parking spaces that we pay for, that either company pays for. As you get out further into neighborhoods where there are fewer commercially available parking spaces, the only way to provide those spaces is on street. And PhillyCarShare maintains that its broader diversity of vehicles at 12 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. the lower end, its pricing structure and its current presence make it better able to serve those communities. In particular, I can point out that PhillyCarShare of the two is the only that operates in churches, shopping centers and train stations. We operate far into North Philadelphia, far into South Philadelphia, and if you look at the numbers there, we have a far stronger presence there. And if you look percentage-wise, you'll also notice that we're focusing with considerable strength outside of Center City. It's not a peripheral area for us. It's our community, and that's where we'd like to be. And, finally, there's some anecdotal differences between us, as well as some major difference in the business model. Zip Car is an excellent provider for somebody who needs to go from city to city to city, because you can use Zip Car in any of those locations. Our current 13 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Executive Director is obviously a member of PhillyCarShare and also is a member of Zip Car and uses that service in other communities when he travels as a consultant. However, in Philadelphia, he and the rest of us and thousands and thousands of Philadelphians are choosing to use PhillyCarShare because in Philadelphia our model is based on this area and serving Philadelphia in particular regardless of community and not based on an interoperability model throughout the country.
Also, we'd like to point out our long-term service in the fact that we came to Philly or opened up in Philly as soon as we could, as soon as we got the money together and the organization together to do it. For-profits choose to locate in Philadelphia and other cities when it fits their particular national business model. And I think the presence of PhillyCarShare earlier and longer and stronger should be an indication of our 14 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. presence and our intentions for the future as well. Finally, anecdotally, I'll point out -- some of this you can see in the handout that we've given you. If you look at who we serve, we both serve the Penn community, but only PhillyCarShare serves the Community College community. We both serve the University City west of Penn, but only PhillyCarShare significantly serves West Philadelphia west of the Penn neighborhood. And in North Philadelphia, PhillyCarShare is the only one that has a significant presence. Finally, we'd like to point out that we consider ourselves to be part of the transportation infrastructure of the region. SEPTA and the City operate public transit and the Parking Authority operates parking facilities and the City operates the streets. These are all public goods. They are provided to anybody who would like to use them regardless of geography or income. 15 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. PhillyCarShare is not part of those organizations, but has the same model of service, which is to serve whenever possible. And we'd like to point out in closing that we are using the same streets as the residents and your constituents are using. So thank you for the opportunity to testify today, and I'm happy to answer any questions you have. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Let the record also reflect that Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller is present. She's also a member of this Committee. Councilman Jones, do you have a question?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Based on your map, how did you originally come to your locations? Give us some history as to the methodology.
Sure. Car sharing 16 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. works where there's density. The higher the density, the easier it is to share cars, and that's because the parking costs are higher where there's density and there are more people, and more of those people don't use cars already, so we can act as a service that serves people who already are depending on public transit and walking. So our first cars were in Center City, because when we're starting on a budget of -- I believe our initial contributions were $42,000, is what we started this organization with. When you're starting on that kind of budget, you go where you think you can have the first effective pod, and we gradually radiated out from Center City and into all the other communities that you see us in. Now when we make decisions on where to locate a pod, we do it based on the demand in the area and our ability to have other pods in that location. So 17 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. what you'll see is that as we're moving west and moving north, we're not skipping huge areas, for the most part. We're gradually moving up. So that way, if we open up a new pod and that vehicle is not available, there's already one available right nearby.
So be a little more specific for me. I'm a little dense in the sense of when you say "demand," how do you determine demand?
We determine demand by operating or working with community organizations in these communities and going to their community meetings and indicating that we've seen support from their constituents. So we both respond to people who call us and say we want pods, we respond to members who join, and we look. And if we see that there are members joining on the periphery of where we have pods, we'll then try to locate a pod where those members are now joining. And we also 18 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. respond directly to requests from communities who are looking for pods.
I'm sorry. A pod, I'm sorry, is a location for PhillyCarShare.
So a CDC, a non-profit, a civic group contacts you or you determine that your membership has gotten to an equilibrium point that it makes sense to put a pod in?
So there were no requests from Wynnefield, Overbrook Farms?
Honestly, I'm not sure if there have or have not been requests from there, but we would be very happy to work with you or anybody else in that community to try to locate there.
Do you currently have membership lists that would demonstrate why those locations were not good locations versus others? 19 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc.
Yes. We could absolutely look at our membership list and find out if we have significant numbers and members there, or if we wanted to operate there, if we would have to solicit members before we could open a pod. I do want to just point out that as a non-profit as opposed to a for-profit, we are opening up pods where there is strength, because we don't have the investment backing to open up a pod and wait for it to become strong. So our model is radiating out, waiting for there to be the appropriate number of people in the area and then supporting it, as opposed to opening it up and hoping that the membership will fill in.
Is there a reason you didn't put the exact locations of your pods in this?
Absolutely. Just 20 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. simplicity. We have approximately 250 locations. But we could certainly supply you with information on all of them.
And my question is, if I look at your dots correctly and knowing my district, I have about 11, maybe 11.
Fourth. I'm sorry. Which is represented in a map in your light green.
Yes. 21st Ward, 38th Ward, 52nd Ward, 34th Ward, 4th Ward, which is your green to your left.
Our count is indicating that we have 15 locations in that area.
When you say "in that area," it would be helpful because it looks like you have one in 21 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Malvern, you have one on City Avenue, and I don't know what side of the world that is, and I see some that are definitely in the district. But I just want to look at your methodology so that -- and the bottom line is, as we look to develop all of the district and all of the City, that these kinds of commodities as we look to do transit-oriented development, as we look to kind of get a hierarchy of transportation, as we start to try to improve density, these types of apparatus based on car share are enticements, are conveniences to neighbors and people who want to do the right thing but don't have access.
Right. And we're happy to do that. We'd be happy to work with you or your staff with information, as well as discussion on where to go. I'll also point out that we are 22 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. already at many SEPTA locations, including 60th Street Station, 69th Street Station and many of the Regional Rail stations as well, and we are looking to do more transit-oriented placement of PhillyCarShare locations.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Let me just follow up on that. I started out with these folks several years ago.
