What is going on -- isn't there an appointment situation 719 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET over there?
My understanding is that there have been new commissioners named.
Because I know there had been an extended period of time.
There was discussion either last budget round or the before that -- but maybe it was last budget time. The CLIP Program, is that still in operation?
And my 720 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET recollection is last budget hearing, there was discussion -- more than a discussion, I think a proposal in the testimony that the program was going to be expanded City-wide.
Yes. We had, I think, reached out to each of the District Councilmanic people to ask what areas of the City you were interested in. I think in your case you were interested in, I think, Parkside and Overbrook. We were putting our plans together, and unfortunately we have not been able to expand what we had hoped to do because of our budget situation. It's just a question of dollars and cents at this point in time. The Managing Director's Office is down 9.7 percent and there's just the question of not expanding something when we didn't have the funds to do it and we were laying off people.
Okay. Well, two things. One, I think I may have given you some additional areas on that, but if it's not 721 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET being expanded -- so did the expansion not happen City-wide?
Mr. Director, on of your testimony you mention overtime reduction and made a reference to the police court overtime being reduced and expected to go down even further in FY '06. Can you explain the statement in the context of the Police Department's FY '06 budget for uniformed officers overtime increasing by 19 percent or $7.9 million?
I don't know. I could not explain that because we're just looking at in my testimony it was focussing 722 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET on --
So that should be a question to be asked of the Police Commissioner?
In '06, what do you anticipate the police court overtime will be?
I'm not sure. We'll have to get you the exact number. It depends. We're looking at some technology. If we're able to get this technology, we think we will be able to bring it down some more, but it depends on whether we're able get the technology, more importantly the timing of getting the technology.
I know. This is an issue that has been brought up year after year after year.
And I'm glad to hear that progress is being made. Director, on -65 of your 723 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET detail, you're requesting $150,000 in FY '05 and FY '06 for emergency standby generating planning, and the vendor is to be determined. Do you really plan on spending the FY '05 funds if you haven't even at this time selected a vendor?
Good afternoon. John Donagy, Deputy Managing Director. Yes, we do plan on spending the FY '05 funds for the planning. To be honest, I believe that that has been identified, the contract to be begin doing that planning work.
Now, that is out of the General Fund and not Home Land Security funds?
I believe that the initial planning work was done out of General Funds to eventually to be transferred from the 724 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Home Land Security funds because it is eligible for the grant.
Well, the question is then do we really need the money if it's coming out of Home Land Security grants?
My question is, why would it be in the General Fund when, in fact, we are receiving Home Land Security grants for this?
Madam President, Mike Nucci, Director of Emergency Management for the City of Philadelphia. It is eligible to come out of the Home Land Security funds. We designated $200,000 to come up with specifications for the installation of those first generators 21 in City facilities. 22
So in 23 essence then, are you saying that we really 24 don't need $150,000 for FY '05 in our General 25 Fund and 150,000 in FY '06 if we're being 725 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET reimbursed by the Home Land Security grants?
The money is actually sitting in a grants receivable account, the $200,000. We can use it, and we have used it, I think. The contract is already in place as I understand for the engineering studies. The State -- the way the equipment on Home Land Security works is that we have to provide specifications to the State. The State does the procurement. So we have to provide them with a complete set of specifications for each site.
Mr. Nucci, just say yes or no. Do we, in fact, need 150,000 in the FY '05 and 150,000 in FY '06 in our General Fund?
We'll check further on that that to make sure. This project, I think, is critically important.
I want to make sure. 726 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
I want you to understand, when this blackout happened, we found out we have a water supply here that we've got about hours of water supply in 8 this City. And if our electricity goes out, 9 we're in trouble. Our fleet is fueled 10 electronically. In our electricity goes out, 11 we're in trouble. What we've identified is 12 about 65 generators needed in this City to 13 make sure that this City can sustain itself if 14 there were a blackout. So this is an 15 important issue. If it can be funded by Home 16 Land Security, we'll do it. 17
I 18 understand that. The question is, is it 19 funded by Home Land Security or is it funded 20 by Home Land Security and the General Fund. 21
Thank you. 24 I would like you to explain why your list of positions scheduled for the vacant lot 727 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET cleaning program or -38 has expenditure transfer of L&I for well over a million dollars; Fairmount Park, $380,000; and MOCS for $1,631,000. Can you tell us why these funds are not in the respective departments' budgets?
