COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, March 3, 2008 10:10 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO, CHAIR COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY BILL 080136 - An ordinance authorizing the Free Library of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to accept a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education for renovations to the Central Library Branch... - - - 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
Good morning. I'd like to call the Committee on Finance to order and note that there is a quorum in the presence of Councilman Kenney, Councilman DiCicco, Councilman Greenlee, Councilwoman Blackwell and Councilman Goode. We ask the Clerk to read the bill.
An ordinance 12 authorizing the Free Library of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to accept a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education for renovations to the Central Library Branch of the Free Library at 1901 Vine Street, pursuant to terms and conditions established by the Commonwealth.
Thank you very much. Who is here to testify on behalf of the Library? (Witness approached witness 3 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 table.) MR. McPEAK: Good morning.
Good morning. MR. McPEAK: Committee Chair Councilwoman Tasco and members of the Committee on Finance, I am Joseph McPeak, Interim President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia. I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before you this morning to discuss Bill 13 No. 080136, which was introduced by Councilman Clarke and which authorizes the Free Library to accept a grant of $500,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These funds will allow us to undertake much-needed renovations to the public elevators in the Central Library, and I respectfully encourage your approval of the bill. We've renovated all of our 52 branches throughout the '90s and into the year 2000. We brought upgraded facilities and technology in all our 4 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 branches. Now, as you may know, we've turned our attention to the Central Library located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. We've been working diligently to raise funds to build that extension to that library, but at the same time, we're looking to also renovate and restore our beautiful Beaux Arts building on the Parkway, which was built in 1927. To this end, the main library has been renovated. The roof has been replaced. We've had some technology upgrades in the Central Library and also have upgraded some of our offices. But the next project is to renovate our public elevators, which serve our five floors. They are really one of the major passageways -- it is the major passageway to our public departments and also to our Rare Book Department, and also it's the major way in which you can reach our public access computers, which 175,000 people use them a year. Overall, more than one million 5 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 people visit the Central Library, and we serve not only the region but also we're the neighborhood branch for Spring Garden, Fairmount Park and the Logan Square neighborhood. While there have been improvements and upgrades over the years, the original elevators have never been replaced. And, actually, I'll deviate from the testimony a little bit. Over the past month, we've had some breakdowns. They've been out of service, and I believe we had two people trapped in them. So it's become not only a problem with the building, but a safety issue as well. We are delighted that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has awarded the Free Library a grant to renovate the public elevators. The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, administered by the Department of Education's Office of Commonwealth 6 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 Libraries, is designed to fund construction and renovation of public library facilities. It is a highly competitive grant and only awards were 6 made this round, and it provides 7 much-needed funds for capital 8 improvements. 9 There were two conditions for 10 accepting the grant: A dollar-for-dollar 11 match, which we did meet, and also an 12 ordinance, which we have before you this 13 morning. 14 So I respectfully request your 15 support of Bill No. 080136 and ask for a 16 suspension of the rules so that the bill 17 may receive first reading at the next 18 session of Council. And thank you very much for the opportunity to introduce this measure. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer.
Thank you very much. Who will apply for the grant on behalf of the City? The Library? 7 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 MR. McPEAK: The Library. We have already applied for it, received it with this condition. So at this point, the monies are about to be released, provided the ordinance is passed.
The ordinance is passed to say that you have the 500? MR. McPEAK: That's correct.
I noticed you say that you hope to break ground on the expansion in the spring. Is that -- MR. McPEAK: If that is in there, that is a mistake. It should be the end of this year.
By the end of this year? MR. McPEAK: The end of this year, yes.
Does that mean you're on schedule? MR. McPEAK: Yes. Yes, we are on schedule. We have a $15 million match that we think we're about to meet soon, 8 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 and with that, we'll be very close, if not at groundbreaking. So we're very optimistic.
Thank you. Are there any other questions from members of this Committee? Councilman Curtis Jones.
First of all, congratulations on receiving the grant, and I'm excited for you by way of its ability to beautify the Parkway and also provide a lot of folk who depend on the Library for their source of information. The question I have is, in the renovations, to what degree are you going to have access -- is that going to have increased access to computer terminals for people and to what degree is the Library online? MR. McPEAK: Yes. We have 80 9 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 public computers in our Central Library, and the majority of them, the vast majority of them, are on the second floor, and the major access besides the steps and for people who are older, who are handicapped, the major access are those elevators. So the elevators take you right up to the hallway where the bank of computers are.
The second part of my question was, how much of the books have been committed to be accessed online? What kind of information is available to particularly young people and our seniors online that can't travel? MR. McPEAK: Well, there are approximately -- and I should get back to you on the number. I believe it's over 100 subscribed databases that we have that you'd have to purchase to get at home, so you can't really get them at home. In terms of children, children and teens, we have a number of databases serving just children and teens. And for 10 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 seniors, we have an interesting database called Generations Online, which assists seniors to learn how to use a computer, how to use a mouse, how to navigate the web. So it's a particularly interesting website.
What are your free services online? MR. McPEAK: Oh, they're all free.
Subscription means -- MR. McPEAK: We, the City, pays for them, that's correct. Then we offer them to the public for free. And also with a library card, they can access them from home for those who have access to the Internet at home.
Thank you. Are there any other questions? (No response.)
Is there anyone else here to testify on this bill? 11 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 (No response.)
Thank you very much for your testimony. MR. McPEAK: Thank you.
We'll now go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell to report the bill 10 out of Committee. Do you need a suspension? MR. McPEAK: Yes.
Madam Chair, I move that Bill No. 080136 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and also a recommendation for a suspension of the rules so that this may be heard at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill 080136 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and a recommendation that Council suspend the 12 3/3/08 - FINANCE - BILL 080136 rules so that this bill can have first reading at the next Council session. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
There being none, the motion is carried. Thank you very much and good luck. (Committee on Finance adjourned at 10:20 a.m.) - - - 13 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 March 3, 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.)