You took a gamble, Councilman. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: We did take a gamble, and I have to admit, much to my surprise, the acceptance in South Philadelphia, which I thought would be almost impossible -- if you remember at the time, they said in South Philadelphia asking someone to give up their car is asking them like to give up their first 23 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. born.
Right. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: But you've done a remarkable job. And the way we got this whole thing started was, we invited PhillyCarShare to community meetings, and they were able to talk about their product. So that could be very helpful. If you have neighborhood civic associations that meet on a regular basis, you should reach out to these folks and schedule an opportunity for them to come out and talk about their product, and that's basically how it all got started.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions for this witness from the Committee? Councilman Green.
Thank you. How many people do you employ 24 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. in the City of Philadelphia?
We employ 60 direct employees currently, and as far as indirect impact, I do not know. I do know that we spend approximately a million dollars a year with a car repair agency in West Philadelphia and that they have several dedicated employees that they hired particularly and specifically to deal with our business, as well as, unfortunately, close to $2 million that we spend on collision and other type of repair in Philadelphia at collision shops. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Car washes as well.
Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions for these witnesses? (No response.) 25 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Thank you all. I appreciate it.
Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill, please. I'm sorry. I forgot. I apologize, Darwin. Nothing personal, buddy. (Witnesses approached witness table.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Thank you. My name is Mark Norman. I'm the President of Zip Car. I just wanted to thank the Council and members of the Committee for the opportunity to present a point of view from Zip Car as it relates to the allocation of these spaces. As you all might know, we launched our business in Philadelphia 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. last year and, during the summer, became the provider for the City for its fleet car-sharing services. We serve several hundred members of City departments in use of those vehicles, and today Zip Car is the leading car-sharing provider globally and an integral part of all the communities that we serve, including Philadelphia. Today, I'm here to specifically request holding of Bill No. 651 to be held in Committee indefinitely, and just to say that without a change in the definition, Zip Car can't expand as equitably and effectively in all parts of the City as we would like to do and as we believe the City would benefit. Just to make three quick key arguments in support of this position. I'd just like to point out that Zip Car has been in business for eight years and has had significant success with public and private partnerships between us and the cities and agencies that we serve and 27 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. other car-sharing providers where they co-exist in those cities. We've been a proven solution to reduce car ownership and VMT, vehicle miles traveled. And here in Philadelphia, car sharing for us and for the community in general has been a significant and growing part of the transportation landscape. The key is that with the current definition of car sharing and the land use decisions supported by it, they don't reflect the current state of car sharing in Philadelphia today or promote a fair and equitable business climate in Philadelphia. " Now, while this definition matched the industry at the time it was developed, it needs to be updated to reflect the current competitive landscape. 28 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Today, we provide services to thousands of Philadelphia residents, to the City government itself, but based on this definition, we're denied access to the parking allocated in this bill. To talk about additional spaces in various areas of the City isn't even something on our radar if we can't have access to parking places for those cars. So we believe that the City needs to update the definition of "car sharing" before the Committee can take additional steps to issue additional sparking spaces. You might be asking yourself at this point how are these two companies different, what do they do. We're both placing cars around the City. We're providing reservation infrastructure, hourly and daily rate plans to be all inclusive, including parking costs, fuel costs, maintenance to have a better way to use a car around the City. Members save hundreds of dollars per month versus 29 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. owning their own car. And the documented benefits of car sharing in carbon reduction are proven and have been proven equally regardless of ownership structure of the companies, and that's documented by Federal Transportation Research Board studies. So today, second point, is that we effectively partner with more than a dozen cities and transit agencies. Many of the partnerships, including one with the Chicago Transit Authority, allow both Zip Car and one or more non-profit competitors to have equal access to city parking. Zip Car pays for these spaces in a public right-of-way, and we'd certainly offer to do the same here in Philadelphia. We're committed to Philadelphia. We have every intention of growing our business here and are, therefore, actively looking to secure additional spaces, including with the Parking Authority here in town, an idea 30 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. that Deputy Mayor Rina Cutler has definitely expressed her own support for.
To the comment of neighborhood-based services, Zip Car has proven that corporate citizenship in everywhere that we operate, and believe the same is true here as we grow our service in Philadelphia. Just today, we announced the opening of our new office on 218 South 12th Street in Center City. Last month we announced the expansion of our fleet to better serve our growing local membership base. And as we work to grow and become an integral part of the fabric of Philadelphia, we join a whole number of local organizations, including the Clean Air Council, the Philadelphia PAWS, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and a dozen of other organizations that are all in the process of outlining a partnership with the Mayor's Office of Sustainability to roll out a program to foster great 31 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. environmental initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of local businesses and the City in general. We're working with other local business partners to develop community outreach programs for next year, such as internships with local high school students, that can help be integrated with our service infrastructure in the City. So why take sides on this when both companies are providing a public good that benefits people that live and work in Philadelphia? Car sharing in aggregate is a revolution in personal transportation, and we're proud to be part of making Philadelphia part of America's next great city to live and work and play in. So with over 250,000 members worldwide in more than 50 cities, with over 100 university partnerships, we've all seen how car sharing can transform how people think about car ownership. We 32 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. encourage the City to work with all local operators and find a way to fairly and equitably support car sharing and remove the barriers of adoption to utilization of any car-sharing service. It can begin with rewriting the definition of "car sharing" and providing a level playing field and alleviating barriers such as the current tax burden that car-sharing members face here in Philadelphia, and together I think, even with PhillyCarShare, we can work to further our joint goal to reduce the City's carbon footprint. So in conclusion, we just ask that you consider a request to hold the proposed ordinance indefinitely and instead consider a new definition for "car sharing" in Philadelphia. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Norman, for your testimony. First, let me start out by saying that, speaking for myself, I'm not in the position, nor do I want to be in a 33 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. position, to take sides between PhillyCarShare and Zip Car. I'm for sharing the wealth.