Councilwoman, this money is used to reimburse the departments for the services that they render to this program. The employees are actually in those departments and we reimburse those departments for their services. You find this department in the Controller's Office, we want to have the positions in the department in which they work, shown in which they work, so the positions will be shown in the respective departments and we show the money in the Managing Director's Office.
The positions are shown in the departments in which these individuals work. The money is reflected in the Managing Director's Office, and we reimburse those 728 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET departments for the services.
Because the Finance Department and the Controller's Office prefer it that way. Because the expenditure is actually in the department where it occurs.
The $1,631,000 that goes to MOCS, is that from City revenue sources?
I don't remember them mentioning these funds at their hearing. Can you tell us what types of services MOCS actually performs with those dollars? Is it just vacant lot cleaning? What is it that they do?
This will be my last question and I'll take a five-minute break. 729 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET On -89, the vacant lot program is budgeted for $2.5 million for repair and maintenance charges. Can you explain what these are for?
Yes. Madam Chair, that 2.5 million is for tree pruning and stump removal throughout the City of Philadelphia. We've had a program ongoing for four years now where we have been pruning and removing stumps of dangerous trees throughout the City.
It's very confusing $2.5 million is for repair and maintenance.
That's the classification that it's placed by Procurement when you bid those kind of services out.
I believe that our witnesses are asking for a five-minute break, so we will recess for five minutes. (Recess taken.)
We're now back in session. At this time, the Chair recognizes 730 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Councilman Rizzo for the second go-around.
Thank you. I'd like to have the Water Commissioner back. I'm going to keep my question brief so we can stick to the schedule here and get the answers to the questions. Commissioner, before we get the answer to your question, I just want you to explain. I understand during the break that there are two significant projects that could affect Kelly Drive. Could you tell me is there one or two COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: Good afternoon. I'm Bernard Brunwasser, Water Commissioner. Councilman, I'm only aware of the one project at this time. I'm not sure -- perhaps the other project is not a Water project.
Then when I'll finish up with you, maybe the Managing Director knows. Is there one project or two, Mr. Managing Director?
I don't know. We'll 731 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET find out for you.
Could you tell us -- I think you've had some time to maybe talk or think about the Kelly Drive issue. This is a storm water job. Could you just briefly maybe now explain the project? COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: Well, it's a large project, and it runs through different parts of the City. The piece concerning Kelly Drive may be a relatively small part of the entire project. What we are trying to do is relieve a combined sewer overflow problem in some sections of the City and also address storm water. And in order to do that, we do have to go under Kelly Drive in an area near the twin bridges. We are working very closely with Fairmount Park and the Police Department to have a good plan in place for what happens to Kelly Drive during that period of time, which may be four months or some when part of Kelly Drive will have to be taken out of commission. What we're hoping to be able to do is to keep three lanes active at any given time so that two would be available for 732 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET rush-hour traffic in the direction that's appropriate. In other words, southbound during the morning rush and northbound during the afternoon rush-hour period.
Commissioner, if you're saying that this is not a major -- I don't want to quote you. Maybe you can restate it. You said this is a little piece of this big project. What other impact will this project have? Could you just describe the project? I mean, what neighborhoods? What Councilmanic districts? I'm a Councilmember-At-Large, it's all my area. So could you -- is this a secret, this project? COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: Not at all. It's been on the drawing boards for quite a while. Again, we have not yet sent this project out for bid. So the timing of exactly when it effects --
I don't want to hear about the timing right now. I want to hear about the project. Where is it going to start? Where is it going to end? If you're going under Kelly Drive, it must start 733 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET someplace and end someplace. What's the impact on the City of Philadelphia, our roadways, our neighborhoods? What is this project about? Please, just tell us. COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: I don't have all the details. It does affect a lot of places. But as with all projects of this nature, we try to minimize the impact on streets.
Commissioner, you know, I really am fond of you, but I don't know why you're hedging here. If you just don't know, say it. COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: I don't know all the details.
