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Minutes

Committee Hearing, October 18, 2007

Philadelphia City Council Committee HearingsOct 18, 2007

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 18, 2007 9:30 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI, CHAIR COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JUAN RAMOS COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILMAN DANIEL SAVAGE BILL 070542 - An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008 within the General Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. BILL 070681 - An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008 within the General Fund from the Council to the Mayor - Office of Housing and Community Development and to the Department of Recreation. - - - 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

Councilwoman Krajewski

Good morning. The Committee on Appropriations is now in session. Will the Clerk please read the bills.

The Clerk

Bill No. 070542, an ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008 within the General Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. Bill No. 070681, an ordinance 16 authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008 within the General Fund from the Council to the Mayor - Office of Housing and Community Development and to the Department of Recreation.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you. Is someone from the Administration here? 3 10/18/07 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 070542, ETC. Good morning.

Ms. Reed

Good morning, Appropriations Chairperson and members of the Committee. I'm Dianne Reed. I'm the Budget Director for the City of Philadelphia. I am here to testify on Bills 070542 and 070681. I also have a colleague here who wants to provide additional testimony on 070542. I am here to testify in support of 070542, which would appropriate a half a million dollars to the new Zoning Commission. The bill, which is in the form of a transfer ordinance, does not identify a source for the funding. We propose the bill be amended to take the funding from Class 700 of the Sinking Fund. This concludes my testimony on that bill and I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you. Can you tell me how many 4 10/18/07 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 070542, ETC. full-time employees will be hired at the Zoning Code Commission?

Ms. Reed

No, I cannot, but perhaps my colleague, Gary Jastrzab, could.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Good morning.

Mr. Jastrzab

Good morning. My name is Gary Jastrzab. I'm the Deputy Executive Director of the City Planning Commission. The number of employees hasn't been firmly determined at this point. However, an executive director is identified in the enabling legislation and we anticipate at least one additional staffer. So at this point, it would be a decision of the Zoning Commission itself. Speaking for the City Planning Commission, we foresee at least two employees.

Councilwoman Krajewski

How much money do you anticipate will be needed to fund this Zoning Code? 5 10/18/07 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 070542, ETC.

Mr. Jastrzab

We have estimated for staff, we have estimated 160,000 would be needed during this fiscal year.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you. Are there any other questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you.

Ms. Reed

I'd also like to testify on 070681. The bill would transfer two million from City Council Class 500 to Class 200 in the Department of Recreation and the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development. Of the two million, one million would be designated for reimbursement of the Department of Recreation's youth employment program and the balance, another million, would fund OHCD for energy assistance program spending. This concludes my testimony on 6 10/18/07 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 070542, ETC. this bill and I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you. Is there anyone else here to testify?

Mr. Jastrzab

I'd like to testify.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Well, we could have yours submitted and put it in the minutes of the meeting.

Mr. Jastrzab

Fine.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you. Are there any other questions from members of the Committee? (No response.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you very much for coming in.

Ms. Reed

Thank you, ma'am.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Excuse me. Is a suspension of the rules requested?

Ms. Reed

Suspension of the 7 10/18/07 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 070542, ETC. rules is requested to put the bills on first reading.

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you.

Ms. Reed

Thank you.

Councilwoman Krajewski

That ends our public hearing. We will now go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.

Councilman Clarke

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move for the adoption of the amendment to Bill No. 15 070542. (Duly seconded.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Thank you. All those in favor? (Aye.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Opposed? (No response.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Therefore, the amendment to Bill 070542 8 10/18/07 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 070542, ETC. will be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a suspension of rules as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. Councilman Clarke.

Councilman Clarke

Madam Chair, I move that Bill 070542 as amended be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request for rules suspension as to allow reading at the next session of Council.

Councilwoman Krajewski

All those in favor? (Aye.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Opposed? (No response.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Therefore, Bill 070542 will be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a suspension of rules so as to permit first reading at the next session of Council. Councilman Clarke on Bill 9 10/18/07 - APPROPRIATIONS - BILL 070542, ETC. 070681.

Councilman Clarke

Madam Chair, I move that Bill No. 070681 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request for rules suspension as to allow reading at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

All those in favor? (Aye.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Opposed? (No response.)

Councilwoman Krajewski

Therefore, Bill 070681 will be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, with a suspension of rules so as to permit first reading at the next session of Council. Thank you all very much for coming in. (Committee on Appropriations adjourned at 9:40 a.m.) 10 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 18, 2007, 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.)