Well taken. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I guess nobody has been paying attention to those presidential ads lately. But in any event, in all seriousness, I'm a capitalist and I believe in letting the market take care of itself. Speaking for myself as Chair of this Committee, and the other members will decide for them, I'm not willing, at least at this time, to hold this bill. We're talking about five spaces that have been in existence and they've gone through that probationary period, but what I will commit to you is to getting legislation, working with Darwin, to get legislation that addresses your concern on the definition in the current bill, come up with a new bill and do that as quickly as we can.
Darwin Beauvais. 34 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. I'm glad you mention that, because we actually -- and I can hand up to the Committee. We have two versions, two proposals, for the Committee to consider -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Surprise.
-- right now. One, and if the Sergeant-of-Arms could assist me.
The critical point is removing the non-profit designation. There's a further definition that we can agree on with PhillyCarShare that -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And I will definitely do that on my part. I mean, it's obviously up to the Council to decide whether they support it or not, but we'll move it in that direction. I just don't think it's fair that we hold this bill up on five spots that have been in existence for the probationary period, have met with community support. So I just want to basically legalize these spaces, then we'll move forward with your 35 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. issues.
One key part of moving forward would also be to provide a path for equal access going forward. So to designate a space and say, okay, all new spaces would be applied under a shared definition, begs the question how can we service the existing community better. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And I think we can have that discussion over the next few weeks and talk about that. All right? Any questions for this witness?
But, if I may, the definitions that we just submitted to the Committee, they're twofold. One actually removes the designation of non-profit, right? That's --
Yeah, and holds the rest of it the same. It's the simple solution. However, the other definition 36 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. we have in front of you actually addresses -- I think gives the clear definition of what car sharing is.
And we just think going forward, that will help as new competitors arrive and that we're preserving the economic, socioeconomic and environmental benefits for Philadelphia, just so it's more pure. And, again, I urge -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Understood, but this is not the time. I mean, we just got some comments from me and you, and we'll just work through that over the next few weeks.
Just very quickly, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to kind of echo what the Chairman said. I think we have to -- there's two obviously related but separate issues here. I mean, you're 37 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. talking about something changing the definition in the future, and that very well might be an appropriate thing to do. I'm not committing to that one way or the other. But I think to hold up this bill 7 that has already gone through the process that has been out there is probably not fair to the people who live in this area. They got involved in this process. They kind of -- and they support it the way it's being done now under the present rules, and I would not support either holding it up. I think it's been tested. It had no opposition, and I don't see the point of holding up this bill at this time. But as the Chairman said, in the future, maybe these ordinances make some sense and then you operate under those new rules, if you will.
Councilman, we have to agree with you. If there's already been a process behind this, that's not our intention to thwart the process. However, we are here to 38 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. basically voice to the Committee that Zip Car is here, they've been here for over a year, they're looking to expand, and the environment that they're in right now is not business friendly.
And like you said, the ordinances you put up will be certainly considered. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you.
Thank you. I agree with the Chairman and Councilman Greenlee. I'm also a capitalist. You should have the opportunity to compete on our streets. There is, I think, something you ought to know. We do have a preference in the City of Philadelphia for LBEs, local business enterprises, and speaking only for myself, I'd like to somehow make sure that that five percent 39 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. preference applies on the streets and -- and I'm not sure how to work that in, but we do want companies that have local employees to have a preference in the City that are headquartered here. And you can look at the definition of LBE. We'd certainly love to have Zip Car move its headquarters from Boston to Philadelphia. That would make all of this very easy. How many employees do you have in the City of Philadelphia?
We have over a dozen direct employees and several dozen indirect employees through vendor service providers who clean and maintain our cars.
Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I have a question. I guess it's for both Zip Car and PhillyCarShare. Are car purchases made locally for your fleets?
Generally speaking, we buy cars in the nearest 40 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. available service area. So we have relationships with national networks of dealers that have dealerships in the Philadelphia area. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: National --
Network of dealers. We might work with a national organization through its local Philadelphia dealer to buy cars. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Mr. Massar, if you don't mind.
PhillyCarShare also procures most of its cars locally and, in particular, we lease the 41 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. overwhelming majority of our cars with a local leasing company. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: "Local" meaning in the region?
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: How many cars do you individually purchase on average a year for the Philadelphia market, approximately?
As I said, we lease them. We don't purchase them. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: You lease them. I'm sorry. How many do you lease on average?
Based on sort of just general good fleet practice, at any given time we'd like to replace about a quarter to a third of our fleet in any one given year just through rotation. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: So that's a hundred cars or so?
Yeah, or a little over a hundred cars. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And you, 42 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Mr. Norman?
With our current growth plans, definitely in year two or three in the City, we would be buying on the order of a couple hundred cars. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: If we could be helpful to direct you to some of our local car dealerships in Philadelphia and we can be helpful in -- I'm not in the business of negotiating those kinds of deals, but if there's anything we can do to be helpful, it certainly would benefit all of us if we can keep some of that money in the local economy.
Also, for clarity, maybe it will help -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It's not a deal breaker here. I think it's important that we reach out, as we do with other vendors as well.
For clarity, it maybe will help the Committee if both companies identify how many cars they actually have in the market right now. 43 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc.
PhillyCarShare has approximately 420 cars in the market right now.
And Zip Car has approximately 120 cars in the market right now. And that's a function of stage of market development. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Do you do yours through an RFP when you do your leasing or purchasing through an RFP?
We have national relationships with many of the manufacturers and so we do a bulk buy in that regard, and then they get delivered and shipped locally to a local dealer, who prefaces the car and is generally the servicing dealer as well. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And PhillyCarShare, is it done through an RFP process?
We are doing it through an RFP process. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Any other questions? 44 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Councilman Jones and Councilwoman Miller.
Has anyone ever done -- and this speaks to some of the local business preference, and before Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown goes on to handle the people's business, I know she'll appreciate this. How many minorities and minority employees, female employees? Has anybody done a breakdown of that, or subcontracting opportunities? And I know she would ask that if she were on this committee, so I'll ask it for her.
By virtue of being on the GSA procurement schedule, we have some EEOC data that would help answer that. I don't have it specifically with me today.