Does anybody in your department know about this project? I mean, it sounds like a zillion dollar deal here, and for no one to know what's going on is troubling to me. It suggests that somebody doesn't want to tell. It's like another project that I have an interest in, in the northwest that nobody wants to tell. It's starting to get old. 734 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
Councilman, we'll get you the details on the project. In all fairness to the Water Department and certainly to the Commissioner, he's got an enormous number of projects. For us to come up here and be able to say chapter and verse of an individual project -- we'd be glad to get you the details.
Mr. Managing Director, I'm not asking for the microscope analyzing this thing. I'm asking about a project that you're talking running a pipe that's going to run from Point A to Point B. All I want to know is where is Point A, where is Point B. That shouldn't be a big secret.
It's not a secret. We just don't have the information here. You can fault for us not being bright enough to have the information, but it's not a secret.
This can't obviously be a real big project if it's not -- if it was this big a deal, it would be the tip of my finger.
Well, we will get 735 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET you have the information.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
A couple of quick questions. One as it relates to the "block the box" program and the other question I have about the Youth Study Center and its move. First, on "block the box," in your testimony you indicate that there were 52 traffic violations written. I'm excited to hear that, but with in all due respect, I don't recall ever seeing police officers or any law enforcement out giving tickets, particularly on the area in my councilmanic district where we have "don't block the box." Can you kind of give me a sense of where and how that's happening?
We'll be glad to give you the actual details of the types of tickets written by the month and so forth. 736 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET But the Police Department generally selects three intersections on a weekly basis where they're out there during rush-hour traffic in the morning and rush-hour traffic in the afternoon. Those intersections sort of rotate, and I would say the concentration has basically been downtown.
I don't know South Street. Could be Broad and Chestnut, 21st and the Parkway and so forth. And they're continually rotating it. In all fairness, in all candor, we don't have enough presence out there. I mean, we're really dealing with three details, three intersections when we know that there's a lot more intersections we wish we could grab. But it's done on a rotating basis. The Police Department decides that. We can certainly show you from a historical perspective what intersections they've been at since we've started the program.
So you have a designated team? 737 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
They strategically select. And if you have a particular intersection you're interesting in, let the police know. We try not to advertise where we're going to be.
I wouldn't want you to, unlike the red light camera program where we tell people where the camera is and show a picture of it on TV, which is kind of interesting. I'm just perplexed when I look at this number, and having traveled the Parkway, particularly in rush hour, I don't ever see anybody out enforcing it. I'm kind of amazed that we have such a number. So if you can kind of give me some information on where this is done.
We'll be glad to give it to you. I get a report from the police every week on where they've been, where 738 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET they're going to be, and the number of violations by the particular type, whether it be red light, improper turn, blocking the box. But frankly, we have such a culture in this City, people just sort of do what they want when it comes to traffic. We need to step it up. We need more people. We need more intervention out there. And I think to have three details, frankly, isn't enough. But it's one of the predicaments we find ourselves in now between fighting homicides and fighting "don't block the box."
I don't equate those two. Homicides is higher up on the chain.
So not to belabor the point, 5200 violations for "block the box," not no turn on red, but block the box?
If you can give me that information. 739 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Youth Study Center. I understand that after years and years of attempting to find another site we have found a site. Where are we in this process? Have we actually gotten a site and done an arrangement with the property owner to purchase the site?
Yes. We have purchased a site. I forget precisely when. Several months ago we actually signed a deal after extensive negotiations, and we're now in the process of selecting a design team and going through the actual process now of getting that constructed. There will be some financing actions that will come before Council shortly for financing the transaction. As I said, we're now also in the interim process of moving the Youth Study Center to another location so we can make way for the Barnes as soon as possible so they can start their construction project. So it's sort of a two-fold --
So the phone call and subsequent conversation that I had with -- I'm not bring their names up -- with 740 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET the individuals about locating the Youth Study Center in an area in close proximity to Family Court is a rumor? Why am I getting calls about them locating there?
That's because I think there's a desire of -- we probably all have a desire to move the Family Court Center. The issue is to where and when and how it gets paid for. I don't think we have a resolution 11 to that. In the process of those conversations, people say, well, it really would be nice to have the Youth Study Center adjacent to wherever the Family Court goes. But we don't know where the family court is going. So right now we have a place for the Youth Study Center and we're getting ready to build it. But that's probably where you're getting those phone calls for people that have an active interest in saying, let's get another place for the Family Court so it provides another opportunity on the Parkway and also gives us a modern Family Court.
The opportunity for the Family Court is, I think there's some 741 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET sense of concurrence on that. But the question is how can there still been discussion about having the Youth Study Center in proximity to the new proposed Family Court location if that deal in West Philly os already done?
I don't know how. There's some people who, obviously, are interested in that.
You have a sense of who? Is the judicial system involved in that?
I've heard it from the judicial system. I think its the judicial system, but if we did that, what it would mean is that we now have a piece of land in West Philadelphia that we would have to obviously sell, which we might be able to do, but I think we run the risk of going another 20 years talking about the Youth Study Center. But I think that's where that conversation --
Who makes that decision? Is it the judicial system, is it the Legislature, or is it the City of 742 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Philadelphia in terms of where the Youth Study Center is going to go?
The Youth Study Center was a decision made by the City of Philadelphia.
And we can make that decision without input and we can't overridden by the state or judicial system?
I don't want to go that far. But, no, I think this is a local decision that we have made that this Council has blessed.
I don't think it can be undone unless we agree to undo it; we, being the Council and the Mayor.
But it may well be that someone comes up with a business plan and says, "Boy, it really makes sense to have the Youth Study Center here where we're moving the Family Court," and everyone says, "Wow, that's really true, let's do it." 743 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to go back to a topic which the President alluded to, Mr. Goldsmith. That is the police court overtime. Let me tell you, that's been a problem since Day One.
I remember you saying that last year. I wasn't going to mention your name, but you were skeptical whether we could do it.
That's been going on forever, and I want to commend you. If you 744 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET have a solution to that or you can have a substantial cost savings in that area, I want to be the first one to commend you. I believe that the Police Commissioner could give us the information as to how they're going to do it and what type of savings they're going to give us, is that --
Actually, the person that -- I mean, a lot of people deserve credit. Richard Glazer from my office who actually work for our dollar a year has really headed this project, working with the police and the DA's Office and the courts and so fourth, and it's just a question of working through it. So we can get you a plan on how that's being done. In many ways, it's a bunch of little steps, but it's happening. And as I said, there's some technology we're now looking at which we think may be able to even reduce it further.
That's good. Another point I would like to bring up is in your testimony today on Recreation, you mention that you're going to convert at 745 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET least four playgrounds into spray grounds, I believe.
From swimming pools to spray grounds. Do you know, No. 1, what the cost is going to be on that and if it was included in the Capital Budget?
Yes. There is money in the Capital Budget for that. I do have the cost. I don't have it off the top of my head. If the Recreation Commissioner can provide that. I do know from an operating cost, it will cost us 30,000 less a year with a spray ground than it will with a swimming pool.
Good afternoon, Commissioner. Please identify yourself for the record. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Thank you, 746 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Madam Chair. Vic Richard, Recreation Commissioner. Councilman, it will be three new spray grounds that eliminated three pools, and the fourth one doesn't previously have a pool on it: Ferco, Smith, 48th and Woodland, and Waterview are the four facilities. There's $200,000 that has been appropriated, and we're looking at about $175,000 with a $25,000 contingency and that includes the demolition and also the reinstallation of the new spray ground feature.
But there would be a cost savings per year of over $30,000? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yes, sir.
Would this eliminate the amount of personnel required at these facilities?
Yes. And I might also add, which you can't put in dollars and 747 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET sense, but the safety factor. You don't have to worry about drowning or anything like that. We think it's the way of the future, and I think other cities have gone this way. Up in Bucks County they have some. Anyone that wants to convert a swimming pool, we're eager to do it.
The other item I want to touch upon -- and thank God you're still keeping the CLIP program, because, in fact, just recently I've had a couple of people just commend that program, and I just want to thank you for continuing it. I think it's a good program and it is working, I know, in certain sections in Philadelphia.
Thank you, Councilman. And let us note, having one those being converted, we've had the community meeting and we found out that it's within a mile of a full scale pool and also that the it's a cost savings also in terms of energy. 748 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET It can be open at longer hours, these spray pools, and more people can participate because the water comes on as kids go under it, but it allows the community ability to use it longer hours and a longer span of time than just a few weeks in the summer as pools are being used. Albeit, a community is always upset to hear that they could lose their swimming pool. It has a lot of other positive features as well as energy saving, cost saving, community being involved in the designed, and the way these pools look and more age appropriate facilities because you have all sizes of equipment that are using these spray pools. And again, they can be used in a longer span, from spring to fall, and longer hours in a day. So there are a lot of good features involved, too. We learned, once you're kind of forced to get involved, you find there are a lot of good things about spray pools as well.