I don't have the data with me specifically either, but I'm 45 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. very confident in our ratio of female and minority employees, as well as our spending with local businesses.
Can you provide that information to the Chair, please, both of you?
I'd love to have a matrix of comparison just for my own purposes and be able to kind of get a sense between the two. And the other thing is, as a non-profit, do you bid -- and, Councilman, I heard you say something about a bid preference, five percent, and does that apply to non-profits?
When the City makes a procurement, if you're certified as a local business enterprise, then you have a five percent preference in our bidding process.
No; for any 46 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. local business enterprise.
And that was in place when the City made its fleet purchase decision this summer.
I'd also like to know about opportunities for local training of employees, both adults and some of our young people. Have you done any of those kinds of outreaches to local high schools or that kind of thing?
I can tell you that literally as we speak we're in the process of hiring several people through a program, and I don't remember the name of the program, but it targets local youth, to start them out at a non-skilled job and work them up into the company.
So we don't know the name of the program or who we're doing it with? 47 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc.
I'll get you the name of it. I don't remember the exact name of the program.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Councilwoman Miller.
Yes. The information that you send -- thank you, Mr. Chair. The information that you send to the Chair, please include the types of jobs, what skills specific, et cetera. Because when you say that you start them at a low-skilled job and work them up, what is it that they actually do or will be doing?
The folks that we're hiring are probably going to be working in our Fleet Department and working on maintenance of vehicles and fueling of the vehicles.
Thank you. 48 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. I've certainly heard of PhillyCarShare. I think I just helped with parking spaces in Chestnut Hill. However, I've never heard of Zip Car. How do you advertise?
We also are a local-based service. Over 40 percent of our members hear about us through word of mouth. Great service recommendations from people in the area say, This really is a better way to use a car, you've got to try Zip Car. The fact that we've only been here as Zip Car since the spring would explain maybe why awareness is lower. The second greatest referral source is visibility of cars. That's why the on-street parity is so important. People say, I saw your sign, I saw your cars, what is it, how can I hear more, how can I consider getting rid of my primary car or my secondary car, saving money and saving the environment.
So for 49 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. both organizations, it's membership driven?
PhillyCarShare has had a very significant marketing promotional campaign over the past couple years as well.
You will hear over and over common things in the business model and how we expand. I couldn't echo Eli's comments more on both starting in Center City, both gradually radiate out, both look at demand for expansion. So a lot of similarities in how we develop inherently community-based service.
I would like to just bring up one more topic, and, that is, to address the issue of whether the current situation is unfair competition. And I believe that it's not, and I want to tell you exactly why, and, that is, 50 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. that this is a public good that you're allocating here. This is a publicly owned space, and in doing so, it seems to me that the most sensible way to do that is to make sure that the organization that can provide the public, in the most broad definition of public, access to that space should be the main criteria in allocating that, and PhillyCarShare right now feels that it is in fact the one that does that through its pricing structure. We have the lowest prices. Throughout the week you can rent a car for $3.90 an hour and also just throughout our general practices in neighborhoods. And that's something we're very confident in our ability to serve the public that way. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I'm going to allow you a couple seconds, but I don't want to start a debate here. The debate for that will be when and if the bill gets introduced, but --
I had to take the opportunity. 51 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I know.
The quick response is that cities routinely wrestle with the land use issue and providing of public right-of-way for public or private benefit. Allocation of a taxi stand, a loading zone inherently are providing a public good that we want to provide as well, with payment for the spaces and open membership with similar membership application criteria, are both standing to benefit a huge majority of the public where we envision -- and I think I speak for Eli as well -- where car sharers outnumber car owners, and that equal access to the services is really what should be the driver in allocating public real estate.
On that last point, we agree. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Councilman Green.
Just one quick question for PhillyCarShare. When 52 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. you build up cash or when you have a successful year, what do you do with the money?
In Philadelphia or the Philadelphia region to the extent that we have some suburban locations. As you know, as a non-profit, we're prevented from distributing the cash to any investors or to ourselves, and we actually maintain very low cash reserves and spend most of it on expansion at any time.
Expansion into the market trying to make it ubiquitous?
Yes, exactly. By expansion, I mean expansion geographically and in-fill. So if we find that there's an area that we're serving that there's now more demand than the cars we've got, we'll expand within 53 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. that smaller region just to meet the demand that's there.
It's certainly a shame you guys couldn't have worked together rather than come here, so that PhillyCarShare members would have access to your network outside of Philadelphia and your members would have access to their network in Philadelphia. But we will -- that would be ideal, but we will look, of course, at Darwin's language. Thank you.
Thank you for your time. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. Mr. Abernathy, please read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080639, an ordinance authorizing the Mount Airy Revitalization Corporation to construct, own and maintain a sign on the traffic island of Wadsworth Avenue at the 54 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. intersection with Cheltenham Avenue, under certain terms and conditions. (Witness approached witness table.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Good morning. I'm sorry. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning, Chairman and members of the Committee. My name is Robert Black. I'm a Construction Engineer with the Streets Department. I'm here to offer the following testimony for Bill No. 080639. This bill authorizes the Mount Airy Revitalization Corporation to construct and to maintain a "Welcome to Mount Airy" sign in the traffic island located on Wadsworth Avenue at the intersection of Cheltenham Avenue. The non-electrified sign, which is approximately four feet wide by five feet high, will be located at the south end of the landscaped traffic island. 55 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. The Streets Department has reviewed the plans and has no objection to the passage of the bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Any questions for this witness from the Committee? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Anyone else who wishes to testify for or against the bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, we'll move on to the next bill. Thank you.
Bill No. 080648, an ordinance amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Traffic Code," by amending Section 12-102, entitled "Definitions," by amending Section 12-902, entitled "Parking for Certain Purposes Prohibited," to prohibit the standing or parking on the roadway of watercraft trailers or watercraft for the purpose of display for sale or for 56 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. commercial washing, greasing or repair, by amending Section 12-2405, entitled "Removal or Immobilization of Parked Vehicles; Notice," to provide for towing for certain violations, and by amending Section 12-2809, entitled "Civil Penalties and Costs," to provide for penalties for violations, all under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Mr. Healy, you'll be testifying. (Witness approached witness table.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Anyone else who will be testifying on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Good morning. LIEUTENANT HEALY: Good morning, sir. Good morning, Councilman DiCicco and members of the Committee on Streets and Services. My name is Lieutenant Francis Healy and I'm here on 57 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. behalf of Police Commissioner Ramsey. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Excuse me, Mr. Healy. I'm sorry. You wanted to speak on it first?
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I apologize. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. I simply wanted to put on the record the context, and, that is, we received many, many, many constituent calls from citizens who are not able to simply park in front of their door because they have neighbors who totally disregard the fact that huge boats and huge vans and commercial trailers should be parked elsewhere, and so they've been unsuccessful, quite frankly, in getting neighbors to react, and as a result of those kind of constituent calls, in 58 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. talking with members in the Administration, we made a decision to introduce this bill. And I simply wanted to put the "why" on the record. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you.
Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Sorry, Mr. Healy. Please proceed. LIEUTENANT HEALY: Let me say at the outset, the Philadelphia Police Department supports this amendment because it expands and clarifies existing parking regulations found in City Code Title 12-902. Also, this amendment works in concert with an earlier amendment banning the parking of any boats, motor homes, truck campers and vending carts for longer than 30 days. This amendment is, therefore, a refinement and not in conflict with the previous legislation that was recently approved. Specifically, this amendment clarifies that boats and trailers are prohibited from being displayed for sale 59 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. or commercially serviced on any roadway in Philadelphia. While the existing law does partially address this issue, there's always been a confusion due to the actual legal distinction between the boat and its trailer and whether Title 12-902 was applicable. This amendment has been clarified without any doubt that while it may now be legal to park a boat and a trailer for less than 30 days, it is absolutely illegal to display a boat for sale or to commercially service one on the streets of Philadelphia at any time. Such clarity is necessary for training police officers and for uniform enforcement across the City. Therefore, for these reasons, the Philadelphia Police Department supports the amendment in this bill 22 proposed by Councilmembers Brown and Greenlee, and this would conclude my testimony. Again, thank you on behalf of 60 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. the Commissioner, and I'd be happy to answer any questions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Healy. Any questions from the Committee for this witness? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and with my co-sponsor's consent, Councilman Bill Greenlee, we'd like to, at the appropriate time, move it out of Committee with a suspension of the rules. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: So noted.
Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Healy. LIEUTENANT HEALY: Thank you. 61 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill, please.
Bill No. 080638, an ordinance authorizing the installation of a left turn green arrow traffic signal at the intersection of Crescentville Road and Adams Avenue. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Is there anyone testifying on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, we will move on to the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080574, an ordinance amending Section 9-212 of The Philadelphia Code by prohibiting newsstands on both sides of 5th Street between Ludlow and Market Streets. (Witness approached witness table.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Good morning, Mr. Haigler.
Good morning, 62 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Chairman DiCicco and members of the Committee. I am Otis Haigler, Jr., Director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Today I am here to provide testimony on Bill 080574, which, if enacted, will prohibit the placement of newsstands on both sides of 5th Street between Ludlow and Market Streets. As the location of newsstands subject to the requirements of Section 13 9-212 of The Philadelphia Code is within Council's prerogative to amend from time to time, the Department offers no 16 objection to the enactment of this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to provide the Department's testimony on this bill and I will happy to answer any questions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Haigler. Any questions for this witness from the Committee? (No response.) 63 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Is there anyone here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? Please, ma'am, come to the witness table. (Witness approached witness table.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Good morning, ma'am. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
My name is Linda Priest. I own the newsstand at 5th and Market, and I was just -- I didn't understand what the reasoning is for trying to move the business, which I've had for over 15 years. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: How long was your business not operating recently? How long has your business not been operating?
It's going on seven months right now. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Do you 64 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. know that if it's been abandoned, the use has been abandoned, for one month, you lose your license? Are you aware of that?
No. I lost my partner and I've just been diagnosed with an illness that I can't work right now. So I have been in the process of trying to sell the business, but because -- I can't sell it telling the person where it is right now. I don't know... COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: There is a very delicate issue when we talk about the sale of a newsstand. Basically what we're saying is you're selling your spot on a public sidewalk, and we know that's been a practice for years, but correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Haigler, that's not a legal transaction, if you will. Would you correct me on that, please.
The sidewalk is part of the public right-of-way and nobody has any particular vested interest in the sidewalk except for the citizens 65 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. or the public itself at large. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: So technically if you own a newsstand, you're not permitted --
Nobody owns the sidewalk. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Nobody owns the sidewalk, right. So correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Haigler, if the City wanted to, they can actually go and remove that stand because of the fact that it's been inoperable and it's been abandoned for more than 30 days.
That's correct. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Ma'am, I'm just giving you, unfortunately, the hard, cold facts that it's not been in use for seven months or longer and you lost the right to operate that as a newsstand.
Well, I was told that the reason why the business was going to be moved is because the Jewish American History Museum didn't want the 66 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. newsstand there. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: No. We did talk, I believe, if memory serves me correct, about relocating the stand at least during the time of construction for safety purposes, but the person who was operating I believe resisted that attempt and --
No. No one came to us. They just put us under scaffolding. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: They may not have come to you, but that's part of my district and I was very engaged in that conversation. The operator at the time was given sufficient and ample warning that there was going to be significant construction and we had the demolition of a building, now the erection of a new building, and in the interest of public safety, we were trying to make accommodations to relocate that to the opposite side -- the other side of Market Street. 67 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc.
And that never came -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And the operator refused to allow us to do that.
No one has came to me at all. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: They may not have come to you, ma'am, but you were not operating it at the time these discussions were taking place. The person who was operating it had that option and decided not to accept that option. That's why it's still at its current location.
Well, my partner and I were operating it, and he passed away, and no one has come to me at all. The only person that spoke with me was the project manager, and he talked to me and they were going to have it moved to the opposite side of the street, and it 68 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. never went through. I don't know why. It never went through. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: But my understanding, the operator also offered to do monetary compensation.