That's a good point. And there are other things too, there's security and other problems that we 749 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET have experienced around those pools with different factions of kids not getting along very well, and there's all sorts of disputes. I think by converting that sometimes could be a very, very right thing to do. I just want to touch on another subject, too. You don't have to bring back Commissioner Brunwasser for this, but I'm speaking as a motorist. When you're closing an area such as Kelly Drive, is there any way that the entire Drive could be shut down rather than parts of it? By that, I mean that if it takes four months to close it off partially, I think as a motorist I would prefer you shut the entire Drive down in a matter of a month and a half and get it over with rather than constantly -- no matter what you do, how you shut down one lane or two lanes, it's always going to be backed up. I'm just throwing that out. I don't know if it's feasible, I don't know if it's doable, and there may be other problems connected it to it. But as a motorist, I just wanted to give you my two cents what I think should be done. 750 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
I can assure you we'll look at the logistical problems and how to minimize the pain to everyone when we get there.
We talked a lot about Walnut Street and have spoken to the Commissioner of Streets about it and have said that we're asking Councilman DiCicco to bring it back on the agenda so we can return Walnut Street, I understand, back to its old way. Some problems that just go on and on and on and on, you'd like to just deal with them and get it over with. So I understand your concern, Councilman.
I might add that Walnut Street is an issue. It's a state road, and we have recently met with a representative from PennDOT and asked them. It's one of our top priorities this year for money for repaving that. It was supposed to be done last year. It got pushed aside, as a lot of Philadelphia projects did. It's got to be 751 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET done. It's a major artery for us and it's in bad shape. I think we got a good hearing on that, and, hopefully, we will get that done.
With PennDOT involved in this thing, what year can this be completed? That's what I would like to know.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, Mr. Managing Director. Councilman Nutter, are you ready?
Yes, Madam Chair. Just a couple last items, Mr. Managing Director. There was a commercial corridor signage program that we were asked to give some recommendations for a while ago. Do you have any update what's going on on that?
This is taking down illegal signs, I think that's the one you're talking about. 752 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
We asked each Councilman for particular streets that they wanted special attention to. And I forget, frankly, which areas you have selected. But as far as I'm concerned, it's an active program. Frankly, I plan to spend my last couple days in office on that and taking some of these signs down. For some reason, they really get to me, including the ones on Wynnefield Avenue and Lancaster Avenue. And they just seem to keep on popping up and popping up. But it's an active program.
You have a good memory. I appreciate it. Any other information you might have would be helpful. Two last things. The BIA report and the implementation of the recommendations, can you give us a status report on that, please.
Well, I think the BIA report is actually one that started out in the Managing Director's Office under my predecessor, Estelle Richman. And if you look at it, there's a whole bunch recommendations 753 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET that cut across all City government, including some zoning changes and so forth. One of the things that we've started to do and the Managing Director's Office is focus on some of the large developments going on, which I think we've classified as 50 units or more. And we have a task force now and we invited developers that have -- these are approved projects. They're now working in the bowels of the bureaucracy. And we have the Water Department down there and Streets Department and Fairmount Park, whatever, and allow these developers to really come to one meeting and for us to understand what their issues are try to get them a resolution and so forth. So this has been going on for about three months now. We think it's sort of a protocol the way we should be doing business.
John Elfrey from the Managing Director's Office is doing that.
Elfrey, E-L-F-R-E-Y. 754 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
Back in the fall of 2004, the Managing Director's Office applied for a grant from DCNR to fund an open space plan for the City. There was a citizen involvement component required as a part of that application. Do you know the status of that particular proposal and how will citizens participate? And who's in charge of this?
I know that your time is drawing to a close, but I know you to be a person who likes to bring a certain sense of completion to a task. If we could have some follow-up with regard to the Daggett Street situation, both the application, which I know has been completed, but also there will be a subsequent action needed by the Redevelopment Authority with regard to some of those properties out there and I think we're awaiting a decision or the Redevelopment Authority is seeking direction by the City with regard to their role in this process.