Right. And when I talked to him again, he told me he was no 9 longer on the project and I would have to speak directly to the Jewish American History Museum. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I'm not aware of why he would tell you to speak to the folks who eventually will be operating the Museum.
That's what he told me, because they didn't want it there. That was the reason why. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Let's assume you're accurate that the Jewish Museum folks did not want you there. The question was and the concern was during the construction period, the demolition of the existing building and the current construction, that it was a public safety 69 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. issue and that's why we were asking -- you were being asked to relocate to the north side of Market Street and you were going to be compensated monetarily for that move.
No, it was not refused. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Well, I'm not going to debate you, ma'am. Maybe you didn't refuse it, but your partner did.
My partner died in March. This happened -- we were put under construction over a year ago. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Right, and that's when the decision and the conversation took place as to relocate to the north side of Market, and your partner refused.
No. The supervisor came out and said to me that 70 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. they had the place marked across the street where they were going to move it, and then he came back and he told me that they could not put me there because that was only a temporary position and that he was going to notify the Jewish American History Museum that because that was only a temporary spot, that I was to come back to 5th and Market. And he told me that he was going to e-mail them and let them know of that, because where they had first assigned it was in front of the SEPTA station, and they couldn't keep that there. So he said that he would notify them, and then nobody has ever contacted me since. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Well, I don't know if they contacted you or not. I'll take your word on that, but that issue is long past us. The fact of the matter is that this business has been abandoned for more than seven months. So you've lost your license. You basically lost the right to operate there. I'm 71 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. sorry. Any other questions for this witness from the Committee? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Anyone else here who wishes to testify on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill, please.
Bill No. 080654, an ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code by amending Section 16 9-203, relating to Street Vendors, and Section 9-205, relating to Sidewalk Sales, by prohibiting street and sidewalk vending on certain portions of Spring Garden Street.
Good morning, Chairman DiCicco and members of the Committee. I am Otis Haigler, Jr., Director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Licenses and Inspections. 72 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Today I am here to provide testimony on Bill 080654, which, if enacted, will prohibit street and sidewalk vending on Spring Garden Street between 16th and 18th Street. As the location of street and sidewalk vending operations subject to the requirements of Sections 9-203 and 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code is within Council's prerogative to amend from time to time, the Department offers no 13 objection to the enactment of this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to provide the Department's testimony on this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Haigler. Any questions for Mr. Haigler from this Committee? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.) 73 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill. Thank you.
Bill No. 080544, an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 163 by relocating the southwesterly houseline and curbline of Ridge Avenue near Calumet Street; by relocating the northwesterly houseline and curbline of Calumet Street from Ridge Avenue to the Fairmount Park Line; by striking from the City Plan East River Road from Calumet Street northwestwardly to its terminus; and vacating the portions of said East River Road laying outside the lines of Fairmount Park; all under certain terms and conditions. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. My name is Frank Morelli, 74 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Survey Bureau Manager of the Department of Streets, and the Department of Streets would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 080544. This is not an administrative ordinance, but an ordinance requested by Mr. David L. Stubbs, Managing Partner of RiverFront District Partners, LP, 371 Pelham Road, Philadelphia, PA 19119. The purpose of this ordinance 12 is to widen Ridge Avenue from Calumet to a point approximately 312 feet northwestwardly therefrom, to reduce the width of Calumet Street from Ridge Avenue to East River Road, its Fairmount Park boundary, and to strike from the City Plan East River Road from Calumet northwestwardly to its terminus. This action will facilitate the development of the abutting property as a six-story mixed-use retail and condominium project. This ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to your Committee for 75 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. favorable action. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Good morning, Mr. Erickson.
Good morning, Councilman DiCicco and members of the Streets and Services Committee. I am William Erickson, a City Planner with the Development Planning Division of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I am here to testify on Bill No. 080544, which Councilman Jones introduced on June 5th, 2008. The East Village Development proposal for the Rivage Site is for a mixed-use development, including 170 residential units, 8,000 square feet of retail uses and 230-space parking garage in the center. The building is approximately 83 feet at its highest level. The streets bill will increase Ridge Avenue from 60 feet to 66 feet for a parking lane and a rush hour right-turn lane. It will also reduce Calumet Street from 70 feet to a variable width and 76 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. provide a sidewalk of feet, and it will strike and vacate portions of East River Road from the City Plan. The Philadelphia City Planning Commission reviewed this action at its meeting of August 19, 2008 and recommended that Bill No. 080544 be approved. This concludes my testimony. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today and would be pleased to answer any questions you may have. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Are you folks testifying on this? If you are, you need to come to the table, identify yourself for the record.
Kevin Smith from Stantec Consulting. I'm just here in support of David Stubbs, one of his engineers for the project. He asked me to be here in case there was any questions that came up, but I really don't have any testimony. 77 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. There might be a question. Councilman Jones.
It's amazing, my shy constituents from the Fourth. You can testify.
I'm Joyce K. Stubbs, General Partner for RiverFront Business District and Stubbs Enterprise, Inc.
It is okay to sit down. There's no extra charge for a seat.
I'm Carolyn Sutton, President of the East Falls Development Corporation. We were actually the initiator of the Rivage development project, and I came to support the Stubbs in their request to have this streets work done and to say that the community is fully behind it from the get-go. Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. 78 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc.
I just want to say that this is proof positive that patience pays off, and I am excited about all that's going on in the area, but particularly the partnerships that have been forged in the area, including civic groups and private sector, and I'm just elated that we all get along here with the City, because that doesn't always happen, Mr. Chairman. So I support this action. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Any other questions from this Committee for these witnesses? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Anyone else who wishes to testify? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you all for coming. Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill.
We're going to go a little bit out of order. 79 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: We're just going to skip something. You guys are testifying anyway.