That's on my to-do 755 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET list. I think we are waiting back for some information from GPUAC, but it's on my list.
Here we go again. Again, I don't want to -- Mr. Managing Director, if the information is not available about this major project, I prefer not to embarrass anyone. I prefer that you say we're not prepared to discuss this project that apparently is a very significant project, which I would think that we could at least have a thumbnail on what is going on here, what neighborhoods does this pipeline impact. I would think that we could answer that question at least to give us a little idea of what's going on. I don't know need to know that it's going to start in July and end in November. I just need to know what is this project about and what neighborhoods does it impact. 756 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
It cuts under Kelly Drive in the area of the twin bridges. To me, this isn't just a piece of conduit that's feeding some street lights. COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: Good afternoon. I'm Commissioner Bernard Brunwasser of the Water Department. Councilman, I have found where this project begins, and it's approximately 32nd and Allegheny and it begins behind a Pep Boys store in that region. The run is only about 4,000 street to the outfall which is on the Schuylkill River right off East River Drive. It's there to relieve a combined sewer overflow problem that we have and also to relief storm water flooding in the business district in that region of 32nd and Allegheny. I don't have any additional details, but someone is coming over to fill me in.
That's fine. You suggested that it was going to have an impact on a lot of neighborhoods, and now it's only 757 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET 4,000 feet so it's obvious that the impact is not going to be as significant as I first thought. The significance is, what does it do to a major or artery? This is obviously a pretty big piece of pipe and it's probably a very expensive project, correct? COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: Yes, it is.
Let's move on now. You're telling me that we only one project that will impact Kelly Drive, or was there a potential of two? I'm led to believe that there are multiple projects that could be in your area of responsibility. COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: Right. I checked that out a little bit, and it appears that you may be thinking of another project around Fairmount Avenue and Kelly Avenue. And it's my understanding that that particular project which is, I believe, a sewer project should not impact Kelly Drive.
What is it? COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: I think I'm going to ask my Deputy Commissioner for 758 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Operations, Debra McCarty to come up and explain that. She's a little closer to that project.
Good afternoon. There's a sewer, a big relief sewer that runs underneath Fairmount Avenue and across Kelly Drive and back behind the Art Museum. And we've got a gummite job that is basically filling in some of the holes that have occurred over the many years that sewer has been in existence. So that's the work you probably see or maybe see on Kelly Drive.
I'm familiar with that project where they have the equipment parked taking out one of the lanes on Fairmount Avenue. I'm talking about another job that's not actually in progress. So maybe the information I have is not correct. As you know, we'll get back to you if I learn. But I think it would be really good to know what the impact and eventually what the schedule is for this job that you describe that's going to impact Kelly Drive. Because again, we get criticized by our suburban -- we 759 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET always tell people, come to the City, we want you to work here. But when we don't adequately prepare and publicize a job that's going to impact people's commute to the City -- you understand where I'm coming from, right? COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: Absolutely. And we will provide you and the rest of Council with a fact sheet concerning the Dobson's Run project.
May I add that we would, as we always try to do, make sure that the radio stations and news and traffic control would be aware of any disruptions. We had one some months ago and we had signage and things like that.
But, Commissioner, not the morning of. We're talking about a good plan here.
Right, I understand that. We have the forewarning on this. That previous job was an emergency job. We could plan for it and we would do that. That was all I was trying to say. 760 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET
Mr. Managing Director, I think I've asked the Water Department; I think they've responded appropriately about this project. There's another project that -- and again, I don't want to discuss it here because you have a formal presentation about Cresheim Valley Drive, so I'll let that one pass. But there's another big project that I assume the Water Department, since they're here, could comment on, is the East Bells Mill Road. And also we have the bridge that will be taken out. Commissioner, is the Water Department somehow involved in this piece of road between Germantown Avenue and Stenton Avenue that the neighbors do not want to see improved, but there's someone insisting, whether it's at the State or the City level to put sidewalks on, to straighten the roadway out. I understand the roadway is not desirable. They put a guardrail there and that's shredded to pieces. Are you familiar with the piece of road I'm talking about? COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: 761 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Councilman, I am not. I'm not sure that it really is --
It does involve the Water Department, I understand. COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: It does?