Bill No. 080637, an ordinance authorizing and directing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan Nos. 34-S and 41-S by striking from the City Plan and vacating the legally open portions of Packer Avenue from Christopher Columbus Boulevard to the Pierhead Line of the Delaware River and by reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for drainage purposes, water main purposes, and public utility purposes within the lines of Packer Avenue being stricken from the City Plan, all under certain terms and conditions. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. My name is Frank Morelli, Survey Bureau Manager of the Department 80 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. of Streets, and the Department of Streets would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 080637. This is not an administrative ordinance, but an ordinance requested by Mr. Michael J. Holt of Delaware Avenue Enterprise, Incorporated, Post Office Box 8100, Philadelphia, PA 19101. The purpose of this ordinance 11 is to strike from the City Plan and vacate the legally open portions of Packer Avenue from Christopher Columbus Boulevard to the Pierhead Line of the Delaware River and reserve and place on the City Plan a right-of-way for drainage, water main, and public utility purposes within the lines of Packer Avenue being stricken. This action is being requested in order to increase security and safety at the adjacent terminal facility. This ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to your Committee for 81 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. favorable action.
Good morning, Chairman DiCicco and members of the Streets and Services Committee. I am William Erickson, City Planner with the Development Planning Division of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. I am here to testify on Bill No. 080637, which Councilwoman Tasco introduced on September 18th, 2008 for Council President Verna. This streets bill strikes Packer Avenue from Christopher Columbus Boulevard to the Delaware River to allow expansion of an existing port industrial user. The Philadelphia Planning Commission reviewed this action at its meeting on October 21, 2008 and recommends that Bill No. 080637 be approved. This concludes my testimony. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today and would be pleased to 82 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. answer any questions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Any questions from the Committee for these witnesses? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Anyone else who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Mr. Abernathy will read the title of the next bill. Maybe we'll do all of the bills and you can submit your testimony, unless there's opposition to any of the bills that will be read off. If there's opposition or someone wants to speak on the remaining bills as it relates to Mr. Erickson and Mr. Morelli's testimony, just raise your hand and we'll allow you to come up and speak. Thank you.
Bill No. 080625, an ordinance authorizing and directing the revision of lines and grades on a portion 83 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. of City Plan No. 42 by striking from the City Plan and vacating 30th Street from Walnut Street (lower level) southwardly approximately 620 feet to a dead end, all under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 080 -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Hold on. Let me just ask, is there anyone who wishes to testify for or against that bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080628, an ordinance authorizing the grant to the City of two rights-of-way for municipal and public utility purposes within an area bounded by Market Street, former 32nd Street, Chestnut Street and 33rd Street; and authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 42 by placing on the City Plan the two rights-of-way and striking and abandoning portions of two existing 84 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. rights-of-way for municipal and public utility purposes within the same area; all under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Mr. Morelli.
The Streets Department would like to offer an amendment at this time to add a gas main right-of-way. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Accepted. Anyone wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080629, an ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance, Bill No. 060730, approved November 16, 2006, entitled "An ordinance 21 authorizing and directing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 278 by placing on the City Plan Delaware Avenue from Hellerman Street to Magee Avenue and by placing Magee Avenue 85 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. from Delaware Avenue to New State Road, under certain terms and conditions, including the dedication to the City, free and clear of all encumbrances, of the beds of Delaware Avenue and Magee Avenue being placed under the authority of this ordinance and also the dedication to the City, free and clear of all encumbrances, of a portion of the bed of Delaware Avenue between Levick Street and Hellerman Street not previously opened," by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from anyone on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, we'll move on to the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080630, an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 197 by placing on the City Plan 86 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. an extension of Ontario Street from its existing terminus at the northwesterly side of the right-of-way of the Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad southeastwardly to Delaware Avenue; the dedication of the bed of the extended portion of Ontario Street to the City; and the striking from the City Plan of a certain right-of-way reserved for drainage purposes laying within the lines of the proposed extension of Ontario Street; all under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from anyone on this particular bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: As I said earlier, the Department will submit written testimony on the bills that have just been read and all of the bills that will be coming up as it relates to your Department. Thank you. Mr. Abernathy. 87 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc.
Bill No. 080631, an ordinance authorizing the grant to the City of a right-of-way for gas main purposes within the lines of former Stevenson Street, southeast of Frankford Avenue, and the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 323 by placing on the City Plan the right-of-way, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from anyone on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080633, an ordinance authorizing the paving of Ontario Street from the northwesterly side of the right-of-way of the Philadelphia Belt Line Railroad to Delaware Avenue, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any 88 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. questions from anyone on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080635, an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 34-S, in the area south of Oregon Avenue and west of Christopher Columbus Boulevard, by striking from the City Plan and abandoning a portion of a right-of-way for drainage purposes reserved within the lines of the former Bigler Street and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for drainage purposes in an alternate location laying north of former Bigler Street, and authorizing the acceptance of the grant of such right-of-way to the City, all under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Any questions from anyone on this particular bill? 89 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080641, an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 128 by striking from the City Plan and vacating 18th Street from Cambria Street to Indiana Avenue and reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for drainage purposes and water main purposes within the lines of 18th Street being stricken, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from anyone on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, the title of the next bill, Mr. Abernathy.
Bill No. 080643, an ordinance amending Bill No. 040569, approved July 1, 2004, entitled "An 90 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 205 in the vicinity of Fairhill Street and Annsbury Street, under certain terms and conditions," by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from anyone on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080644, an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 158 by striking from the City Plan and abandoning a certain right-of-way for drainage purposes which extends southeastwardly from the easterly side of "B" Street to the northerly side of Tioga Street, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any 91 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. questions from anyone on this particular bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080652, an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 63 by striking from the City Plan and abandoning a right-of-way reserved for gas main purposes within the lines of former 17th Street from the intersection of Wood Street and 17th Street to Franklintown Boulevard, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from anyone on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, Mr. Abernathy, the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 080653, an ordinance authorizing the revision of 92 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 58 by placing on the City Plan Mount Vernon Street from its existing terminus west of Percy Street westwardly to 10th Street; by striking from the City Plan a certain right-of-way reserved for drainage and utility purposes laying within the lines of the proposed extension of Mount Vernon Street; and authorizing the dedication to the City of the bed of the proposed extension of Mount Vernon Street; all under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from anyone on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, we have one more bill.
Bill No. 080725, an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 120 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Cleveland Street from Girard Avenue to Stiles Street, under 93 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from anyone on this bill? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Seeing none, this concludes the -- Councilman Green. I'm sorry.
I don't have a question on this bill. I just had a general question, and, that is, I'm just curious, what happens when we strike a street from the City Plan? Does it become the property of the abutting owners?
In most cases the property lines will go to the former center line of the street and go to the abutting property owners. There are certain cases if a street was opened by condemnation, bond or jury, that we're entitled to compensation at fair market value for the bed of the street. So one of the bills that we introduced today was the striking of 30th 94 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. and Walnut Street. We had an appraisal done for that and we'll be compensated for the bed of that street.
Okay. And do we essentially give up our title to it? So when we turn it over, if we're doing it for a business or for a project and that, whatever, fails or doesn't get done, for us to get the street back we would then have to compensate the owners for it?
Correct. If we wanted to place the street back in the City Plan, we would have to acquire the bed of the street either by dedication of the new owners or --
Thank you. I was just curious. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. I understand Traffic Engineering is here to give testimony on 95 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Bill No. 080638, which we already read into the record, but please come up and offer your testimony. (Witnesses approached witness table.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Stuck in traffic?
Sorry. We had the wrong time for when we were supposed to be here. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Please proceed with your testimony.
Testimony for Bill 080638. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. My name is David Dlugosz. I am a District Traffic Engineer for the Philadelphia Streets Department. I'm here to offer testimony on Bill 080638 regarding the installation of a left-turn green arrow at the intersection of Crescentville Road and Adams Avenue. 96 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. The Streets Department has objections to this bill. We conducted a study to see the effects and need of adding a left-turn arrow for westbound Adams Avenue at this intersection. The study involved looking at the crash record, vehicular volumes at this intersection, and we also performed an analysis to evaluate this data. We performed a capacity analysis in order to engage the left-turn arrow's effects. In performing this analysis, it was found the inclusion of the left turn phase did not reduce delay for the westbound left turn and increased delay for all other approaches. Particularly, eastbound traffic was increased -- the delay was increased by about 46 percent. Therefore, we cannot recommend the installation of a left-turn arrow at this intersection. However, our analysis showed that we could improve the operation of this intersection by making the following 97 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. modifications to the traffic signal: First, to increase the yellow and all red times at this intersection, thereby giving left-turners at the end of this phase additional time to clear out of the intersection. Second was to increase the cycle length from 60 seconds to 80 seconds and to reallocate green times for all approaches to reduce delays for all approaches. Third was to increase the total green time given to Adams Avenue. This allows the queued traffic coming eastbound to clear the intersection, leaving more time at the end of the green light for the westbound left-turners, which is the movement the left-turn arrow is requested for. After meeting with Councilwoman Tasco's office, we implemented these three changes on October 20th of this year in order to observe the effects created by these changes. During both 98 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. the peak and off-peak time periods during our observation, we observed that the westbound left-turners were able to make this left turn during their green and did not have to wait for an additional green light. We intend to continue observing this intersection for the next six months and to reassess at the end of that time period. We'd be happy to meet with Councilwoman Tasco, any of you or any constituents at your convenience if you have questions. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: If I understood you correctly, you're asking us to hold any action on this bill for the next six months?
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And you haven't had any conversation with the 99 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Councilwoman's office regarding that request?
We have. We met with her about three or four weeks ago regarding this request and we implemented these changes between our meeting and today to see how they would work before we would proceed any further. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: All right.
And she seems to be in agreement with that. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I don't think we have anyone from her office, so what I'm going to suggest is that we will vote it out favorably, but we won't ask for a suspension, and that will give me some time to talk to the Councilwoman about the six-month probationary period. We'll try to work it on both sides. (Off-the-record discussion.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Hold. We'll hold.
Okay. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. 100 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Thank you.
You're welcome. Again, we apologize for the delay. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. No problem. This concludes the public hearing on the Committee of Streets and Services. We will now move into the public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a motion on Bill No. 080651.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 080651 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a rules suspension for the first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080651 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. 101 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 9 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 080468 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and, further, that the rules of Council be suspended to allow for first reading at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080648 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by 102 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 8 is approved. Bill No. 080638 is being held at the request of the sponsor. Councilman Greenlee for Bill 12 No. 080639.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080639 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended to allow for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080639 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be 103 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 10 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080574 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080574 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by 104 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 8 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080654 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension for reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080654 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) 105 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 6 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080544 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080544 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? 106 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 4 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080625 be reported out of the Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080625 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 107 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move the amendment to Bill No. 080628 be approved. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 080628 be approved. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Councilman Greenlee on the amended Bill 080628.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 080628, as amended, be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended to allow for first reading at our next session of Council. 108 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080628, as amended, be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 16 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080629 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has 109 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080629 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 14 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080630 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080630 be reported out of this 110 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 12 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080631 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080631 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be 111 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 10 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080633 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080633 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by 112 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 8 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080635 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, that the rules of Council be suspended to allow for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080635 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. 113 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 7 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080637 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080637 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those 114 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 5 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080641 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080641 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) 115 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 3 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080643 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080643 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 25 is approved. 116 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080644 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080644 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 23 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
117 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080652 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension to allow first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080652 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 21 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080653 be reported out of this Committee with a 118 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. favorable recommendation and a rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080653 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 19 is approved. Councilman Greenlee.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080725 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a rules suspension to allow for first reading at 119 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 080725 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 17 is approved. For the record again, Bill No. 19 080655 has been withdrawn. Oh, that's right. Request a motion on the withdrawal of Bill 080655.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 080655 be withdrawn. (Duly seconded.) 120 10/29/08 - STREETS - BILL 080545, etc. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 4 080655 be withdrawn. All those in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Those opposed? (No response.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The bill 12 has been withdrawn. This concludes the public meeting on the Committee of Streets and Services. Thank everyone for attending and thank the Committee for your participation. (Committee on Streets and Services adjourned at 11:50 a.m.) - - - 121 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on October 29, 2008, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (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.)