It's what I understand. There's storm sewers and things like that required there. I guess we'll have to ask the Streets Commissioner or Managing Director to talk a little bit about East Bells Mill and also an update on the impact again, the closure of the small bridge on Bells Mill that crosses Wissahickon Creek. COMMISSIONER BRUNWASSER: Councilman, for our part in the Water Department, we will research that and get back to you.
Thanks. Here comes the Streets Commissioner. Madam Chair, do I have another minute to do this?
762 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Commissioner, identify yourself for the record before you make your remarks. Thank you. COMMISSIONER TOLSON: Good afternoon. Clarena Tolson from the Streets Department.
Commissioner, talk to me please about the project that is experiencing some community resistance, Bells Mill Road between Germantown and Stenton, that apparently there's some need to make improvements, which I agree, but to the extent of those improvements is what the neighbors are a bit concerned about. I'm sure you're aware of that. COMMISSIONER TOLSON: We have a project which allows for the reconstruction of East Bells Mill between Germantown and Stenton Avenue. It's presently in its design phase. The problem at that location is that there's a limited drainage or no drainage. The street's not in good condition. Then at times we have the creek running over the roadway. What we have planned for that location, it's presently a one-lane, one-way street and we plan for it 763 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET to stay that way but also complete reconstruction of the street and adding inlets to support the drainage problem.
What about, though, straightening out the roadway. You have people there that made investments of their homes, a country lane kind of an atmosphere where they're going to take part of their property, put sidewalks in. Is all that necessary to complete your goal? COMMISSIONER TOLSON: We can continue to have community meetings, I believe, to talk with the neighbors about the design and some of their concerns. I think to the extent that we can keep the roadway safe and make sure that it has its proper drainage and that turns in a way that's appropriate to make it safe, we're willing to do that. I don't think that we would be willing to make it overly curvy because that makes it unsafe. So to the extent that we can discuss and talk about the concerns further, we would do that.
Well, they claim that they've been trying to do that but it 764 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET doesn't appear there's any room to negotiate. The neighbors there have come to me to express the fact that we have issues with -- and you know they in many cases don't understand the process. We've had the roadway on Cresheim Drive closed a long time and they wanted you to spend the money that you were planning to spend there to make these improvements on opening Cresheim Valley. And I understand we're close to having that done. But the issue is, they're all for making the roadway a better roadway that drains better, but I understand some of it is taking property, et cetera, that's what the concern is. If you're willing to talk to them, I'm willing to facilitate that conversation. I'm going to come back at you, unfortunately. I want to give my colleagues all an opportunity. I'm going to come back at you to talk about the project on the Bells Mill Bridge crossing Wissahickon Creek. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome, Councilman. 765 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Ms. Tolson, I really want you to stay here so I talk to you about the elimination of my trash day in a substantial part of my district, but I'm going to wait until you come up next week. COMMISSIONER TOLSON: I'll say it's tomorrow. No, it is next week. I'm teasing.
I'll wait. There was a question about a program -- I know that the City of Philadelphia used to contract with organizations for violence prevention, intervention, and it was a group that I know we contracted with called PAN. And I understand we know longer have that contract. What entity in government or what entity outside of government is taking the responsibility of that violence prevention and intervention programs? Is it the Managing Director Office?
Yes, it's Managing Director's Office. I'd like Anthony Murphy to 766 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET answer that question, if you don't mind.
Good afternoon. Anthony Murphy from Town Watch Integrated Services. Town Watch Integrated services replaced the PAN organization last year to address intervention in the City of Philadelphia. Through the Managing Director's Office, we have been able to hire additional staff members, approximately six members, to begin to address neighborhood and youth violence and try to develop coalitions with adults throughout the City of Philadelphia in order to bring adults participation in addressing the level of violence in our City.
What was PAN's budget versus the cost associated with the additional hires in the Managing Director's Office, do you know
I don't know PAN's budget. That would either be the Managing Director or Deputy Managing Director Frankie Hughes that could answer that.
Tony, do you know 767 03/15/05 - FY '06 OPERATING BUDGET the answer?
We have eliminated part of that cost. Part of that money went to Anthony's program to fund the additional people he brought on, and the remainder of that money was savings.